Presenters Bios

Rick Bell is a Technology Integration Specialist at New Prague Area Schools. My focus is in elementary integration with our three elementary schools. I was a classroom teacher for six years where I taught fourth and fifth grade. My wife Heidi and I live in New Prague with our one-year old Aidan. I really like to spend a lot of time with my son and his mom, as well as play baseball, basketball and bike. I also coach high school baseball, middle school basketball and youth football.

Pat Bethke has been an early childhood instructor in Lakeville’s ISD 194 Small Wonders Preschool Program for 12 years, and is currently working towards her MAEd in Instructional Leadership. She was trained and certified in the Nurtured Heart Approach with the Champaign Unit 4 School District in Champaign, IL. She uses the approach in her classroom and has experienced the most profound transformation of positive behaviors with very challenging children. Pat currently teaches the approach to parents and teachers in the surrounding Twin Cities area, and this past winter, through ISD 196 (Rosemount, Apple Valley Eagan) Community Education. Pat has lived in the Lakeville area for 20 years with her husband Tim. She has 4 adult children. This is Pat’s first year at SORLA.

Shawn Brandt taught middle school technology education for 9 years and is currently the Technology Integration Specialist for New Prague Area Schools. Assisting teachers as they incorporate technology across the curriculum, Shawn stresses that the goal of technology integration is not learning how to use technology but using technology to learn.

Renee Carlson is currently an evaluator and instructor for the Learner’s Edge Inc. Prior to the Learner’s Edge, she served as an Elementary Assistant Principal in the South St. Paul School District, and taught first and fourth grade in District 196. She believes in the importance of continuing education and enjoys providing meaningful, current, professional development experiences for teachers.

Kristin Cayo teaches for Eden Prairie schools in a 3rd/4th grade multiage program. She has had the opportunity to work for SciMathMN and the State Department of Children Families and Learning (currently Dept. of Education) as an elementary math specialist. Kristin also teaches as an adjunct faculty member for Hamline University in the Graduate Program of Education. She was awarded Faculty Member of the Year in 2006 and is currently a state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (elementary). She is also the proud mom of Sophie, who was born on Pi day (3-14) in 2002 and Ethan, who was born on two consecutive numbers of the Fibonocci sequence (8-13) in 2006.

Beth Flottmeier is currently an Elementary Curriculum Coordinator for Bloomington Public Schools. She completed undergraduate work at UW-LaCrosse, masters at Hamline University and holds a Reading Specialist License. Beth has been a media specialist and taught in a multiage setting for over 10 years. She loves literacy and sharing her enthusiasm for it. Beth is a proud mother of a daughter age 3 and son age 9 months.

Becky Gainey has been a Reading Specialist with Northfield Public Schools for the last 3 years. Becky has over 14 years of classroom experience in various elementary settings. As a Reading Specialist, Becky has found a wonderful balance of working in classrooms and working alongside teacher to share her passion for literacy.

Rachel Gens is a currently a 2nd grade teacher at Valley View Elementary in Bloomington. She has also taught Title I and served as the Literacy Coordinator at Valley View. She holds a master's degree from Hamline University and has a K-12 Reading Specialist license. She has been a presenter at SORLA as well as Hamline University's Summer Literacy Institute. Rachel is passionate about working with at-risk students and enjoys watching struggling readers develop enthusiasm for reading.

Shannon Gilmore has been working in District 196 (Rosemount, Apple Valley, and Eagan) for the past 13 years. She taught in elementary classrooms in grades 3-5 for 7 years. Currently, she is working as an Elementary Math Trainer for District 196. This is the sixth year that she has traveled to all 18 elementary buildings and worked with second and third grade students and teachers. Her responsibilities include district-wide professional development, meeting with teachers to help facilitate the implementation of the math curriculum adoption, and teaching demonstration lessons in the area
of mathematics.

Patti Greene is Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools’ K-12 Reading Coordinator. She serves on Hamline’s Summer Literacy Institute Committee. Patti is an adjunct instructor for Hamline, offering literacy courses both on and off campus.

Ann Griffin is a first grade teacher in the St. Paul Public Schools. She is an adjunct faculty member of Hamline University and a planning committee member for Hamline's Summer Literacy Institute. She is also trained in Reading Recovery.

Louise Griffith, an internationally-recognized speaker, psychologist, leadership coach, and former educator, helps her clients get clear about what they want - and then achieve it. Under her spirited and practical guidance, they learn how to access their power, eliminate self-defeating behaviors, build on their strengths and tap into their passion. Louise challenges her clients to explore how their thoughts impact their actions. The result? Better choices, improved communications, richer relationships, life-changing insights and increased success. Her clients include individuals, educational institutions, associations and companies who want MORE!

