Meet the 2014 Woodrow Wilson MSOE MBA Fellows in Education Leadership
Kourtney Bauswell
Dean of Curriculum & Instruction, Milwaukee Collegiate Academy
B.A., political science and sociology, Purdue University
M.Ed., educational policy and leadership, Marquette University
Former social studies teacher, social studies content team leader, and instructional coach, Hmong American Peace
Academy; Emerging Leader Fellow, Schools That Can—Milwaukee; participant, Northwestern University’s
Kellogg School of Management’s Executive Education Program; former Teach for America corps member.
Lyndee Belanger
Junior Academy Achievement Director, Milwaukee Academy of Science
B.S., elementary education, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee
M.S., curriculum and instruction, Lesley University
Former middle school reading and language arts teacher; former lead teacher for middle school; former
administrator for grades 6–12 and member of the school leadership team; as Achievement Director, curriculum
and assessment leader, teacher coach, and advisor on best practices; 2010 Teacher of the Year, Wisconsin Charter
Schools Association.
Lindsay Cialdini
Second-Grade Teacher and Curriculum Coordinator/Technology Chair, Slinger School District
B.S., elementary education/mathematics, Drake University
M.Ed., curriculum and instruction (integrated teaching through the arts), Lesley University
Former first-grade teacher, urban Washington, D.C.; ten-year teaching veteran; math curriculum coordinator;
participant in Wisconsin Statewide Mathematics Institute, focusing on professional development for K–12
mathematics teachers in implementing the Common Core State Standards; Presidential Scholarship recipient.
Dan Gebauer
Teaching and Learning Specialist/Technology Coach, Elmbrook Schools
B.S., criminal justice, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee
M.Ed., Cardinal Stritch University
National Board Certified middle childhood generalist; coach for 300+ educators in the use of various
teaching/learning technologies and web-based assessment and learning systems; ten-year teaching veteran; district
leader/committee member, mathematics education, assessment, professional development, and teacher coaching;
invited presenter, Wisconsin Education Innovations and other conferences; former police officer.
Erik Herbrechtsmeier
Math Teacher, Middle and High School, Kenosha Unified School District
B.A., mathematics/ secondary education, Carthage College
M.S., mathematics education, Walden University
Teacher at Kenosha Unified since 2001; teacher mentor, lead technology developer, former mathematics
department chair (Indian Trail High School and Academy); adjunct instructor, Gateway Technical College
(Kenosha).
Lalenunat M. Johnson
Assistant Principal/Director of Teacher Leadership, North Point Lighthouse Charter School
B.A., management and communications, Concordia University, WI
M.S., education policy and leadership, Marquette University, WI
Former teacher at Milwaukee College Preparatory School; taught 5th and 6th grade math, science, reading, and writing,
as well as 5th through 8th grade history. Started in education as a volunteer and educational assistant and worked her
way through college to become a teacher; former Teach for America corps member.
Rodney Lynk Jr.
Assistant Principal, Rocketship Southside Community Prep
B.S., finance and risk management insurance, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee
M.S., educational policy and leadership, Marquette University
Leader/coach for early childhood department, K4 and K5, and math at Rocketship Southside; 2012 “Rocketeer of
the Year” in his charter organization for outstanding student achievement; recipient, Sontag Urban Education
Prize; leader in bringing Rocketship to Milwaukee; founding Milwaukee corps member, Teach for America.
Kris MacDonald
Dean of Students and School Culture, Carmen Middle/High School of Science and Technology,
Northwest Campus
B.S., psychology/global cultures, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee
Educator in Wisconsin, California, and abroad; former Teach for America corps member in Southern California;
former bilingual educator in Costa Rica; former Corps member Advisor and School Director for TFA Summer
Institutes; student life facilitator with focus on character development.
Amanda Mehr
Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Carmen Middle/High School of Science and Technology,
Northwest Campus
B.A., writing intensive English/political science, Marquette University
M.S., educational policy and leadership, Marquette University
Former Teach for American corps member at Carmen; creator of school’s first Advanced Placement
English curriculum and 9th-grade grammar/composition course; former TFA Secondary Language Arts
Content Team Leader; former Assistant Director of Pre-Service Training, Milwaukee Teaching Fellows;
member, Schools That Can—Milwaukee.
Megan C. Miller
Special Education Teacher and founding staff member, Milwaukee College Prep
B.A., biomedical science, Marquette University
M.Ed., Cardinal Stritch University
Leader in creating the special education program at Milwaukee College Prep; Emerging Leader Fellow, Schools
That Can—Milwaukee; curriculum and assessment designer for transition to the Common Core State Standards,
helping to lead professional development in implementing the new curriculum; former Teach for America corps
member.
Al Moroder
Business Education Teacher, New Berlin West Middle & High Schools
B.S., business management and marketing, Concordia University—Wisconsin
Creator of new high school personal finance curriculum; data-driven instructor who brings that approach to his
students; head football coach, taking team to playoffs for the first time in nearly 15 years; pitching/catching coach
for state champion baseball team; committed student life volunteer.
Megan Rindal
High School Special Education/Transition Coordinator, Elmbrook School District
B.A., University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire
M.S., vocational rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin-Stout
Former job coach for individuals with disabilities; special education teacher, leader and consultant with 11 years
of k-12 experience; creator of innovative transitioning program for district; teacher and department coach for
effective practices in special education; led efforts to partner with local universities to provide needed resources
and support to district teachers and staff.
Nasif K. Rogers
AVID District Director and Instructional Coach, Nicolet Unified High School District
B.A., history/social studies/educational studies, Ripon College
M.Ed., teaching, learning, and leadership, Cardinal Stritch University
Former social studies teacher; former debate/forensics coach; participant on pilot team for the state’s new
Educator Effectiveness system; director of AVID program to close achievement gaps and ensure college
readiness; crisis stabilizer/youth mentor for one of Milwaukee County’s wraparound service providers; senior
director of the Empowerment Network, a local social entrepreneurship initiative.
Michele Vraney
Elementary Literacy Specialist, Mequon-Thiensville School District
B.A., Concordia University, WI
M.S., language and literacy, Cardinal Stritch University
Third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade teacher, including team leader of the fifth grade; leader of district’s first-ever team
recipient of teaching excellence award; recipient of district’s Outstanding Educator and Writing Teacher of the
Year awards; recipient of Range Line Excellence in Teaching Award; recipient of a Herb Kohl Fellowship
Award; adjunct professor, Concordia University’s graduate teacher certification program; 24-year veteran in
education.
Jack Wallace
Manager, Teacher Leadership Development, Teach for America (Milwaukee)
B.A., history, Yale University
Teacher coach for first- and second-year Teach for America teachers across Milwaukee, including both the
Milwaukee Public Schools and Milwaukee’s charter and choice districts; former eighth-grade reading and
language arts teacher; former eighth-grade team leader; former football coach; former Teach for America corps
member.
