Our Team
KIPP Stand Academy empowers each student to develop the character traits, knowledge, and skills to excel in competitive high schools, colleges and the wold beyond. Our students will stand for their beliefs and become their best selves and help build a better tomorrow.
At KIPP Stand Academy our teachers are unified in doing what's best for students and closing race and income based achievement gaps for students. We not only value more time for students, but more time for teachers to work together. KIPP stand Academy has two opportunities for professional development weekly and an annual visit to KIPP School Summit to leverage the Power of the KIPP network.
As a growing school and network, our teachers will be instrumental in the long term growth and sustainability of KIPP in Minnesota. We look to teachers as our greatest strength and as our future school leaders. Our leadership team values creative ideas and input from teachers.
Administration/Student Support Team
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Kendra Kecker - School Leader
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Karli Knop - Manager of Data, Reporting & Evaluations
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Stacy Lundberg - Office Manager
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Andre Ridley - Dean of Students
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Jessica Schaeppi - Director of Advancement
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Liza Tickle - Director of Operations
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Ben Tierney - Director of Instruction
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Laura Flann - School Social Worker
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Board Members
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Beth Finch - Board Chair
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Beth Finch, Board Chair, joined the Board in July, 2010. Prior to that, she consulted with a variety of agencies including Volunteers of America, Minnesota Department of Education and Center for School Change. She is also a founder of Lake Country Academy a K-8th school based in Wisconsin, awarded the highest academic performance award for the State of Wisconsin in 2009. She is a graduate of the College of St. Benedicts and resides in the east metro with her husband and children.
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Mark Chronister - Board Vice Chair
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Mark Chronister, Vice Chair, has been on the KSA board since its inception. Mark is a retired partner of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, a global public accounting and consulting firm. Mark is currently vice-chair of the KSA board and chairs the Development committee. Mark also currently serves as board chair for St. Catherine University. He also serves on the board of the University of Nebraska Foundation and The Minneapolis Foundation.
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Rebecca Gallt - Teacher Representative
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Rebecca Gallt is currently the 7th and 8th grade science teacher at KIPP Stand Academy. She is a recent graduate of Columbia University, with a degree in Neuroscience and Behavior. While living in New York, she worked in the northern Manhattan/South Bronx neighborhood of Washington Heights in a hospital-based youth science enrichment program, where she had the opportunity to advocate for and teach 7th through 12th graders. That experience, among others, led her to a position in health education in New York, and finally brought her to KIPP Stand in Minnesota. She feels strongly that the teacher representative on the KIPP Minnesota board not only speaks for the staff, but for the everyday experience of our students.
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Danyald Purdis - Parent Representative
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Danyald Purdis currently has an 8th grader who attends KIPP Stand Academy. She is a business owner (Flava Dry Cleaners) as well as a financial advisor for federal student loans. This is her child's 3rd year at KIPP, and her 1st year as a KIPP Board member. She believes she is the bridge between the parents, teachers and the Board. She sees KIPP Stand Academy (KSA) as a driving force in the "KIPP Circle " of schools.
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Scott Gage
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Scott Gage is a business and philanthropic leader in the Twin Cities. He holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Colorado and a Masters of Business (MBA) degree from the Carlson School of Management. As Vice President of the Carlson Family Foundation, Scott’s philanthropic efforts are focused on education and mentoring programs for children facing adversity.
Six years ago, Scott realized the importance of alternative choices in education for the students and families in the Twin Cities. The Carlson Family Foundation worked with a broad coalition of other community leaders addressing the achievement gap in Minnesota, which helped to bring the first KIPP School to Minnesota. Scott has continued to provide leadership to KIPP and currently serves on the Board of KIPP Stand Academy. Scott resides in the western suburbs with his wife and children.
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Mark Ashton
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Marc Ashton, joined the board in December, 2011. He is founder of World Data Products, a computer company based in Minnetonka. Since selling his business in 1987, he has focused on business consulting and giving his time to youth organizations. He has served on the board for Store Front Youth, Youth Intervention Programs Association, and the Parents Television Council. He currently serves on the National Youth Recovery Foundation board as well as the Marcus McCoy Foundation. Marc graduated from the University of Minnesota – Duluth with a business degree. He has 4 children and resides in Edina, Minnesota.
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Wade Jones - Treasurer
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Wade Jones, Treasurer, has been a member of the Board since April, 2008. He has served as its Treasurer and the chair of the Finance committee since his inception on the board. Wade started with KIPP Minnesota in December of 2007 when he joined the Finance committee. Wade is currently employed by Medtronic where he serves as the Program Manager for a Learning and Development function for Finance. Wade has had a 15+ year career in both public accounting and corporate Finance serving in a variety of accounting and finance roles. Wade is a CPA and holds a bachelors degree in Accounting from Valparaiso University and MBA in Finance from the University of Kansas. Wade resides in Shoreview, MN with his wife and three children.
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Teaching Team
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Tenecia Kirk - Paraprofessional
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Brendan O'Shea - 5th Grade Math Teacher
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Mary Russell - 5th Grade ELA Teacher
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Brian Shephard - 5th Grade Non-Fiction Teacher
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Anna Dibley - 6th Grade Non-Fiction Teacher
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Gwen Nordman - 6th Grade ELA Teacher
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Kali Sherod - 6th Grade Math Teacher
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Natalie Jeter - 7th & 8th Grade Spanish Teacher
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Libby Harris - 7th & 8th Grade Social Studies
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Luwam Arefe - 7th Grade Math Teacher
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Becky Gallt - 7th Grade Science Teacher
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Ari O'Brien - 7th and 8th grade ELA
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Shelly Lehman - 8th Grade Math Teacher
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Jeremy Daggett - Physical Education Teacher
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John Geske - Special Education Teacher
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Jill Zastrow - Special Education Teacher
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Larelle Holmes - Paraprofessional
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Emily Cook - Paraprofessional
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Christina Saunders - Special Education Coordinator
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Reva Williams - Paraprofessional
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