Leadership Team

Anna Robinson, 7/8 Social Studies Teacher in LASS, leadership team member, board Exofficio                  

Name Preference: Anna
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2014
Contact Info: annar@laurajeffreyacademy.org
What inspires you? My students, my family, and people, past and present, who stand up for what is right and fight the good fight!
What do you love most about LJA? My students and my colleagues.
What is your hope for LJA scholars? I hope my scholars know the power they hold and use their voices to advocate for themselves and others now and in the future.
Education: B.A.A. in Teaching Social Studies with minor in Women's Studies from University of MN Duluth; M.Ed Teaching and Learning from St. Mary's University Winona
What’s on your bucket list? Sky Diving
Which skill would you love to learn? Painting!
Which time period would you visit in history? 1920s
What takes a lot of time but is totally worth it? Teaching and cleaning!

Lizzie Forshee, STEM Teacher, leadership team member, Special Education Coordinator, COVID Coordinator                         

Name Preference: Ms. Lizzie
Preferred Pronouns: She / Her
At LJA Since: 2008
Contact Info: lizzief@laurajeffreyacademy.org
What inspires you? Scholar Light Bulbs - When a scholar embodies a growth mindset and continues to persist their "light bulb" will shine. Helping scholars find their internal drive, and the acceptance of feeling comfortable in the uncomfortable is what inspires me in the day to day work.
What do you love most about LJA? Its community. A diverse group of people is pulled to LJA and watching the way in which our community grows is what I love most about LJA. We are a special niche in an unknown world that brings a sense of purpose to young scholars.
What is your hope for LJA scholars? Feel confident in themselves and what they have to offer society.
Education: BS in Biology, 5-12 Life Science Licensure
If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life what would it be? Tacos
If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep? Pinterest
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? Swiss Alps
Which skill would you love to learn? Woodworking
What topic could you give a 20-minute presentation on without any preparation? LJA!
What takes a lot of time but is totally worth it? French Onion Soup

Terrence Thigpen, Dean of Students, leadership team member, Covid coordinator

Name Preference: Mr. Terrence or Mr. T
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him/His
At LJA Since: 2017
Contact Info: terrencet@laurajeffreyacademy.org
What inspires you? The possibilities of Tomorrow.
What do you love most about LJA? That I have daily opportunities to relinquish the power that I have to empower young people.
What is your hope for LJA scholars? That they feel agency and liberation in their educational experience.
Education: Communication, Psychology, Social Work
Things I enjoy doing outside of the classroom: Biking, eating, traveling, being a barista or doing crossfit

Eileen Lindstrom, 6-8 Math Teacher, Leadership Team Member

Name Preference: Eileen Lindstrom
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2018
Contact Info: eileenl@laurajeffreyacademy.org
What inspires you? Seeing the aha moment when the math makes sense to a scholar and they feel empowered by it.
What do you love most about LJA? The scholars, they have so many ideas and the power to change the world.
What is your hope for LJA scholars? I hope that they find their place in the world and change it for the better. I also hope they continue to grow and see themselves as doers of math and that they can find the joy in mathematics.
Education: Masters in Math Education from University of Minnesota, Bachelors Degree from Cornell College
Do you collect anything? Yarn and knitting projects, also terrible dad jokes & puns
Who is your hero or inspiration? Sara Van Der Werf
What is your catchphrase, or a word you say a lot? It is proportional?
What topic could you give a 20-minute presentation on without any preparation? Math, the Minnesota Lynx, or knitting

Lyssa Cook, operations coordinator, leadership team member

Name Preference: Ms. Lyssa
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2020
Contact Info: lyssac@laurajeffreyacademy.org
What do you love most about LJA? The Community.
What is your hope for LJA scholars? Succeed by making mistakes.
Education: BFA Literary Criticism/Dramaturgy, Criminology, AAS American Sign Language Interpreting/Transliterating, Communication Disorders
If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life what would it be? Chili Rellenos with refried beans. 
Which skill would you love to learn? To be able to speak all languages.
What takes a lot of time but is totally worth it? Children 

Nate moore, Special Education Teacher/coordinator, Leadership Team Member

Name Preference: Mr. Nate
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
At LJA Since: 2022
Contact Info: natem@laurajeffreyacademy.org

What do you love most about LJA? I love that it is a small community that is responsive to the needs of its scholars.

