Tutor Bios

Katie Abbott graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Child, Adult and Family Services. She has spent the last 6 years educating children and families in various formats. Katie is a former South Heights graduate who is passionate about homeschool and the opportunities it presents to students. She loves to teach and educate and to make learning engaging and fun. Katie and her husband, Anthony, have two adorable children and live in Prior Lake. 
​Classes:  Biology

Mark Ball  has over 20 years of experience as a math teacher of junior and senior high students in private Christian schools. He was also the coach of a junior high student who won a state championship in a math competition. Having a passion for learning math and science, Mr. Ball loves to see students experience the positive results of understanding math for themselves. He is gifted at explaining concepts so that everyone can understand. He has a B.S. in Pastoral Theology and a Masters in Education. He and his wife have seven children.
Classes:  Pre-Algebra,  Algebra I,  Algebra II,  Geometry,  Pre-Calculus

Judi Davidson  graduated with an A.A. degree from Bethel University and a B.A.in Child Development and Education from The College of St. Benedict. She and her husband have worked as missionaries with YWAM, directing education programs and training teachers. They have been homeschooling their six children since 1990. 
Classes:  General Science,    Writing: Structure and Organization,    Format Writing

Joshua De Leon  graduated from the University of Northwestern–St.Paul, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in music composition and his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy. He has taught in several different venues, from children's programs at church to Adult and Teen Bible studies. He has also taught home school groups in assorted areas, including Logic, Astronomy, Music, and Public Speaking. He is passionate about supplying valuable skills to all students. Joshua is an experienced pianist who has also taught piano for over five years. He enjoys writing music for performance and film. His hobbies include walking, rollerblading, hanging out with friends, reading, and star-gazing.
Classes:   Study Skills   (1st sem),  Logic   (2nd sem), Debate (2nd sem)

Patrick Gilligan  is a retired engineer who loves math and loves seeing students understand math. The father of four and grandfather of eleven (six who are currently being home educated), Patrick knows how to communicate complicated math concepts in ways that students can understand. He tutored at an inner-city school for four years. He finds tutoring very rewarding, and his students’ scores have improved since they started tutoring with him. Patrick knows that getting a good grade is important, but he also knows that building strong study skills and a thorough understanding of the material is the key to unlocking the student's potential in mathematics and science coursework both now and in the business world. 
Classes:  Math Study Group

Laura Glassel  grew up in the New England area, Germany, and Minnesota. She received her associate's degree in Aircraft Maintenance, her bachelor's degree in Missionary Aviation, and her master's degree in Bible Translation from Bob Jones University. As part of her education, she earned both her aircraft mechanics and pilots certificates. Her involvement in the aviation world has given her a keen interest in seeing science applied in everyday life. During her college years, she tutored high school students in math and science, and learned a lot about teaching techniques and learning. She has since been able to transfer her tutoring skills to the classroom situation in order to share her passion for science and math with more students. 
Classes:  Physical Science,   Chemistry, Programming Robotics 1   & 2,   Physics

Chrisanne Keswick earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Economics at UC Davis. She began her love of language and literature in high school but continued in earnest after college when she finally had time to read classics again! While homeschooling her three children through high school, she continued this passion for literature and writing. She began teaching language arts to other homeschool families six years ago. She has assisted Mrs. Mueller in Stylistic Development and Essays and College Prep this past school year and looks forward to continuing to share these classes next year.
​Classes:   Stylistic Development  (writing)   (1st sem),   Essays & College Prep   (writing)  (2nd sem)

Heidi Kuiper  has a B.S. in Education from Minnesota State University in Mankato, MN. She received advanced training in language arts instruction from the Reading Center in Rochester, MN. She worked for over 11 years for the Reading Center designing and implementing programs for students and small groups with learning challenges in reading, spelling, and writing. She currently runs her own tutoring and consulting practice providing academic instruction for students of all ages. Heidi has a love for the structure of the English language. She has a desire to make it understandable to all types of learners. She has home educated her 4 children since 1996. 
Classes:​  Grammar  Essentials   (1st sem),  Creative Components   (2nd sem)

