UMA Administration & Staff
Bryon Adams
Science 6, Pathways 6
Bryon is a 10th degree arachnophobe, and acrophobe! He loves science and has since he was a little kid....
Arslan Aziz
Co-Director, Director of General Education
Arslan Aziz is entering his 24th year in education and is excited to be joining the staff at UMA. Mr....
Sara Bartholomew
Special Education Teacher (6th Grade)
Sara is returning to Upper Mississippi Academy this fall as a Special Education teacher. Sara has been in many...
Dina Berray
Culinary and UMAker Lab
Dina has been with UMA since it's inception, helping to create the school's Edible Schoolyard Pathway. She teaches the introduction...
Elizabeth Brown
Language Arts 7 & 8
Elizabeth is happy to be returning to UMA for her third year teaching 7th and 8th grade Language Arts. She has...
Mark Dallmann
Language Arts 6, Social Studies 6
A lifelong Minnesotan, Mark enjoys all seasons and spends as much time outdoors as possible. A year round camper,...
Sam Eberhart
Social Studies 7 & 8
Sam's background includes a variety of experiences from teaching to government research contracts.
Sam obtained his B.A. in history from...
David Ehrhardt
Special Education Paraprofessional
This is Dave's third year at UMA. He joined us from Paideia Academy where he was also a paraprofessional. Prior...
Amy Elverum
Co-Director, Director of Special Education
After serving as a founding member of the UMA Board of Directors during its first year of existence, Amy...
Lesley Ernst
Special Education Coordinator, Special Education Teacher (6th Grade)
Lesley Ernst is entering her 21st year as a special educator. She has worked with children of all ages,...
Jamie Fitzgerald
Human Geography, American History, World History
Jamie is excited to be starting her third year at UMA! For as long as she can remember, she has...
Denise Goldman
High School Language Arts
With a philosophy of trying new things, switching directions, and finding what makes her heart beat fast, Denise is...
Karen Hartman
Special Education Teacher (7th Grade)
Karen is excited to be joining UMA this year as a 7th grade Special Education Teacher! She comes to...
Bill Hauer
Middle School Math
Billy Hauer is from Shakopee Minnesota, and grew up farming. He attended Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter Minnesota,...
Aaron Hefstad
Science 7, Pathways
Aaron’s love for the natural world started in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness where his family went for...
Heidi Jaeger
Social Worker
Heidi is delighted to be serving the UMA community as School Social Worker again this year. She is dedicated...
Mo Jawadi
Special Education Paraprofessional
Having just relocated to the Twin Cities, Mo was looking for an opportunity to help others. He joined UMA...
Mickey Jurewicz
Visual Arts
Mickey (Ms. J.) is starting her 20th year of teaching and her third here at UMA. She grew up...
Ella Kearney
Special Education Teacher (10th Grade)
Ella has been working in the field of education since 2003. Though her undergraduate degree from the University of...
Daniel Kretchmar
Science 8
Danr is a mechanical engineer, reenactor, blacksmith, woodworker, environmentalist, Quaker, science teacher, math teacher, baker, father, magician, husband, amateur...
Alex Long
Special Education Paraprofessional
I have been working as a SPED Para since 2004. I have worked at many schools in the St....
Chris Mortenson
Biology, High School Pathways
Chris Mortenson is a founding member of Upper Mississippi Academy and active in program development at UMA, especially at...
Brian Nagel
Visual Arts
Brian has been working in education for six years in various roles and responsibilities. This year is Brian’s first...
Michelle Norbin
Special Education Teacher
This is Michelle's sixth year as a special education teacher. Michelle loves working with students of all ages and is very excited to...
Erik Nordwall
Spanish
A long time ago, Erik Nordwall took a Spanish class just to keep his doors open for college. He...
Susan Peters
Special Education Paraprofessional
Susan is a Special Education Paraprofessional at UMA and has several years of experience working with students with diverse...
Joclyn Teidt
Social Worker
Joclyn is very excited to join the UMA school community this year as a School Social Worker. She incorporates...
Genna Thompson
Special Education Teacher
Genna is thrilled to be joining UMA for the new school year! This is her fourth year as a Special...
Kelly Winter
Middle School Math
Kelly is excited to be joining UMA as a middle school math teacher. Kelly has been teaching for nineteen...