Meet our faculty & Staff

Brandon Anderson obtained his Master of Arts with Distinction in Acting: The British Tradition from The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in England. He is also an alumnus of Saint John’s University where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre. After being awarded his MA, he has worked between Los Angeles and New York City participating in student films, commercial work, and performing in Summer Shakespeare festivals.

Before joining the staff of Saint John’s Prep, he worked in South Korea where he was awarded Best Directing in a 24-hour International Expat Film Festival. For more information about his work, you can check out Mr. Anderson’s website at www.brandonlouis.weebly.com.

Hazel Anderson-Larson ’19 is the Alumni and Community Engagement Manager. She is originally from St. Joseph, Minnesota and graduated from Saint John’s Prep in 2019.

Ms. Anderson-Larson has lived in Portland, OR for the last 5 years where she earned a BA in Rhetoric and Media Studies from Lewis and Clark College. While at Lewis and Clark, she worked closely with the Alumni Office and the Board of Alumni to create programing centered on strengthening the student/alumni relationship. She looks forward to working with SJP alumni and the greater Prep community and is excited to return to Collegeville both as a proud alum and staff member.

In her spare time, Ms. Anderson-Larson enjoys exploring her interest in film and television. Combining this interest with her love of sports, she worked as a camera operator for live sporting events broadcast on ESPN+, MLB.TV, and CBS.

Bryan Backes is the Activities and Athletics Director for Saint John’s Prep. He has served as coach for various teams during his 20 years at Saint John’s Prep. Most recently he has served as the coach for the girls’ basketball team after 20 years of coaching the boys’ team.

Bryan is the proud parent of two, including Emma ’15.

Matt Beck is originally from Buckman, Minnesota. He teaches German at Saint John’s Preparatory School. He is also the Student Council Advisor.

Matt earned his B.A. in English and German from Saint John’s University and his M.A. In Educational Leadership at Saint Mary’s University. He has taught English at the Hauptschule Insel Schütt and Willstätter Gymnasium in Nürnberg, Germany as well as the Jilin Institute of Chemical Technology in Jilin City, China. He also spent three years working in Residential Life at Saint John’s Prep.

In 2016, Herr Beck was named Minnesota German Teacher of the Year by the Minnesota Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German.

Herr Beck appreciates the students at Saint John’s Prep because they are dedicated to academics, yet they stretch themselves in multiple different directions. It’s not uncommon for one student to spend his or her week doing homework, competing in sports, and preparing for a concert or musical while managing to succeed in everything.

In his spare time, he enjoys running, skiing, working with technology, and traveling. What excites Matt about Saint John’s Prep is the diversity of the students, the dedication of the staff and faculty, and the warm, cooperative learning environment.

Carlee Biechler is our sixth-grade homeroom teacher for the 2020-21 school year. Ms. Biechler is a licensed middle school teacher who brings a vibrant energy and innovative spirit to both the campus classroom and the eLearning workspace. She is a recent graduate of the College of Saint Benedict who is originally from Apple Valley, Minnesota. Ms. Biechler teaches Language Arts/Writer’s Workshop and Social Studies, Sixth Grade Math, Theology and Science.

Besides her work as a teacher, Ms. Biechler has served as a facilitator for scripture study groups, a leader for faith retreats and onsite leader of a service trip to Guatemala. In her free time, she loves trying out new recipes, spending time with family, traveling and reading. She also enjoys exploring technology and robotics as well as tackling 3-D printing projects.

“Grüß Gott”, as we say in Austria! I am Daniela and I teach German. Even though I grew up in a small village northwest of Linz, Austria, I have always been fascinated by foreign languages, travel, and diverse cultures. I began learning English at age 8 and was fortunate to study foreign languages throughout my school and university years. I enjoyed many opportunities to work and study abroad, and managed to find placements as an Au pair in both London, UK and Atlanta, GA, as well as a summer banking internship in Spain. I am also fortunate to say that I was able to fulfill my childhood dream to work on a cruise ship as an Officer and International Purser onboard several ships in the Caribbean.

My undergraduate studies were in International Business and Languages, and graduate studies in Academic Training at the University of Linz, Austria. I spent 1.5 years abroad, studying through a government scholarship at HEC Geneva, Switzerland, and the ERASMUS program at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. I received my most recent accreditations through Efficient Language Coaching Global Spain as a Professional Neurolanguage Coach®, and the International Coaching Federation, as a Certified Life Coach, ICF ACC. 

My professional career after university started out with 10 years in International Banking in both London and Zurich. When we chose to have a family, we moved to Portland, OR to raise our two daughters. We are an international and multilingual family through heritage and marriage, so it is natural for us to continue a tradition of travel, global education and language learning. 

