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| John Howitz - Executive Director
John Howitz holds a Minnesota principal’s license, has been a social studies teacher, and has founded a charter school. He has been the Alternative Programs Coordinator for the Minneapolis Public Schools, the Executive Director for the Metropolitan Federation of Alternative Schools, the Principal at MTS/PEASE Academy in Minneapolis, and the Assistant Principal at Crossroads High School in Anoka. Mr. Howitz comes to Eagle Ridge Academy with a lot of experience in fiscal management of schools and large alternative programs and has been successful in building programs throughout his career.
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| Jessica Bergeron - High School Latin Jessica Bergeron graduated from St. Olaf College in 2005 with a degree in English and Ancient Studies and is licensed to teach 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 and her son, Joshua. She also enjoys reading, being outside, playing violin, and eating ice cream (especially at Cold Stone Creamery).
| | | |  | Karin Bertoldi – Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Bertoldi worked for several years as an Office Manager for an insurance agency before joining Eagle Ridge Academy. She also taught kindergarten and first grade for nine years in Austin, Texas.
Mrs. Bertoldi is married and has three children; all attending Eagle Ridge Academy. She enjoys gardening, hiking, and traveling.
| | | |  | Dan Clapero – Middle School History
Dan Clapero has had experience teaching Economics, World History, Geography and American History. He was awarded a B.S. in Social Studies and History from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He has been very involved in the school communities that he has been a part of, including helping bring students to Mississippi to help with reconstruction efforts after Hurricane Katrina, and helping students create a documentary about their school.
He has a personal goal of traveling to all 50 states, and has so far visited 42 of them.
| | | |  | Karen Conner – Receptionist
Prior to manning the front desk, Mrs. Conner worked in human resources and conducted training for a home health care agency. She has two children attending Eagle Ridge Academy; in her spare time she enjoys reading and cooking.
| | | |  | John D'Alessandro John D’Alessandro graduated in 1976 with a B.S. in Education from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. He has worked in the Special Education field for eight years, most recently at DaVinci Academy of Arts and Sciences. John is originally from Chicago, IL, but has lived in Minnesota since 1981, so he considers himself a Minnesotan (although he is still a Bears and Cubs fan). John lives in Maple Grove, MN with his wonderful wife Deborah, who is also a school teacher. They have two grown children: Jerome and Danielle. In his spare time John likes to read, bird watch, travel, and is very passionate about soccer. He is an USSF C licensed coach and avid follower of the game. He especially enjoys watching the English and Italian leagues and the World Cup games. | | | |  | Molly Gerber - Health Coordinator
Mrs. Gerber has a BSN degree in nursing from the College of St. Benedict, and an MSE from the University of Wisconsin, Superior. She is also a certified First Responder. Mrs. Gerber has one child attending Eagle Ridge Academy. She enjoys the outdoors; particularly, running and biking.
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| Bob Guelich - Mathematics
Bob Guelich, a former senior vice-president for the Target Corporation, is a part-time mathematics teacher. Mr. Guelich completed an initial licensure program at the University of Minnesota and now holds a Minnesota teaching license in mathematics for grades 5 through 12. Mr. Guelich earned a BA degree in statistics from Princeton University in New Jersey and a Master in Business Administration from Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Guelich has been teaching at Eagle Ridge Academy since its opening in the fall of 2004.
Mr. Guelich enjoys attending the productions at the Guthrie Theater, traveling with his family, trying out new restaurants, taking pictures, watching soccer at all levels, and playing golf.
