MITY Staff

MITY's teachers and staff are committed to developing young people’s talents in a safe, welcoming environment. They challenge eager learners to explore new things, seek answers to real world problems, and identify their own unique gifts. Most importantly, MITY’s staff creates a place where students can truly be themselves and have a voice in their future.

Erica Brewinski, Executive Director

Erica holds a B.A. from Brown University, an M.A. in Educational Policy & Administration from the University of Minnesota, and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas. She is also a licensed K-12 Principal in the state of Minnesota and is certified in Professional Development. Erica has taught students in grades 6 - 12, undergraduates and graduates, and was a school administrator for ten years before coming to MITY.

Erica Brewinski

Tessa Meiser, Program Administrator

Tessa holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago and masters degrees in both Spanish Language and Literature and Television, Film and New Media. She brings a diverse skill set from her work across industries, with a focus on operations and project management. With a passion for education and a commitment to fostering equity and belonging, she has successfully supported and managed programs that help individuals reach their full potential. She is dedicated to continuous improvement and supporting meaningful, mission-driven work.

Tessa Meiser 200x200

Haley Foster, Outreach Coordinator

Haley brings a strong foundation in public relations and communications. She holds a B.S. in Public Relations and Broadcast Journalism from Minnesota State University Moorhead, with minors in Media Analysis, Mass Communications, and Advertising. She’s currently pursuing an M.S. in Strategic Communications to advance her expertise. Since transitioning from the television news industry in 2017, Haley has dedicated her career to serving communities through impactful communications and marketing roles within Minnesota's government agencies. With over five years of experience in this sector, she is driven by her commitment to lifelong learning and her passion for supporting organizations that make a difference in people’s lives.

Haley MITY Website

MITY Teachers

Andrea McCarty

Andrea has loved being a teacher at Cedar Ridge Elementary in Eden Prairie for 29 years. She spent ...
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Andrew Banker

Andrew is a STEM educator who is constantly musing about science. He is laser-focused on teaching young people ...
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Angela Larson

Angela Larson

Angela has been teaching for 13 years in a variety of roles.  She has taught Life Science, Earth ...
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Angie Bibro

Angie has been teaching for twenty five years.  She has taught all grades 1-8 at one time or ...
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AnnMarie-Froehle

Ann Marie Froehle

For the past 34 years, Ann Marie has taught all grade levels and types of science ranging from ...
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Beth Wakefield

Beth Wakefield holds a B.S. and M. Ed. in Education from the University of Minnesota. She has been ...
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Bill Nara

Bill has been a licensed 7-12 Social Studies Teacher since 2000 and also teaches Chess, Tabletop Strategy Gaming, ...
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Brenda Hudson

Brenda is a writer and teaching artist who is passionate about helping others voice their lives through creative ...
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Casey Moerer

Casey is a debate coach at Macalester College, teaching Ethics Bowl, Bioethics Bowl, and Policy Debate. She is ...
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Changó Cummings

Changó is a Twin Cities based Architectural designer/Artist and storyteller. His practice jumps between art, design, placemaking and ...
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Clarice Jorenby

Clarice has had the good fortune to have been teaching students chemistry for nearly twenty-five years in California ...
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CSGA Enrichment

CSGA Enrichment provides before & after school enrichment activities for all ages. We also provide workshops and activities ...
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David Fraatz

David has been a 3M Visiting Wizard for over 20 years, giving science demonstrations to schools in the ...
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David Olson

David has been teaching ceramics to artists of all ages for 15 years.  He holds a B.F.A. in ...
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David Quosig

David Quosig

David has been teaching high school science classes since 2008.  He holds a BS in Physics and Chemistry ...
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Dr. Bimpe Diji

Dr. Diji is a dedicated educator who has been teaching psychology since 2004. She holds a B.S. in ...
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Elias Mamma

Elias Mamma

Dr. Mamma has been teaching AP/IB and General Chemistry classes at St. Paul Central High School since 2001.  ...
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Elizabeth Barnard (E.B.)

E.B. did her undergraduate studies in anthropology and has a master's degree in education.  She has a background ...
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Elizabeth Genskow

Elizabeth has been teaching chemistry at Centennial High School for 15 years.  She has taught General Chemistry to juniors ...
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Ellen Scharfenberg

Ellen has been sharing her love of visual arts with young people for over seven years.  She currently ...
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Erik Brandt

Erik Brandt

Erik is a professional songwriter, musician, producer, radio DJ, and former record label owner.  As a solo artist ...
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Hawken Paul

Hawken Paul earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from St. Olaf College, where he performed ...
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Heather Mastel

Heather Mastel

Heather has a BA in theatre and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Hamline University. She currently ...
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Heather McKinley

For Heather, teaching is a calling and a passion. She has over 2 decades of experience, including serving ...
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Hibah Hassan

Hibah is a Minneapolis-based Legal Admin with an educational background in Sociology, Pre-Law. She previously worked at a ...
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Ian Buck

Ian graduated from U of M Morris with a Bachelor's in Computer Science.  He has been teaching various ...
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Ian Witry