It was here in the US that I shifted my focus to coaching, teaching and tutoring German, as well as working as a freelance localization and translation specialist for companies such as Intel, Nike and Apple. I also worked as a German Saturday School and summer camp teacher with Sophie Scholl Schule Beaverton, OR, and I was School Director for 3 years.

As a language teacher, I prioritize making the learning process fun and engaging for my students. I use bite-size grammar structures and incorporate plenty of conversation practice to help my students learn more efficiently and quickly. I always strive to create lessons that are relevant, engaging, and fun. I love learning languages and continue to improve my skills in French, Spanish, Italian and Czech, and possibly some more in the near future!

I am honored to support the Melk Exchange Program to my home country of Austria, and appreciate the fact that Saint John’s Prep students have the outstanding opportunity to experience this unique program, a once in a lifetime opportunity during their high school years!

Ms. Daiker is from the Monticello/ Big Lake area, which is located about 30 minutes south of Saint John’s Prep. She holds two Bachelor of Science degrees; one in Social Studies, with an emphasis in History and the other in Communication Arts and Literature. Both were earned from St. Cloud State University. She has been teaching since 2008 and joined Saint John’s Prep in the Fall of 2011. She currently teaches World History II, World Affairs I and ESOL US History. Jen also serves as a coach for the upper and middle school Knowledge Bowl teams. She is also the head swimming coach for our girls’ team.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, playing video games in a variety of genres, swimming and playing softball and spending time with her family, friends and her pets. She also loves Pokemon.

She enjoys teaching at Saint John’s Prep for many reasons. She says it’s exciting, the students are amazing, the staff is great and the environment both inside and outside of school is incredible. She feels honored to be part of such a strong tradition and excellent school! When people ask her about being at Prep, she immediately describes the beautiful scenery and how much it adds to the incredible atmosphere here at the school.

Robert is from St. Cloud, MN. He graduated from St. John’s University where he earned his BA in Biology and his BA in Biology from St. Cloud State University with a 7-12 grade Life Science licensure. He earned his MA in education from St. Mary’s University. Robert has been teaching since 1988 and started working at Saint John’s Prep in 1998 where he currently teaches Middle School Science, Phy Ed, Ancient and Modern Technology, and Outdoor skills.

He has traveled extensively in North America, Latin America and Africa. Outside of Saint John’s Prep, Robert does volunteer work for Special Olympics and EARS (Emergency Animal Rescue Service). He also enjoys canoeing, skiing, camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, traveling, reading, gardening, and cooking.

What excites Robert about teaching at Saint John’s Prep is the beautiful campus, the flexibility and freedom to create a unique curriculum, and the engagement of the students.

Jeff is originally from Little Falls, MN. He has and MS in Music Education from the University of South Dakota, and a BA in Music from the University of Minnesota, Morris. He taught Elementary Band and High School Choir from 1996 to 2001, worked for ten years as a freelance musician, and started working at Saint John’s Prep in 2010.

Jeff has been an active professional musician, producer, and recording engineer for 25 years. He recently released a solo album called Little Big Things.  Jeff is a founding member of the band Collective Unconscious, and frequently performs with area favorites the Fabulous Armadillos. He also performs with the George Maurer Group and collaborates, records, and performs with many notable musicians across Minnesota.

What excites Jeff about teaching at Saint John’s Prep is the beautiful campus, the tremendous faculty, the small student body, and the great attitudes of the students and their parents.

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Mr. Erickson is originally from the tiny town (population under 40) of Wolford, North Dakota. He earned his BS in English from Minnesota State University-Moorhead and MS in English from St. Cloud State University. Robert began his teaching career in Killdeer, North Dakota where he also served as the head boys’ basketball coach. After two years of graduate school where he taught composition as a teaching assistant, he joined Saint John’s Prep in 1991. Mr. Erickson currently teaches English 9, British Literature, and World Literature. He initiated our school’s literary magazine, The Triangle, and still serves as its supervisor.

Mr. Erickson spent one month in England observing schools and has led the popular student tours to London several times. He has also traveled to Canada, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. Other than traveling, he enjoys basketball, baseball, reading, and theater.

Although Saint John’s Prep is located on an incredibly beautiful campus, Mr. Erickson says the people make the place special. Prep students are amazing with their zest for life and learning—they continually make him optimistic about our world’s future. Mr. Erickson says his colleagues are engaging, cooperative, dedicated and generous—a true pleasure to be around.

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Kyle Fettig is a resident director who last served on our Saint Michael staff in 2011 and 2012. He is thrilled to be a part of  the Saint John’s Prep community.

