Teri Uutu Schneider is a Sugpiaq Alutiiq leader born and raised in Kodiak, Alaska, and a former KEF scholarship recipient. Teri’s service as an educator strengthens our KEF student support system, including: 27 years as Kodiak Island Borough School District’s (KIBSD) Alaska Native and Rural Education Programs Coordinator and a classroom teacher for over ten of those years; eight years as St. Mary’s Catholic Private School’s Principal (preschool-8^th grade); and three years as Sun’aq Tribe’s Alutiiq Language Nest Adminstrator. This past year, Teri began teaching Alutiiq Language I at Kodiak High School before agreeing to take on leadership of KEF. Her experience educating students spans preschool through college, across classroom settings to remote educational, cultural camps.

Throughout her career, she led teacher professional development trainings, and Alaska’s Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools resource creation. Teri is dedicated to educational advancement for Koniag shareholders and their descendants, while maintaining cultural values and lifeways.

After earning her BA (1987) and MA (2000) in Education from University of Alaska Fairbanks, Teri went on to earn two additional graduate certificates in Educational Leadership from Loyola Marymount University and University of Alaska Anchorage. Her extensive educational career prepared Teri to support students as they navigate their educational journey.

Teri’s leadership extends across our community as a current Director on the Natives of Kodiak Board, a Community Advisory Council Member for Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center, Secretary of ​Kodiak Sno-Bruins, Inc., a Kodiak Scholarship Foundation Committee Member, a Qik’rtarmiut Language Advisory Committee Member, and a former Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak Tribal Council Member. She is also a Native Village of Afognak Tribal Member and ​Koniag, Inc., Shareholder.

Teri’s father Ole Mahle’s family comes from Afognak village and Kodiak. Her mother Becky Mahle, from West Virginia, has lived in Kodiak for 65 years. Teri is the proud mother of three children: Patrick Schneider, a naval officer in Honolulu, Hawai’i; Tatiana Vaudrin, a construction manager in Dayton, Ohio; and Natalia Schneider, an artist, educator, and Alutiiq language speaker.

Lisa Thomsen is an original Shareholder from Port Lions on Kodiak Island. Her mother was Pasha Sheratine of Afognak and her father was Sam Gimelli of San Jose, CA. She started at KEF in 2018 and took a sabbatical from March 2023 until March of 2024. “I am so happy to be back working with our wonderful students!” she shares.

Lisa earned her Education Degree from University of Alaska, Anchorage with a Minor in Psychology. She has worked primarily for Alaska State Parks, Kodiak College, and Afognak Native Corporation. A self declared ‘Jack of all Trades”, Lisa has enjoyed a variety of job experiences, including being co-owner of one of Alaska’s first berry wineries in Kodiak, AK.

Life-long learning is her passion, “We should never stop learning new things” is her motto. Lisa enjoys traveling, gaming, reading, crocheting, and camping. Lisa and her husband Steve recently moved to the Mat-Su Valley and are enjoying the ‘rural’ life along with their Miniature Schnauzer, Chewie, who keeps them very busy!