MEET OUR TEACHING TEAM
Our Operations and Administrative team are listed at the bottom of the page.
Madison Boesel is looking forward to her 5th year at River Grove. A graduate of Bethel University in St. Paul with education degrees in K-6, Early Childhood, and Preprimary. Her previous teaching experience includes a position in St. Paul Public Schools as a second-grade teacher, second grade and kindergarten at River Grove. Madison loves to travel and experience new cultures! In 2018, she spent a month in England and Italy, where she volunteered in outdoor-based schools. Madison enjoys having fun and laughing with her students. She is committed to having a student-centered classroom and is excited to share her love of the outdoors with her students to create a hands-on learning experience. Outside of school, Madison enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, camping, hiking, and exploring new coffee shops!
1st Grade – Alice Williams
Alice Williams graduated from University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a degree in Elementary Education and received her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Literacy from University of Colorado-Boulder. She is currently working on her Master Gardener Certificate from the U of M. Alice has taught both kindergarten and fifth grade at River Grove. Prior to that, she taught in both Minnesota and Colorado in early childhood, first, second, and third grades, as well as working as a Special Education paraprofessional and Title I teacher. Alice has a passion for the outdoors and is very excited about the benefits that nature-based learning can bring to the classroom! She strives to create a welcoming, inclusive classroom community and is dedicated to building relationships, helping students embrace challenges and achieve their goals. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys gardening, reading, traveling, hiking, climbing, fly fishing, and hanging out with her husband and two dogs.
Second Grade, Meghan Ondracek
Email: megondracek@marineareaschool.org
Meghan Ondracek is a Stillwater native, a University of Minnesota graduate, and a River Grove parent. She earned her B.S. in Foundations of Education and holds licenses in Elementary Education and Communication Arts and Literature (5-8). Meghan has a wide variety of teaching experience at the elementary level, including academic support in reading and math, inquiry based instruction, and Montessori experience. Along with bringing her passion for children’s literature and child led discovery to the classroom, Meghan loves motivating students through hands-on, high interest educational experiences. Meghan is excited to be back in the forest this fall and cannot wait to explore with our second grade students!
Third Grade, Kathryn Magnuson
Email: kmagnuson@marineareaschool.org
This is Kathryn’s first year at River Grove! She is excited to be joining such a vibrant and unique community of learners and educators. After graduating from Bethel University in 2019 with BA’s in Elementary Education and Spanish, Kathryn spent four years teaching 1st grade at a local Spanish Immersion school. She is thrilled to be returning to the classroom for her fifth year of teaching, especially after spending last school year living and traveling in Spain and Jordan, while also completing an MA through Bethel Seminary. She is passionate about intercultural competency, traveling, and learning new languages. Kathryn loves being outside in any capacity, especially hiking, kayaking, gardening, skiing, skating, and playing broomball, and is looking forward to combining her heart for teaching with her love for being active in nature. She is committed to student-centered learning and finds great joy in partnering with students and their families in a time of significant cognitive, social, physical, and emotional development. Kathryn works to model grit, growth-mindset, and curiosity both in and out of the classroom.
Fourth Grade, Aaron Sparby
Email: asparby@marineareaschool.org
Born and raised in rural northwest Minnesota, Aaron is excited for the opportunity to teach in a rural setting at a school that is focused on connecting young people with the land. Aaron received a B.A. in History from Carleton College in 2019 and later went on to obtain a M.A.T. in Elementary and Middle School Education from the University of Chicago in 2023.
Since returning to Minnesota, he has worked as a naturalist on the Gunflint Trail (feel free to ask him about moose), and more recently taught at an outdoor-based summer camp near St. Paul, where he worked with kindergarteners and 1st grade students. In his free time he enjoys reading and writing, playing country and folk songs on his guitar, golfing, canoeing, fishing, hunting, playing hockey, and taking part in just about every Minnesota winter activity you can imagine.
Fifth Grade, Adam Johnson
Email: ajohnson@marineareaschool.org
Adam Johnson is thrilled to be starting his eighth year of teaching at River Grove! Prior to joining River Grove, Adam taught fifth grade in Maplewood, MN, and first grade in Roseville. He received an Elementary Education degree from Augsburg College in 2013. Adam is originally from up the river in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, and has been very familiar with the area his whole life. Adam is most excited about bringing the class into nature (he once took his school’s entire fifth grade on a multi-day camping trip!) and the greater St. Croix River Valley community; getting to know the students who will make up our classroom community; and the freedom of teacher-powered learning. He welcomes any communication regarding the educational journey together. He added, “Bringing the world to your child is a fantastic responsibility and joy.” Outside of teaching, Adam enjoys playing guitar, trivia, biking, running, cooking and camping. Over the last seven years he’s also been known to drop some memorable dad jokes on his fifth grade class.