Kyle and his wife, Crisel, have two daughters.

Kyle says “Getting outside and enjoying nature energizes me. I’m excited to explore the nature that surrounds SJP. Good coffee also energizes me. I’m a wannabe coffee barista, and I first experimented brewing with a French press, and recently I’ve been using a Chemex coffee maker.

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Kealsie Finley is the administrative assistant to the principal and assistant head of school. Ms. Finley’s desk is in the main office and she’s often the first person to welcome families to Saint John’s Prep! Ms. Finely attended St. Cloud Technical College and studied accounting. She recently transitioned from healthcare administration to work in the education field at Saint John’s Prep.
Ms. Finely loves the atmosphere  at Saint John’s Prep. She appreciates how easy it is to talk to teachers and students. She enjoys the enthusiasm the teachers at Prep have for their classes and their students.
Ms. Finley and her husband are new parents to a little boy. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, two cats, and her dog. She and her husband also love hockey and are fans of the Minnesota WILD.

Ms. Fitch is from Cold Spring, MN. She has her BA in English from the College of St. Benedict and a Masters of Teaching and Learning from St. Mary’s University. She has been teaching since 2004 and joined Saint John’s Prep in 2008 where she taught in the Middle School.

In 2012, she moved into the Upper School level to teach English. In her spare time, she loves reading, cooking, keeping up with national and international news, and spending time with her husband, two daughters, her son and her pets.

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Ms. Frame is a Spanish teacher at Saint John’s Prep. She is originally from Jonesville, Michigan. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2010 with a degree in Spanish and Secondary Education. Since then, she has taught Spanish in Indiana and Minnesota, covering every level of language acquisition from 3-year-olds in preschool to high schoolers in Advanced Placement.

Besides serving as a Spanish teacher, Ms. Frame is also the advisor for the Saint John’s Prep Virgil Michael Chapter of the National Honor Society.

In her free time, Ms. Frame enjoys running, yoga, and traveling—especially to Spanish-speaking counties. She lives in Saint Joseph with her husband and their children.

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My name is Kris Fremo and I teach upper school art. I am responsible for planning and teaching all of the art curriculum for every art class in the upper school.
I graduated from St. Cloud Apollo High School in 1992 and went on to the College of Saint Benedict where I majored in Art, Education and coaching. While there I played NCAA softball and soccer. I was a 2 time academic all-American pitcher for CSB. I was part of a team that twice won the MIAC title and I pitched in the NCAA tournament twice. On the soccer team, I was a goalkeeper. I also studied voice with Dr. Axel Theimer for four years and sang in the chamber choir. I graduated from CSB in 1996 Summa Cum Laude and was named to the Delta Epsilon Sigma honor society. My graduate degree is from the Savannah College of Art and Design. I earned my MA in photography from SCAD in 2011.

Some of my favorite memories of SJP include my time coaching girls’ soccer. One of my all-time favorite coaching wins came in a quarter final play-off game against Crookston back in the early 2000s. We were a major underdog in that game. We came back from a 1-0 deficit to win the game by scoring with less than a minute to play. I also have a special memory of the 2004 team that made it all the way to the section semi-final game. The girls’ that I coached in that era were very enthusiastic about the game and had a strong belief in themselves. We had some very special and successful seasons. I still have special relationships with many of them to this day.

I enjoy the ability that I have to connect with students in a more personal way in the classroom. Many of those connections have helped me to tailor curriculum to each of their needs and make their experience more personal, and I hope, more enjoyable. I also enjoy the freedom that I have to be creative in the classroom. The classroom atmosphere at SJP is a good fit for my personality. I am both creative and driven and so are my students!
The students at SJP are courteous, hard-working, and engaged. I have also found that our students are more willing to engage their teachers as mentors than many students in other schools. This relationship, where students are known, creates a very caring and personal environment for everyone.

Outside of school, I run my own photography business, Sunny Day Pictures, working mostly with portraiture, but also with my own personal work. I believe strongly that being a working artist enhances my ability to teach and also to expose my students to the real world of artistic practice. In addition, I continue to enjoy coaching. I coach both high school and club soccer in the St. Cloud area. I am also an avid gardener and reader. In addition, our family is a musical family and we all enjoy making music in our own way as well as together.

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Sara Gabrielson is the Annual Giving Manager for Saint John’s Prep. Ms. Gabrielson works with alumni, families and friends of Prep to support our student fund.

Ms. Gabrielson has extensive experience in both education and fundraising, serving as a secondary social studies teacher and school administrator in the Twin Cities and Central Minnesota, as well as the foundation director for a local senior housing and long-term care facility. Ms. Gabrielson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton College, a Master of Education degree from the University of Minnesota, as well as an Educational Specialist degree from the University of St. Thomas.