What inspires you? Working with kids and seeing their creativity and ingenuity.

What is your hope for LJA scholars? I hope that they grow and are able to see themselves as life long learners.

What is your educational background? I have a B.A. in History from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and received my Teaching License through Bethel University.

Administrator

Dr. Lakisha Witter, Special Education Director

Name preference: Dr. Lakisha
Preferred pronouns: she/her
Contact Info: speddirectorlja@gmail.com
Education: BA Sociology, ME Special Education, Ed. S Educational Leadership, University of Florida, Ed.D Minnesota State University
Things I enjoy doing outside the classroom: kayaking, traveling, farming, and taking care of my horses
Fun fact: I grew up in Florida but I love Minnesota’s long winters and short summers!

Teachers

Lizzie Warpinski, 5/6 lass teacher

Name Preference: Mx. Lizzie
Preferred Pronouns: Any
At LJA Since: 2023
Contact Info: lizziew@laurajeffreyacademy.org

What inspires you? A good story.

What do you love most about LJA? Our commitment to inclusivity.

What is your hope for LJA scholars? I hope that LJA scholars grow confident in their abilities to ask questions, investigate answers, and problem-solve both independently and collaboratively.

What is your educational background? I have a BA in English Literature from UW-Whitewater and received my teaching certification from Augsburg University.

You have to sing karaoke, what song do you pick? All These Things that I've Done, by The Killers

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep? Libby, Tumblr, Podcast Player

If you could choose any two famous people to have dinner with who would they be? Daniel Kahn and Boots Riley

Heidi Jarmuz, 5/8 Math teacher

Name Preference: Ms. Heidi
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2023
Contact Info: heidij@laurajeffreyacademy.org

What inspires you? Nature inspires me. It is constantly evolving and learning. Each organism is beautiful, necessary, and interconnected to the success of the planet.

What do you love most about LJA? The community and how welcoming everyone is as well as how focused everyone is on the scholars and giving them the best opportunities.

What is your hope for LJA scholars? I hope they retain they curiosity, enhance their problem-solving skills, and grow in their personal journey, and that they continue to use these skills to make the world a better place.

What is your educational background? Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and Master's in Math Education from University of Minnesota

Who is your hero or inspiration? My dad is my inspiration. He loved nature and could see the amazing in the smallest things like finding a 4-leaf clover, seeing a shooting star, smelling a rainstorm, or the stillness of a winter night. He loved and respected all people. He believed that every person has something valuable to contribute.

Which skill would you love to learn? Iron working/welding - I would love to make some type of art work by welding metals together.

What takes a lot of time but is totally worth it? A good book.

cece watkins, stem teacher

Name Preference: Ms. Cece
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2022
Contact Info: cecew@laurajeffreyacademy.org

What inspires you? New ways of thinking, as well as ancient ways of thinking that are new to me (but surprisingly still resonant and applicable!

What do you love most about LJA? The commitment to supporting our scholars as holistic humans and empowering them as change makers.

What is your hope for LJA scholars? For them to develop an abiding love for themselves, other humans, the non-human world, and learning. For them to find and develop their own strengths, and then have opportunities to share those gifts with their broader communities and the world.

What is your educational background? BA in Sociology and Islamic/Middle Eastern Studies from Brandeis University; Masters in Education with a STEM focus from University of St Thomas.

Got any favorite quotes? Radical simply means ‘grasping things at the root.’ – Angela Davis

Bridger Hagen, wellness/physical education teacher

Name Preference: Mr. Bridger
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
At LJA Since: 2023
Contact Info: bridgerh@laurajeffreyacademy.org

What inspires you? Helping the future generation make the world a better place.

What do you love most about LJA? The community is strong, supportive, and welcoming.

What is your hope for LJA scholars? As a wellness teacher my hope is that my scholars will commit to health enhancing behaviors to improve their overall wellness now and into the future.

What is your educational background? Graduated from UWRF in the Spring of 2023.