Bob Hazen is the founder and director of SAI: the Summer Algebra Institute for KIDS. SAI is a week-long, half-day math enrichment program for students entering grades 3-6, where students learn how to be successful in math while also having fun with algebra. Since 1995, more than 2,300 kids have attended SAI – mostly from the Twin Cities metro area but also from as far away as Arizona, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Texas. Bob has served on adjunct faculty at Augsburg College, teaching courses on elementary math methods. He also has written a math education column for a national educational periodical and is a regular speaker at education conferences on “Math Games to Supplement Any Math Curriculum” and similar topics. Bob has taught secondary mathematics since 1988 and currently teaches math at Mounds View High School. He can be reached at 651-645-4432, via email at info@AlgebraForKids.com, or via at the SAI website at www.AlgebraForKids.com.

Leah Johnson has 16 years of elementary classroom experience. She is currently teaching third grade at Orchard Lake Elementary in Lakeville.

Michelle Johnson has 14 years of teaching experience in grades K, 2,3, and Title one. She is currently teaching third grade at Orchard Lake Elementary in Lakeville.

Peggy Knapp is a faculty member in the Center for Global Environmental Education (CGEE), part of Hamline University’s Graduate School of Education. Her work with CGEE focuses on science inquiry and place-based education, helping K-12 teachers integrate curriculum through the organizing context of environmental education. Before coming to CGEE, Knapp was an award-winning correspondent and video producer, specializing in science and environmental issues. She appeared regularly on the national PBS science series, “Newton’s Apple,” and as a reporter and producer for CNN.

Jen Legatt is the Instructional Technology Integration Specialist for the Farmington School District. Prior to this, Jen taught middle school English for ISD192 and Farmington. She has her Master’s Degree in Educational Technology from Minnesota State University, Mankato. In her current position, she has worked to help teachers bring technology tools into their classrooms to enrich student learning. She enjoys spending time experimenting with technology tools, reading, scrapbooking, gardening, and spending time with her husband and baby daughter.

Sarah Loechler has been a guidance counselor at Twin Oaks Middle School in Prior Lake for the last 9 years. She has been presenting on the topic of bullying for the past seven years and with SORLA specifically for the past 4 years. She has a very interactive presentation with a lot of dialogue and problem solving amongst participants.

Jennifer McCarty (Plucker) is a Literacy Coordinator and Reading Specialist at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, District 196 where she has taught English Language Arts, Speech, and Reading for 13 years. Jen recently completed her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership (K-12) from Argosy University where she concentrated her research in systematic intervention for middle and high school readers. In addition to being elected as the new Vice President of the Minnesota Reading Association, she has collaborated with the Minnesota Department of Education, the MRA Secondary Reading Interest Council, Literacy Leader Network, and the Teachers of Striving Readers cohort in District 196. She also is an adjunct instructor for Augsburg, Saint Mary's, and beginning this fall, Hamline. Jen is passionate about accelerating the literacy growth of adolescent readers and is eager to collaborate with other teachers on best practices for achieving this.

Julie McDonell is a third grade teacher at Valley View Elementary. Prior to this, she spent five years working with 3rd and 5th grade teachers as a Title I teacher. Julie enjoys working with struggling readers and helping them gain the strategies and confidence necessary to become good readers. She has a Master’s Degree in education from Saint Mary's University.

Jason Molesky
Visit http://web.mac.com/statsmonkey for information about Jason.

Julie Montgomery is currently a math trainer for grades 4-8 in district
196 (Rosemount, Apple Valley and Eagan). Her teaching experience
includes 13 years of 6th grade math in the middle school setting and 15
years of teaching 5th grade in elementary classrooms. She enjoys working
with students of all ages, including adult learners!

Sara Murr has over 20 years teaching experience and is a former elementary teacher, dean of students and a staff development coordinator. She currently teaches English and social studies at Hidden Oaks Middle School in Prior Lake.

Dr. Char Myklebust is a brain-based learning presenter certified by Jensen Learning. She wrote the MDE teacher's training manual for Early Warning Signs of Childrens' Mental Health Disorders. Char is the Director of Social Emotional Learning in Intermediate District 287, where she oversees co-located mental health services for children.

Jack Olwell
33 years experience in elementary PE
30 years head tennis coach @ FHS
2009 Farmington Teacher of the Year
Vice President elect for Physical Education on MN AHPERD board
Adjunct for Bemidji State University
Presenter at state and regional conferences

Julene Oxton is a Learning Specialist at Orchard Lake Elementary in Lakeville MN. She has a love for the at-risk learner and continueous professional growth; thus the dedication to SORLA. Her hope and dream is to share her knowledge and experience with others so they can in turn engage students and increase their love of learning. Julene is Reading Recovery and Math Recovery trained, has a Masters in Educational Leadership and has taught at the Elementary level for 25 years.