In her spare time, Ms. Gabrielson enjoys making custom cakes and baked goods, cycling, and travel, but most of all, spending time with her family.

Ms. Gainey is a sixth grade teacher who teaches math and science. She is originally from southern Minnesota and now lives outside of Holdingford. She received her BS in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and a 5-8^th grade Science teaching license through the CSB|SJU Education Department. She has been teaching outdoor environmental education to kids for over 20 years and has worked closely with the Prep 6^th grade program since it was established.

Ms. Gainey loves being outside and appreciates each season for different reasons. When she isn’t teaching, she loves to read, hike, be on the water, cook, garden, travel, and explore local lakes with her husband and 2 young daughters.

Dr. Christine Glomski, Ed.D. serves Saint John’s Prep as principal. 
Before joining the Prep communnity, Dr. Glomski has served as principal of Becker Intermediate School in Becker, MN. As principal, she managed, evaluated and coached 75 faculty and staff members in a school for students in third, fourth and fifth grades. She also served as assistant principal and principal of Independence and Liberty Elementary in Big Lake and as dean of students at Forest Lake High School in Forest Lake, MN.

Dr. Glomski has been a part of the Saint John’s Prep community as a parent and is proud to serve the school as an administrator. “With my own children at the Prep School, I have been extremely impressed by the academic team. I have come to know the team at SJP as passionate, dedicated, and driven. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside such a phenomenal team of educators. I firmly believe that together we will create a fantastic future for the students at Saint John’s Prep.”

Dr. Glomski holds a Doctorate in Education from Hamline University, a Master of Education degree from St. Mary’s University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College. Dr. Glomski comes to Saint John’s Prep with ten years of administrative experience in educational programming, setting instructional direction and curriculum evaluation. In addition, Dr. Glomski has valuable experience providing post-secondary and career guidance for high school students.

As a principal, Dr. Glomski is known for her reputation as a collaborative leader with a contagious enthusiasm for education. Dr. Glomski is a member of Association of Supervision & Curriculum Development, the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association.

Tom was born and raised in Becker, MN. He has been teaching since the fall of 2004 and started teaching at Saint John’s Prep in 2006, where he is currently teaching Geometry and Pre-Calculus. Mr. Grandy graduated from St. Olaf in 1995 and earned his BA in the areas of Mathematics, Religion, and Ancient Studies. He also earned his BA in Mathematics Education from St. Cloud State University in 2004 and his Masters of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology in 2000.

Mr. Grandy enjoys spending time with his two daughters and anything that has to do with baseball.

Mr. Grandy enjoys all of the commitment by all of Saint John’s Prep stakeholders, the intellectual rigor, global perspective and living and working in the Saint John’s Prep community.

Ms. Greeney is part of our Student Services Team, a group created to meet the social-emotional, academic and college placement needs of our students and families. She serves as a counselor for students in grades 6-12.

Laura is our Director of Admission and Enrollment who works with students from Central Minnesota. She brings twelve years of experience in admission and marketing to Saint John’s Prep.
She enjoys getting to know students and learning about their cultures and families.

When Laura is not on campus she enjoys water skiing, gardening with her family, and using her outdoor mobile sauna.

Jennifer Hengel is part of the science department at Saint John’s Prep.  She teaches the Upper School Nature and the Naturalist Experience and Outdoor Skills classes at Saint John’s Prep. Ms. Hengel is also on the staff at Saint John’s University as a faculty member with SJU Outdoor University. Alongside her classes at Prep, Ms. Hengel also runs a outdoor education summer camp, provides community programming, and works with the K-12 programming at the Saint John’s Arboretum.

Ms. Hengel earned her Bachelor of Arts in Wildlife Biology with a minor in GIS from Saint Cloud State University. She earned her Masters of Education in Natural Science and Environmental Education from Hamline University

Ms. Hengel enjoys sharing her experiences with students about nature, and watching them get excited about phenomenon they observe about the natural world. She appreciates the the Prep school’s amazing outdoor spaces, and she enjoys sharing it with students.

Ms. Hengel has a passion for all creatures in nature, but she has a soft spot for insects, other arthropods, and plants! In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, exploring nature, reading fantasy and science fiction books, and spending time with her family.

Amanda is originally from Sheboygan Falls, WI. She came to Minnesota to attend St. Cloud State University where she double majored and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Travel & Tourism.

Amanda enjoys getting to know the great Prep students and hosting events on campus for prospective students and families.

She and her husband, Mike, live in Cold Spring with their son. She spends much of her time at hockey rinks and baseball stadiums cheering for her son, his teams, and other great local sports teams.

