Trust the Expertise and Support of Honors High Online of Wisconsin Teachers
Honors High Online of Wisconsin teachers are among the best in the state for online education. They consider themselves partners to you in your education and are available to help you through any challenges you may face. Here is the staff and regular teachers you'll get to know at Honors High Online of Wisconsin:
Mr. Kurt Bergland, Principal
The Northern Ozaukee School District appointed Kurt Bergland as principal of Honors High Online of Wisconsin in June, 2008. He has been the principal of Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA) since July, 2007. Prior to that, Kurt spent three years as the New Berlin Public Schools' Coordinator of Standards and Assessment. He has 14 years of teaching experience in Wisconsin at the middle and high school levels (social studies and philosophy). In his spare time, Kurt enjoys family activities, baseball, and reading.
Justine Johnson, High School Administrative Assistant
Justine Johnson joined K¹² and Honors High Online of Wisconsin in September of 2007. She has over 15 years of experience in sales, customer service, and administrative support. Mrs. Johnson enjoys the energy of young learners and is enthusiastic about helping to create efficient and whole-hearted supports for today's student.
Dave Awtrey, Science
Dave Awtrey is National Board Certified science teacher with 15 years of classroom experience. He has taught a variety of courses from places as diverse as Washburn, Wisconsin to Sao Paulo, Brazil and holds degrees from UW-Milwaukee and UW-La Crosse. Mr. Awtrey continues to learn about education and science. He is involved in several professional organizations and believes that at school everyone's job is to learn.
Amy Collins, Language Arts & Spanish
Amy Collins is thrilled to be teaching in this exciting, online format. She earned a B.S.-Secondary Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1995 and has an English major and Spanish minor. She later earned an M.S. in Education-Reading from the same institution in 2001.
Ms. Collins keeps busy with her children's school activities, as well as soccer, football, basketball and swimming, but feels fortunate to have a career that allows her to help develop lifelong-learners, and to nurture the same in herself.
Eric Conn, History
Eric Conn comes to Honors High Online of Wisconsin after teaching in the Merrill Area, Wausau, and Oshkosh Area School Districts over the past four years. He holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a double major in History and Social Science, and additional certifications in Geography and Political Science. His primary interest of study is in European History. Mr. Conn spent a year at UW-Madison studying Civil Engineering before he realized that his talents were better suited in education.
Amanda Gunderson, Spanish
Amanda Gunderson is new to the Honors High Online staff this year. She will be teaching upper level Spanish and working with the at-risk high school population. Amanda comes to us with three years of teaching experience, both in the Twin Cities area and in the Eau Claire area. She earned her bachelor's degree in K-12 Spanish education and K-12 ELL from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2005. She is excited to bring her passion for the Spanish language to the online setting. Amanda looks forward to working with the students of HHO this school year!
Kevin Schmid, Health
Kevin Schmid has been a member of the WIVA staff since the school opened in 2003, and now joins Honors High Online of Wisconsin to instruct Health. With more than 30 years of experience in grades 3-12, Kevin holds licenses in health education (K-12), physical education (K-12), and elementary education (1-8). He earned his bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Kevin has also earned more than 60 graduate credits in addition to his master's degree.
Paul Van Natta, Heath, Physical Education & Special Education
Paul Van Natta has been a teacher for over 20 years, both at the elementary and middle school levels and holds pre-K to 12 certification in Health, PE, and Special Education. (He has also coached hockey, track, and cross-country for a number of years.) Mr. Van Natta received an undergraduate degree from Cedarville College in Health and PE, and a Master's in Education from UW Superior. He enjoys the challenge of working in a new and exciting learning environment.
Liz Wedereit, Physical Education
Liz Wedereit joined the WIVA staff in 2004 from Ozaukee High School (part of the Northern Ozaukee School District), where she worked for 10 years. She's excited to join Honors High Online and bring her experience to teach Physical Education to high school students. Liz received her Bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and her math certification from Cardinal Stritch College. She is looking forward to working with all of the dedicated families who have chosen this education path for their children's learning.
Mason White, Special Education
Mason White is joining Honors High Online after two years as a special education teacher for Ozaukee High School in the Northern Ozaukee School District. He has eleven years of experience in education, with seven years in special education. Mason has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, a Master of Arts degree from Cardinal Stritch University, and is completing a Master of Education degree from Lakeland College. Mason is looking forward to being an asset to the excellent staff, families, and students of the Northern Ozaukee Virtual Schools.
Cynthia Worden, School Counselor
Cynthia Worden received undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Behavioral Science & Law from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1991. In 2001, she completed her MSE degree in School Counseling from UW-Oshkosh. Her education is complemented with professional experience in juvenile, correctional, and treatment foster care social work, K-12 school counseling, and security based technology training.
Kirsten Yoder, Language Arts
Kirsten Yoder brings a variety of experiences to HHO, including public, private, and international teaching to ELL and Language Arts students for the last eleven years. Having been a pioneer in technology and assessment in her classroom, Kristen sought a position in the Northern Ozaukee School District to marry her education and technology backgrounds. She will be teaching LA Core I classes and work closely with At-risk students and their families. Kristen graduated from Ball State University in Indiana with degrees in K-12 Deaf Education and Secondary English Education. She earned her Master of Arts degree at St. Mary's in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1998, and earned her National Boards Certification for Early Adolescence/Young Adult in Language Arts in the fall of 2007.
Katie Zander, Mathematics
Katie Zander is looking forward to making Honors High Online of Wisconsin a successful High School. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin La Crosse where she majored in Mathematics and Secondary Education (ages 10-21) and looks forward to working with the students and parents who have chosen this exciting option in education.
