MARK KRESS
Mark Kress is the Superintendent of the Snake River School District. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Secondary Education from Idaho State University in 1993, a Master of Education in 1999 at ISU with an Educational Administration Emphasis and finally, he completed his EDS Degree from Boise State.
Mr. Kress began his career at Blackfoot High School teaching and coaching (1993 1999). His administrative background includes Vice Principal at Bear Lake High School (1999-2002), Principal at Hagerman High School (2002-2016) and most recently he was the Superintendent of Schools in the Hagerman Joint School District from 2016-2020.
Mr. Kress has a passion for education and extra-curricular events. In his career he enjoyed his years teaching in the classroom and driver’s education. He also coached Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Football, Tennis and Golf. He assisted and head coached teams to multiple district championships, state appearances and two state championships as Hagerman’s football coach. As Superintendent, Hagerman’s schools were recognized as an academic top performer and goal maker.
Mr. Kress and his wife recently celebrated their 30th anniversary. Their three children are raised and starting their own families. Mr. Kress has a passion for education and is honored to be part of the Snake River School District. He hopes to continue the Snake River tradition of excellence in academics and extra-curricular programs.
RAY CARTER
Ray Carter is the Principal at Snake River High School. He also served previously as the Assistant Principal for 12 years. Prior to coming to Snake River, he served as an Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at a high school and junior high for several years in New Mexico. During his tenure in education, he has taught course in Social Studies, Health, Physical Education, Driver Education, and Study Skills.
Mr. Carter has spent many years coaching both young men and young women in volleyball, track and field, and basketball. Mr. Carter has a Bachelor of Arts degree from BYU in Provo. He received his graduate degree from the University of Montana. Although a native of New Mexico, he spent much of his life in Washington DC, Anchorage Alaska, several different places in Utah, Montana, and South Africa. He is now, a proud Idahoan. Similar to what Paul Maclean said in A River Runs Through It— “…oh, I will never leave Idaho, brother”.
KYLE BUTTARS
Kyle Buttars is the Assistant Principal at Snake River High School. Prior to coming to Snake River, Mr. Buttars worked in Marsh Valley School District for six years as a middle school science teacher, athletic director, football coach and High School principal. He also taught for two years in Pocatello/Chubbuck School District.
Mr. Buttars graduated from BYU-Idaho with a Bachelor of Science in 2012 and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Idaho in 2016. Mr. Buttars is an Idahoan and grew up in Malad, Idaho.
Mr. Buttars has been married for 10 years to his wonderful wife, Stacie. They have been blessed with 4 children: Ellie, Lila, Beck and Tate. Mr. Buttars enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and friends while camping, hunting and golfing.
RICH DUNN
Rich Dunn is the Principal at Snake River Junior High School. Rich graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education from Idaho State University in 2005. While attending ISU, he was elected Student Body Vice President and was chosen to serve as the College of Education Senator. He then worked as a Graduate Assistant while receiving his master's degree in athletic administration from Idaho State University.
Mr. Dunn has been with Snake River for the past 13 years. He spent 5 years as the Assistant Principal at Snake River High School. He has taught Physical Education, Health, History and Social Studies at the Junior High as well as Elementary Physical Education. He has enjoyed success in coaching over the past 20 years. He has won a State Championship in all three sports he coaches: Football, Girls Basketball and Baseball.
Mr. Dunn has been married for 21 years to Snake River alumni Kambrel. They have three children: Camdyn, Macki and Boston.
DEAN BONNEY
Dean Bonney became Principal of Snake River Middle School in August of 2015. Mr. Bonney joined the Snake River School District in 1997 and spent 16 years as the Assistant Principal and Principal at Snake River High School, and 4 years as the Principal at Rockford Elementary. Prior to that, he was a Spanish teacher and coach for 6 years in California, and 5 years in Wyoming.
Mr. Bonney received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Brigham Young University, a master’s degree in education from Azusa Pacific University, and a master’s degree in educational leadership and Supervision from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Mr. Bonney has been married to his wife Kori for 38 years, and they are the parents of 3 children, Chelsea, Richie, and Jamie, who are all proud graduates of Snake River High School. They are also the grandparents of 9 grandchildren and love spending time with family.
Mr. Bonney loves the Snake River School District and is excited to be the principal at the Middle School. Middle School teachers and students are the best in the district, and he feels fortunate to work with them on a daily basis.
DAVE DOUGAL
David Dougal is the Principal of Rockford Elementary School. He is also the Federal Programs Director for the Snake River School District. Prior to coming to the Snake River School District, Mr. Dougal worked for the Soda Springs School District as the Special Ed Director and the middle school counselor. He also worked in the Blackfoot School District for 11 years.
Mr. Dougal received a Bachelor of Science from ISU in 1997. He then attended Boise State University and obtained a Master's Degree in Social Work in 1999. In 2002 he started working in the Bingham County Day Treatment program before returning to ISU to complete his Master's Degree in Educational Administration in 2011.
Mr. Dougal is grateful to be blessed with 6 wonderful children who keep him truly busy. He also volunteers a lot of time to the Boy Scouts of America and has been to scout camp every summer since 2007. He enjoys the outdoors through camping, hunting and fishing. He also enjoys museums and seeing new places.
Mr. Dougal is very grateful to be working for the Snake River School District. He knows that this district is filled with wonderful people and can’t wait to help his students reach for the stars.
JANAE PETERSEN
Janae Petersen was named the Riverside Elementary Principal in 2015. Mrs. Petersen joined the Snake River School District in 2005. She spent the years as a third and fourth grade teacher at Riverside and Rockford Elementary. Prior to that, she was an elementary teacher at the Blackfoot Charter Community Learning Center teaching second through fifth grade from 2002-2005.
Mrs. Petersen received her Associates Degree in General Sciences at Ricks College and her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education at Idaho State University in 2002. She then received her Master’s degree in Educational Administration in 2015 from Lamar University in Texas. Janae grew up in Pocatello, Idaho. She has two children who attend schools in the Snake River School District. She loves spending time with her family, watching movies, and going on trips with her family. She also loves to white water raft because she worked as a white water raft guide on the Salmon River.
She has loved teaching and is excited to start this new adventure as a principal at Riverside Elementary. Mrs. Petersen feels fortunate to work and communicate with wonderful and supportive staff members and patrons.
DR. DAVID SOTUTU
I am honored to be able to begin serving as your principal in August 2024. I have been an educator for the past 20 years, the last 17 of those years here in Idaho. Most recently, I was the superintendent of the New Plymouth School District for five years. During that time, I also served as the district’s special education director for two years. Prior to that, I was the superintendent/principal in the North Gem School District in Bancroft. Before going to North Gem, I was the principal at Inkom Elementary School and the federal programs director in the Marsh Valley School District.
Before becoming an administrator, I taught second grade in Grace for six years, was a PE/health teacher and reading specialist in North Gem for one year and taught second grade in the Bonneville School District for one year. Before moving to Idaho, I taught first grade in the Seattle area, which is where I grew up, for three years.
I attended Ricks College, where I earned an A.A.S. in physical education. Two years later, I earned a B.S. in elementary education from BYU-Idaho. Later, I went on to earn a M.Ed. in educational administration from Grand Canyon University and an Ed.S. in executive educational leadership from Boise State. Most recently, I earned a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Northwest Nazarene University. The focus of my doctoral research was building kindergarten readiness in rural communities. I am thrilled to be able to blend my experience and expertise with all of yours to serve our kids, their families, and our Snake River community!
