Admissions • Giving • Contact

Our teachers and staff

Angela Baker Teacher, Ages 7 to 9 Room 103 B.S. Elementary Education, UW-Eau Claire	Angela grew up in the Stoughton countryside, spending most of her time either lost in the woods or lost in a book. She considers herself fortunate because she always knew that she wanted to teach. Angela was drawn to Wingra's sense of community and love of learning. She learned more about progressive education when she joined Wingra as a substitute teacher and became part of the full time staff in 2004. Angela started out teaching 8 to 10-year-olds and now enjoys her role teaching 7 to 9-year-olds. In her spare time, Angela enjoys reading, biking, traveling, taking classes and workshops, doing private tutoring, and spending time with friends and family.

Debbie Blitz Teacher Ages 5-7 Room 102 B.S. Community Health, Hofstra University M.S. Health Education, Hofstra University	Originally from Peoria, Illinois, Debbie has worked with children in many different capacities for many years. She worked as a waterfront director at a sleep away summer camp in Waupaca, Wisconsin where she was able to teach children of all ages how to swim, boat, and water ski. While working on her Masters Degree in health education, she worked in a more traditional environment as Teacher's Assistant for special education at the high school level on Long Island. After receiving her M.S., she taught kindergarten at a private progressive school in New York City for two years. Debbie moved to Madison with her husband in the summer of 2007. She is thrilled to continue working in a progressive school environment and to be a part of the Wingra staff as a classroom teacher. When not at Wingra, Debbie can be found singing to her baby Kayla, buying flowers at the farmer's market, and spending time outdoors.

Paul Brahce Head of School B.A. and Teaching Credential, Western Washington University Graduate studies at Earlham College, University of Washington, and Antioch University Seattle	Paul started as an innovator in education early. As a teenager in Ann Arbor, he helped organize and launch an alternative high school, which he then attended as a senior. Paul has extensive teaching experience and, prior to joining Wingra School, was Head of the Little School in Washington State for fourteen years. He has served on several not-for-profit boards, including that of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools. A highlight of this past summer for Paul was his daughter's wedding in Washingon, and the extended family get-togethers made possible by this occasion. When not engrossed in school activities, Paul enjoys folk music, day-hikes, and takes great pleasure in searching flea markets and thrift stores for discarded mid-century treasures.

Mary Campbell Education Director B.S. Elementary Education, Science Concentration UW Madison	Mary has served Wingra School in many capacities, as a teacher in a 10-14 year old classroom, as a member of the leadership team, and currently as Education Director. She works on curriculum development, classroom support, program coordination, admissions, and children's development. Committed to progressive education, Mary student taught in the British Primary system before working at Metropolitan Open School in St. Louis Park, Minnesota where she was an active member of The Network of Progressive Educators. In 1990 Mary discovered Wingra School, where she taught until 1997. Since then, Mary worked as a writer and mother of two sons. Mary re-joined the Wingra staff in 2006 in the role of program developer, helping to create a plan to inform, guide, and support Wingra’s leadership in the future.

Erica Colmenares Communication Coordinator B.A. Latin American Studies UNC Chapel Hill M.H.A. UNC Chapel Hill	Erica started working at Wingra School in 2007. Erica's professional life started in independent schools, as a history and Spanish teacher at Choate Rosemary Hall, and a Spanish and Peer Development teacher at Princeton Day School. Add that experience to the skill set she gained as a website manager and e-publisher, and she was a natural to serve as the Wingra School communication coordinator. Starting out as a parent at Wingra, Erica loved the way the community embraced her son and, by extension, her. It's been wonderful for her to be even further involved in the school, through keeping the website fresh, information flowing through the weekly end-of-week newsletters, and the other myriad projects on her Wingra "to do" list. When not at work, Erica enjoys trave, reading good books, gardening, and eating good food.

Kim Cotant Teacher, Ages 5 to 7 Room 100 B.S., Elementary Education (English), UW-Madison Master in Literacy Studies, UW-Madison	Kim first joined the Wingra staff in 1987. She grew up in Iowa and Wisconsin. Prior to teaching at Wingra, Kim worked in a grocery co-op, sold flowers on State Street, and worked for a seed-corn farm.This summer Kim completed a class which will enable her to be a Cooperating Teacher to the UW-Madison student teachers. She has also taken classes in phonics-based instruction such as Orton-Gillingham, Project Read, and Direct Instruction and has used these methods to tutor students privately. Kim has two children, both Wingra alumni. As an empty-nester for the first time this fall, Kim will spend time running, biking, being outdoors, and reading, while treasuring those times during the school year when her children return to the roost.

