VISTA Leader: Ashley Laflin

Ashley joins the Saint Paul Public Schools Foundation team after serving for one year as a VISTA tutoring coordinator at Neighborhood House. During her time at Neighborhood House, she recruited, trained, and supported 40 volunteer tutors; organized and facilitated a cohort of AmeriCorps members serving at Neighborhood House; and designed a website to showcase tutoring programs. During her year of service, she also served as the Vice President of the Minnesota InterCorps Council. Ashley is a 2007 graduate of the University of Minnesota with degrees in English and Film Studies. Through the accumulation of her work and community service commitments, Ashley’s experience includes tutoring, volunteer management and program coordination.

Tutoring Partnership Coordinator: Maya Fehrs

Originally from Vermont, Maya moved to Saint Paul to attend Macalester College. She graduated in 2011 with a B.A. in Geography and English. During her time as an undergraduate, Maya worked as a writing tutor and supervisor in the Macalester Academic Excellence Center.  She was also active in the Saint Paul community. She volunteered at Groveland Elementary School, completed an internship with Casa de Esperanza and also worked with the University Avenue Transportation Project to conduct research on the Central Corridor Light Rail project. Maya studied abroad in Peru, is fluent in Spanish, and will be joining the VISTA cohort after spending the summer working in Spain.

Eastern Heights Elementary: Maren Nelson

Maren is returning for a second year as a Foundation VISTA member. She graduated from Concordia College with a B.A. in Art History and Cultural Music. In 2008, Maren studied abroad in Malta where she taught English to African Refugees. For the past year, Maren has been working as a nanny, interning at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and volunteering as a mentor to children through Free Arts Minnesota. Maren is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Ramsey Junior High: Steve Palmer

Steve joins the Foundation VISTA project after a year of teaching English at a university in Beijing, China. He is a 2010 graduate from Gustavus Adolphus College with a B.A. in History and Peace Studies. During his time as an undergraduate student, Steve was a leader on his campus in various capacities. He was elected by his peers to serve as a student senator and was both a writer and editor for his college newspaper.  Steve also completed an internship with an organic farm, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, and was an active member of Gustavus network of student musicians. We are excited to have Steve serving at the Tutoring Coordinator for the 2011-2012 school year at Ramsey Junior High.

Washington Technology Magnet: Drew Bowlsby
 
Drew is a 2010 graduate from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. During his time as an undergraduate student, he was a research assistant to an economics professor, completed an internship at a local bank, served on the national board of his fraternity, volunteered as an English instructor in Japan, and was a counselor a summer youth camps. He is currently serving as a volunteer advocate at the Dignity Center in Minneapolis where he works to connect clients with food, housing, and medical services. We are very excited to have Drew serving as the Tutoring Coordinator for the 2011-2012 school year at Washington Technology Magnet.

Battle Creek: Alex Dexheimer 

Alex is a 2010 graduate from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in History and a 2011 graduate from Lakehead University in Ontario, Canada with a Bachelors of Education. Alex’s interest in education began with his experience as a volunteer tutor during college at the Somali Educational Center in Minneapolis. During the past year, he has been able to continue to explore this interest during his student teaching placement in two middle schools in Ontario, Canada. We are excited to have Alex joining us to serve as the 2011-2012 Tutoring Coordinator at Battle Creek Middle School.

Highland: Jack Langer

Originally from New Ulm, Minnesota, Jack moved to the twin cities to attend the University of Minnesota. He graduated in May 2011 with a B.A. in Sociology. During his time as an undergraduate student, he tutored through the ‘America Reads’ program at John A. Johnson in Saint Paul and completed a year-long internship with Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center. Each of these positions provided Jack unique experiences that will add value to his work with the Saint Paul Public Schools VISTA project. We are very excited to have Jack serving as the Tutoring Coordinator for the 2011-2012 school year at Highland Junior High.

