Workshop Faculty & Staff

Master Teachers  

Ann Hoehn (Milaca Schools) Ann is an elementary teacher and a curriculum & instructional consultant. She has made numerous state and national presentations. Ann served as the Project Manager for the People and Cultures Framework (K-12) for the Minnesota Department of Education.

Fred Kunze After many years as a social studies teacher, Fred became the technology trainer in his district. Since retirement, he conducts education technology seminars with his classroom technology integration training business.

Michelle Leba (Washington Technology Magnet School, St. Paul) Michelle is a middle school geography teacher and a member of the MAGE Steering Committee. She is the Minnesota State Coordinator for the National Geographic Society’s Geography ACTION! Program.

Chris Ripken (Centennial High School, Circle Pines) Chris is a member of the MAGE Steering Committee and teaches high school geography. He has made several presentations on teaching cultural geography.

Kelly Swanson (Johnson High School, St. Paul) Kelly teaches one of Minnesota’s first AP Geography courses. His course syllabus was published in the ETS AP Geography Teachers’ Guide. Kelly authored Kaplan’s AP Human Geography Guide--to be published in January. He also was the geographic consultant for the Onion’s What in the World Atlas.

Paula Verstegen Paula recently retired from the Stillwater school district after thirty-five years of elementary teaching. She was a 2003 finalist for Minnesota’s “Teacher of the Year”. Paula is a MAGE Steering Committee member and has made numerous presentations throughout the state.

Workshop Administrators, Faculty & Staff

Aaron Doering , PhD (University of Minnesota, Department of Learning Technologies) Keynote Speaker

Steve Jongewaard , PhD (Hamline University, Education Department/ACTC Representative

JoAnn Trygestad , PhD (ISD #196/Hamline University)Workshop Director

Jessica Winkelaar (Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education) Administrative Assistant