Allen Cross Teacher, Ages 11 to 14 Room 202 B.S., Elementary Education, UW-Madison B.A., Economics, Political Science, and Philosophy UW- Madison	Allen has taught at Wingra School since 1988. His interest in authentic interdisciplinary study has led to a National Science Foundation grant in 1991; a Keizai Koho Fellowship trip to Japan in 1992; a "Math in Context" institute in the Netherlands in 1995; and a five- week 2002 National Endowment for the Arts fellowship studying the historiography of the Industrial Revolution in Nottingham, England. Allen presented his classroom action research work about democratic classrooms at the 2004 annual American Educator Research Conference and served as a discussant at the 2005 conference. He presented his findings about the sound culture of the classroom at the 2006 National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention, the 2007 AERA Conference and at the 2008 University of Pennsylvania Annual Ethnography in Education Research Forum. Allen participated in a collaborative teacher research project focusing on social justice education and took part in the presentation of their work at the 2007 AERA annual convention. Connie North's book about this collaboration, Teaching for Social Justice?, was published in 2008. Allen completed and presented his paper, "Communicating Well Over Common Texts: Furthering My Development in Democratic Forms of Adolescent Literacy Interventions" at the MMSD action research forum this past spring. While he is still putzing with highland bagpipes, Allen will also be taking a UW Extension ukulele class this fall with his life partner.

Weslie Cymerman Teacher, Ages 7-9 Room 101 B.S., Elementary Education, Minor in Science UW Madison	Weslie grew up nearby, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She earned her degree in Elementary Education from UW-Madison, and completed some of her student teaching at Wingra (with ages 9-11). Weslie then went on to Namibia, Africa to work as a Special Education teacher for children ages 8-15. Weslie returned in January of 2009 and has been a part of the Wingra community since then. Prior to Wingra, Weslie led hiking and canoeing trips in Northern Wisconsin and worked with teens with disabilities in and around Madison. In her ounce of free time, Weslie enjoys practicing yoga, being outside, and spending time with friends and family.

Elizabeth Garcia Administrative Secretary	Originally from Mexico City, Elizabeth has called Wisconsin home since 1993. Her daughters Priscilla and Katherine attended Wingra School for three years before she joined the staff in 2002. Elizabeth wears many hats in her job - taking care of small injuries, supervising lunch, helping kids hunting down that lost mitten, reminding parents of their snack schedule - in addition to answering the phone, scheduling visitors, and keeping the Wingra staff on track. She enjoys working with children and is happy to be part of the Wingra community.

Lisa Kass Teacher, Ages 9 to 11 Room 105 M.S., Education (Personalized Learning) Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, IL B.S., Elementary Education (Mathematics), University of Illinois	Before joining the staff in 1989, Lisa taught in Illinois. Lisa thoroughly enjoys teaching at Wingra and creating new units on stimulating topics. She relishes implementing new approaches in teaching math and writing. Lisa has been trained as a coach for Critical Friends as well as a mentor for initial educators. She is the co-facilitator for Clinical Associates, which works closely with the UW-Madison School of Education, specifically with practicum and student teachers. Her pride and joy are her two children. Ben, her son, is studying to become an environmental lawyer and her daughter Shana is a first year kindergarten teacher in Chicago Public Schools. When not at school, Lisa enjoys reading, walking and cheering on her beloved Chicago Cubs.

Stephanie Kirby Spanish Teacher Ages 9 to 14 Room 207 B.S.,Spanish Education, UW Madison	A recent grad from UW-Madison, Stephanie is proud to call Wingra her first teaching home.Wingra's philosophy and practices are a perfect fit for her own teaching goals. Stephanie mastered her Spanish in Sevilla, Spain and has plans to visit many other Spanish-speaking countries in the future. Stephanie completed most of her student teaching in Madison public schools and has also worked for Madison School and Community Recreation in the summer. She enjoys working with children outside of the classroom just as much as inside. Originally from McFarland, Wisconsin, Stephanie has always loved living in the Madison community and all it has to offer, and is glad to be educating its future citizens. When away from the classroom, Stephanie enjoys reading, watching sports (Go Brewers! Go Packers!), fostering animals for DCHS, and cavorting with friends and family.