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Sean Jacobson is originally from Montevideo, MN. He graduated from Saint John’s University with a BA in Instrumental Music Education and has been teaching since 2013. After teaching elementary band for 9 years, Sean came to Saint John’s Prep in 2023, where he currently directs the Middle and Upper School Bands, Middle School Choir, and Jazz Ensemble.

Outside of his work at Prep, Sean is an active performer on piano and trumpet. He serves as the collaborative pianist for the Saint John’s Boys’ Choir and plays regularly with the Amadeus Chamber Symphony, St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Great Theatre, and many other local and regional groups. Aside from music, Sean enjoys growing houseplants, cooking, reading, hiking, and spending time with his family and dogs.

Sean is excited to be teaching at Prep because of the incredible, creative, diverse students, the brilliant colleagues, and the beautiful campus setting.

Dr. Jeff Kirchoff teaches middle and upper school English.

He earned his PhD in Rhetoric and Writing from Bowling Green State University, his MA in English from St. Cloud State University, and his BA in Creative Writing from St. Cloud State University.

When he is not teaching, he enjoys disc golf, participating in community theatre and spending time with his family.

Sherry is originally from Sioux City, Iowa where she attended Bishop Heelan Catholic High School. She came to Minnesota to attend the College of Saint Benedict and went on to earn a BA in Economics and a Masters of Business Administration from Saint Cloud State University. Sherry is also Vice President emeriti for the Board of Alumni at Saint Cloud State University.

Sherry’s professional background is in investments and compliance, but she is thrilled to have made the transition to Prep and the world of education. In her free time, Sherry enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, sports, and reading. Sherry is the proud parent of Prep alum, Tate ’15 and current student, Natalie ’25.

Manon Kuzara is the Dean of Student Life and Director of Residential Life. She is a graduate of the College of Saint Benedict. Before joining the staff at Saint John’s Prep, she taught health and wellness in Little Falls, MN.

Manon and her husband Maxwell have a Yorkshire terrier named Willa.

Manon says she finds energy in “Being in nature (I love the sunshine and water), reading non-fiction novels, and authentically connecting with people.”

In her spare time, she enjoys running and cross country skiing.

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Sara Laufers is the IT Support Specialist for Saint John’s Prep. Her office is in the LRC (Learning Resource Center). Ms. Laufers is a graduate of  the College of Saint Benedict and earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a minor in art. She has also earned a certificate in UX Research and Design from Prime Digital Academy.

Ms.  Laufers enjoys the bright and energetic atmosphere presented by the students and teachers at Saint John’s Prep. She appreciates that everyone is open to working together and fun to be around. She also love that the Prep campus is situated near beautiful Lake Sagatagan and is so close to walking trails.

Ms. Laufers is adopted from South Korea and was raised in Minnesota. Her hobbies are reading novels, drawing, listening to music, playing video games, and tennis.

Molly is the Assistant Director of Admission for International and Domestic Boarding Students at Saint John’s Prep. She previously worked in college admissions for 8 years and has her M.S. in Higher Education Administration & Leadership. Molly spent two years teaching English overseas and has enjoyed traveling to 27 countries.

Molly enjoys hiking, singing, dancing, making jewelry, and reading in her free time.

Jon McGee serves Saint John’s Prep as Head of School. Mr. McGee previously served as the vice president for planning and strategy at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (CSB/SJU).

McGee is the author of two books, Dear Parents: A Field Guide for College Preparation and Breakpoint: The Changing Marketplace for Higher Education. He is also a trustee of the College Board and serves on the faculty of the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions. Jon has written many essays and blogs for higher education professional organizations and consultant groups. He’s often enlisted to speak to parents, higher education administrators, faculty and trustees about economic and development trends in education for both schools and families.

He is the first lay leader of the school following 29 monastic members of Saint John’s Abbey who have successively led the school since its founding in 1857.

“Jon comes to Saint John’s Prep with an extensive knowledge and understanding of the school’s rich history and strong Catholic Benedictine philosophy,” said Abbot John Klassen, OSB, and a member of the class of 1967 and chancellor of Saint John’s Prep. “As Prep enters its third year of a three-year strategic plan, Jon offers the unique perspective and experience as a chief strategist and consultant to other institutions of higher learning, including secondary schools. He understands the economic, challenges and opportunities the school faces as a globally minded, independent school in the ever-changing landscape of education.”

