The Staff
Click a link to read about that staff member- Jane Davin (Director & Language Arts Instructor)
- Lindsey Jelle (Math Instructor)
- Ross Berbig (Social Studies Advisor and Jr. High Advisor)
- Dara Donelson (Administrative Consultant)
- Shoua Yang (Administrative Assistant)
- Ruth Johnsen (Special Ed. Instructor)
- Guadalupe Lopez (Staff & Student Liaison)
- Cassi Dutcher (Educational Aid)
- Dominique Gant (Educational Aid)
- Eileen Devine (Science Instructor)
Jane Davin
- Information
- Director & Language Arts Instructor
- jdavin@riverheightscharter.org
Jane is beginning her third year as Director of River Heights Charter School in 2009. Jane holds a Master of Liberal Studies in Interdisciplinary Teaching from the U of M, Twin Cities, and her bachelor's degree in vocal music education from the U of M in Duluth, MN. Prior to her post as Director of River Heights, Jane taught classroom Language Arts, Communications, Music and Art History for 14 years in private and public schools in the Apple Valley and Burnsville area. Her experience in and commitment to teaching, curriculum development, staff advocacy, and team-building skills fit well into her leadership role at River Heights.
Aligned with education, Jane also enjoys her career in professional writing. She is the author of four SRA books from MacGraw-Hill: The Father of Television, Migrating Animals Great and Small, an adaptation of Swiss Family Robinson, and Earth Belongs To You. She loves bike riding, writing stories,...and creativity-rich supper-time cook-offs with her three children, Sebastian (25), Seth (20), and Gracey (18).
Ms. Davin hopes that each new and returning student is ready to roll up their sleeves and be prepared for a great and adventurous year ahead at River Heights!
Guadalupe Lopez
- Information
- Staff & Student Liaison
- glopez@riverheightscharter.org
Mr. Lopez is a long-time resident of West St. Paul. Although he retired in 1998, he soon decided to work with Community Action Council (CAC) as a Service/Family Support Worker in 1999. Currently, Mr. Lopez is the Student/Staff Liaison here at River Heights Charter School, and will be completing his second year this June. In the past, he has coached football, baseball, basketball and wrestling.
Mr. Lopez really shines as a councelor to students struggling with personal problems and is very helpful guiding them to understand what is going on in their lives. He is also a positive advocate to students each day as he talks with them about their academic pursuits. He is a friend and mentor and has much life experience to back up his most helpful advice. Sometimes a go-between communicator for students, parents, and staff, Mr. Lopez sometimes works as a Spanish Interpreter and helping out with school field trips, special events, and promoting community service.
In his free time Mr Lopez enjoys bowling and cooking...and in 2008, was the Prime Minister for the St. Paul Winter Carnival Festivities! River Heights is fortunate to have Mr. Lopez on our staff!
Cassi Dutcher
- Information
- Educational Aid
- cgustafson@riverheightscharter.org
Ms. Gustafson is an Educational Aid for River Heights, and works with many students who would like more individualized help with projects and assignments. She has an undergraduate degree in Archaeology, and currently is pursuing a master's degree.
Dominique Gant
- Information
- Educational Aid
- dgant@riverheightscharter.org
Dominique is in her second year at River Heights. She has the pleasure of working with Ms. Johnsen in special education, and also works as an advisor in the math rotation area. Ms. Gant is in her third year at St. Paul College, working on her Child Development specializing in an American Sign Language Degree. She has practiced American Sign Language for seven years.
Dominique has a special talent for reaching students of all skill levels, encouraging them to press on to their best work.
In her spare time, Dom loves to spend time with the two boys she is a nanny for. She is very energetic, outgoing, and a great problem solver! So, stop on in and say, "Hi!"
Lindsey Jelle
- Information
- Math Instructor
- ljelle@riverheightscharter.org
Lindsey Jelle is the math instructor at River Heights. She is a graduate of the University of North Dakota with a B.A. in Mathematics and two minors, in Secondary and Middle-level Education.
I am excited to be back at River Heights teaching mathematics. This year's math classes will be very different from last year. I spent the summer creating a new curriculum that will be better for each student. The class work will still be individualized for each student. There will be a Pre-Algebra course to help review the necessary everyday skills. The Algebra 1 course will help students solve many types of linear equations. The Geometry course that will help students see the world around them. And an Algebra 2 course will help to prepare students for the state standards test.