Dawn Liska-Tollefson Teacher, Ages 11-14 Room 202 B.S., Elementary Education, Health Education, UW Madison	Dawn grew up in the rolling hills of rural Southwest Wisconsin and is naturally drawn to the beautiful landscapes of the state. She is looking forward to working with the middle school students again after spending a year of growth with the younger students and her infant son. Coming from a summer filled with new experiences, Dawn is eager to share her learning with her students and colleagues. She participated in two Science Masters Institute courses with other Madison area teachers this summer and took an online course on progressive education. Prior to her six years at Wingra, Dawn coordinated, directed, and facilitated academic and recreational programming for youth ages 5-14. When not immersed in youth culture, Dawn can be found strolling the neighborhood with her one year old in tow, likely headed to one of Madison's fabulous parks or libraries.

Molly Murphy Resource Teacher UW- Madison Ph.D. Special Education	Molly grew up in western New York State, crossed Canada, made her way through Arizona, then settled in Madison to complete graduate school and raise her two children. She joined the Wingra teaching staff in 2008, as a Resource Teacher, to continue the conversation with staff and parents about how we define and expand our mission as an inclusive educational community. From a family of teachers, Molly has been a teacher in an inclusive preschool, worked in clinical assessment and treatment planning for children with developmental disabilities, and facilitated parent education and inservice training. Wingra’s progressive education emphasis on practice, opportunity, community, and integrated learning has given Molly a place to expand her knowledge of special education. Molly spends time in all of the classrooms and is available to talk with parents about their child’s individual learning needs. Molly loves to read piles of books, walk the dogs, cook, be outside, and be with her children, Miranda and Brennan.

Kathy Oker Teacher, Ages 11-14 Room 200 B.S., Criminal Justice University of Dayton, and Elementary Education grades 1-9 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison	Kathy is a firm believer in a progressive approach to education and has loved being a part of the Wingra community since 2000. A native of Cincinnati, Kathy was educated at the University of Dayton and the University of Wisconsin. She spent eight years traveling the world with her husband, Dave, prior to joining the Wingra faculty. In addition to exploring the U.S. and Canada, the couple spent six months living in a tent in Australia and resided in Taiwan for two and half years, where they taught English. Kathy and Dave have three children, Willie, Leo and Laurel.

Megan Sandrock O'Malley Teacher, Ages 5-7 Room 102 B.A. Denison University Granville, Ohio Masters in Education National-Louis University Evanston, Illinois	Megan grew up moving around as a child (Columbus, Cleveland, Boston, Chicago) and credits those travels with her spirit of adventure. Megan has always believed in the change teaching can bring and that belief led her to graduate school for her Masters in Primary Education. With a strong interest in urban education, Megan chose to student teach in the projects of Chicago. Challenged by her experience, Megan continued working in the city schools and taught 1st grade for two years in the inner city of Chicago. Megan spent a summer in Western Kenya teaching English and playing soccer. She then followed her heart and fiancé and moved to the Central Coast of California. In sunny California, Megan taught 2nd grade in a low-income Latino neighborhood of East Palo Alto. Her most recent and remarkable teaching experience has been raising her three children and providing in-home childcare. Megan loves reading, camping, drinking coffee, practicing yoga and being outdoors with her family (and dog). She is delighted to join the Wingra staff and community for another exciting adventure in her life.

Colleen Pardun Physical Education Teacher, Ages 5-14 Room 203A Elementary Education, Adaptive Education, UW-La Crosse Master's of Education through Learning Community, UW-La Crosse	Colleen grew up in the north woods, battling mosquitoes and snowdrifts in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. After college in La Crosse, she got a job in Edgerton, Wisconsin. She taught there for four years, working with 8 to 10 year olds in a double room with a master educator as her friend and mentor. During that time she also got her Masters in education from the University of La Crosse. When it was time to make the move to Madison, Wingra was the only place Colleen wanted to be, because the philosophy of the school so closely matched her own.

