Pete Larson, Chair, Parent
Pete Larson has worked for Bethany Press International, a manufacturer of paperback books in Bloomington, for the last 10 years in a variety of roles. Currently, he serves as the Chief Operations Officer. Prior to that, he worked in newspaper advertising sales and management. He is a graduate from Michigan Technological University with a degree in Personnel and Industrial Relations. Mr. Larson and his wife, Susan, reside in Shakopee with their four children, two of which are currently students at Eagle Ridge Academy.
Lee Stearns, Vice Chair, Parent
Lee has been at ConAgra Foods for five years in a variety of operations leadership roles and is currently Plant Manager at their Lakeville facility making Private Label Granola, Breakfast and Specialty Bars, Cereals and Fruit Snacks as well as Act II Popcorn Balls. He has over twenty years of experience driving operational excellence in a variety of manufacturing industries. He holds an BS of Industrial Engineering from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, CA. He has a daughter in eighth grade at Eagle Ridge and a son at Normandale Community College.
Jim Romportl, Treasurer, Parent
Mr. Romportl holds an accounting degree from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and a CMA from the Institute of Management Accountants. Mr. Romportl served as a parent representative on Eagle Ridge Academy’s fundraising committee during the 2005/2006 school year. He has been on the Finance committee since the 05/06 year and continues to serve on that committee. Mr. Romportl and his wife are the proud parents of three children, one of which attends Eagle Ridge Academy.
Sonja Menard, Secretary, Teacher
Mrs. Menard joined Eagle Ridge Academy in 2007 as a middle school English teacher. She holds a B.A. in International Management with minors in English and Spanish, and an M.A. in Teaching with a specialization in Social Studies and Communication Arts/Literature from the University of St. Thomas. She serves on the Board Fundraising Committee.
Carolyn Sommers Tillotson, Teacher
Mrs. Sommers Tillotson teaches middle school science at Eagle Ridge Academy; she has been with Eagle Ridge Academy since it opened in 2004. She received her Bachelor of Arts in biology from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. She served as the board secretary for the 2007-2008 school year, and served on the Fundraising Committee for the same period. She lives with her husband David in Richfield.
David Dikken, Parent
David Dikken is CEO and founder of MTL, LLC in Bloomington, Minnesota. MTL designs and builds Measurement Systems and Automation by combining the disciplines Physics, and Mathematics, with Engineering and Computer Science to provide solutions for difficult measurement problems. Prior to founding MTL in 1996, Mr. Dikken worked for the State of Minnesota as Technical Manager of the Petrochemical and Metrology Laboratories and on contract with the National Institute of Standards and Technology as a Technical Assessor. Mr. Dikken graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Geology/Physics; and beside the science side of his work has an interest in team leadership, strategic planning, life long learning and organizational excellence. Mr. Dikken lives in Bloomington with his wife and has a daughter at Eagle Ridge Academy and two younger children.
Erin Johnson, Assessment Coordinator, Teacher
Mrs. Johnson has been with Eagle Ridge Academy since it opened in 2004, and contributed to building the academic program. She taught middle school history for three years, served as Dean of Students for one year, and now is the Assessment Coordinator, College Advisor, and is teaching Humanities. Mrs. Johnson is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Arts in history and holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. She and her husband have two boys.
Mary Wolff, Teacher
Ms. Wolff received her Bachelor's Degree in Spanish and Physical Education from Minnesota State University, Mankato; her K-6 Certification from the University of Minnesota; and a Court Reporting Degree from the Minnesota School of Business. She worked several years as a freelance court reporter and served on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Court Reporters Association for several years. She is currently in her 14th year of working in secondary education and teaches high school Spanish and composition classes. She is in her second year of serving on the Public Relations Committee and chairing the Student Ambassador Program for Eagle Ridge Academy.
Ms. Wolff enjoys the theater, musicals, gardening, landscaping and reading novels. She has a daughter who teaches in Eden Prairie, a daughter who works with community volunteers in Chicago, and a son who is an MP in the Army Reserve and is currently serving in Baghdad with his K-9 track and attack dog, Kargo.
Jessica Bergeron, Teacher
Mrs. Bergeron is in her second year at Eagle Ridge Academy as a high school Latin teacher. She graduated from St. Olaf College with a degree in English and Ancient Studies and is licensed to teach both Communication Arts/Literature and Latin. In college, she was a member of Eta Sigma Phi (Classics Honors Society) and served as an Ambassador Host to the college. After college, she taught English at South High School in Minneapolis. She then taught Creative Writing & Latin at both South View Middle School and Valley View Middle School in Edina.
In her spare time, Mrs. Bergeron enjoys spending time with her husband, Ryan, and her son, Joshua. She also enjoys reading, being outside, and playing violin.