We will also be creating projects to earn our necessary targets. I am excited to work in the project based learning environment for my second year because it provides students the ability to get a head and to learn things that affect their real life. We are going to have a fantastic, creative year.
Ross Berbig
- Information
- Social Studies Advisor and Jr. High Advisor
- rberbig@riverheightscharter.org
I am very happy to be back at River Heights for my second year. Teaching social studies and working in our project-based school are very important parts of my life and I enjoy them very much. We will study a wide range of social studies topics this year, ranging from US and World History to Psychology to Government topics. Our class will incorporate traditional aspects, group work, small projects, and activities. And like last year I will work with every student that I can to help them with their individual projects—to make their projects go in depth and more meaningful. I spent a lot of time over the summer coming up with project ideas and outlines to help anyone get the ball rolling on earning their targets. Let's make this a fantastic and productive year!
Dara Donelson
- Information
- Administrative Consultant
- ddonelson@riverheightscharter.org
Dara Donelson has provided administrative and customer services for a wide range of companies from small offices to corporate headquarters. She has assisted district, regional, and corporate sales managers in several industries, with seven years experience in commercial insurance for all lines, including group health and life. Possessing a strong working knowledge of business processes, Dara has managed vendors and purchasing for small offices. She has also served as a technical writer for several years, analyzing work procedures as connected to corporate information systems.
Dara earned a B.A. in English Education with an emphasis in teaching writing from Simpson College, Iowa. She briefly taught English 9-12 before pursuing business opportunities. Her volunteer experience includes eight years as a Camp Fire USA leader, coordinating group and regional activities. She organized the volunteer-led local day camp program and several overnight events for her region at Camp Sacajawea in Lebanon Hills.
For the past two years, Dara has focused her attention on charter schools. She assisted in setting up a new charter school office, implementing school administration software, vendors, and files. She has extensively researched charter school laws, school board policy, MDE mandates and administrative procedures.
She currently lives in Apple Valley with her husband, Jeff, and their three children, Anna, Jacob, and Zachary.
Shoua Yang
- Information
- Administrative Assistant
- syang@riverheightscharter.org
You will be greeted by Shoua as you enter the doors at River Heights Charter School. She started working at River Heights in 2005. She works on MARSS reports, and is the school's Test Coordinator for all statewide and district assessments.
Shoua was born and raised in St. Paul. She is married and has one Child. You can find Shoua on the weekends at the St. Paul Farmers' Market where her family sells organic vegetables.
Ruth Johnsen
- Information
- Special Ed. Instructor
- rjohnsen@riverheightscharter.org
Ruth Johnsen is pleased to return to River Heights Charter School for her third year as the Special Education Advisor. She received her teaching license and master's degree in Special Education from Bethel University. At River Heights, Ms. Johnsen strives to serve students with a variety of disabilities by identifying their unique strengths and meeting their individual needs. Her goal as a teacher is to encourage and empower students to achieve their potential. In the past year at River Heights, Ms. Johnsen has partnered with students, parents and other staff resulting in several success stories and she looks forward to many more in the upcoming school year.
A native to Minnesota, Ms. Johnsen enjoys the beauty of nature, whether hiking in a state park, relaxing at the beach, or sitting around a campfire. Also, she takes time on a daily basis to relax with exercise, music, friends and family. She is "mom" to 2 wonderful children, Elena and Joe, both currently college students. Ms. Johnsen is committed to professional development and personal growth by maintaining a strong sense of faith, positive attitude, and sense of humor.
Eileen Devine
- Information
- Science Instructor
- edevine@riverheightscharter.org
This is Eileen Devine's first year at River Heights. After her graduation from Augsburg College with a Life Science and Chemistry Teaching Degree, she taught middle school life and earth science in Minneapolis. She then moved on to Hopkins High School where she taught biology and environmental science.
Ms. Devine holds a masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and is currently working on adding a Reading Licensure through the University of Minnesota to her credentials. She is excited to incorporate reading strategies into her science curriculum for the students at River Heights.
Ms. Devine enjoys spending time with her family, which includes two dogs and two mini horses. She also loves teaching and getting to know the River Heights students.