Murray: Michael Pittman 
 
Michael is a 2011 graduate from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Philosophy and a B.S. in Nutrition. During his time as an undergraduate student, he completed an internship with the Center for Homicide Research, served as a student leader in the First Year Leadership Institute, studied abroad in Australia, and was a teaching assistant for an Organic Chemistry class. Each of these experiences will add value to his work with the Saint Paul Public Schools VISTA project in the next year. We are very excited to have Jack serving as the Tutoring Coordinator for the 2011-2012 school year at Murray Junior High. 

Cherokee Heights: Nicole Evans
 
Nicole is a 2009 graduate from Saint Cloud State University with a B.A. in English and ethnic studies and a 2011 graduate from Saint Cloud Sate with a Master’s Degree in Education. As the Assistant Director of the Writing Center at Saint Cloud, Nicole has extensive experience in tutoring (with a focus on ELL writing tutoring), training tutors, and managing programs. We are very excited to have Nicole joining us as the Tutoring Coordinator for the 2011-2012 school year at Cherokee Heights Elementary.

Riverview: Maggie Jacoby
 
Originally from the Los Angeles, California, Maggie attended Haverford College in Pennsylvania for one year, spent a year working as a teaching assistant at an elementary school in Los Angeles, and then moved to Saint Paul to attend Macalester College. She graduated from Macalester in May 2011 with a B.A. in History. During her time as a student, Maggie completed internships with both Wellstone Action and the Progressive Jewish Alliance. Most recently she served as a volunteer literacy tutor with Project for Pride In Living in Saint Paul. We are very excited to have Maggie joining us as the Tutoring Coordinator for the 2011-2012 school year at Riverview Elementary.

Crossroads Elementary: Amy Kasch-Vanek

Amy joins the Foundation VISTA project after a year teaching English in China through a program based out of the Center for International Development at Harvard University called World Teach. She is a 2010 graduate from St. Olaf College with a B.A. in Psychology. During her time as an undergraduate student Amy was a research assistant and an ELL teaching assistant. Beyond her teaching experience in China, Amy has experience working with youth as a mentor for an elementary school student and a camp counselor. We are very excited to have Amy serving at the Tutoring Coordinator for the 2011-2012 school year at Crossroads Elementary.

Saint Anthony Park Elementary: Kathleen Kessler

Originally from Saint Paul, Kathleen moved to Chicago to attend Loyola University. She graduated in 2010 with a B.A. in Communication and International Studies. During her time as an undergrad, Kathleen studied abroad in both Prague and Italy. She comes to us with extensive experience in working with children through her role as a nanny, volunteer at the Bush Memorial Children’s home, and as a volleyball coach. She has also has experience working in communications and advocacy through her time as a volunteer with Better Existence with HIV and as a promotions intern with Clear Channel Communications. We are very excited to have Kathleen serving at the Tutoring Coordinator for the 2011-2012 school year at Saint Anthony Park Elementary.

Humboldt: Maren Gelle 
 
Maren joins the Saint Paul Public Schools Foundation VISTA project after a year of teaching English at a university in Shanghai, China. She is a 2010 graduate from St. Olaf College with a B.A. in History and American Studies. During her time as an undergraduate student, she was as an ELL writing tutor, a mentor for an elementary school student, an environmental educator during a summer enrichment program for Northfield youth, an editor for her college newspaper, and co-president of a social entrepreneurship organization on her campus. We are excited to have Maren serving as the Tutoring Coordinator for the 2011-2012 school year at Humboldt Secondary School.

Horace Mann: Kelly Trussell 
 
Originally from the Chicago area, Kelly lived in Shanghai, China for two years during high school, and moved to Saint Paul to attend St. Thomas University. She graduated in 2011 with a B.A. in Communications and Journalism. During her time as an undergraduate student, she was an assistant director at a YMCA summer camp for youth, research assistant for study on intercultural communication, and intern for Women’s Venture and Big Brother’s Big Sisters. She also has firsthand experience as a tutor and mentor through her volunteer work through the Tutor Mentor program at St. Thomas. We are excited to have Kelly serving as the Tutoring Coordinator for the 2011-2012 school year at Horace Mann Elementary.