Meet the Planning Team- Amanda Hestwood

has been in District 833 at Park and Woodbury high schools for 10 years as a teacher and director. She is currently at WHS and anticipates teaching English and directing at East Ridge when it opens in the fall. Prior to that, she worked for Henry Sibley High School, Sylvan Learning Systems and The Children’s Theater Company.

Amanda is married and has 3 children: Dylan (8), Connor (4) and Riley Anne is twenty months. Amanda is excited about everything that is happening at ER. The Planning Team is really a dedicated and exceptional group of people that motivate her every day and the space itself is already very special. The excitement that has been generated by the whole East Ridge community is energizing and refreshing.

The one thing Amanda would like families to know about her is that she looks forward to the exciting years ahead at East Ridge. Go Raptors!

Meet the Planning Team- Matt Kraft

is one of the Assistant Principals at East Ridge. Matt has been educating students since 1992. It was several excellent teachers and coaches that he has had over the years in district #833 that led him into education. After graduating from Park High School in 1988 and attending Winona St. University, he completed his student teaching at Woodbury High School. He taught high school and middle school social studies for nine years while coaching football, basketball and baseball in district #197. He received his master’s degree in Educational Administration from Minnesota State University. He has been in administration for seven years as the Activities Director/Associate Principal of Henry Sibley High School and the Associate Principal at Friendly Hills Middle School.

Matt lives in the East Ridge attendance area and is extremely excited to help create a new school in which his daughter and neighbors children will be attending. He feels that unifying many people from different communities will be a rewarding challenge and that we have an awesome opportunity to create a high school to best serve our community.

Matt, would also like everyone to know that technology is improving exponentially in our world and in schools across America today, and we are preparing students for jobs that do not even exist yet. So, Schools must be on the cutting edge of technology and administrators must work hard to change how they deliver curriculum in today’s technologically advanced society.

Matt, accepts this challenge wholeheartedly and welcomes the opportunity to help make East Ridge High School a school of excellence”.

Meet the Planning Team- Terry Sinn

has been teaching in the district for 20 years (15 years as Jr. High Science, 2 years District Technology Integration Specialist, 3 years Media Specialist) and will be the Media Specialist at East Ridge this coming fall. He is a graduate from the University of MN. B.S. & M.S., Science Education, and received his Media Specialist licensure through the University MN Mankato.

Terry is married and has 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren he is excited about coming to ER because he enjoys variety, meeting new challenges and professional growth and he can make a contribution to the success of East Ridge

The one thing that Terry would like families to know about him is that he is here to help.

Meet the Planning Team- Paul Virgin

Paul Virgin

has taught mathematics for 24 years 20 of them in the south end of the district at Oltman, CGJH and Park. He has coached varsity Football, Basketball and Softball on and off for all 24 years. He is a member of the MCTM and NCTM along with serving on many state and local committees to improve mathematics education in the state of Minnesota. He is also a member of the MNHSCA and has been the president of the High School Softball Coaches for the state of Minnesota for the past three years.

Paul graduated high school from South St. Paul. He earned his under graduate degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth and his Masters from Winona State University. He has been married to his beautiful wife for 23 years and has been blessed by two wonderful children Philip (11) and Michael (10). Both of their children will be attending East Ridge. In his spare time he enjoys golf and any other outdoor activities as long as he is with his family and friends.

The planning and opening of East Ridge feels right to Paul and he is thrilled to have such great support from out administration and parents. He feels the community we are building is going to be something special.

The one thing he would like families to know about him is that he is very passionate about education and our roles as parents, teachers, coaches and community members. He also feels like East Ridge is the place for him.

Meet The Planning Team

Carolle Neisius is currently a School Counselor at Park High School and will be one of the school counselors at ER. She received her undergraduate degree from the University Wisconsin Stout in Human Development. She worked for a year in that field and returned to UW-Stout to receive her Masters in K-12 Guidance and Counseling. She worked two years at Irondale High School in New Brighton and then went to Park High School where she has been a counselor there for 9 years.

Carolle is originally from Wisconsin and a loyal Packer fan. She is from a large family of 14 and grew up on a dairy farm. She came to Minnesota about 11 years ago and currently lives in Inver Grove Heights with her dog Brandi.

Carolle is really excited to be coming to East Ridge and to work with the staff and East Ridge families. She is also excited because it is a new building with new faces and it’s a chance to bring unique ideas to the building that will help students and families. The one thing she would like people to know about her is that she really cares about each and every one of her students and she looks forward to working with them.

Meet the Planning Team!!

Glenn Wurm is currently a Health and Physical Education teacher at ALC and he is anticipating teaching Health, PE and perhaps coaching basketball at ER. He has taught in District #833 for 15 years, 7 years of Physical Education at the elementary level and 8 year of Health and PE at the high school level. He has also been an Assistant Girls Basketball Coach at Woodbury High School for the past 8 years.

Glen is happily married with four children who will attend ER. He is excited about being on the ER Planning Team because it is the start of some thing new. The one thing he would like people to know about him is that he is a Minnesota sports fanatic.

Meet The Planning Team!!

Hi Everyone

I'd like to take a minute and introduce you to one of our planning team members. It has been great working with this group and getting to know them and I know you will enjoy getting to know them too!!

Susan Peichel (Susie) is currently teaching at Park High School as an English Teacher and will also teach English at East Ridge. She is in her 8th year of teaching and has taught at Lake Jr. High, and Oltman Jr. High. She has previously worked at the National Institute on Media and the Family doing research and is currently working on her administrative license.

Susie has a 12 year old son named Nic that keeps her busy, and a high strung dog named Louie. She was raised in southern Minnesota and is a proud farm girl. She grew up over looking the Minnesota river valley and is proud that her parents and siblings encourage the protection of the environment and wildlife by turning the acreage into set-aside acres with the DNR for preservation.

Susie is very excited to be coming to ER, change is exciting to her and meeting new challenges motivates her to work harder for success. She is excited about helping the students and community discover what a wonderful place ER will be and making them feel connected to us.

The one thing she wants people to know about her is that she loves to learn and loves to laugh.