Kyle Pederson is the co-founder of Learner’s Edge Inc., an education company that offers a variety of graduate courses and services nationwide. Kyle has presented at numerous conferences and workshops on both the regional and national level. As Director of Curriculum & Instruction, he has worked closely with regional school district personnel on a variety of staff development initiatives. Prior to his consulting work, Kyle spent a number of years teaching in the secondary classroom in grades 6-12.

Jayme Pelerine, a grade reading teacher in Hopkins with almost 20 years of teaching experience. She is a former adjunct Language Arts instructor at Bemidji State University.

Kelly Peterson is a practicing school psychologist in New Prague, Minnesota. Ms. Peterson received her bachelor's degree in psychology from St. Cloud State University and her Master's and Post Master's degrees in Education and School Psychology from the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse. Currently, she dedicates most of her time to evaluation, consultation, and intervention with children in early childhood to fifth grade. Ms. Peterson's experience is highlighted in assessment, social skills training, and the development of behavior interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). She acts as a consultant for a level 3 ASD program in a K-5 elementary school and also conducts district wide ASD evaluations.

Linda Knebel Pruden is a speech/language pathologist living in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has over 30 years of teaching experience in rural, inner city, and suburban schools, was named Teacher of the Year in her school district in 1987, and was honored as one of three outstanding teachers in the state of Texas in 1988. Linda is the author of five books for teachers. She has presented numerous workshops and seminars in the areas of language, listening, and learning, at the local, state, and national levels. Additionally, Linda has been an adjunct faculty member of several universities, including Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, where she has taught since 1980. Linda’s seminars are based on the philosophy that all students can learn, that listening, language, and thinking skills can be taught, that empowering students is vital, and that learning can be fun for teachers, as well as for students. Her presentations are both humorous and thought provoking. She encourages each teacher to reevaluate and, in so doing, to grow. A multitude of ideas that can be easily incorporated into all curriculum areas are provided. “Stimulating” and ‘Practical” are consistently used to describe her seminars. Linda also teaches classes through Learner's Edge, Inc. Check out Teachers Matter June 23-24 and many other professional development opportunities at www.LearnersEdgeInc.com.

Stevie Ray

Director, Division of Corporate Delevopment of Stevie Ray's Improv Company.
International Corporate Trainer and consultant with Fortune 500 companies and start-ups.
Keynote speaker consistently rated the #1 presenter at conferences and events.
Has trained professionals from over 45 countries.
Private executive Coach in leadership and communication.
Professional Member of the National Speakers Association.
Columnist for the Business Journal Newspaper since 1997.
The only person in the country to design his own college degree in Theory and Performance of Comedy at Moorhead State University in Minnesota.
A master of improvisation, he started his training in 1977 and has studied with some of the greatest improvisers in the country.
International entertainer, performed his first show at the age of nine and has been making people laugh ever since. Has opened for Paula Poundstone, Marsha Warfield ("Night Court"), Rich Hall ("Saturday Night Live"), and "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Host of the Miss Minnesota Pageant 2005, and St. Paul Winter Carnival Coronation 1998-2001
Author:
What We Laugh at, and Why, a book that explain the nature of humor and laughter, used as a text in several universities.
Spontaneity Takes Practice, a three-volume series of exercises and advice, helping people think quickly and communicate more effectively in the workplace.
Real estate investor with properties in Minneapolis and Richfield.
Martial artist since 1977 and holder of four black belts.
Award-winning blues harmonica player.
Beekeeper and owner of "Steve's Bees Minnesota Honey."

Children’s book author Jane St. Anthony grew up in Minneapolis and earned a bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Minnesota. Her first middle grade novel, The Summer Sherman Loved Me (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2006), was completed while she was a resident at The Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Red Wing, Minnesota. Grace Above All (FSG), her second novel for young readers, was published in May 2007. Before turning to fiction, Jane worked in corporate and nonprofit communications.

Carrie Sauber is a kindergarten teacher at Christina Huddleston Elementary School in Lakeville, MN. She has been teaching first and second grade for 7 years. For the past 6 years, she taught first and second grade as a looping teacher. Carrie also teaches classes through Learner's Edge, Inc. Check out Literacy A-Z for pK-3, Mathtastic! Making Math Meaningful for pK-3, and many other professional development opportunities at www.LearnersEdgeInc.com.

