Meet Our Team
Cresta Barash
Director
Cresta Barash achieved her BA in Audio-Visual Arts and Film from the University of the Philippines. With a career spanning over a decade in television production, she made a transformative move to Saudi Arabia, transitioning her professional path to become an educator. In 2016, Cresta obtained her K-6th teaching certificate from Moreland University in Washington D.C. Following nine years in Saudi Arabia, she relocated to Oregon alongside her husband and two children, embarking on a fresh chapter in their lives.
Cresta's fervent dedication to education has driven her to oversee diverse after-school activities and enrichment programs, fostering avenues for students to delve into learning and explore personal interests beyond traditional classrooms. Her focus lies particularly in the realms of technology and art. Inspired by her father's multifaceted artistic legacy, Cresta is deeply committed to nurturing artistic expression in both young minds and adults, as a touching tribute to her father's memory.
JOSIE McDANIEL
Assistant Director of Education
Josie McDaniel is an artist and educator from San Diego, Ca. She graduated in 2015 from California Lutheran University with a BA in Studio Art, emphasizing in drawing and painting. In her artistic practice, she explores her fascination with faces and form through illustrative portraits and figurative works constructed from intricate linework and expressive color. A teacher at heart, Josie has taught in a variety of educational spaces from behind-the-wheel driving to music instruction. She loves guiding students through new and challenging endeavors and helping them find empowerment through their growing abilities. In 2018 she obtained her teaching certificate from San Diego State University in K-12 visual arts education, where her true teaching passion lies. She spent the next years teaching art in public school classrooms for the elementary and middle school grades as well as working on curriculum development for arts programs in underserved school districts. After relocating to Portland, OR in 2024 to embark on a new chapter, Josie is excited to share her joy for art and learning at One River School.
- JAY BRYANT (They/Them)
Assistant Director of
Member Services
Jay Bryant is a multimedia artist and educator based in Portland, OR. They graduated from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in 2018 with a BFA in painting. Since then Jay has dedicated their career to the arts and education. In their personal art practice Jay combines studio and digital arts to create evocative figurative paintings that explore identity.
In-Studio Educators
Dana Townsend (They/Them)
Dana Townsend is an illustrator of many trades. When working in publication design and editorial illustration, visuals that cut to the chase and tell a story are their specialty. Dana's first teaching experience was when they joined a program to help at-risk teens stay academically motivated using art and design. They loved it from day one, and they've been teaching and mentoring kids and teens in art spaces ever since!
MIGUEL GONZALEZ (He/Him)
Miguel Gonzalez has been an artist for as long as he can remember. Growing up art was his source of therapy and it allowed for his spirit to express itself freely, to create a world that felt like home and would allow for self-discovery. After graduating from high school Miguel attended Laguna College of Art and Design. During his four years there he was trained to understand materials and tools while learning how to paint and draw in a traditional manner. It was through this training that Miguel found freedom in painting, which continues to be one of his passions. He loves painting roses, portraits, and figures.
His goal as an instructor is to make this journey a fun for his students, teaching them what he’s learned in the simplest manner. Miguel meets his students wherever they are on their journey and helps them progress and achieve their goals as artists.
EILEEN FERNANDEZ (She/Her)
Eileen Fernandez graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York with a BFA in Graphic Design and later received her MFA in Illustration from the University of Hartford in Connecticut. Eileen specializes in digital illustration and graphic design. She has worked in the fashion industry for over 17 years, has taught at university level and has loved working as a volunteer for the Museum of Modern Art in New York, assisting with their family programs introducing art to young children and preteens for the past 10 years before moving to the west coast. She also hails from the One River, Clark NJ location and is excited to share in her passion for art and creativity with her students at One River in Lake Oswego.
ELLA WELTNER
Ella Weltner is an artist, art educator, and volleyball coach based in Portland, Oregon. Originally from Boise, Idaho, she was first introduced to art by her mother, who taught her and her classmates in elementary school. That early inspiration continues to shape Ella’s teaching philosophy—one grounded in confidence, clarity, and creativity.
Ella began her journey as an art teacher in her early twenties, creating fun and engaging art projects for her roommates while studying at Portland State University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in 2023 with a focus on textile art, sculpture, and acrylic painting. While completing her undergraduate degree, she also taught in an after-school art program for elementary-aged students.
In June 2024, Ella completed her Master’s in Education at Portland State University. As part of the program, she had the opportunity to teach art at West Sylvan Middle School as a student teacher. Over the past year, she taught art at various schools across the Portland area, including serving as the temporary art teacher at Oregon City High School, where she led hands-on 3D art projects such as puppet making, cardboard constructions, and paper sculpture.
Ella is passionate about fostering creativity and helping students problem-solve through artistic challenges—an experience she considers the greatest joy in her life. She is thrilled to be joining the team at One River School this summer as an art instructor.
ELLIOT HAND-THOENNES
Elliot Hand-Thoennes holds a BFA in Art Education from Appalachian State University in North Carolina. Their artistic practice spans from digital illustration and design to traditional crafts such as weaving and book-binding. Elliot began their journey in education as an arts and crafts specialist at a summer camp, where they discovered a passion for fostering environments that inspire creative growth in children and teens.
MARCO MEJIA
Marco Mejia is a multifaceted creative professional with a passion for visual storytelling. He graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA with a BFA in Illustration and 2D Animation.
Throughout his career, Marco has also been involved in the local arts scene, curating art shows within the Bay Area. He has also freelanced as a storyboard artist, illustrator, and animator for various commercial spots and documentaries.
He is excited to share his skills and insights to mentor the next generation of creatives. He believes in equipping them with the tools and knowledge needed to unlock their full creative potential, guiding them towards success in their artistic endeavors.
Website: https://marcomejia.com
Mel DeFabrizio (She/Her)
Sherwin Rosario (He/Him)
Sherwin Rosario is an Illustrator & Animator based in the Portland, OR Metropolitan area. Raised in the Bay Area, CA, with a background in Media Arts & Animation, graduated from Art Institutes International of San Francisco; and currently producing for Preschool Prep Company.
Origins of Sherwin’s medium are KidPix on Apple Macintosh, and later with Mario Paint on SNES, spending hours editing on home VCR. Since then, Sherwin's evolved style, using bold, graphic, kawaii and street art influence, applies in modern digital medium.
“Go Off” is Sherwin’s latest, illustrated go-to for those seeking healthier digital habits, in efforts to live with less distraction. “Go Off” is a sign– for society inundated with tech, but wanting better practices; it’s a call for change, ranging from personal to cultural, mindful of coexistence with big-tech.
www.shwinstar.com
Jenna Clear (She/Her)
Jenna Clear is a stop-motion fabricator and animator from northern Vermont. She explores storytelling through filmmaking, mixed-media fabrication, comics, sculpture, digital art, and fiber arts. She’s done stop-motion fabrication work on feature, series, and commercial projects for studios such as LAIKA, Open the Portal and Hornet, Inc.
She graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with her BFA in Film & Animation in 2017 and from the University of Southern California with her MFA in Animation & Digital Arts in 2021. She is thrilled to be teaching the next generation the wonder and determination required to make things move one image at a time or bring a piece to life on the page, the computer, or in 3D space.
Join Our Team
Career opportunities at One River School allow passionate artists, educators and lovers of art to share their love and knowledge of art and enhance the lives of people they connect with everyday.