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

Jennifer McMurray, Assistant Director

Jen holds a Master's degree in Nonprofit & Public Leadership from St. Catherine University and a Bachelor's degree in English Rhetoric from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She also holds graduate certificates in Ethics and Strategic Management and is trained in a variety of project management software. Before coming to MITY, Jen previously worked in nonprofit and higher education, helping students and community members realize their potential.

Jennifer McMurray 200 x 200

Ari Eggert, Program Assistant

Ari holds a B.A. in Sociology from Macalester College.  In addition to their work at MITY, Ari serves as an aid in the Extended Day program at Sunny Hollow Montessori School.  Previously, Ari spent a summer teaching at Breakthrough Twin Cities and was the student manager for the Digital Resource Center at Macalester.

Ari Eggert 200x200

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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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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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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Brooke Vertin

Brooke is an artist, printmaker, and educator living in St. Paul. She has taught at the elementary, middle, ...
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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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Code Savvy

Code Savvy is a Minnesota non-profit organization that helps students and educators become more “code savvy” through creative ...
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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 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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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 (Lisa) Bottolene

Lisa is a Talent Development teacher in St. Louis Park.  She has been an educator for over 20 ...
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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 Smith

Kathy is the Curriculum and Training Director at Liberty Classical Academy.  She has over 25 years of experience ...
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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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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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Russ Purdy

Russ holds a M.Ed. in Education from Hamline University. He has taught and developed science programming for the ...
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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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VAC Enrichment

VAC Enrichment, formerly VineyardAppCamp, is a nationwide provider of in-person after school enrichment classes and summer camps. They ...
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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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