President:

 

Dawn Van Ryn-Olson: Dawn Van Ryn-Olson is the parent of a freshman at Avalon. She is a former Avalon School board member during the start up and first years of the school. Currently, Dawn works as a policy specialist for the Minnesota Department of Human Services; previously, she was Coordinator for Early Childhood Family Education and School Readiness with the Columbia Heights School District. She has a BA in Business and a M. Ed. in Family Education. Dawn spends her free time driving children to activities and studying computer programming.

Vice President:

 

Carrie Bakken: Carrie Bakken has been teaching urban youth for ten years, and she has been a member of the Avalon team since June 2001. Carrie is the Vice President of the Avalon School Board and has been a member of the School Board since July of 2001. Previous to becoming a teacher and completing a Masters in Teaching at the University of St. Thomas, Carrie earned her Juris Doctorate from Hamline University School of Law. Because of her legal education, she is committed to providing students with opportunities to explore civic responsibility and social justice. Carrie’s other academic resources include earning a Bachelor of Arts from Beloit College with a major in Women’s Studies and a minor in Latin American Studies. In July of 2006, Carrie and Gretchen Sage-Martinson entered into new roles as the Program Coordinators.

Secretary:

 

Walter R, “Skip” Olsen: Skip has been a social studies teacher and high school guidance counselor and has served as a business agent for the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers. He was educated at Trenton State College in New Jersey and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. As an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas and St. Mary’s University, he taught courses on leadership, management skills, organizational development, and educational reform. He taught the use of the Internet for research at Open University. Skip has consulted with teachers unions, schools, and school districts. As a teacher and consultant Skip has used film clips, stories, poems, and music extensively to initiate and enhance dialogues.

Treasurer:

Walter Anastazievsky: Walter is a parent of a junior at Avalon. He is impressed with the open atmosphere and academic opportunities at Avalon, and is excited to be a member of the Avalon community. In his professional life, he works with not-for-profit organizations on human resource and compensation issues. He brings his experience in this area to the Avalon board. As a former researcher at the University of Minnesota, he also has a strong interest in education and educational issues.

Monessa Newell: Monessa Newell is currently a member of the Avalon School Board. In the fall of 2005, Monessa graduated from St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis with a Masters in Instruction. During that course work, she received licensure requirements for a Social Studies License. Previously, Monessa has had experience working with children of all ages from various backgrounds including; nannying, pre-school teaching, and working at the Minneapolis Children’s Hospital in the Child Life Department as well as volunteering at a Women’s Domestic Abuse safe house. Monessa’s undergraduate degree in Drama Therapy for Urban Youth was achieved at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. The BA includes background in theatre, child psychology, and urban studies.

Monessa student taught in the high school program at Avalon in the fall of 2004, and remained throughout the year as an educational assistant and substitute. Inspired and motivated by the Avalon staff and the school itself, Monessa was honored and thrilled to be involved in the development of the middle school and is now a full-time Social Studies Advisor at Avalon Middle School.

 

Jo Sullivan: Jo Sullivan is currently a member of the Avalon School Board. Jo Sullivan has an unusual background for a high school teacher, but the many hats she has worn in her various work experiences provide her with a rich experiential history in the sciences and a wealth of real world experiences to share with students (one of the advantages of aging, she says). After teaching chemistry and biology for five years in the late 70’s, Jo spent the next twenty years working in the health care area for 3M- including several years in Europe as a European marketing manager. After leaving 3M, Jo decided to come full circle by teaching because of her desire to “make a difference” and her recognition that being with teenagers makes her happy (she has raised two of her own.).

Jo received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Oberlin College and a Master’s degree in Medical Genetics from the University of Wisconsin.

Jo has been a researcher (cancer research and clinical research), published research in medical journals, helped write a drug application to the FDA, planned and organized medical seminars, and lectured on biological topics in at least 12 countries. Jo has always enjoyed biology, but says it is especially fun to teach at this time because of the biological renaissance in our midst, thanks to programs like the Genome project. Her favorite saying, which she learned from her dad is, “Plus the plusses and minus the minuses.”

Regina Goldner: In 2005, Avalon School was introduced to Regina Goldner. She was enthusiastic about math, thought the co-op model was a great fit for her, and was ready share her love of project-based learning with everyone. Regina moved from Seattle, WA to Minnesota back in 2000, ready to make the world a better place; little did she know that teaching was going to be the way she would change the world. She had just graduated from Fairhaven College with a concentration in Environmental and Social Justice and didn’t even think she liked the youth of America. Now, years later, she is proud of her Masters in Education from the University of Minnesota and knows that teaching is the job of her dreams and Avalon the school which she loves.

 

When Regina is not teaching, she is busy with a variety of hobbies. She is continuously writing and drawing a graphic novel and painting a picture or two when needing a break. She loves cooking and learning about cooking. Regina also is known to be in a couple of bands. These musical endeavors are loud, and keep her busy on the weekends. She also likes maintaining a garden and running with her dog around Como Lake.  She is honored to be an advisor at Avalon School, and thinks of Avalon as her second home.