September News at SPMA

• Email: Marlee.Leebrick-Stryker@spps.org

• Google Voice: (651) 728-4170

This year I will continue supporting students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) in building their academic and social skills. I facilitate small group learning in my classroom and provide push-in services to students in their general education classrooms. My small groups are focused on reading, writing, math and social skills.

I will also provide case management services for students and their families. This includes development and implementation of IEP and behavior plans and working with students’ IEP teams to support students at SPMA.

Hannah Riederer

Special Education Teacher

• Email: Hannah.Riederer@spps.org

Hello friends! I am glad you are here.

This is going to be a fantastic school year!

At Saint Paul Music Academy, we’ll sing, learn and play.

And practice our reading in new, joyful ways.

I work with students with IEPs,

Helping them grow with skills they need.

I am excited to meet you, to help you succeed,

Together we’ll learn, and together we’ll read

Laura Weghorst

Special Education Teacher

• Email: laura.weghorst@spps.org

• Phone: (651)744-5267

Welcome to another great year at SPMA! I support, teach, and advocate for students who have qualified for special education. Using their IEP goals, I will teach your student academic, social, behavioral, and/or school success skills. I hope that we can work as a team to help your student build confidence, gain independence, feel success, and become a lifelong learner.

Please reach out through email, phone, or text and include me on communication with classroom teachers and school staff.

Beth Knocke: Speech Language Pathologist (PS, Grades 1 to 5)

• Email: beth.knocke@spps.org

• Phone: 651207 or 741809

I will be working with students in PS, Grades 1 - 5 who have an IEP for speech and language disorder.

email: jill.bertelsen@spps.org

Office phone (651)744-1913

I support students who qualify for an Individual Education Plan (IEP). In a small group setting or individually, we will work on social and emotional skills. I also assist families as necessary with support that may be needed outside of school.

Neenah Yang:

Part-Time School Social Worker for Special Education.

The best way to reach me is by email: neenah.yang@spps.org. I am at SPMA only in the mornings.

I will be supporting 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students who qualify for an Individual Education Plan (IEP). In a small group setting, we will work on building social and emotional skills,

Madison O'Donnell: Special Education Social Worker

You can email me at madison.odonnell@spps.org or find me in my room 1317 on W/Th and every other Friday (starting 9/12). I will be mostly working with our Fed 1 and 2 Pre K, K, and 1st graders learning social emotional skills.

Heidi Carson: School Social Worker

Email: heidi.carson@spps.org

Office Phone: 652310

Personal Phone: 651-243-4663 ext. 741686

I work with students in classrooms, small groups or individually to improve social skills in the school setting. These skills may include, building empathy, promoting friendship skills, positive communication, emotional regulation, improved problem-solving, conflict resolution, and self-advocacy.

• Email: laura.hastings@spps.org

• Phone:

This year I will mainly be supporting multilingual language learners in Kindergarten. We will focus on listening, speaking, reading, and writing about the books we read and the world around us! I also will be working with students throughout all grade levels in some of the language groups we have at SPMA. Hablo español.

Chanda Yang: ELL Teacher Grade 1

• Email: chanda.yang@spps.org

This year I will be supporting multilingual language learners in First grade. We will focus on our English language development in reading, writing, listening, and speaking by expanding their vocabulary, reading and listening comprehension, and crafting many different kinds of writing. I am excited to meet my new students and have fun with them while learning English!

Megan Kloster: ELL Teacher Grade 1

• Email: megan.kloster@spps.org

• Phone: (651) 744 - 2191

I will be working with First Grade English language learners this year. Students get English language support during reading, writing or math. Whether in the classroom or in a small group, we will work on listening, speaking, reading and writing in English. I am looking forward to getting to know your student and your family this school year!

Lisa Willis: ELL Teacher Grades 2 and 3

Phone: (651)293-8795

Email: klee.thao@spps.org

In Grades 2 and 3, I will be supporting multilingual language learners for language development. Students will focus on language acquisition in the domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing at the word and sentence levels and language discourse in small groups. In large groups, students will be involved with content learning for inclusion. I look forward to helping my students feel successful in school and develop a love of learning for academics! Thus, I look forward to teaching SPMA students and connecting with families. Students are truly the future of our world! Let’s have a great year of learning!

Situ Akinosun: ELL Teacher Grades 2 and 3

Hello, I’m excited to work with your students this year! In 2nd and 3rd grades we will focus on strengthening our English language skills in the 4 modalities: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. We will do this by building our foundational literacy skills, grammar, reading comprehension, speaking skills and writing skills. Your student will have support in both classroom and small group settings. The best way to contact me is via email at

situ.akinosun@spps.org. Feel free to reach out with any questions!

Sarah Tessman: English Language Teacher, specializing in WIDA Levels 3-4

Part Time: Every other Monday, Every Wednesday & Thursday

Email: sarah.tessman@spps.org

Text: I will reach out to you if I teach your student via the “Talking Points” application.

I will be working with students to increase their academic English in writing, speaking, listening, and reading. Throughout the year we will work on writing complete sentences (lower grades), asking and answering questions, paragraph complexity (upper grades), Reader’s Theater, and Socratic Seminar (upper grades).

Amy Gustafson:

Hello SPMA Family!

I am excited to be working with staff and students in 4th and 5th grades this year to help multilingual learners develop their English language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. I have a new room, 2301, upstairs by the 3rd grade classrooms, but will be working with students in Ms. Abbey’s 5th grade, and Ms. Thao’s and Mr. Mayock’s 4th grade. Our focus will be in writing, followed by reading, and then math, science, social studies and more!

If you want to contact me for any reason, please email me at amy.gustafson@spps.org I also like to check in with you at home, so let’s schedule a home visit soon!

Together, we will learn and grow, being inspired to think critically, believe in the power of good, and shine our unique light into the world. There is only one of you. You are special!

Johanna Ronnei DeAvila: Latino Consent Decree (LCD) Teacher, K - 5/ELL Teacher Grades 4-5

• Email: johanna.ronnei@spps.org (Se habla español)

• Phone: 651-744-2255 (Se habla español)