Ben Agar — Photography
M.D., works as a physician. He has a lifelong love for photography, and is eager to share his skill and knowledge about photography with the students.
Faculty
Julee Caspars Agar — Español
B.A. Spanish/Latin American Studies and Elementary Education, University of Minnesota-Morris; Bilingual Specialization, University of Minnesota-Minneapolis. Professional Experience: Bilingual Class Teacher and Tutor; Step Dance Instructor; Performance Dancer.
Lerie Alstad-Van Ells — Movement/Sports/Spatial Dynamics™
Has been with the YIHS for many years. She is trained in Spatial Dynamics™
Deborah Baer — Psychology
Deborah Baer lives in Viroqua and is a tutor, licensed counselor, and registered nurse, with a B.S. in Nursing from UW-Madison, and an M.A. in Counseling from Louisiana Tech Univ. As a nurse she worked with terminally ill patients, then with psychiatric patients in Madison. Later, in private practice as a counselor, she worked with clients using a humanistic/Jungian/transpersonal approach and was also at that time an assistant administrator at a Montessori school in Louisiana. She has been a private tutor since 1991 in math, English, science, social studies, study skills, ACT/SAT preparation, and the writing of essays and research papers.
Mary Bard — Humanities
Raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I received my degree in English with a minor in French from the University of Wisconsin—Madison in 1974. After teaching English and living in the Washington, D.C. area for four years, I returned to Wisconsin and pursued various interests, including professional baking, gardening, birding, more teaching, and many outdoor activities. My family (husband Neil and sons Nathan and Jonathan) has lived on an old farm northwest of Richland Center since 1980.
Lars Bergan — Humanities
Has been teaching History and English at the YIHS since 2001. He received his BA in History, English, and Economics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Since then, he has worked as a researcher at the Library of Congress, a stock analyst on Wall Street, and a Fulbright Scholar in Jamaica.
Philothea Bezin — Français
Annie Brennen
Annie Brennen — Architecture
Spark Burmaster — Physics
Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, with High Honors, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (1969); Extensive environmental and technical consulting for homes, businesses, and farms, including coordination and technical implementation, through Environmental Options, Inc.
Chris Cox — Math/Drafting
Liz Cox
Liz Cox — School Administrator
Char Elderkin
Char Elderkin — Social Studies
AnnaJo Doerr
AnnaJo Doerr — Phys Ed
Howard Duckman — Chemistry
Lives on his farm near Viroqua, and teaches chemistry, physics, calculus, and statistics as a substitute teacher at Viroqua High School. Howard has a BS degree in chemical engineering, and decades of work experience in industrial, governmental, and not-for-profit agencies in engineering and science, including 17 years with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where his duties included conducting inspections, and assessing and reporting environmental deficiencies.
Colleen Gilgenbach — Art/Drawing/Painting
Studied at the Fine Arts University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. Colleen has extensive experience as a painter, mechanical designer, and doing drafting work. She has been teaching drawing classes for a number of years to mixed age groups. Her work has been at exhibitions at galleries and art shows in Wisconsin and Kansas.
Peter Hodapp — Art/Printmaking
I was raised in Minnisota where I studied arts of all kinds through internships, personal study and academic means. Growing up with a printmaking grandmother introduced me at an early age to it's possibilites. I am really excited to try and pass that wonder to the students I will be teaching this year. I now live near LaFarge working constantly in many mediums of graphic and fine art.
Jacob Hundt — Program Director
MA in Social Sciences, University of Chicago. Jacob is a founding member of the YIHS. After graduating from the YIHS, he attended Deep Springs College, the American University in Bulgaria, and the University of Chicago.
Potluck Schools: Alternative Education and Civil Society in Viroqua, Wisconsin by Jacob Hundt
John Karlstad
John Karlstad — Life Skills/Construction
John Madden — Math/Humanities
Joined the YIHS faculty in 2002. He holds a B.A. in History, English, and Mathematics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; computer specialist, web page designer, freelance writer, playwright, producer, actor; manager, Richland Community Food Pantry; teen mentor.
Maureen O'Connor — Math
B.A. in Socioeconomic Policy w/minor in Math, Michigan State University; Graduate Work in Sociology at UNC-Chapel Hill; Research and Teaching Assistant at UNC; Treasurer, Board Member, and Math Teacher at Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School.
Vicki Lynn Ramsay — Sciences/Ecology/Math
Vicki is state certified to teach Broadfield, Biological and Environmental Sciences for middle and high school students. Her undergraduate work focused on the study of Plant Community Ecology. She received her Bachelors of Science in Biological Aspects of Conservation in 1997 from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She has worked for many years as an advocate for women and children who have experienced domestic violence and as a tutor for children in school. She and her husband Sam, first settled in the Kickapoo Valley in the spring of 2000 where their son, Kele, was born.
Raelene Roberts — Art/Metalsmithing
Has been a student and artist in the medium of metalsmithing since 1985. She obtained a BA in fine arts degree in 1992 at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Raelene has presented three formal gallery shows, numerous demonstrations of her work at such places as Renaissance faires and at schools. Raelene taught at the Sacramento Waldorf School to adults in 1997, studied the Foundation Course at Rudolf Steiner College, Fair Oaks, CA in the weekend program 1996-1998. She studied in the summer 2004 at Tenland College of Crafts in North Carolina (under an amazing 82 year old Master metalsmith Mary Jenne Scherr).
Jane Siemon — Nutrition
B. A. in Food Science and Nutrition. Teacher of Foods/Nutrition at YIHS since 1996; She graduated from the Foundation Course in Anthroposophy and the Arts in 2001, Dietician, Organic Farmer, Teacher of Sustainable Living; Continuing self education in natural foods and holistic health.
Nancy Sky — Yoga/Office Coordinator
Is a certified teacher of Integral Yoga - which includes the physical postures, breathing practices, Yoga philosophy and meditation. She recently studied at the Satchidananda Yoga Ashram in Buckingham, VA. Nancy has been a practicing student of Yoga since 1992.
Tom Vanderhyden — Native Cultures <1500s
Matthew Voz — Humanities/Assistant Development Coordinator
Mr. Voz received his Bachelor's degree in history from the University of Minnesota, Morris and his Master's Degree in Rural and Agricultural History from Iowa State University. Mr. Voz teaches Histories, English language, and Social Studies. Mr. Voz has been part of the YIHS faculty for three years and is a Core Faculty member, the faculty representative to the Board of Trustees, member of the Curriculum committee, Development committee, Long Range Planning committee, House leader, and Assistant Development Coordinator.