Ian (any pronouns) is a singer, pianist and musical theater educator from Minneapolis, Minnesota. They hold a B.A. ...
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Jacqueline (Jackie) Di Giacomo

Jackie is an Advanced Learning Instructor who teaches Independent Investigations (research) and Project Think (engineering design) to elementary ...
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Jeff Bullard

Jeff was inspired to become a teacher when he saw the first picture of Earth in space taken ...
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Jennifer Noreault

Jennifer is a STEM Specialist in Lakeville Public Schools.  She has a B.A. in Elementary Education from Trinity ...
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Jenny Goetz

Jenny is a National Board Certified Teacher and adores learning new things. She graduated from Carleton College with ...
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Jesse Maloney

Jesse has been a middle school science teacher for the past 17 years.  He believes that learning is ...
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Jessica Jones

Leadership and advocacy have been central to my teaching career since I embarked on my journey as an ...
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Jessica Powell

Jess currently teaches health and physical education at Mounds Park Academy. She earned a BA from the University ...
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Jim Tisel

Jim has been teaching and coaching for over 40 years, including two decades teaching abroad in Germany, the ...
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Joan Wright

Joan has been teaching for 30 years and has worked with students in Kindergarten through 6th grade.  She ...
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John McCaffrey

John teaches interactive design and animation at Hennepin Technical College.  He has been working in art, design, and ...
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Juliana Brandt

Juliana is an author and elementary teacher with a passion for storytelling that guides her in both of ...
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Katherine Fraatz

Kathy has over 25 years of experience working in schools as a PreK - 12 teacher, administrator, trainer, ...
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Kathryn Marget

Kathryn has worked in gifted education her entire career and currently serves as the K-12 Advanced Academics Coordinator ...
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Kaylee Clauson

Kaylee has been working in the theater industry for the past four years. This will also be her ...
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Laura Pettis

Laura has been teaching in the Lakeville Area Public Schools for more than two decades and is currently ...
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Leah Yoemans

Leah holds a BS in Elementary Education and Science 5-8 from Minnesota State University, Mankato and a M.Ed. ...
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Lee Stagg

Lee Stagg

When not at MITY, Lee Stagg teaches Theory of Knowledge in the International Baccalaureate program at Highland Park ...
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Liam Magistad

Liam earned his B.A. from Macalester College, majoring in sociology and minoring in political science. After graduation, he ...
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Mary Hanson

Mary Hanson

Mary is currently teaching Chemistry and Accelerated Chemistry at Highland Park Senior High School in St. Paul.  She ...
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Max Donsker

Max has been working in education for over 18 years and has taught all grades From K-12. He ...
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Melissa Tapper

Melissa has been in education for 20 years, working as a 1st and 3rd grade teacher, a middle ...
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Michelle Markov

Michelle has a passion for engaging learners in the classroom and beyond. She is a constant learner herself ...
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Minwoo Kim

Minwoo graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Biomedical Engineering and an emphasis in Neural ...
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Molly Hammel

Molly Hammel

Molly holds a BA in Elementary and Middle School Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and ...
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Nick Olson

Nick has a B.S. degree in Computer Science and although his day job is software development, he has ...
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Nicole Hoiland

Nicole has taught art for the last twenty years.  She holds an MA in Drawing and an MFA ...
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Nicole Kronzer

Nicole Kronzer

Nicole teaches International Baccalaureate English and Creative Writing at Champlin Park High School and is a former professional ...
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Rachel McLaughlin

Rachel is currently the Gifted & Talented Services Coordinator in Inver Grove Heights, where she has worked for ...
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Ross Mau

Ross Mau

After graduating from UW – Madison with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Ross worked as a Hardware Engineer ...
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Sam Graf

In his work as a Middle School Math Teacher and Math Team Coach, Sam delights in mathematical discovery ...
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Sarah Geppert

Sarah Geppert

Sarah loves to learn and is incurably curious. She currently teaches Spanish, technology, and mathematics at Frassati Catholic ...
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Sean Andrews

Sean is a Director of Technology and Academic Technologist with a master's degree in Learning and Emerging Technologies.  ...
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Snapology

Snapology offers enrichment classes and camps in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM). Their ...
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Sue Cranston

Sue Cranston

Sue is a working artist and professional art instructor who specializes in mixed-media art with a strong focus ...
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Tech Academy

Formerly Computer Explorers, Tech Academy has been enriching Minnesota’s children with research-based Technology and Science classes and camps ...
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Tim Larson

Tim Larson

Tim holds a BA in Elementary Education with a Minor in Chemistry from the University of WI-Eau Claire.  ...
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Tom Rodefeld

Tom Rodefeld

Tom teaches social studies and coaches hockey, volleyball and track at Irondale High School in Mounds View.  He ...
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Urban Boatbuilders

Founded in 1995, Urban Boatbuilders’s mission is to empower youth to succeed in work and life through woodworking ...
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Valerie Wise

Valerie is an art teacher in the Mounds View School District.  She loves to travel with her family, ...
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Zach Prax

Zach currently teaches Advanced Placement Psychology and World History at Eastview High School and has taught almost every ...
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