Sarah Ramirez Teacher, Ages 5-7 Room 100 B.A., Sociology Colorado College M.S., Literacy Studies, UW- Madison	Sarah was raised in Madison and was a student at Wingra. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Colorado. After graduation she taught in several Montessori schools and was inspired to pursue a career in elementary education. She returned to Madison and completed her Master's Degree at the UW in Literacy Studies. Sarah has taught in the Madison Metropolitan School District summer literacy program. Sarah enjoys outdoor activities, art, music, and spending time with her family.

Holly Reif Music Teacher Ages 5-14 Room 104 B.S. Music Therapy and Vocal Studies, UW Oshkosh	After graduating from college in 2002, Holly worked as a music therapist at Florida State Hospital and at Cleveland's Music School Settlement specializing in both the psychiatric populations and children and adults with multiple disabilities. After moving back to her native state of Wisconsin, she has been working with Very Special Arts and teaching private music lessons. Holly is very excited to be a part of the Wingra community and feels the teaching philosophies of Wingra and her own are a perfect fit.

Bonnie Schey Business Manager Office 104A	Since joining the Wingra School staff in 1988, Bonnie has enjoyed working in a place where she has daily contact with children. Watching performances at an all-school Follies or supervising kids in the lunchroom is a nice contrast to balancing the budget. Bonnie's official job description covers all things financial – tuition, bills, budgets, financial aid – but she can also be found reading to the kids in Room 100. When she's not at Wingra, Bonnie spends her time working on house projects, gardening, and relaxing with family and friends.

Gregory Schultz Development Director Office 200A	Gregory Schultz comes to Wingra with a strong background in not-for-profit fund development, most recently at Second Harvest Food Bank and the International Crane Foundation. He has been involved in fundraising for over 27 years. Greg is a Wisconsin native, although he abandoned our cold winters for 18 years in the more temperate San Francisco Bay area. He returned to Madison in 1994 with his wife and two daughters. Greg enjoys music (ask him to sing you a tune from Brigadoon) and wilderness backpacking with his family.

Tresi Smyth Teacher, Ages 7-9 Rooms 101 & 103 B.A. Political Science and Psychology, UW La Crosse Post-Baccalaureate – Teacher Education, Edgewood College	Tresi has been working in progressive schools for almost twenty years, happily learning and teaching among an amazing contingent of committed children, colleagues and families. She first arrived at Wingra as a student teacher in 1992, and she has been fortunate to play a number of different roles in the Wingra community over the years, as well as teaching at a progressive school in Minnesota. Tresi remains equally enthusiastic whether thinking about the progressive vision of education or preparing to share the daily life of the classroom with students of any age. Since growing up with six siblings, Tresi has never lost her love of being among a merry band of children. In the past year, Tresi enjoyed participating in a two-day literacy course in Milwaukee and the regional PEN conference outside Chicago. When she's not at Wingra, Tresi can be found reading, writing, cooking, singing, talking on the phone, traveling, walking in her neighborhood, or spending time with her precious family and friends.

Emily Sonneman Teacher, Ages 11-14 Room 200 B.A. Elementary Education Grades 1-8, Cardinal Stritch B.A. Psychology, Hope College	After a summer of traveling and exploring places near and far, Emily is excited for a new school year to start. Having been a part of the Wingra community as administrative assistant, student teacher, volunteer and teacher from 2001-2006, she is thrilled to be returning to Room 200 this fall. Emily spent the past three years living in Minneaplis teaching English and Social Studies to new immigrants (most were from Somalia and Mexico). Emily and her husband are thrilled to be back in Madison with their daughter. When she's not in school, you'll find Emily riding her bike around town, hanging out at the farmer's market, playing with her daughter, or doing a project on their house.

Angie Sparks Librarian and Technology Teacher M.L.S., School Library Media Centers UW-Madison B.S., Elementary Education, UW-Madison B.S., Business (Marketing), Indiana University	Angie has worked at Wingra since 1989. Previously a classroom teacher of nine to eleven year olds, Angie began the Wingra Library and Technology Program in 1996 and oversees its growth of resources and services available to students, teachers, and families. She loves collaborating with teachers and students at all levels to find ways to creatively integrate literature and library/technology skills into classrooms units. Angie loves being creative, doing Kripalu yoga, making videos, and having fun with friends and family. She is delighted to be sharing a school with her daughter Addison!