McGee, a native of Mankato, Minn., holds a bachelor’s degree in government from Saint John’s University graduating egregia cum laude in 1984. He earned an M.A. in public affairs from the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs in 1988. He joined the administration of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in 1999 as the director of institutional planning and research after leadership positions at the Minnesota Private College Council and the Minnesota Department of Finance. His portfolio of work over the past 16 years for CSB/SJU, in addition to planning and strategy, also includes enrollment, communications and public affairs.

“The Catholic Benedictine values that guide and energize daily life at Saint John’s Prep and the greater Saint John’s community have become an important part of my own and my family’s life,” he said. “It is an extraordinary privilege to be a part of this community and contribute to its enduring values.”

McGee and his wife, Ann, live in Cold Spring, Minn., and have four children; three who have graduated from Prep and one who is currently attending the school. “Our children have received an extraordinary educational experience at Saint John’s Prep and I look forward to ensuring that those advantages remain for students for generations to come,” McGee said.

Jodi Middendorf is an intern in the school counseling department this academic year at Saint John’s Prep.

She graduated with a BA from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. After graduating, Ms. Middendorf spent two years Teaching English in Madagascar through the Peace Corps. She is now working toward a Master’s Degree in school counseling at Saint Cloud State University.

Ms. Middendorf enjoys camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and spend most weekends working on building an off-grid cabin with her partner.

Aaron Miller has more than 22 years of experience in education and educational advancement. Before joining Saint John’s Prep, he most recently served as Director of Development at Hill-Murray School in Maplewood, MN. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Saint Scholastica. In addition, he earned his Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministry from Saint John’s University. He also completed the Education Specialist Program with a K-12 licensure at the University of Saint Thomas.

He and his wife, Jen, live in Cold Spring with their two children.

Joe Minks teaches upper school Theology at Saint John’s Preparatory School. He is originally from Minnesota and has always enjoyed every season it has to offer.

Joe attended Bethel University in St. Paul where he earned a B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies and Philosophy. During his undergraduate studies, Joe studied Biblical Hebrew and became a Teaching Assistant for the Biblical Studies Department. He later went on to earn a two-year degree in Modern Hebrew and served active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for several years. He has also worked with the Middlebury School of Hebrew at Middlebury College in Vermont.

Outside of the Prep School, Joe enjoys year-round indoor and outdoor activities in Minnesota. Particularly, he enjoys language learning, exercise science, camping, hockey, rollerblading, and spending time with his family.

Mr. Minks enjoys teaching at Saint John’s Prep because of the welcoming atmosphere and high-achieving nature of the school. When asked about the Prep School, Mr. Minks will be the first to tell you how engaged the faculty and students are and how exciting it is to see each student’s unique perspective(s) in the classroom.

Mr. Miller grew up in New York City but attended High School and College in Tulsa, OK. He has his BS in Biology and his BA in Philosophy, both from Tulsa University. He also has a Master of Science in education from Bemidji State University, MN. Mr. Miller has been teaching since 1997 and has been at Saint John’s Prep since 2005 where he teaches Physics and Astronomy.

Until recently, he served as the coach for the Knowledge Bowl team, which has taken 1st at State five times! In May 2013, Mr. Miller was named the grade 9-12 “Honor Teacher” of the year at the Minnesota Independent School Forum (MISF) Private Education Awards Celebration.

Mr. Miller is now the coach of our varsity Esports teams including Variant, Rocket League and League of Legends. Our Esports team is a proud member of the MNVL.

He loves teaching at Saint John’s Prep because the students are such dynamic, inquisitive kids and he feels honored to be a part of their successes.

Charles is the proud Prep parent of Katie ’19 and Owen ’21.

Maureen O’Connell is an art teacher and part of the middle school team. She is a proud 1998 Saint John’s Prep graduate who is very happy to be back on campus.
Ms. O’Connell received her degree in Secondary Art Education from the University of Idaho.  She taught art to 6th-12th graders in Saint Maries, Idaho for more than ten years before joining the Prep faculty.

Sharing the joy of making art with young people is one of her favorite things in the world! She also enjoys reading, writing, gardening, hiking, singing, dancing, and cross-country skiing.

Originally from Pierre, South Dakota, Ms. O’Connell has lived in seven different states. She currently resides in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota with her husband, two children, a cat, and about thirty fish.

Lance Nydeen is originally from St. Cloud, MN. He has his M.A. in History from Saint Cloud State University, along with his coaching licensure and MN teaching licensure. He coaches cross country and track and field.

In his spare time, Mr. Nydeen enjoys spending time with his family, running, reading, writing, camping and the occasional video game. Mr. Nydeen is the parent of three daughters, two are currently Saint John’s Prep students. His oldest daughter graduated from Saint John’s Prep in 2017.

