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Leah was born in New York and has been living in Minnesota for the past 16 years. She has a B.A. in Elementary Education, a M.S. in Speech Language Pathology, and an Ed. D. in Child and Youth Leadership with a focus on special... (read more) education. She has worked with children and adults in various settings including schools, hospitals, and clinics. Her last position was the Coordinator of the Autism Clinic and Diagnostician at the University of Minnesota. She has been home for the last 10 years raising her five children who were born in Korea and joined her family through adoption. During those 10 years, she has volunteered at the University of Minnesota and events related to adoption. She has also volunteered with children from low socioeconomic backgrounds and with special needs in the US, South Korea, and Costa Rica. Leah hopes to share her love of animals, nature, music and different cultures and languages with the students at Arete Academy. The school was inspired by her two amazing sons who are both twice exceptional. She hopes Arete Academy will provide bright students who learn differently an educational setting in Minnesota where they can reach their fullest potential.
Becky is a Speech-Language Pathologist with nearly 20 years of experience working with children and adults with communication concerns. She received her B.A. degree in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences from Minnesota State University-Moorhead... (read more) and her M.A. degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Becky holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Hearing Association and is a Licensed Speech Language Pathologist by the MN Department of Health. She currently serves as the Chair of the Policy Council for the Minnesota Speech Hearing Association. In addition to her work with Arete Academy, Becky has been a Clinical Specialist in the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences at the University of Minnesota since 2006 and has operated a small private practice since 2010. Becky is married with 2 girls and a dog/wookie named Chewy. She enjoys time with her family, reading, using her label maker and checking things off her many, many lists.
Cat Mathieu received her B.F.A. from Columbia College Chicago in 2012 with a degree in Illustration and a minor in American Sign Language. During her senior year, she decided to pursue a career in teaching. After graduation, she... (read more) moved back home to Minnesota and earned her M.Ed. in Art Education from the University of Minnesota. She received her masters degree and her teaching license summer of 2015. This is her very first teaching position, and she is so excited to be working with the students and staff at Arete! When she is not at school, Cat enjoys creating her own artwork, listening to and playing music, reading novels and comics, and watching cartoons. She can't wait to share her love of all things art with the students and families of Arete!
Growing up in the mountains of Colorado, Chris has always been drawn to working with youth and young adults. With at B.A. and M.A. in Education, he has taught at the high and middle school levels at both public and private schools... (read more) in Minnesota and Colorado. He has also been able to work with youth outside of the classroom as a wilderness guide, camp counselor, ski instructor, and youth director. He is thankful that his life’s journey has brought him to Arete! Outside of school, Chris loves to play outside with his wife and dog including mountain biking, skiing, and whitewater rafting.
Arete welcomed Curtis to the team at the end of the 2016/17 school year when he finished out the year teaching Life Skills. During the 2017/18 he will continue to teach Life Skills as well as Environmental Studies and Spanish.... (read more) Curtis will also contribute to Outdoor and Service Learning projects as well as oversee the implementation of a recycling grant awarded to Arete by Hennepin County in May 2017.
Curtis received a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and a second in Spanish from the University of St. Thomas. Curtis then lived in Mexico for five years earning two master’s degrees, one in International Relations from Alliant University in Mexico City and another in Sustainability & Transformative Processes from the University of Veracruz, Mexico. He also has certificates in Permaculture, Holistic Health, Community Mediation, and Youth Restorative Justice.
Curtis has worked in schools as a conflict resolution facilitator through Minneapolis Conflict Resolution Center, coordinated ACES for Kids after school program and was the Education Director at Spark-Y Youth Action Labs developing and managing an experiential education program. At SLP SEEDS, a local nonprofit, Curtis worked to develop programming to bring food equity and ecological wellness to the community of St. Louis Park.
Curtis is clearly passionate about ecology and sharing his knowledge of individual, community and global wellness. He hopes to develop strong, supportive relationships with Arete students. Curtis is enthusiastic, along with the rest of the Arete team, about teaching the practical and interpersonal skills necessary to build a healthy and regenerative future.
Dan has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Bachelor Fine Arts degree in Creative and Professional Writing from Bemidji State. As an intrinsically curious and avid learner, he has lived in four different countries... (read more) and taught in three of them. For the 2017 school year, Dan will be returning to Minnesota after a year abroad in Colombia. In the classroom, Dan has taught English and Social Studies at both the middle and high school levels. He shares his creativity with this students to create a student friendly environment in which students engage and critically think about the content. Furthermore, Dan looks forward to sharing his passion for teaching and learning with his students, and he views the classroom as an extension of his own personal learning process.
In his free time Dan enjoys playing basketball, practicing yoga (currently working on that headstand!), listening to music, and traveling. He is looking forward to returning to Minnesota and being a part of the Arete community.
