Christine Williams (parent member)
Board Chair
cwilliams-board@prairiecreek.org
As a parent of two children at Prairie Creek I’ve watched them thrive at the school in a way that has awed and surprised me as a parent. I am honored to serve on the board and contribute to the school’s stability, longevity, and ability to model and communicate the magic of progressive education to other communities and educators. I also serve on the school's Arts Committee, where I’ve greatly enjoyed working with PCCS’s dedicated teachers, staff and parents to help design, plan, and raise funds for the annual arts residency. In my professional life, I own a small business that provides advisory, communications and project management services to developers and architects of large scale mixed-use projects. Our family -- including my husband, two children, and dog Bowie -- lives in downtown Northfield, where we settled several years ago from the east coast.
Kendra Rasmusson (parent member)
krasmusson-board@prairiecreek.org
Ryan Kiesel (teacher member)
Board Treasurer
rkiesel@prairiecreek.org
I am so excited to be starting my fourth year teaching at PCCS and my second serving as the board treasurer. I have been an elementary school teacher in Chicago, IL and in Oakland, CA. I have served in various school leadership roles in teacher supervision, data analysis and assessment. I hold a masters degree in elementary education from the University of Minnesota and am currently completing my PhD dissertation, aslo through the U of M. As I approach two decades as a public elementary educator, I am continuously grateful for the wonderful Prairie Creek students, families and teachers, for their curiosity, their commitment to the school's mission and values, and their pursuit of life-long learning. I believe that student-centered, student-led, project-based and thematic learning provides the strongest and most enjoyable elementary experience for students and a structured and supportive classroom that honors all of its members creates the best environment for fostering an on-going love of learning in young people. It is an honor to work with these wonderful children, families and teachers everyday.
Beth Molitor (parent member)
Secretary
bmolitor-board@prairiecreek.org
I am grateful to continue to enhance my involvement with Prairie Creek Community School by serving on the School Board. From the moment I learned of Prairie Creek's exceptional progressive education, I was ecstatic that a project-based school focusing on inclusiveness and social awareness is part of our community. My two children attend PCCS where I see the strong mission and Habits of Mind exercised every day. Professionally, I have focused on business management and research data analytics at HealthPartners/Park Nicollet for over 20 years. My strengths include strategic planning, process improvement and change management. I have an undergraduate degree in Business Computer Information Systems and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Saint Thomas.
Personally, I live in Farmington on a hobby/fruit farm with my husband and children. We enjoy spending time together being active outdoors biking, hiking, skiing, swimming and practicing yoga. We also travel and embrace the other adventures life brings.
Cale Steinhoff (teacher member)
csteinhoff@prairiecreek.org
I am so excited for the opportunity to give back to Prairie Creek and its greater community. I currently work as a special education teacher at Prairie Creek and have worked at the school since 2015. I strongly believe in Prairie Creek’s guiding mission and commitment to equity, nature, and making the world a better place. I’m looking forward to serving the school community and representing my colleagues on the Prairie Creek school board!
Shelly Dickinson (community member)
sdickinson-board@prairiecreek.org
My husband and I moved to Northfield in 2003 when I started teaching at St. Olaf College. We've been a Prairie Creek family for almost a decade, when our daughter started as a Nuthatch just 10 days after our son was born in 2010. I'm continually awed by the care and thoughtfulness of the teachers and staff, and so thankful to be a part of this child-centered community where the values of progressive education are so alive. PCCS has been such a positive part of our lives - I've even had the pleasure of teaching some alumni in my classes at St. Olaf! I've been involved in a variety of volunteer activities at PCCS over the years, and am excited to have the opportunity to deepen my involvement by serving on the board.
Jessica Provancha (parent)
jprovancha-board@prairiecreek.org
My family recently relocated to Northfield in order to be closer to family. After learning about Prairie Creek’s mission we know its strong progressive educational setting was a match for our family. PCCS follows our values system, the joy of learning, above all I have the comfort of my child being known by all. I am the parent of a K/1 student and we are so fortunate to be part of the PCCS community. Being a new family to the area, I want to give back to our community. I can't think of a better way to do that than helping the next generation have a successful start in their educational journey. I grew up in Northern Wisconsin and relocated to the Twin Cities for college. I have a degree in ASL interpreting and have been in the field for about 12 years. I started my career in education and served in the Red Wing School District for one year and then served 7 1/2 additional years in the Mankato School District. I currently work as an interpreter in medical settings, higher level educational settings, legislative/social justice initiatives, climate action, and advocacy work being some of the areas that I have knowledge and previous experience with. I am currently serving on the parents board for Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf and look forward to serving the families here at Prairie Creek too.
Kiara Jorgenson (parent member)
kjorgenson-board@prarieicreek.org
As a parent I long to see my children grow in wonder, compassion, persistence, and creativity in an inclusive, innovative environment. Prairie Creek’s progressive philosophy allows my daughter, and the other birds of PCCS, to actively contribute to their own learning. The result is joy, and children who are ready to serve the common good. I appreciate this approach so much, and am privileged to support PCCS’ staff through service on the board.
In my role as a professor of Environmental Humanities at St. Olaf College, I study the ways nature-access impacts child development and have published work to underscore the importance of experiential, environmental education. I bring strengths of collaborative research, grant writing, curriculum development, and strategic planning. On a personal note, my family of four – Andrew, Olia (current NMS student), and Ingrid (current Meadowlark) – enjoys board games, camping, swimming, and all things art while tending our small farm homestead in Nerstrand, MN.
Margit Zsolnay (parent member)
mzsolnay-board@prairiecreek.org