Muddy Creek Charter School has been an elementary school fixture in the community for many decades, opening its doors as a free project-based, nature-focused charter school in 2008.
But that’s not where its history started. Before 2008 it operated as Inavale School, originally constructed in 1950 to serve rural farming communities.
Now, with the 2026-27 school year, there are changes afoot for this Corvallis charter school. First, the school welcomes a new executive director and principal, Britt Hoskins. She has been in educational leadership in Corvallis for about 10 years in roles overseeing the local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and career services for three colleges at OSU. Now Hoskins is ready to lead Muddy Creek Charter School as it writes its next chapter.
“Muddy Creek is such a special community for me to be joining in 2026-27,” Hoskins says. “The school has a tight-knit feel I noticed immediately. My own kindergarten daughter is an incoming Muskrat, so I’m experiencing being a new parent and a principal at the same time. For me, I love that rain gear and yoga balls are considered standard school supplies! I enjoy seeing the line of little mud boots in the hallway. It feels good to know my daughter will get to learn with her whole body in a small class setting. I’m excited to invest my energy in strengthening the school’s mission.”
Casting a wider net
Muddy Creek has also just announced that they are making their school, which is located in the farms and forests of south Corvallis, more accessible to Monroe families who are a 15-minute ride away.
The Monroe Library will be the site of a new free bus stop this school year. MCCS has existing bus stops at the Philomath Library, Adams Elementary, Riverbend Park, and the Corvallis Boys & Girls Club on 9th street.
“My three children are enrolled at Muddy Creek and we cannot express how much we love the school.” said Laura Durbin, co-lead of the MCCS Parent Teacher Organization and a Monroe-based parent. “Before coming here, we went through three schools, but the way children learn through their environment and nature instead of sitting in a classroom all day feels like it should be the standard for education. We’ve been making the commute from Monroe so we are overjoyed that a bus stop is being introduced! Not just to make it easier on my family but to help the other families that have been wanting to join Muddy Creek but transportation was a barrier.”
MCCS enrolls students from across the region. Hoskins noted that this bus stop will not only add convenience for Monroe families seeking a charter school education, but will create new educational options for nearby communities like Harrisburg and Junction City. As its educational niche, the school focuses on hands-on learning that is integrated with community partners and at nearby sites like farms, streams, wildlife refuges, Marys Peak, and many other field trip locations each year.
MCCS currently has space in all grades K-5 for the 2026-2027 school year. It is a public charter so it does not charge tuition. Contact office@muddycreekcharterschool.org with enrollment or bus questions or visit the school’s website for more information.
To contact Steven J. Schultz about this story, email steve@corvallisadvvocate.com
Do you have a story for The Advocate? Email editor@corvallisadvocate.com