| | | |  | Jacob Hairrell - Science Mr. Hairrell graduated in 2004 with a B.S. in physics and a minor in astronomy from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He immediately went on to earn a Master's degree in Science Education through the University of Minnesota’s post-baccalaureate program. He is a member of the American Association of Physics teachers, the Minnesota Astronomical Society, and of his unofficial Nerd Club, which he founded as a way for physics teachers to maintain content knowledge, current events, and pass on interesting ideas. In his spare time, Mr. H enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife, cooking and eating different foods, travelling, stargazing, studying ethnoastronomy, and listening to progressive heavy metal. | | | | 
| Melissa Hegg - Middle School Latin
Melissa Hegg holds a Bacheler of Arts in both Latin and K-12 Education with an emphasis in Classics from Concordia College in Moorehead, Minnesota. A Minnesota native, she recently relocated from Arizona, where she taught fifth and seventh grade Latin and Classics for one year at a nationally ranked charter school. | | | |  | Stephenie Janson - Educational Assistant Stephenie Janson graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota-Morris. She holds degrees in Business Management, Economics, and Theatre. Before applying as a part time “lunch lady” at ERA, she worked as a Café & Catering Manager for American Express & General Mills. She also worked in Sales & Marketing for over ten years. She has a Food Management License through the State of MN. She loves her expanded duties at ERA which now encompass Food Director, Organizational Coach, Spirit Wear Coordinator, and miscellaneous administrative help. Her son currently attends ERA, her daughter will be part of the new ERA elementary next year. | | | | 
| Erin Johnson - Humanities, College Advisor, District Assessment Coordinator
Erin Johnson taught middle school English for three years, worked as Dean of Students, and is now the District Assessment Coordinator, our College Advisor, and a Humanities teacher. She is the faculty coordinator for the Eagle Ridge Academy Student Senate, and has co-directed the spring musicals Into the Woods, Bye Bye Birdie, and Guys and Dolls.
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.
Mrs. Johnson is a tennis coach, voice teacher and vocalist. She also loves to bake, play with her sons Gabriel and Mikko, take voice lessons and perform in recitals.
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| Lisa Johnson - High School Art
Lisa Johnson, a teacher with over twenty years of professional experience, returns to the Eagle Ridge Academy art program with the ability to find the hidden talents in all of her students. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in art and elementary education with a minor in humanities from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She has also completed post-graduate work in art, computers, physics, curriculum development and Spanish from a variety of locations, including, Michigan State University and Universidad Javeriana.
Mrs. Johnson lived for four years in Colombia, South America as a teacher with Wycliffe Bible Translators and taught science, art and physical education in a small K-12 school. Prior to joining Eagle Ridge Academy, she taught for ten years at Calvin Christian School in Edina, Minnesota, where she was responsible for art in grades one to eight and middle school Bible and language arts.
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| Jon Kamrath - Middle School Art Jon Kamrath received his Bachelor of Arts in Art Education from Concordia College in Moorehead, MN in 2003, where he met his wife Heidi. After undergraduate school, Jon taught fifth through eighth grade art in Fergus Falls Middle School in Fergus Falls, MN. He spent the last three years working with college students at Iowa State University where he received his Masters of Fine Arts in Integrated Visual Arts (sculpture) in 2008. He has been in both solo and juried group shows in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa. He has pieces in both public and private collections, including The Rourke Art Museum, Iowa State University, and Des Moines University. When not in the classroom, Mr. Kamrath is either in his home studio preparing for shows, or taking care of his son Noah.
| | | |  | Sarah Manke - Mathematics Sarah Manke graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2009. She student taught at Richfield Middle School and Totino Grace High School, a private college-preparatory school. She is the advisor of the Eagle Ridge Academy Chapter of the National Honor Society. Ms. Manke enjoys playing with her rabbit and watching movies in her spare time. This spring she will be pursuing her coaching aspirations, returning to her high school as the pitching coach for the softball team.
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| Sonja Menard – Middle School English After completing a B.A. in International Management with minors in English and Spanish, Mrs. Menard went on to complete an M.A. in Teaching with a specialization in Social Studies and
Communication Arts /Literature at the University of St. Thomas. Sonja is proficient in Spanish, and studied abroad in Madrid.