Michele Leverenz graduated from Concordia University with a B.A in Elementary Education and a minor in Communications. She spent seven years teaching before deciding to stay home and educate her two children.  Michele has been active in the homeschool community for over 10 years.  She really enjoys working with students and watching them fall in love with learning.  She spends many hours reading and watching swim meets as both her children are competitive swimmers.
Classes:   Geography and World Cultures

Wendy Lokke  has a bachelor's degree in Communication from University of Northwestern St Paul and a master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Bethel University. She has taught courses in several areas at University of Northwestern St Paul and looks forward to launching live PSEO at South Heights.
​Classes:  Public Speaking PSEO

Adriana Luengos-Nolette  was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina where she graduated as a Professor in Spanish and English as a Second Language, followed by a Specialization in Teaching Adults and Adolescents. She has traveled to several South American countries and incorporates the many cultures and customs into her classes. Over the past eighteen years, Adriana has taught Spanish at a college and private schools, at international companies, and more recently in several homeschool co-ops. She believes that students should be active participants in their learning, so her classes encompass a wide variety of dynamic and conversational activities. She encourages students to experience the Spanish language not just through understanding the words but also through understanding and "immersing themselves" in the culture and looks forward to providing her students with the tools to continue to study Spanish throughout their school years and beyond. She hopes that her students come to love the Spanish language and culture as much as she does. Adriana and her husband home educate their two children.
Classes:  Spanish 1, 2, & 3

Mary Mueller   graduated with   an M.A. in History from Liberty University in 2020 and a B.A. in Psychology and Interpersonal Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1984! She has been involved in the homeschooling community since 1993 and homeschooled her five children until graduating her youngest in 2014. She has always had a consuming passion for social studies, literature, and writing and loves sharing this passion with students!  She began teaching at South Heights in 2009 and has been teaching at various locations around the Twin Cities ever since.    mrsmuellersworld.com
Classes:  American Government  & Economics,  World History,  American  Literature, British Literature,  PSEO History

​Julie Nelson  has always had a love for the arts. She has spent many years acting, dancing, and singing, and majored in Theater at Mankato State University. She has taught acting classes and directed plays at HOPE co-op, and is currently a Performing Arts Teacher at In the Company of Kids Creative Arts Center in Burnsville. Julie began teaching theater at South Heights in 2011. She is enthusiastic about sharing her love for theater with her students and helping them explore their creativity and develop their talents. Julie has also acted, written, and directed many dramas and plays for various churches and Sunday Schools. She is married and has four boys whom she home schooled for eleven years. 
Classes:  Theater  Level I,  Acting Techniques, Characterization,  Take the Stage!

Linda Offut earned her B.A. in Deaf Culture Studies from North Central University.  She is passionate about teaching sign language  and bringing together the deaf and hearing communities.  She enjoys helping students develop their signing skills so they are able to communicate effectively and also to prepare them to be ASL interpreters.  As a deaf person herself, she has a unique ability to share insight with students into the perspective of the deaf community.  Linda has  assisted Mrs. Schultz for several years and looks forward to sharing her passions with students!
Classes:  Sign Language 1 & 2

Jenita Pace  spent nine years working in schools as a counselor and as an administrator for the Early College program in North Carolina.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Columbia International University and a Masters of Education in School Counseling from Western Carolina University.  Jenita is a Licensed Professional Counselor with the state of Minnesota and is recognized by the National Board of Certified Counselors. 
Before working in education, she taught horseback riding to teens and ran an inner city youth group in South Carolina. Jenita has a passion for helping students grow both intellectually and spiritually.  She has one son, one husband and one dog.   She is excited to be part of the PSEO program at South Heights.
​Classes:   Psychology PSEO

Val Qualley  earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Gustavus Adolphus College. Her goal in teaching is to help each individual student succeed according to his/her own learning style. Val and her husband home educate their 3 teenage children. Not only does Val enjoy teaching, you will often find her taking long walks or sitting on the sidelines cheering on her children in soccer. 
Classes:  Math Mastery

 Karen Rohrbach  a gifted watercolor artist, has studied, and continues to study under one of her teachers from the MN River School of Fine Art. In previous years, she has enjoyed tutoring home-educated students in her own home. Students who had not considered themselves artistically gifted produced beautiful, satisfying art as a result of her tutoring. Karen is enjoying her expanded opportunities to share her giftedness in and passion for watercolor with more students. Some of her students have received awards at the Dakota County Fair and the MN Junior Duck Stamp Competition.
Classes:  Watercolor 1, 2, & 3