Jeff Steele Extended Day Coordinator Spanish Teacher, Ages 5-9 B.A. Psychological Development through Theater and Sport Minor in Spanish, University of Massachusetts	Jeff was raised near Seattle, Washington. After his undergraduate studies in Amherst, Massachusetts, he moved back to the Pacific Northwest where he lived and worked in the San Juan Islands. Jeff moved to Madison in 2008 with his wife, Alyssa. Jeff has a wide array of experience in everything from gymnastics coaching and high ropes facilitation to outdoor environmental education. He has a firm philosophical grounding in experiential and adventure education. Prior to Wingra, he was the director of a large expedition program for teenagers at YMCA Camp Orkila and worked as an assistant director of the environmental education program at that same location. Jeff is currently working toward a teaching certification and a Masters in Education at Goddard College, Vermont. Jeff’s recreational pursuits include sea kayaking, Aikido, backpacking and theater. He enjoys exploring the lakes and woods of Wisconsin.

Brian Towns Extended DayTeacher Ages 5-14 B.A. Macalester College History, Education minor	Brian grew up in St. Louis, MO before going north to attend college in St. Paul, MN. Following his graduation in 2002, he spent a summer at a YMCA camp in Hudson, WI and returned to the Twin Cities to complete his student teaching. Brian then moved back to St. Louis where he worked as a fourth grade teachers' assistant before ultimately taking a position teaching seventh grade writing in the same school. He spent six years teaching writing there, also spending time aligning curriculum, working on character education programs, coaching, and organizing athletic programming. After moving to Madison this summer with his wife, he is excited to have joined the Wingra staff and having the chance to experience progressive education in action. In his spare time, he enjoys running, biking, tennis, volunteering in the Arboretum, hiking, and camping - just about anything outside.

Ashley Van Sant Development Assistant B.A., Business Communications Trinity Christian College, 2005	Ashley moved to Madison in the summer of 2009 from Chicago and is excited to be part of the Wingra community. Ashley grew up in Pella, Iowa and obtained her undergraduate degree from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois. Before coming to Wingra, she was working in development at Chicago Foundation for Women, specifically with the database and online fundraising. In her free time, Ashley enjoys hanging out with her family and friends, knitting, and reading books. She is also currently working on her Masters in Nonprofit Administration degree at North Park University.

Claire Weiss Teacher, Ages 9 to 11 Room 107 B.S., Special Education (Cognitive Disabilities), UW-Madison B.S., Elementary Education, UW-Madison	Before coming to Wingra, Claire taught special education at the middle and secondary levels, worked in Madison food co-ops, and spent time with her children, now young adults. Over the summer, Claire camped along in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colorado, visited relatives in Hong Kong, Cape Cod and Rhode Island, read a plethora of youth and young adult fiction, and gardened. She also took a class in Brain Research for Effective Instruction at the John Muir Academy and a class in literacy instruction from Cardinal Stritch University. When not at school, Claire enjoys camping and hiking, reading, cooking, and vicariously experiencing her far-flung children's adventures. She lives with her husband and cats in rural Mt. Horeb.

Barbara Westfall Art Teacher Room 203 B.F.A. UW-Madison M.F.A., UW-Madison	Barbara has been an art educator since 1993 and has taught at Wingra since 2002. She has taught art at Centro Hispano, Neighborhood House, Dane Co. Shelter Home, Shabazz High School, MadCAP, and Bethel Art Ventures. Barbara makes sculptures and installations using wood, plant fibers, ceramics and glass. Locally her artwork has been displayed at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, DiRicci Gallery at Edgewood College, UW-Memorial Union Porter Butts Gallery, UW Arboretum, Dane County Parks and Commonwealth Gallery. In 2009, Barbara received a grant to create an installation in Gallery I at the Overture Center for the Arts, which will open in July of 2010. She has traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada to lecture on the subject of Art and Ecology. Articles about her artwork have been published in Wisconsin Academy of Arts and Science, the Journal for Ecological Restoration and Management Notes, and in the book The Sunflower Forest, by William Jordan III ( 2003, University of California Press). Besides making art, Barbara enjoys being outdoors, canoeing, swimming, cross country skiing and spending time with her family and friends.