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.
Nienke Wijnia, Office Manager
Nienke holds a B.A. in French Language and Literature from the University of Utrecht (the Netherlands) and an M.A. in Library and Information Science from the University of Amsterdam. Before joining MITY, Nienke worked in higher education advising international students for fifteen years.
MITY Teachers
Abdomohammed Karimi
Karimi teaches math and AP Physics at Como Park High School in St. Paul. He holds a BS ...
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Anders Johnson
Anders is a teacher in the Roseville area school district. He has taught 5th and 6th grade for ...
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Angela Larson
Angela has been teaching for 10 years in a variety of roles. She has taught Life Science, Earth ...
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Ann Frances Gregg
AFG is a theatre director and teacher at Mounds Park Academy in St. Paul. She directs at Shakespeare ...
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Ann Marie Froehle
For the past 30 years, AnnMarie has taught all grade levels and types of science ranging from middle ...
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Ann Whiting
In addition to teaching at the Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth, Ann is the performing arts specialist at ...
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Ariel Kitch
Ariel is a Computer Science Instructional Coach for Code Savvy. She attended Whitman College and Teachers College at ...
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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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Bob Ihrig
Bob holds a BA in History from Macalester College and an MS in History from Minnesota State University ...
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Brenda Barrett
Brenda teaches elementary and middle school students as a curriculum specialist in White Bear Lake. She has also ...
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Caitlin Catalano
Cailtin earned a B.A. in History and a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from UC Berkeley, as ...
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Children’s Theatre Company
Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is the nation’s largest and most acclaimed theatre for young people and serves a ...
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Christina Nelson
Christina currently teaches visual art at Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented Magnet School in St. Paul. She has ...
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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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David Quosig
David has been teaching high school science classes since 2008. He holds a BS in Physics and Chemistry ...
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Dylan Brodeur
Dylan is a tutor with experience as a classroom teacher for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. He has ...
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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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Erik Brandt
Erik is a professional songwriter, musician, producer and former record label owner. As a solo artist and as ...
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Gail Sarff
Gail coached debate for 33 years at Regis High School in Iowa and Wayzata High School in Minnesota. ...
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Gayla Lindt
Gayla is a curious person who loves learning new things. She especially enjoys learning alongside architecture students who ...
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George Dalbo
George currently teaches high school social studies in Clinton, Wisconsin. Previously he taught middle and high school social ...
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Hawken Paul
Hawken earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from St. Olaf College where he performed in ...
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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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Heidi Ferris
For Heidi, teaching is an opportunity to empower the learner in their problem-solving skills and unique talents through ...
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Jacquelyn White
Jacquelyn is a Social Studies teacher with the passion to help students grow and reach their full potential ...
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Jeff Boland
Jeff started at Dodge Nature Center in the summer of 2019 and moved into the role as Naturalist ...
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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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Karen Estrada
Karen has been a professional actress and educator since graduating in 2001 from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point ...
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Kari Rise
Kari teaches IB Geography at Highland Park Senior High in St. Paul. She has been a Model United ...
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Kate Redetzke
Kate is currently teaching French and English at a high school in the Mississippi Delta through Teach for ...
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Kelly Schrandt
Kelly is currently a 7th and 8th grade S.T.E.A.M. teacher at Stewartville Middle School in southern Minnesota. Over the last ...
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Keren Kroul
Keren is a practicing visual artist and educator. She is the recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals ...
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Laura Gandara-Chavez
Laura has been teaching in the South Washington County School district for 16 years, mainly as a dual ...
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Leah Klister
Leah earned a BA in Studio Art from St. Olaf College and an MA in Art and Education ...
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Lee Stagg
When not at MITY, Lee Stagg teaches Theory of Knowledge in the International Baccalaureate program at Highland Park ...
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Maddie Hunt
Maddie has her M.A. in Elementary Education from the University of St. Thomas. She has spent time in ...
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Mara Cavanaugh-Henry
Mara earned a B.A. in History and Secondary Education from the University of St. Thomas. She is currently ...
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Mary Hanson
Mary is currently teaching Chemistry and Accelerated Chemistry at Highland Park Senior High School in St. Paul. She ...
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Melissa Chaffee-Johnson
Melissa is in her 31st year as an educator teaching both high school and adult education. She has ...
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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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Nan Onkka
Nan is an educator and artist. She studied studio art at St. Olaf College and earned an MA ...
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Nickie McKeever
Nickie is an Instructional Coach with Edina Public Schools and Co-Advisor of the nationally-ranked Edina High School Model ...
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Nicole Kronzer
Nicole teaches International Baccalaureate English and Creative Writing at Champlin Park High School and is a former professional ...
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P.J. Wiggin
After working in government, small/medium/large businesses and the non-profit sector, P.J. finally found his dream career as a ...
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Paul Good
Paul teaches CIS Physics at Two Rivers High School in the West St. Paul and Mendota Heights neighborhood. ...
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Rhesa Freeman
Rhesa has been teaching as a 7th and 8th grade teacher at Saint Ambrose in Woodbury for the ...
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Ross Mau
After graduating from UW – Madison with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Ross worked as a Hardware Engineer ...
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Sarah Geppert
Sarah holds a BA in Spanish and a BS in Chemistry from Evangel University, and an MS in ...
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Scott Greseth
Scott teaches Advanced Math and serves as the High Potential Coordinator at Maplewood Middle School. He holds a ...
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Sean Jones
Sean is currently a 4th grade teacher at St. Ambrose School in Woodbury where he has taught for ...
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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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Stephanie Aumann
Stephanie has been a physics teacher for 23 years and enjoys teaching through inquiry and hands on modeling. ...
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Stephanie Sommer
After a decade working for Fortune 500 companies, Stephanie left the business world to raise her children and ...
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Steve Jents
Steve teaches IB Economic Systems at Central High School in St. Paul and recently received the Rising Star ...
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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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Susan Vaughan-Fier
Susan has been teaching English for 24 years. She LOVES teaching young people, especially at MITY. A native ...
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Susie Wilson
Susie teaches 5th grade Ignite! (a 3rd-5th grade self-contained gifted program) in Lakeville Area Schools. She earned a BS in ...
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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 and Brenda Barrett
Brenda teaches elementary and middle school students as a curriculum specialist in White Bear Lake. Tim created and ...
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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 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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William Onkka
Will is a multi-faceted educator having taught science and engineering in the traditional classroom, as well as outdoor ...
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Yosefa Carriger
Yosefa loves working and learning with children, and has been doing just that for most of her adult ...
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