When asked why he enjoys teaching at Saint John’s Prep, Mr. Nydeen says, “I love the environment created by the physical setting coupled with the diversity of, and character of, the students and Faculty/Staff that is so unique and inviting at Prep.

Sarah Pasela is the upper school biology instructor for Saint John’s Prep.

Ms. Pasela was born in Little Falls Minnesota, but grew up in West Africa. She returned to Little Falls, Minnesota for high school and graduated from the College of Saint Benedict with a BA in Biology and English Literature. After her undergraduate education, she joined the Peace Corps, serving as an aquaculture extension agent, teaching rural farmers in Zambia, how to keep fish and increase protein intake.  She earned two Master of Sciences degrees from Ohio University, one in Education, and one in International Affairs. Ms. Pasela taught at Apollo High School in Saint Cloud, Minnesota for eight years before she joined Saint John’s Prep in 2016.

Ms. Pasela loves to garden, read, scuba dive, and travel.  Her goal as a teacher is to inspire life-long learning. She hopes to create a place where all identities feel welcome and are able to develop as complete humans.  She loves Saint John’s Preparatory School because of the beautiful natural setting and the connections she gets to make with her colleagues and students.

Jill Pauly is the Director of Communications and Events for Saint John’s Prep. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. Jill worked as an evening television news producer for 11 years in the southeastern United States before transitioning into marketing when her family moved to Minnesota. She came to Saint John’s Prep in 2013.

Jill works on the overall marketing of Saint John’s Prep. She partners with the Development, Admissions and Headmaster’s teams to create messaging and events for the school. She loves learning about the Prep community’s rich traditions and history.

Chase Douvier is the Facilities Manager for Saint John’s Prep. Mr. Douvier manages our buildings’ maintenance plan and supervises our cleaning team. He is responsible for the cleanliness, upkeep and safety of our school building and premises.

Michael Pineda is a recent graduate of Saint John’s University who will be a new resident director in Saint Michael Hall this fall. While at SJU, Michael was a lead video production specialist and took charge of live streaming Johnnie athletic events.

Michael is originally from Southern California. His hobbies include exercise, video editing/production, graphic design, chess and watching YouTube/Hulu/Disney+.

Sara Pflueger ’00 recently followed her desire to be nearer to family, after almost two decades living and working in Chicago. She now lives just a few minutes from the family farm in Collegeville where her forebears have farmed since the late 1800’s. She lives with her fellow residential life staff and resident students in the newly renovated Saint Michael Hall, the dormitory for Saint John’s Prep School.

In Saint Michael Hall, Sara works with a team of dedicated professional staff to care for and mentor resident students. Sara brings 16 years of residential treatment experience from her work as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, helping treat homeless individuals with substance abuse issues. “These were often people who had nowhere else to go; other resources couldn’t or wouldn’t help them.”

While the joys and challenges facing SJP students differ dramatically from those on the streets of Chicago, the skills and wisdom Sara honed will serve her and our Prep community as she attends to the social, mental, academic, and spiritual needs of our learners.

In her spare time, Sara enjoys spending time with her family and watching Saint John’s Prep athletic events.

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Sandy Ernst serves as registrar for Saint John’s Prep. She works with families on student accounts and records. Ms. Ernst also works with the development and marketing teams in managing data for events and transcripts.

Ms. Ernst enjoys working with Prep families and watching their students grow into considerate and socially conscious adults. She also enjoys connecting with alumni.

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Jack Scheck is the English as a Second Language Coordinator & International Student Advisor for Saint John’s Prep.

Mr. Scheck is a recent Saint John’s University graduate. Following graduation, he served as a Saint John’s Benedictine Volunteer in Spain, and most recently, he spent time as a an English Language Assistant in a French high school.

Ashleigh Severson is a middle school teacher at Saint John’s Prep. She is a homeroom teacher for our 7th and 8th grade students. She teaches Math.

Ms. Severson was born and raised in the central Minnesota area and earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Saint Cloud State University in 2016. She is in the process of pursuing her M.A. in Education with a specialty in Technology Integration.

Ms. Severson taught 5th grade for five years in Becker, Minnesota. During her time in Becker, she ran a student leadership club, worked on numerous leadership teams, and organized various events for students and staff.

In her spare time, she enjoys golfing, biking, beaching, cooking, and spending time with close family and friends. Ms. Severson is most excited to be a part of the Prep community because of the freedom and flexibility to create lifelong learners in and out of the classroom.  She also offers great enthusiasm for learning and is a passionate and dedicated educator.

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Yahui Shi is a Chinese teacher at Saint John’s Prep. Ms. Shi was previously with St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota where she taught in the Chinese Culture and Language Program.

