JULIE JOHNSON-WILLBORG
Director, Special Ed., Business Ed.
& Work-Based Learning
julie@vehs.org

I believe that students and families need choices in their education and that one size does not fit all. That is why I have spent my career as an educator teaching and working in Non-traditional school settings. From 1990 to 2003, I was on staff at the Mounds View Area Learning Center in the metro area as a Business Education teacher and Program Coordinator and from 2004-2008 taught at the Lumberjack High School in ISD 31.

I grew up in the area and graduated from Blackduck High School. I went to college at the University of Minnesota – Crookston, Bemidji State University and the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. My family and I lived in the Twin Cities for 17 years prior to moving back to the area 6 years ago. My husband (Lee) and I have two children and live in the Tenstrike/Turtle River area.

JOHN BABINEAU
Advisor, Special Education, Phy. Ed.
Board Member
john@vehs.org

John Babineau will serve as a Special Education Teacher  at VEHS the 2008 – 09 school year.  John has been in teaching for over 8 years.  John worked as our physical education and health teacher as well as an IEP Manager / special education teacher last school year.  He came to us from the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School in Bena, Minnesota where he was the Early Intervention Specialist for 2 school years.  He worked as the EBD intern for one year at Horace May Elementary in Bemidji, Minnesota, and prior to Horace May, he worked as a substitute teacher for many school districts in the area.  John is a graduate of Bemidji State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Physical Education and Health and has recently finished a Master’s degree in Special Education.  John's interests include football/Minnesota Vikings, fishing, collecting football and Marvel Comic DVDs, gardening, history, collecting fishing equipment, reading, wood working, pontooning and canoeing, camping, travel, and just being outdoors.  John is married and has two daughters.

DAVE HUDSON
Advisor, Fine Arts/Paraprofessional
potter@vehs.org

Bio coming soon...

PAUL JOHNSON
Advisor, Math
paulj@vehs.org

Paul comes to us with several years of teaching experience.  He has taught Math at Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig, Laporte and most recently Little Falls Community Education Center.   Paul has a lot of experience making Math come alive for students and is looking forward to helping our students continue to improve their math abilities.

KATHY LIEBL
Paraprofessional
kathy@vehs.org

Kathy has vast experiences working with students throughout the community.  She has previously worked at Evergreen, Stellher Human Services and the Bemidji School District.  She comes to us with a background in Criminal Justice and Chemical Health.  She will be providing support to students not only academically, but also with other issues that may be interfering with student success.

ROSS MILLAR
Advisor, Social Studies, Ind. Tech, Youthbuild
Board Member
ross@vehs.org

Bio coming soon...

CINDY NELSON
Advisor, English Language Arts
cindy@vehs.org

Lead-teacher Cindy Nelson shares her passion for literature and twenty-plus years of teaching experience with VEHS students, serving as the English teacher. Cindy has led and directed numerous dramatic performances, including the award winning One-Act team at VEHS in 2003-04. Cindy also led a group of VEHS students to Italy last year checking out treasures of the Renaissance period.

JUDY PAGNOTTA
Paraprofessional
judy@vehs.org

Bio coming soon...

REBECCA REINARZ
Advisor, Science
becky@vehs.org

Becky has been a Science and Math instructor for the past six years at the Cloquet Area Learning Center and Cloquet High School.  She is pursuing her masters in Environmental Education and we are very excited to have her on staff.  She builds strong relationships with students and will be a great asset to us as we move towards a more Environmental Education focused school.

DANN SIEMS
Advisor, Science & Technology
dann@vehs.org

Dann is an Aquatic Biologist who most recently worked for the Beltrami County Soil and Water Conservation District.  He also teaches evening classes at BSU.  Dann was one of the founders of Schoolcraft Learning Community and was instrumental in the founding of Voyageurs back in 2002.  He comes to us with an abundance of knowledge about the environment, technology and non-traditional ways of acquiring knowledge. 

ANN SKOE
Advisor, World Language
Board Member
anna@vehs.org

Ann "Anna" Skoe teaches world languages. Berlin, Germany and the Twin Cities were her first homes. She studied at Colorado College at the University of Goettingen, Germany. The Headwaters Science Center employed her for several years. Then she completed her teaching licensure at Bemidiji State University. Before returning to the first city on the Mississippi River, she taught German Language for seven years on the Mesabi Iron Range. Since 1988, she has worked with the Concordia Language Villages in many different roles including the German environmental programs and the French Voyageurs. She loves to travel but is most happy to spend time in northern Minnesota's beautiful outdoors in every season.

RUTH WEBB
Paraprofessional
ruth@vehs.org

Ruth has been a substitute teacher in area schools the past couple of years.  She is joining us as a paraprofessional and will be helping students in Math and those who need extra support in their coursework.

JEAN FJELSTA
Registrar/Admin. Assistant
jean@vehs.org

Administrative Assistant Jean Fjelsta better known as the Director of First Impressions (DOFI), brings her wit, charm and uncanny ability to multi-task to the office of VEHS. Jean has all kinds of experience working with young people and parents in educational settings. Students, staff, and parents know and trust Jean and are inspired by her dedication.

RITA POULTON
Business Manager

Helping VEHS make good financial decisions along with accurate budgeting is Business Manager Rita Poulton. Rita brings several years of experience working with charter school finance along with a background in accounting to the forefront for Voyageurs. Rita's skills have been recognized around the state giving the board and VEHS supporters confidence that VEHS is sound economically!

CHERYL SHOUGH
Food Service, Custodial

Bio coming soon...