ERHS Staff

Jean Hancock

will be the East Ridge High School Resource Officer. Jean has been a police officer/paramedic specializing in working with juveniles and their families/juvenile restorative justice for the past 10 years. She initially did her undergraduate work in education and ultimately in psychology and criminal justice.

Jean enjoys spending time with her husband and children. Together they are active with water sports and travel in the summer and ski trips in the winter.

Jean is excited about the opening and planning of East Ridge because it is a fantastic opportunity to be an integral part of planning and operating an institution that embraces our moral imperative to guide our children and prepare them for the future.

The one thing Jean would like everyone to know about her is that she shares your passion as a parent and wanting what is best for your child(ren) and hopes she can act as a valuable resource for you.

ERHS Staff

Greta Lewis

will be the Licensed School Nurse at East Ridge High School. She has been a school nurse for 13 years; the last ten years have been in South Washington County Schools. Greta graduated from The College of St. Catherine with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, and earned her Master’s Degree in Community Health from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Greta lives in Cottage Grove, and has three children. Her eldest daughter is in a graduate studies program in Copenhagen, Denmark. The next child, also a daughter is a college student at Iowa State University, Ames. And Greta is very excited her son will enter 10th grade next fall and attend East Ridge High School.

Greta enjoys listening to music, travel to places near and far, and relaxing in the company of family and friends. She is happy to be a member of the East Ridge planning committee and is looking forward to working with the East Ridge High School community!

East Ridge Marching Band

Currently, students from ERHS Marching Raptors, PHS Marching Wolfpack, and WHS Marching Royals are combining forces and performed at the Strawberry Festival parade in Cottage Grove, MN on June 20, 2009. The photo above is from the event please. Please feel free to submit photos to Mr. Tank of band events. Please see the marching band calendar for upcoming events such as the parades in August; Heritage Days, St. Paul Park-8/15/09; and Woodbury Days Parade, Woodbury-8/30/09.

There will also be a performance at the 2PM State Fair Parade on 8/28/09.

Please continue to view the ERHS Marching Raptor Website for more information with ISD 833 District Marching Band. Please contact Mr. Tank for more information. ctank@sowashco.k12.mn.us

ERHS Marching Raptors -

Though the Marching Raptors have had a wonderful start with the combined marching band, there is room for more members to be part of the ERHS Marching Raptors.

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.

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”.