| CERTIFIED STAFF |
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JULIE JOHNSON-WILLBORG
Director
julie@vehs.org
I am very excited to be a part of Voyageurs Expeditionary
High School and am looking forward to meeting more of our
school community members as the new school year gets started. I
have spent the majority of my career as an educator teaching
and working in Alternative Programs and believe passionately
in the need for school choice and different types of schools
to meet the needs of a variety of learners. From 1990 to
2003, I was on staff at the Mounds View Area Learning Center
in the metro area as a teacher and Program Coordinator
and since 2004 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 5 years ago. My
husband (Lee) and I have two children, Jessica and Ian,
a Beagle (Kassy) and two cats (Mittens and Gus). |
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JOHN BABINEAU
Special Education
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. |
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ERIN HANSEN
Health & Physical Education
erin@vehs.org
Erin is the Health and Physical Education teacher for
the 08-09 school year. She grew-up in the Twin Cities area
and originally came to Bemidji to attend college. After
graduating from Bemidji State University she spent some
time in the Twin Cities, Duluth and Walker, but now makes
Bemidji her home. Erin has always enjoyed spending time
outdoors and leading an active lifestyle. Some of her hobbies
include running, cross counrty skiing, camping and hiking.
Erin also enjoys traveling and just recently visited Philadelphia
where she soaked up hundreds of years of US history in
a mere few days! This will be Erin's first year at Voyageurs
High School. |
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DAVE HUDSON
Art Community Expert/Paraprofessional
potter@vehs.org
Bio coming soon... |
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ROSS MILLAR
Industrial Arts / Social Studies / Youth Build
ross@vehs.org
Bio coming soon... |
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CINDY NELSON
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. |
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JUDY PAGNOTTA
Paraprofessional
judy@vehs.org
Bio coming soon... |
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ANN SKOE
World
Languages
Spanish / French / German
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. |
| SUPPORT STAFF |
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JEAN FJELSTA
Secretary / Receptionist
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. |
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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! |
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PAUL POULTON
Technology Consultant
paul@vehs.org
Paul Poulton serves as the Information Technology Specialist at VEHS. Paul has a broad background in technology, along with all kinds of handy skills that are put to use on a daily basis. Paul also serves as the board chairman for VEHS offering his background as a founder of VEHS. |