Mrs. Menard is married, and has dog named Grumbly. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and gardening. | | | |  | John Miller - Humanities John Miller studied agriculture at the University of Georgia; then took time out to work in Camphill Village, a community for developmentally disabled adults. From there he went to Emerson College in England, where he studied biodynamic agriculture, returning afterward to work on the farm at Camphill. John was married at Camphill and his first child was born there. Mr.Miller and his wife Kerry have been married for 30 years and have four children, three grandchildren, a daughter-in-law, and a son-in-law. Mr. Miller has been a teacher since 1987. He has a BA in Ancient Studies from the University of Minnesota and an MA in Education from Augsburg College. Mr. Miller has also worked in the non–profit sector. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality and Healing, where he develops curriculum and teaches on the undergraduate and graduate levels. Mr. Miller joined Eagle Ridge in the spring of 2009 and is very happy to be teaching interested and dedicated students who have been trained to be inquiring and insightful thinkers. | | | | 
| Robbie Lynn Oeltjenbruns - Mathematics
Mrs. Oeltjenbruns holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minnesota and has completed course work for a Masters in Math Education. Mrs. Oeltjenbruns holds licenses in elementary education, middle school science and middle/secondary mathematics.
At her previous schools, Mrs. Oeltjenbruns was a faculty sponsor for Mock Trial, Junior and Senior High Academic Triathlon, National Honor Society, Math League, Math Counts and the chess teams.
She lives on a farm near Hutchinson, and raises chickens, dogs, cats and angora goats. She is married, and they have one son: John.
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| Austen Rockcastle - Humanities
Dr. Rockcastle, a former assistant professor of philosophy at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, teaches math, logic and high school humanities classes. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics, a Master of Arts in philosophy and a Doctor of Philosophy in philosophy from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Rockcastle taught for seven years at the Trinity School at River Ridge in Bloomington, Minnesota. He was responsible for a number of disciplines including Latin, French, humane letters, mathematics, theology and logic. He is also a member of the Aquinas Honor Society (Delta Epsilon Sigma).
He lives in St. Paul, and has one son: Daniel.
| | | |  | Sara Sloneker - Humanities Sara Sloneker is a graduate of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona, Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Literature and holds a Master of Arts in Instruction also from Saint Mary’s. In college, she was a member of Phi Alpha Theta (History Honor Society), Sigma Tau Delta (International English Honor Society), and Delta Epsilon Sigma (National Scholastic Honor Society). She also took part in the Lasallian Honors Program where she studied the Great Books Curriculum. After college, she taught at Holy Trinity Catholic School. This is Ms. Sloneker’s first year at Eagle Ridge Academy. She is one of the yearbook advisors and the mock trial coach. In her spare time, she likes to read, go to plays and musicals, and spend time at the Arboretum. | | | | 
| Carolyn Sommers Tillotson - Science
Mrs. Sommers Tillotson, a former AmeriCorps member in Northfield, Minnesota, teaches middle school science at Eagle Ridge Academy and co-chaired the Academy’s science fair. She received her Bachelor of Arts in biology from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where she also minored in secondary education. Mrs. Sommers-Tillotson has also studied subtropical and marine biology at the Bahamian Field Station in San Salvador, Bahamas; winter ecology at the Teton Science School in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; and in a German/American Exchange Program in Wartburg, Germany.
Mrs. Sommers Tillotson has worked at the River Bend Nature Center in Faribault, Minnesota, assisting with seasonal programs such as Winter Fest, and returned to the Teton Science School as a field research station manager.
Mrs. Sommers Tillotson loves to cook, and recently enjoyed traveling to Puerto Rico with her husband.
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| Robert Stulac - High School Latin
After receiving a B.A. in History of Science from Yale University, and an M.A. in Medieval History from the University of Nebraska, Mr. Stulac completed the Ph.D. coursework in Medieval History at the University of Minnesota. Prior to coming to Eagle Ridge Academy, he worked as a graduate assistant in history, and taught Latin and chemistry to various grade level students.
Mr. Stulac spends his free time reading, rock climbing, and coin collecting, and participating in strategy games.
| | | |  | Mary Wolff - Spanish
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 teaching Spanish at the secondary level. Ms. Wolff enjoys the theater, musicals, gardening and landscaping; and she has danced in national competitions with her daughters for several years. She is a "former" soccer mom for her three children who are now adults and getting established in their own careers. Her dog, Hunter, likes to take her for walks in the neighborhood.. | | | |
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