Trust our Experienced Educators

Teachers at the Wisconsin Virtual Academy are among the best in the state for virtual education. They consider themselves your partners in your children's education and are available every school day to help you and your children through any challenges you may face.

Sandra Alvarado, High School Social Studies/History Teacher
Sandra Alvarado is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She is certified in broad field social studies, history, and psychology. She comes to WIVA with experience in teaching U.S. history, world history, “basic” (remedial) history, contemporary world issues, general psychology as well as Advanced Placement psychology. Sandra is passionate about family, serving others and teaching. She also firmly believes in virtual education and is very excited about the opportunity to teach WIVA students.

Carrie Cherney, High School Math Teacher
Carrie Cherney will be teaching high school math for WIVA. She obtained her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in mathematics, with a minor in education. Carrie has taught at the middle school level for a year in the brick-and-mortar setting, followed by two years teaching high school. She really looks forward to making connections with each student and watching them grow as a student and a young adult.

Peter Endemann, Middle School Teacher
Peter Endemann completed a Master of Arts in teaching program at National-Louis University in 2008. He worked within many school districts throughout southeast Wisconsin as a substitute teacher before joining the WIVA team in 2010. Peter is passionate about education and enjoys the unique experience of online teaching and the opportunities afforded by such new and pioneering endeavors. He looks forward to being part of an active and vibrant learning community!

Amanda France, Elementary Teacher
Amanda France is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN with a degree in elementary education. After teaching for several years, she went back to school and received her master's degree from St. Mary's University. Amanda has experience working with children in grades K–8, with five years spent at the fifth grade level. She has also worked as a resource teacher, helping students who are struggling in the daily curriculum and also providing enrichment opportunities for the students who were ready for more of a challenge. Her other education experiences include tutoring and working at Sylvan Learning Center. Amanda is excited to be a part of WIVA and the virtual education world. She enjoys the relationships that she builds with students and families.

Janet Gustman, Middle School Teacher
Janet graduated from St. Norbert College in DePere, WI with a pre K–8 license in 1983. Her first job was creating the Ye Olde School program in West Bend, WI. Following that, she moved north to Marinette where she has worked in a variety of schools teaching preschool through eighth grade. In addition, Janet homeschooled her three sons and organized the local homeschooling group. She became involved in virtual schools as a Learning Coach in 2004 when two of her sons enrolled in WIVA. She became a strong advocate for the virtual school option when she helped found the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families in 2006. Janet has also operated a private tutoring business which specialized in students who learn "outside of the box." She has additional training working with students on the autism spectrum, ADHD, and gifted and talented students. Her passion for working with students with autism inspired her to found a local autism support group in her community. Janet is enthusiastic about finding a way to reach every individual student and help them succeed.

Kathy Hennings, Elementary Teacher
Kathy Hennings has been an elementary teacher since 2003 with the Wisconsin Virtual Academy. The emphasis on individualized education and the relationships formed with students and their families has been key in her choice to teach in this setting. Previously, she taught for 17 years in the Cedarburg School District, and worked in varying capacities for 12 years in the Maple Dale-Indian Hill School District. Her experience spans the primary grades through upper elementary, as well special education and academic support programs. She loves being a part of this unique approach to education!

Katie Jahnke, Special Education Teacher
Katie graduated from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2004 with certification in Elementary/Middle Education and minors in Math and Special Education. In 2009, she obtained an additional certification in Cross-Categorical Special Education from UW Oshkosh. Before being part of WIVA, Katie tutored a variety of students in Math, taught at the Sylvan Learning Center, and taught summer school in the Appleton Area School Dist. She is looking forward to connecting with students and families throughout the school year, and being creative in her approach to teaching in the virtual setting.

Debbie Kidder, Elementary Teacher
Debbie Kidder has seven years of experience in the educational field. She earned her bachelor's degree at Aurora University in 1985. Before moving to the great state of Wisconsin, Debbie taught at a Chicago inner city school. In 2001, she earned her master's degree from National-Louis University. Debbie is delighted to be a part of WIVA, and looks forward to a lot of learning for herself and her students.