​Alyssa Ronchak is a former South Heights student who is excited to share her passion for art with students as an avenue of self-expression.  She says, "I consider it such an honor as a previous South Heights student myself to come back with the opportunity of teaching a topic that I love and am passionate about. I graduated with a B.A. in psychology with a minor in art and a pre-professional degree in Art Therapy. My goal in teaching is to help students learn skills they can take with them throughout life, as well as help students discover and explore ways of utilizing art as an avenue of personal expression and growth."
Classes:  Foundational Drawing

Jodi Taylor  has always had a passion and has great enthusiasm for sharing and teaching her love of photography to others. A high school photography class spurred her on to learn more and so she went on to do an independent study of portrait photography under a professional photographer for 3 years. Her experience as the photo editor of the school newspaper taught her how to cover a variety of social events and capture unforgettable moments. She went on to work in a portrait studio for 10 years, where she honed her skill for posing and learned how to capture the perfect expression in each client. In 2009 she launched her own professional photography business, Bella Photography, which specializes in portrait photography. Jodi also volunteers her photography services to cover a wide variety of social events. Jodi and her husband have three grown children. 
Classes:  Photography I, II, III

Christine Tierney's desire to create has been with her since she discovered the fun in making marks with a pencil. Her love of art led to a successful career in graphic design and illustration, including owning and operating her own advertising business. In 1996 she felt the desire to grow deeper in her fine arts knowledge, and studied classical painting at the Minnesota River School of Fine Art, where she was trained in the method of the old masters, spiced with contemporary artistic influences. She paints in a traditional style, and continues to explore and appreciate a variety of artistic approaches, always challenging herself to move to the next level.
Christine enjoys the entire creative process, from the challenge of creating a beautiful setup for a still life, to painting en plein air (outdoors), to painting figures and portraits from life. Her mediums of choice are oils and pastels, though she is equally inspired by a beautifully executed graphite or pen and ink drawing or the light-filled spontaneity of watercolor.
Christine paints and creates in her Minnesota River studio, where she produces her own personal works, and custom artwork for clients. She teaches art classes and workshops in the Twin Cities metro area.
A featured artist in many venues, she has won numerous awards for her paintings, and her works are in several private collections. www.christinetierney.com 
Classes:  Classical Drawing

Jeremy Volk   is a former student of South Heights. He earned a BS in Math from North Central University at age 20, after spending two years in the PSEO program. He has spent 6 years tutoring math from Pre-Algebra to Calculus, both independently and at the Sylvan Learning center in Eagan, where he also teaches ACT Math and Science classes. He also has 4 years of experience in a business environment, where he developed his skills in computer technology and software. His students love his open, light-hearted teaching style, and more often than not are eager to return to his classes.
Classes:  Computer Applications, PSEO  Intro to Computer Applications

Jim Wentzlaff   has over 30 years of engineering experience in government and consulting. He is a retired Air Force Colonel where he served in various telecommunications, engineering, strategic planning, and emergency management positions. As a registered professional engineer, he has consulted on environmental, geotechnical, and civil engineering design and construction projects. Having a passion for applying math and engineering principles to solve problems, Mr. Wentzlaff thrives on teaching through creative application principles. He has a Bachelors in Geo-Engineering and a Masters in Engineering Management. Mr. Wentzlaff   is pursuing a seminary degree and currently serves as a pastor-in-training.   He and his wife have four children.
Class: PreCalculus

Michelle Whalen graduated from Colorado Christian University with a major in Music and minor in Biblical Studies.  As a musician and songwriter, she has used her artistic passions and creativity leading, performing and teaching over the last twenty years.  A lifelong learner, Michelle geeks out reading literature, and loves studying and teaching the structure, psychology and philosophical components in great books and poetry through the lens of a Christian worldview. She has been active in the homeschooling community for many years, is an experienced educator and all around "Renaissance woman.”
Classes: Literature-Foundations, Great Books, Public Speaking for Junior High, Writing and Literature PSEO