Got any favorite quotes? "Don't sweat the small stuff"

Do you collect anything? I collect Pokemon on Pokemon GO.

Have you ever been told you look like someone famous, who was it? Even though I don't see it a barista at Caribou as told me I look like Ezra Miller.

Katie Kirschmann, 5-8 Music Teacher, Educational Support

Name Preference: Ms. Katie
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2020
Contact Info: katiek@laurajeffreyacademy.org
What inspires you? I like to cook, travel, make art and write music. I am inspired by new experiences such as going somewhere I've never been, trying new food, learning a new subject, hobby or skill, etc. 
What do you love most about LJA? I love the autonomy I have in my curriculum, the kindred spirit, and shared culture and values. 
What is your hope for LJA scholars? For them to make connections between all content areas, feel comfortable enough to express themselves fully, as well as both confident and competent to pursue whatever they desire. 
Education: Bachelors of Science in Choral Education from Dickinson State University 
Favorite Quote: "To practice art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow." -Kurt Vonnegut
You have to sing karaoke, what song do you pick? Criminal by Fiona Apple 
What topic could you give a 20-minute presentation on without any preparation? The Beatles!

Lizbeth Rosas Real, 5-8 Art Teacher

Name Preference: Ms. Rosa
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2021
Contact Info: lizbethr@laurajeffreyacademy.org
What inspires you? To create art that can express my view and thoughts. And how I can help the scholars express theirs too. 
What do you love most about LJA? How open everyone is and how kind and inclusive it is. 
What is your hope for LJA scholars? To be successful in their goals and to grow and how they realize that. 
Education: Bachelors in Illustration, Minor in Teaching Artist, Minneapolis College of Art
If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep? I ❤ YouTube and Pinterest 
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? Italy
What takes a lot of time but is totally worth it? Creating artworks

Anna Marie Rutz, Special Education Teacher

Name Preference: Ms. Anna Marie
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2020
Contact Info: annamarier@laurajeffreyacademy.org
What inspires you? Learning new things
What do you love most about LJA? That it is teacher-led.
What is your hope for LJA scholars? That they see their brilliance.
Education: Bachelors of Applied Science in Elementary Education, University of Minnesota-Duluth 
If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life what would it be? Pho
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? Thailand Scuba Diving
What’s on your bucket list? Become a skydiving instructor.

Julie Silvers, Special Education Teacher, board member

Name Preference: Julie Silvers
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2021
Contact Info: julies@laurajeffreyacademy.org
What inspires you? I am inspired by simplicity. It could be a line in a book, or a moment in a book, something that a scholar may say in class. It’s the little things that you least expect that seem to come out of nowhere but carry so much power. That was inspirational to me.
What do you love most about LJA? I love everything about LJA! There is a uniquely, beautiful ebb and flow to LJA. We aren’t just a school, we are a community, a family, with its own heart and soul.
What is your hope for LJA scholars? My hope for our scholars is that they never lose their truth as they go out into the world and make it a much better place.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, Master’s Degree in Special Education Emotional Behavioral Disorders, Specific Learning Disabilities
Favorite Quote: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." - Maya Angelou
What are your favorite songs from your teenage years that you still rock out to when nobody else is listening? “Dancing with Myself “ by Billy Idol, “Just Like Heaven “ by The Cure, “Every Little Step” by Bobby Brown
Who is your hero or inspiration? Audrey Hepburn

Support Staff

BRYNA BOSTIC-RUCKER, 1:1 Education Assistant

Name Preference: Bre
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2023
Contact Info: brynab@laurajeffreyacademy.org
What inspires you? My family and being surrounded by creatives, dreamers, and doers.

What do you love most about LJA? Having the space to have a voice and think outside the box and the hands-on, no one way of teaching learning experience.

What is your hope for LJA scholars? I hope LJA scholars never lose their creativity, know how to speak for themselves in an effective way, and gain the knowledge to take the world to new heights.

What is your educational background? Photography and Motion Certificate from MCTC; Culinary Arts Training and Ministry.

What are your favorite quotes: Embrace your own pace. Rejection is just redirection to something greater.

Which skills would you love to learn? Knitting and crochet.

What takes a lot of time but is totally worth it? Road trips and spirituality.