Kristin Scherman is a Reading Specialist at the secondary level for Farmington schools, where she works as a Literacy Coach, District Literacy Advocate, and Reading Teacher for Title 1 students. She has taught at a variety of elementary grade levels, including two years as a third grade teacher, and has worked with 6-9th grade striving readers through an ALC program, which she helped design. This is Kristin’s eighth year of teaching and will be her second year teaching at SORLA.

Lee Schmitt is Professional Development Coordinator and faculty for the Center for Global Environmental Education in the Hamline University School of Education. A major portion of his work involves developing and implementing programs and courses for in-service teachers in the areas of science content, inquiry/best practices implementation, and standards-based science curricula. From 2006-09 he directed the Minnesota Science Teachers Education Project (MnSTEP) – $2.3 million statewide professional development program for teachers of science recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a leading program in the nation. Schmitt facilitates workshops for the Minnesota Science Teachers Partnership (MSTP) and serves on the boards of the Minnesota Science Teachers Association (MnSTA) and the Minnesota Earth Science Teachers Association (MESTA). Schmitt has 15 years of classroom experience as a science teacher, 18 years in teacher professional development and is Wisconsin’s 1990 Teacher of the Year.

Cynthia Stevenson is currently on leave from her position as Professional Development Coordinator for Lakeville Schools. This is her second year as Project Coordinator for the Region 11 Math and Science Teacher Academy, part of a state-wide initiative to provide high quality professional development for math and science teachers. Prior to working in Lakeville, Cindy has been a classroom teacher, an education product development specialist, and a national math consultant for a major publishing company. One of her professional areas of interest is following the brain research about how learning happens.

Annie Tessar is the Secondary Instuctional Coordinator for the Shakopee School District. Through this role, she has been trained in Cognitive Coaching and the SIOP Model for teaching ELL students and provides staff development and teacher support throughout the Middle, Junior and Senior High Schools. Prior to this, Annie taught 10-12 grade social studies at Shakopee High School, and is a Gustavus Alumni—Go Gusties!

Judi Tomczik has been an educator for 35 years, most of that time in Shakopee School District 720. Her classroom background is in Language Arts and encompasses grades 5-12. For the past several years, she has been the High Potential Coordinator for Secondary Schools in Shakopee. As a local and national presenter and as an Assistant Professor in the St. Mary’s University graduate program, she has been a resource in subjects such as differentiation, assessment, brain research, learning styles, etc.

Amy VandenBerg is an Autism Resource Specialist and Special Services Coordinator in New Prague, Minnesota. Ms. VandenBerg completed her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. She received her Certification in Autism Spectrum Disorders and her Masters in Art of Education at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She also is pursuing her license as a Director of Special Education and a Principal. Ms. VandenBerg participates in identification, evaluation, and intervention procedures for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She currently teaches early childhood special education social skills classes, consults on students who are pre-K age through middle school, provides professional development opportunities within her district, and coordinates services for Early Childhood Special Education and Elementary programs in the district.

Beth Verkinderen has taught at Eastview Elementary for 9 years. She has had the pleasure of teaching 6th, 5th, 2nd, and 3rd grade. She enjoys using creative ways that allow her students to enjoy the writing process.

Sue Zapf has been in the Lakeville School District for the past 22 years. For the first 15 years, she primarily taught Speech and Creative Writing at Lakeville North High School. In 2003, she attend Dr. Mel Levine’s Schools Attuned training in Chicago, and since that time, she has continues to apply those philosophies and techniques in her classroom. During the summer of 2006, she had the opportunity to be an assistant for the Schools Attuned training in Plymouth, Minnesota. For the past 7 years, she has taught in the 8th and 9th grad COMPASS program at Lakeville’s Area Learning Center.

During her thirty years in education, Susan Zukowski has taught in Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, and Germany. As a classroom teacher, she has worked with students in pre-school, and grades 1,3,4,5, and 6. As a special educator, Susan has worked with students ages 4-21 in hospital settings, self-contained classrooms, resource rooms, and inclusive settings. In addition, she has worked as an adjunct professor at the University of North Dakota, teaching classes in the areas of classroom management, introduction to Special Education, methods and materials for teaching students with learning disabilities and emotional disorders, behavior management, and consultation and collaboration.
Susan currently works as a special educator in Grades K-5 in the Grand Forks, North Dakota Public Schools. For the past 17 years her primary responsibilities have involved working with students with emotional and behavioral disorders and learning disabilities and supporting classroom teachers as they serve the needs of all of their students. Susan loves to share what she has learned from her students and her colleagues through presentations at various local, state, and national conferences.

Susan also teaches classes through Learner's Edge, Inc. Check out the many professional development opportunities at www.LearnersEdgeInc.com.