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

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.

Nienke Wijnia 200 x 200

MITY Teachers

Amelia Boulware

Amelia is a writer, editor, teacher, and instructional learning designer. She currently teaches English language arts to middle ...
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Anders Johnson

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 Corbett

Angie is currently teaching Introductory Engineering & Design, Computer Programming, and IB Theory of Knowledge at Highland Park ...
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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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Ann Francis-Gregg

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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AnnMarie-Froehle

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 Whitting

Ann Whiting

In addition to teaching at the Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth, Ann is the performing arts specialist 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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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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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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Christina Nelson

Christina currently teaches visual art at Saint Anthony Middle School. She has worked with students of all ages ...
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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 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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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 earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from St. Olaf College where he performed in ...
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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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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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Jay Noland

With 20 years of teaching Mathematics at the High School and College levels, Jay currently teaches Honors Precalculus ...
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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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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 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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Karen Estrada

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 Bronson

Kari has been teaching for 20 years.  She has a BA in English Education from The University of ...
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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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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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Melissa Tapper

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

Rhesa is currently the Assistant Product Manager for Groves Learning Organization where she brings literacy training to schools ...
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Ross Eichele

Ross is the Librarian/Media Specialist at Eagan High School, where he also coaches speech and debate.  Before becoming ...
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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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Sarah Geppert

Sarah Geppert

Sarah holds a BA in Spanish and a BS in Chemistry from Evangel University, and an MS in ...
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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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Susan Vaughan-Fier

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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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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Zach Prax

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