Emily was fortunate to have had many influential teachers growing up, which in turn inspired her to be a teacher. She earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in 2008 and then moved... (read more) to Minnesota where she coached high school girls soccer and taught 6th grade language arts in the Eastern Carver County school district for three years. In January 2012, Emily and her husband set off on a 27-month journey as United States Peace Corps volunteers in a small rural village in Thailand. An experience of a lifetime! Emily has taught fifth grade in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district for the past three years. She is also a certified yoga teacher and Yoga Calm instructor. She is passionate about helping students feel valued, empowered and successful. Outside of school, Emily enjoys the outdoors with her husband and 18-month old, running, cooking good food, the Packers and doing yoga.
Erica received her B.A. in History from the University of Minnesota and her M.A. in Special Education - Learning Disabilities from Bethel University. She previously worked as an American Sign Language facilitator in Edina Public... (read more) Schools and as a grant coordinator in the Academic Health Center at the University of Minnesota. Most recently, Erica has been a reading and writing teacher in the upper school at Groves Academy in St. Louis Park, MN. At Groves Academy, she learned how students can thrive and feel success when given the opportunity to learn in a small, safe, and comfortable environment. When students' unique learning needs are met on an individual basis, they can reach their potential. There is no greater joy than having a student want to share "a must read book" with a teacher. When not teaching, Erica enjoys being outdoors and loves animals. She lives in the south metro with her husband Eric, their new baby Thor, a poodle-mix named Coco, and 2 cats named Spartacus and Penelope.
Haley received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. During her last years of college, she realized her love of teaching and took the steps necessary to make her passion a reality. After graduating, Haley continued... (read more) at the University of Minnesota and received her M. Ed. in Elementary Education. While at the University of Minnesota, she was an intern at the Lovaas Institute Midwest. Through this internship she provided behavioral therapy for children on the autism spectrum. Haley has also volunteered at the Jerry Gamble Boys and Girls Club, ACES, and a number of low income elementary schools in North Minneapolis. Haley is thrilled to begin her teaching career at Arete Academy. When she is not at school, you can find Haley out on the lake, walking her dogs, spending time with family, or reading a good book.
Growing up, Hannah always knew she was going to be a teacher. She spent her days creating classrooms and "teaching" her friend's younger siblings. In 2015, She graduated with a B.S in Elementary Education and then applied for... (read more) a M.Ed program at the University of Minnesota. After being accepted, she decided she wanted to teach for a year before returning to school. She packed her bags and moved across the world where she taught 3 rd grade at an English Language School in Hua Hin, Thailand. Although it was hard to say goodbye to Thailand after only a year Hannah returned to the great state of Minnesota to complete her M.Ed. Arete Academy will be Hannah's first teaching job in the U.S. She is looking forward to working closely with the staff and families of Arete! Outside of teaching you can find Hannah coaching soccer, enjoying the outdoors, walking her dog around Calhoun, spending time with her nieces and nephew, or with her nose stuck in book!
Jamie Teigen received her B.S. in Secondary Education and History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2007. She is pursuing a K-12 reading teacher endorsement and Master of Arts in Literacy Education. Jamie loves to spend... (read more) time with her two boys and husband. They enjoy spending time outdoors and traveling to historically and architecturally significant places whenever possible. As the oldest of six children, Jamie felt a natural pull to working with kids. As a teenager, she began to pursue jobs and experiences that allowed her to work with children of various ages and abilities. Her jobs as babysitter, tutor, after-school program staff member, and personal care attendant assured her that she was meant to teach. After college, she worked in the Mounds View School District at Highview Middle School, and later moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked at an urban private school for five years. Her most recent position was at the Siena School in Washington, D.C., a school which serves bright students with language-learning differences. When her family relocated to Minnesota (where Jamie and her husband both grew up), she was drawn to the mission of Arete Academy and looks forward to sharing her passion for history, government, current issues, geography, and other social studies with the students at Arete.
Jolene has a M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering as well as B.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics from Iowa State University. She was named ISU's Outstanding Senior in Electrical Engineering in 1987 and received... (read more) a Research Excellence Award for her graduate research. She worked as an electrical engineer for 15 years before becoming a full-time homeschool parent to her highly gifted son. Early in her career she also taught Power Systems Analysis and Technical Calculus at Bradley University while working for a power company in Peoria, Illinois.
In addition to her work at Arete, Jolene also teaches math Cyprus Classical Academy, she teaches middle-school math enrichment classes through the Edina Center for Academic Excellence, and she serves on the board of the Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented. Jolene is also the creator of the Virtual Math Club http://virtualmathclub.wordpress.com, a web site for students who are interested in developing their mathematical problem solving skills using problems similar to those found on math contests such as AMC, MATHCOUNTS, and other middle-school math contests.