DEONTE ROBERTS, 7-8 1:1 EDUCATION ASSISTANT

Name Preference: Mr. Rob
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him
At LJA Since: 2022
Contact Info: deonter@laurajeffreyacademy.org

What inspires you? Helping others and giving back to the youth community.

What do you love most about LJA? Everything the staff, the youth, the community.

What is your hope for LJA scholars? To help them reach their full potential.

If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? I would live in Nigeria, because that's where part of my roots are from.

Mellie ernst, 5-6 1:1 Education Assistant

Name Preference: Mellie
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2023
Contact Info: melliee@laurajeffreyacademy.org
What inspires you? Community! The incredible ability of a collective to nourish and support one another drives so much of what I do.

What do you love most about LJA? That everyone is seen as whole humans with lots of strengths and complexities.

What is your hope for LJA scholars? To be able to foster a strong sense of curiosity.

What is your educational background? Bachelors in Sociology and Educational Studies from Macalester College.

If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life what would it be? Everything bagel sandwich.

Which skills would you love to learn? To make my own clothes.

What are your favorite songs from your teenage years that you still rock out to when nobody else is listening? A little hard to admit, but I still listen to Glee covers on a weekly basis.

What is your hope for LJA scholars? I hope that LJA Scholars know that they

matter and that every staff member at LJA is there to support them. It’s a

school where they can feel safe, belong, and be their authentic self.

What do you love most about LJA? The Teachers, Sped-Teachers, Support

Staffs “EA’s” and Scholars!

What is your educational background? B.A. in Human Services/Minor Gerontology

Which skills would you love to learn? Kick Boxing

What takes a lot of time but is totally worth it? Road trips

Kayla Bennett, 1:1 EDUCATION ASSISTANT

Name Preference: Kayla

Preferred Pronouns: She/Her

At LJA Since: 2023

Contact Info: kaylab@laurajeffreyacademy.org

What inspires you? Learning new things

Emma Welter, Math teacher/Interventionist 5-8

Name Preference: Ms. Emma
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2018
Contact Info: emmaw@laurajeffreyacademy.org
What inspires you? Learning about different cultures and trying new things.
What do you love most about LJA? The close-knit, supportive community.
What is your hope for LJA scholars? To inspire them to learn new things and try new strategies.
Education: AA from Saint Paul College, AAS from Herzing University, currently working on Mathematics BA from Metro State but also have many credits from Secondary Teaching Mathematics & Urban Education from Metro State
Do you collect anything? Elephants
Which time period would you visit in history? Jurassic
Which skill would you love to learn? To speak multiple languages.

emily boettge, Reading Interventions/Multi-Lingual LEARNERS

Name Preference: Ms. Emily
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2022
Contact Info: emilybo@laurajeffreyacademy.org

What inspires you? I am inspired when I see people go out of their comfort zone and be brave!

What do you love most about LJA? The people, the community, and the cool vintage building.

What is your hope for LJA scholars? To learn, and to feel safe and welcome.

Education: BA English Literature; Secondary English/Language Arts Licensure; Orton Gillingham

Certified; Wilson Just Words/Fundations trained; K-12 Reading Licensure.

If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? Cassis, France.

What topic could you give a 20-minute presentation on without any preparation? Orton Gillingham.

Maddi mcdonell, social worker

Name Preference: Ms. Maddi
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2022
Contact Info: maddim@laurajeffreyacademy.org
What inspires you? YOU! Getting to know you and your interests, what you are curious about, and your worldview inspires me. I am always motivated to expand my thinking and learn more.
What is your hope for LJA scholars? My hope is you experience LJA as the welcoming, safe, and enriching place it is. And, I especially hope you use your talents, strengths, and capacity to contribute to making it a very special place to grow. We are glad you are here.
Outside of LJA: I have a fabulous family, husband and 3 young adult kids, but they were young once! We also have two playful and crazy dogs! I love to ride my bike, explore and travel. Sharing good food, making food, and eating good foods are definitely some of my favorite things to do!

ms. amy, in-house substitute teacher

Name Preference: Ms. Amy
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
At LJA Since: 2022
Contact Info: amyd@laurajeffreyacademy.org