Michelle Bliss Auction Coordinator
Nick Cofod Head of School
Mary Dobroth Assistant Head of School
Katie McClay Director of Administration
Tina Mullins Director of Business and Facilities
Renee Pilbeam Director of Enrollment Management and Marketing
Meet Our Administrative Team
Michelle Bliss: Michelle joins our Administrative Team as the Interim Auction Coordinator. She will be leading the efforts for our annual auction and offering development support. Michelle has volunteered to co-lead this effort the previous three school years, beginning with the school’s first hybrid auction and city-wide scavenger hunt. She comes to Foothills with numerous skill sets and experience, including Project Management, Youth Program Development and Management, graphic and creative design, marketing, yoga instruction, and creative and documentary photography. She has applied these skills for employers and projects around the world from Idaho, California, Washington, Norway, England, and Spain to name a few. She has a BA in Fine Art with a minor in Religion from California Lutheran University. She and her husband have two sons, and when not working, she enjoys coffee (she's kind of a coffee snob), yoga, hiking, and spending time in the mountains with her family.
Nick Cofod: Nick has been Head of School at Foothills since 2017. Previously he was Assistant Head of School and Middle School Director in a K-8 school. Before embarking on a career in school leadership, he was a Latin teacher in middle school and a professor of classics at the college level. Nick’s path toward educational leadership began with his high school Latin teacher who used an ancient language and culture to help students think about big questions. This experience instilled a desire to create meaningful learning experiences that stem from the individuality of each student. Nick’s professional interests include progressive education, project-based learning, teacher collaboration, service learning, and diversity, equity and inclusion. He holds a Ph.D. in Classics from Stanford University and a BA from Reed College. Nick is an avid mountain biker and enjoys being in the outdoors with his family.
Mary Dobroth: Mary joins Foothills as our first Assistant Head of School this year. For the last ten years, Mary has served as Academic Technology Coordinator, Director of Academic Technology, Assistant Academic Dean, and independent curriculum consultant for Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, MD. Prior to her most recent school, Mary was an engineering and technology education teacher in public schools for five years. Mary has lived in the Treasure Valley since early 2020, working remotely since that time. Mary holds a BA in Industrial Design, a graduate certificate in STEM education, and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction, all from Virginia Tech. Mary enjoys spending time adventuring with her husband and daughter and can often be found hiking, biking, or skiing depending on the season!
Katie McClay: Katie has worked in the administrative field for 14 years. Before joining Foothills, Katie worked for Global Travel in Boise. There, she learned all about the travel industry. She has always had Boise as her home base but has traveled and lived in many parts of the country. She has a son who attends Foothills and a daughter at Boise High. Katie is very interested in photography and enjoys getting out and playing in the Idaho outdoors, whether it's hiking, biking, paddleboarding, or skiing.
Tina Mullins: Tina joined the Foothills administrative team as Business Director in 2019. She joined Foothills after fourteen years at WinCo Foods, where she was a Store Manager and oversaw operations and resources. Her experience in finance, human resources, and facilities oversight has been a great addition to Foothills. No stranger to Foothills, Tina also served the Foothills Parents' Association and helped as a substitute teacher prior to joining the staff. Tina has two boys who attend Foothills and particularly loves the music and math programs.
Renee Pilbeam: Renee joined Foothills School as the Director of Enrollment Management and Marketing in early 2025. With a background in instructional design, strategic initiatives, and academic innovation, Renee has dedicated her career to understanding the student journey and fostering inclusive, engaging learning environments. An advocate for equity and belonging in education, Renee is drawn to Foothills' mission of nurturing creativity, individuality, and curiosity in students. She has been an active member of the school community as a Foothills parent and is excited to extend her impact by welcoming new families into the school. Renee holds a PhD in Educational Technology from Arizona State University. When she’s not at Foothills, Renee loves working on creative projects, bike riding the green belt, and exploring Idaho.