"I love to see the sense of empowerment kids feel when you can lift the curtain to reveal the inner workings behind the magic of mathematics. Many people think that mathematics is a bunch of hocus-pocus; memorize these facts and algorithms and you magically get the right answer. But, mathematics makes sense — it's all built on the foundation of very simple ideas — and once you understand those ideas and how they fit together, you can create your own magic!"
Katie has always been active in sports but when she started karate 15 years ago she found her passion. She has spent the last 9 years teaching karate through her school JK Martial Arts working with individuals that have learning,... (read more) emotional, and behavioral challenges. The curriculum she created focuses on positive reinforcement and individual success. Recently Katie received certification as a Yoga Calm instructor expanding the tools to help her students achieve physical and emotional health. At Arete Academy, she provides the students with a wide variety of movement opportunities, including Yoga and Karate. Katie is fluent in Spanish and also assists with the Spanish classes. She is married and has two beautiful energetic sons that keep her on her toes along with two dogs. She loves spending time with her family at the beach, the park, playing with the dogs, and getting the family’s favorite meal at Pig Ate My Pizza.
Lérida Jerez was born in Mexico City, Mexico. She has a B.A. in Communication with an emphasis in Journalism from Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, and a certificate in Social Responsibility from Universidad Iberoamericana.... (read more) She has worked for different non-profits during her career, mostly focusing on education, impoverished youths, and women's rights. She enjoys working with people and getting to know their stories rather than sitting in front of a desk. When she finds some free time Lerida enjoys writing, reading, watching movies, traveling, and, when forced, being outside. She owns a little dog named Mandarina who stayed back in Mexico to keep an eye on her mom and the books she left behind.
Throughout childhood, Max received tons of subtle (and some not so subtle) hints about what he should do when he grows up. There are a handful of teachers in his family and it seemed perfectly clear to them that Max was destined... (read more) to teach. Max earned a BAS in Teaching Life Science at the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2013. Living in Duluth, volunteering at the Great Lakes Aquarium, and watching raptors fly over Lake Superior, he received some more subtle hints that the right classroom for him might be a unique and alternative setting. Max spent two years as a naturalist at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, where he built his teaching foundation on experiential education, providing authentic scientific experiences, and making sure that everyone went home with dirty hands and muddy shoes. Science is more than big words in a big book- it is about moving, doing, creating, and critical thinking. Max also works as an interpretive naturalist at the Minnesota Zoo. In his free time, Max enjoys woodcarving projects, camping in Northern Minnesota, and bird watching.
Mike received his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 2005. After working in the nuclear power industry for a few years, he had the opportunity to pursue something that had been on his mind for... (read more) a while... teaching! He began substituting, tutoring, student teaching and loved it! He received his math teaching license and is finishing a Master of Arts in Education through Augsburg College.
Mike can relate and succeeded in a learning environment which allowed for some flexibility. He is excited to be a part of the Arete Academy Team and the unique individualized approach it offers to students. He is also excited to contribute his experience and join students to investigate the endlessly curious and interesting world in which we live.
Mike is married to Chen Mellema and they have two children, Xavier and Lucy. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, working with his hands, games, reading, outdoor activities, and drumming.
Molly is an elementary education teacher with ten years of experience. She grew up as an only child in Pittsburgh and went to Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania where she attained a degree in Early Childhood Development... (read more) and Education. She moved to Minneapolis after graduating from college. She has taught for Minneapolis schools, Hill School in Wayzata, and just finished eight years at Deephaven Academy. Along with teaching, she has also worked as a tutor for ten years. She lives in downtown Minneapolis with her husband, her cat Malcolm, and her kitten Shere Khan. She enjoys reading, exploring the city on foot, being around people, and bonding with her ten-month- old nephew Eddie. She believes all students are capable of achieving great things. She is ecstatic about joining the Arete family and embracing this new adventure!
Crosby serves as the therapy/emotional support dog for Arete Academy. Crosby's favorite thing in the world is getting cuddly and snuggling, but he has no problem letting loose and playing around. Crosby is trained to sit, stay,... (read more) shake, lay down, and if someone is having a tough day or needs a little support when they're working on something particularly challenging, Crosby is happy to stay nearby. He will do just about anything for a treat, but he has some dietary sensitivities. Crosby's favorite toys are his nylabone, a monkey with long legs, a dryer ball he found, and leftover scraps from tie blankets.
Greg taught English classes for five years at Iowa State University after receiving his B.A. and M.A. from ISU, dabbling in web development as a hobby. He then moved back to the Twin Cities and got into professional web development... (read more) for about ten years, before going back to school again for his M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Minnesota. During his coursework, he developed a great interest in educational technology and "gamification" of curriculum. He now works on numerous educational sites in addition to developing curriculum for Arete Academy. Being a bit of a computer-game nerd himself, Greg has worked on numerous educational trivia and gaming websites as well. In his free time, he's an amateur handyman and a pretty decent cook, and he spends his nights crusading as Batman - but please don't tell anyone!
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