Ms. Shi is originally from Kunming, China. She and her husband love traveling. She’s been to been to 15 countries and 20 states!

Ms. Shi enjoys working at St. John’s Prep because the students are kind and creative, and the teachers are responsible and energetic.

Ms. Shi received her Master of Arts degree from St. Cloud State and is excited to further develop our Chinese language curriculum to best serve the needs of our students.

Donna Simmons is the Administrative Assistant to the Head of School. Donna is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton and Citrus College. She is currently pursing her Masters of Science in Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Before joining the staff at Saint John’s Prep, Donna served as an Administrative Assistant at the Riverside County Office of Education in Riverside, California.

Donna enjoys spending time with her husband and little boy and keeping in touch with their oldest who lives in California. In her spare time, she explores the magical world of Harry Potter in both books and film. She loves to travel and showing her son all the unique and exciting sites that they explore. Donna and her family love to ice skate and ride horses.

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Mr. Swanson is the social students teacher for seventh and eighth grade students. He is originally from Willmar, Minnesota. Mr. Swanson earned his BA from St John’s University where he studied Social Studies and Secondary Education. After graduating he spent a year volunteering in Israel with the Benedictine Volunteer Corps.

When he’s not teaching, he enjoys traveling, playing guitar, hiking, swimming, and spending time with his friends and family.

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Vanessa Vanlaanen is a resident director at Saint John’s Prep. She earned her undergraduate degrees from Saint Cloud State University in Communication Arts and Literature, and Communication Studies with minors in Intercultural communication and Cultural Anthropology. She also has a bachelor’s degree in German.
Ms. Vanlaanen also earned a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning from Saint Mary’s University.

Ms. Van Laanen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah but relocated to Minnesota with her family and graduated from high school in Stillwater, Minnesota.
After 9 years of teaching in Central Minnesota, Ms. Vanlaanen is taking a break from the classroom. She is excited to live in Saint Michael Hall and work with students and the residential life team.
Ms. Vanlaanen enjoys traveling and learning about other cultures. When she was in high school, she spent her senior year in Germany as part of the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange. She also studied at the Bonn Universität.

She enjoys spending her free time reading, knitting, hiking, kayaking and canoeing. She lives in Saint Michael Hall with her two cats.

Jennifer Whitehead is a school counselor for Saint John’s Prep. Before coming to Saint John’s Prep, Jennifer worked as the director of Upward Bound at the College of Saint Benedict.

At Prep, Jennifer supervises student accommodation and learning plans, as well as academic contracts. She also helps students develop academic and personal skills.

Mr. Yanke is a science teacher who teaches upper school chemistry. He is also the advisor for National Honor Society

Outside of his work at Saint John’s Prep, Mr. Yanke has also taken part in the 3M Twist Program. It’s an opportunity for science, technology and math teachers to get real world experience and learn about new things that happen in industrial labs. The program’s goal is to send educators back to the classroom with that real-world knowledge.

“I worked in the infection prevention division and participated in research. The biggest takeaway was discovering how the company encourages creativity with their researchers. The staff has the freedom to be curious and not necessarily take the linear path. I hope to encourage my students in the same way. I want to encourage my own students to try new things and not be afraid of failure. I’d like them to realize it is okay to get a less than perfect result immediately. I want my students to learn and enjoy the process.”

Matthew Young is a math teacher at Saint John’s Prep. He primarily teaches students in grades 9-12.

Mr. Young graduated from Saint John’s University with a degree in mathematics and secondary education. The 2021-22 school year is his 10^th year teaching. At Prep, Mr. Young teaches Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Precalculus. He is incredibly excited to be a part of the Prep community! Mr. Young lives in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota with his family. When he is at home he enjoys woodworking, reading, and spending time with his family.

Sara (Lofstrom) Zimmerman is a college counselor for Saint John’s Prep.
Before joining Saint John’s Prep, Sara worked at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy as an Admissions Counselor, Career Counselor and Course Instructor and Manager of Recruiting and Marketing. She has guidance counseling experience with Minneapolis Public Schools and St. Paul Public Schools. In addition, Sara recently returned from a 2 year position at the International School Dhaka where she was the Head of College Counseling. Sara brings an excitement and deep knowledge base to our College Counseling program.

At Prep, Sara focuses on partnering with each student and their family to create a personalized plan for their college and career goals. She has a passion for education and the journey of personal growth students experience throughout their formative years.

Ms. Zimmerman grew up in Minneapolis and was an exchange student to Honduras for a semester in Grade 12. Speaking Spanish, dancing and traveling have been some of her favorite activities ever since! Ms. Zimmerman has traveled to over 35 countries, but always comes back to Minnesota.