Find out more about your favorite TPLC staff members!

Terry Fehrenbach

Terry Fehrenbach has been a high school principal for the past nine years. Prior to that, he served as an assistant principal/athletic director for three years, and as a teacher and coach for 20 years.

Fehrenbach received an Associate of Arts degree from Hutchinson Community College in 1973 and a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1975. In 1995, he received a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Wichita State University.

Following 32 years of in traditional public education setting, he is now the principal of Pleasantview Academy, which is located in rural Reno County, Kansas, and Turning Point Learning Center, located in Emporia, Kansas.

Ginger Lewman

"As a teacher I'm a resource, not THE source."

Ginger has been with Turning Point Learning Center since June, 2006, learning how to best infuse Project Based Learning with 21st Century Skills-building.  She and the students of TPLC enjoy presenting, both in virtually and in person, at conferences across the state, sharing their learning experiences with others. 

She graduated from Emporia State University in 1994 with a BSE in Social Science, and promptly began teaching the day school at a residential boys' home.  Eventually uncovering a lifelong passion, she earned her MS in Gifted Education, working as the Gifted Services Coordinator at Emporia Middle School and also serving as NCA Steering Committee Chair.  She has served on the Board of Directors for the Kansas Association for Gifted, Talented, and Creative for the past 7 years as a Region Representative, State and Federal Legislative Liaison, Conference Chair, and currently, the Kansas Education Liaison.  She currently also serves as a member of the Kansas Learning First Alliance (KLFA).

Ginger also has a wide "digital foot print" and can be found by searching GingerTPLC or GingerLewman.  Her podcast, GingerSnapz!, can also be found here.

Valerie Tindill

Valerie Tindill has been with Turning Point Learning Center since August of 2007.  In her first year the program began with 55 students.  It then increased to 77 students in 2008-2009 and by adding an administrative assistant.  In 2009-2010 we have continued to grow, and added a virtual teacher who will also double as the lead teacher for the onsite virtual program.

She graduated from Ottawa University of Kansas City in December 2002.  Her career began with preschool children at ECKAN Head Start, where she worked with families in the Home-Based program helping them learn ways to interact and teach their children.  She helped empower them to be their child's first and best teacher. She now brings that personal individualized attention to kindergarten through eighth grade students and their families.

She believes that choice in your child's education gives them an advantage.  Staying at home and teaching your child can be the greatest opportunity you can have. We want to help make that experience possible for your family.  However, we still understand the need for students to have individualized teaching, when situations prevent some families from staying home.  To address that need we have opened an Onsite Virtual Program.  This program allows students to come to TPLC to receive the same curriculum lead by a certified teacher.  We will continue to seek new ways to provide you and your child a wonderful educational experience.

Jennifer Miller

Jennifer graduated from Johnson County Community College in 2000 with an Associates of Arts. She continued her college career at Baker University in Baldwin City, KS and graduated with a Bachelors of Music Education in December 2005.
 
Jennifer was a substitute teacher in the Olathe School District until she joined Turning Point Learning Center in January 2007. She taught music & math her first year at TPLC. The Fine Arts program has grown in the last year in a half by addition of Art to the general curriculum as well as many other music opportunities for students. Jennifer has a passion for teaching all students and making each educational experience personable.

Charlie Mahoney

Charlie began his college career as a double major in Math and Music at Hutchinson Community College, tutoring math classes through Calculus in the STEPS lab.  After graduating from HCC with an Associates in Arts in 1999, he attended Wichita State, and graduated Cum Laud with a degree in Music Education and Adaptive Music.  In 2006, Charlie completed his Masters in Gifted Education as he was working as the K-12 gifted facilitator in El Dorado Public Schools. 

Striving to integrate technology and 21st Century Skills within all subject areas, Charlie has also been a leader in organizing a county-wide cooperative of teachers in Butler County, and has presented at state conferences as well as the World Gifted Conference in Warwick, UK.

Charlie ran for the State House of Representatives in 2006 and has just left his position on the Sedgwick County Department on Aging Advisory Committee. He also serves on the Wichita State University Special Education Advisory Committee.  For the past 5 years, Charlie has served on the Board of Directors for the Kansas Association for Gifted, Talented, and Creative as a Region Representative, Conference Chair, and currently, the State Technology Coordinator. Charlie has a passion for integrating a variety of subject areas in “real” projects that will emotionally charge students to achieve to their fullest potential.

Check out my blog and podcast site!

Erin Fitzpatrick