Colleen Kluber, Special Education Teacher
Colleen Kluber has been a special education teacher for 15 years. During her first nine years, she was a special education teacher, department chairperson, and diagnostician for Milwaukee Public Schools. She then continued her career in the South Milwaukee Public Schools as a K–12 special education curriculum coordinator and special educator for the next six years. She recently completed her master's degree in educational administration from Marian University in Fond du Lac. She is also very interested in technology and has earned a Desktop Support Technician certification from Microsoft. Colleen believes that students need essential tools to succeed in life after their school years. She is energized by the task of finding innovative ways to teach students these essential tools for success.

Adam Maier, Middle School Teacher
Adam Maier graduated from UW–Stevens Point with a degree in elementary education and a minor in natural science broad field. He taught third grade for two years in the brick–and–mortar school and then taught middle school science and math in a virtual setting for two years. Adam finds value in virtual education that emphasizes individual growth and provides the opportunity to get to know the students and pinpoint academic needs.

Kathy McGovern, Elementary Teacher
Kathleen has been in the field of education for 15 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in early childhood and elementary education from Alverno College in 1992. Since then she has worked mainly in private schools teaching a variety of grade levels. She has several years of experience teaching kindergarten as well as teaching fifth grade. She also has experience teaching middle school social studies. In 1999, she received her master's degree in administrative leadership from UW-Milwaukee, along with a Wisconsin principal license. While she has never held the role of principal, she was the curriculum coordinator for a small school system for a year before going back into the classroom. Kathleen has a passion for online learning and is very excited to be here at WIVA. She looks forward to getting to know all of her students and their families during the school year.

Miriam Mueller-Owens, Elementary Teacher
Miriam Mueller-Owens is a new K–8 teacher with WIVA and has 10 years of teaching experience. Miriam began teaching kindergarten in southern Louisiana. After three years of teaching there, she and moved to Madison where she earned a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. In Madison she taught a variety of grade levels, from first through fifth. Miriam looks forward to a great year of working with WIVA.

Desi Nault, High School Language Arts Teacher
Desirae Nault graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in English education and went on to teach eighth grade language arts at Northland Pines Middle School in Eagle River, WI. Although she loved Northern Wisconsin, she and her family relocated to the Arizona desert in the summer of 2006, where she taught for a short time with the Chandler Unified School District. Wanting to experience a new frontier in education, she joined the K¹² team with the Arizona Virtual Academy in January of 2008 as the seventh grade English B teacher. In May of 2008 she was given the opportunity to join the AZVA high school team and loved the accountability and rigor of the program. Now Mrs. Nault is headed back to the arctic winters of Wisconsin where she will join the exceptional team of teachers at Wisconsin Virtual Academy. Mrs. Nault's favorite part of being a teacher is getting to help students achieve that "a-ha" moment as they come to understand the world around them!

Valerie Stone, High School Teacher
Valerie Stone is a graduate of UW-Stevens Point with a master's degree in environmental education and an undergraduate Bachelor of Science. She is licensed in biology, chemistry, physical science, earth science and secondary science for grades 6–12. This summer she completed a mining engineering program for teachers through Colorado School of Mines. Valerie has been an active member in science education in brick–and–mortar schools for 17 years. Her style and enthusiasm for science helps students see practical inquiry and engineering applications for basic science concepts. Valerie is excited about being a part of virtual education and getting to know her students.

Cindy Worden, Dean of Students and Guidance Counselor
Cindy Worden is a graduate from UW–Madison with a BA in behavioral science and law and sociology. She earned her MSE in school counseling PK–12 from UW–Oshkosh. Cindy's professional experiences include high school guidance, criminal justice, social work, and technology training. She looks forward to working directly with high school students to assist in developing plans that help move their dreams to reality.

Dave Zimmer, Math Teacher
Dave Zimmer is certified to teach math, physics, and earth/space science in grades six through 12. Before coming to WIVA, he worked for the Weyerhaeuser High School, one of the smallest districts in the state, which has now consolidated with the Chetek School District. Prior to that he worked for private colleges and as a software developer for civil engineering companies. He holds a degree in physics and math from UW–Eau Claire.