Planning Team Members

Nancy Berg is currently teaching science at Lake Jr. High and will also teach science at East Ridge. Nancy has been teaching science since 1984 and has also taught in Arizona and Georgia. She received her B.S. Biology at the University of Wisconsin, has also attended Arizona State University and the University of West Georgia where she received her M.E.D.Science. Nancy has also spent 3 years working in Genetic Research.

Nancy grew up in Platteville, Wisconsin and was born 30 days after the launch of Spunik the worlds first Earth-orbiting artificial satellite (space age begins) she is married and has 2 great children Rylie 22 and Hallie 20. Nancy has a passion for scuba diving and experiencing other cultures she will travel with her family to their 100th country this summer.

Nancy is excited about the new challenges and opportunities that East Ridge has to offer students to be successful learners of the 21st century.

The one thing that Nancy would like families to know about her is that she is passionate about science education and works very hard to encourage curiosity and enthusiasm in all of her students. Science should be challenging, engaging and FUN!

Planning Team Members

Dr. Christopher J. Russell, Director of Choirs and Music Department Chair, earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Northwestern College, a Master of Arts in Music Education with a Choral emphasis at the University of St. Thomas, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Music at the University of Minnesota. He has also worked toward a Master of Divinity at Bethel Theological Seminary. Having previously taught middle school music in the tropical climate of the Dominican Republic, he will have taught twelve years at Park High School by the end of the 2008-2009 academic year. At East Ridge High School, Dr. Russell will teach all choirs. He is an expert on the incorporation of music technology in music education, and has presented at several professional conventions on the subject. In addition to his activities at school, Dr. Russell is a lyric tenor and tubist, and has been a guest conductor of the South Washington County Community Band, has served as the orchestra director for the Woodbury Community Theater, and has sung with both the Minnesota Opera and the Minnesota Chorale, and looks forward to performing more in the future.

Dr. Russell grew up in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, in a high school where the high school bands are nationally recognized. He married his wife in October 2006, and is a proud step-father of an eight-year old boy. On May 5th, 2008, Dr. Russell and his wife had a baby boy, who is a bundle of activity. Dr. Russell loves to do things on two wheels, so he enjoys bicycling as well as motorcycling. He has also lost seventy pounds over the last year, and is enjoying a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Dr. Russell is excited about the potential for the music program at East Ridge, as well as the technology that will be present at the school to help us achieve excellence. He would like families to know how passionate he is about his job, and how much he loves teaching. Over the past twelve years, he has helped to make great things happen at Park High School, and one of his greatest joys has been working with students. He has the education, commitment, and desire to make ERHS into one of the premiere music programs in the State of Minnesota.