Second Battalion
Administration & Leadership

Name: 2LT Maya Griffin
Position: Alpha Company Commander
Teaches: 7th and 8th Grade English Language Arts
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Language Arts Education from Western Oregon University
Started at WLA: 2020
Comment: In 2013 I began volunteering with the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation which catalyzed my interest for working with students. My love for literature and writing led me to the content area of English. I started working in Language Arts classrooms in 2014 and that is when I realized that there was no place I would rather be.
Email: mgriffin@wlacademy.org
Position: Alpha Company Commander
Teaches: 7th and 8th Grade English Language Arts
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Language Arts Education from Western Oregon University
Started at WLA: 2020
Comment: In 2013 I began volunteering with the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation which catalyzed my interest for working with students. My love for literature and writing led me to the content area of English. I started working in Language Arts classrooms in 2014 and that is when I realized that there was no place I would rather be.
Email: mgriffin@wlacademy.org
![]() Name: 1LT Teila Brainard
Position: Delta Company Commander Teaches: 7th and 8th grade Mathematics Education: Started at WLA: Comment: Email: tbrainard@wlacademy.org |
![]() Name: 1SG Robert Lockhart
Position: Delta and Echo Company 1st Sergeant Teaches: Color Guard, PE, and Drill & Ceremony Education: 7 yrs Army (Infantry) Human Services, Psychology, Social And Behavioral Science Started at WLA: 2012 Comment: The Choices of Today Become The Memories Of Tomorrow: Make Them Good Ones. Email: rlockhart@wlacademy.org |

Name: 1LT Matthew Stemple
Position: Echo Company Commander
Teaches: 7th and 8th Grade Science
Education: BS Biology & Chemistry, University of Oregon, 2008
MAT, Pacific University
Started at WLA: 2019
Comment: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. -Wayne Gretzky" - Michael Scott.
No one is innately smart; intelligence is not a trait a person is born with. I was not personally born with the knowledge of how DNA is transcribed to make proteins or the nomenclature rules of organic chemistry. It is something I had to learn over time, it had to be taught and explained to me. When you first set foot in my science class, your personal science knowledge might be lacking and that is OK because I am your Sherpa and I am here to guide you up Mount Science.
Email: mstemple@wlacademy.org
Position: Echo Company Commander
Teaches: 7th and 8th Grade Science
Education: BS Biology & Chemistry, University of Oregon, 2008
MAT, Pacific University
Started at WLA: 2019
Comment: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. -Wayne Gretzky" - Michael Scott.
No one is innately smart; intelligence is not a trait a person is born with. I was not personally born with the knowledge of how DNA is transcribed to make proteins or the nomenclature rules of organic chemistry. It is something I had to learn over time, it had to be taught and explained to me. When you first set foot in my science class, your personal science knowledge might be lacking and that is OK because I am your Sherpa and I am here to guide you up Mount Science.
Email: mstemple@wlacademy.org

Name: MAJ Andrew Potterf
Position: Foxtrot Company Commander
Teaches: 6th grade Language Arts and Social Studies
Education: BA English Literature U of O; MA Education U of O
Started at WLA: 2015
Comment: Helping students discover literature and a sense of intellectual curiosity is incredibly rewarding for me. I work hard to keep my curriculum fresh and interesting.
Email: apotterf@wlacademy.org
Position: Foxtrot Company Commander
Teaches: 6th grade Language Arts and Social Studies
Education: BA English Literature U of O; MA Education U of O
Started at WLA: 2015
Comment: Helping students discover literature and a sense of intellectual curiosity is incredibly rewarding for me. I work hard to keep my curriculum fresh and interesting.
Email: apotterf@wlacademy.org
2nd Battalion Support Staff

Name: Mrs. Faith Wolfe
Position: Uniform Manager & Secretary
Education:
Started at WLA: 2014
Comment: I'm a Lane County native. My husband and I live in Eugene with our 3 children, 2 cats, a bunch of rabbits, 1 lizard, and a tank of fish. I love sewing, all kinds of crafts, reading, and playing board and card games. I enjoy working with youth and am happy to be a part of the team at WLA.
Email: fwolfe@wlacademy.org
Position: Uniform Manager & Secretary
Education:
Started at WLA: 2014
Comment: I'm a Lane County native. My husband and I live in Eugene with our 3 children, 2 cats, a bunch of rabbits, 1 lizard, and a tank of fish. I love sewing, all kinds of crafts, reading, and playing board and card games. I enjoy working with youth and am happy to be a part of the team at WLA.
Email: fwolfe@wlacademy.org