Shelly Orr, Special Education
Email: sorr@marineareaschool.org
Shelly graduated from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls with a Bachelor of Science in Broad Area Art Education (K-12) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting. Shelly taught early childhood at a Reggio inspired Montessori in St. Paul for four years before coming to River Grove. She started her journey at River Grove in 2018 as a paraprofessional in Special Education and began teaching Special Education in 2021. Shelly is dedicated to building collaborative relationships with staff, families, and students to ensure the best possible educational experience for all students. Shelly, her husband Derrick, and their son David enjoy spending time together on their hobby farm in Shafer, MN. In her free time Shelly enjoys running her small art business, Orr Acres Farm LLC.
Shelly Vrambout, Special Education
Email: svrambout@marineareaschool.org
Shelly Vrambout graduated with an Academic Behavioral Strategist degree from Augsburg University. Prior to joining the River Grove team in 2019, Shelly spent six years working in the special education department at Stillwater Area High School. She believes that experiential hands-on learning not only promotes academic growth but essential life skills. She takes pride in developing genuine relationships with parents and students in order to provide intentional interest-based lessons, keeping students engaged and excited about learning. Shelly enjoys spending time with her three children and dog Charles Bartowski. Shelly is proud to be a part of River Grove and is looking forward to the days ahead filled with exploration and discovery. She adds, “I am blessed to be a part of such an amazing caring, supportive, and talented community!”
Derek Petersen, Special Education Paraprofessional
Email: dpetersen@marineareaschool.org
Derek Petersen is delighted to be working with the students and staff of River Grove. Having graduated with a Bachelors in Studio Art and later a Masters in Architecture, he came to the school through a bit of a backwards route. His concern for the life of children has always been strong, having written his thesis on designing our neighborhoods to nurture child-directed play, “Back on the Streets: Architecture for Adolescent Leisure in the City.” After practicing as an architect for a decade and teaching drawing in the university, he has come to River Grove initially as a General Education Paraprofessional and now as a Special Education paraprofessional. It has been a joy to serve the children of Marine on St. Croix and its vicinity along with the ever supportive staff of this fine, fine school. Outside of school, Derek enjoys wearing overalls, reading (mostly nonfiction, but he can be persuaded otherwise), drawing houses, going on bike rides or walks with his family, storytelling, and laughing as loudly as the setting permits.
Sara Misner, Licensed School Counselor
Email: smisner@marineareaschool.org
Sara Misner is honored and overjoyed to be the School Counselor (LSC) at River Grove. Being a school counselor for Sara is the perfect culmination of her desire to help students succeed in all areas of their life while being with them in the school setting. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, was a band director for two years, and also had private piano students. Being in the outdoors has always been a passion and source of joy so, after working in the schools and being a chaperone on a sixth grade trip to an environmental learning center, she discovered an interest in being a naturalist/outdoor educator. She then decided to take graduate classes in outdoor education at the University of Minnesota and was a part-time naturalist for the City of Minneapolis and Three Rivers Park District — all the while teaching piano lessons. She decided to focus her energy on her piano teaching business for the next 24 years; during this time she discovered that establishing strong relationships and connecting well with students and families was at the core of her teaching and personal philosophy. This led naturally into the next chapter in which she got her Masters in School Counseling from Adler Graduate School. She is very excited that she can combine her joy in helping students and her love for the natural world while doing so. Sara’s interests include listening to and playing music and spending time outdoors hiking, camping, biking, and gardening with her husband and two children and their dog.
MEET OUR operations AND ADMINISTRATIve TEAM
Drew Goodson returned home to Minnesota after working for ten years in Arizona in a variety of charter school leadership positions. Prior to River Grove, his most recent job was School Leader at Mission Heights Preparatory High School. While there, he increased enrollment 20 percent, developed partnerships with community colleges, did community outreach, and implemented unique programs for students such as Youth Entrepreneurs. Drew has held charter school positions that included responsibilities for budgeting, technology, federal and state compliance, marketing, curriculum development, testing, and student discipline and behavior intervention. He has been a guidance counselor, teacher, coach, and athletic director, and has also been a volunteer with Big Brothers and Sisters. Drew is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in strategic communication and history. In his spare time he enjoys playing and watching sports as well as spending time with his wife, Kelli, and two girls, Noelle and Everly.
Jessica Hansen will be assuming a new role at River Grove as the Director of Staff and Students for 2023-24, focusing on instructional leadership, staff development, and student achievement. She will help coordinate the development of our programming as the school transitions to its new downtown Stillwater and forest field sites. Mrs. Hansen previously served our school as a kindergarten teacher and as a volunteer board member and chair, where she has been integral to our school’s start up and success. Jessica has worked in a variety of public and private educational settings for 25 years, including her role as an area preschool director. She is experienced in curriculum development, addressing a diversity of student needs and navigating unique school challenges. She has a psychology degree from Bethel University, studied Latin American topics in Central America, and holds a Master of Education Degree from the University of Minnesota. Jessica, her husband and two children have lived in the St. Croix Valley countryside for the past 15 years. Her son attended River Grove for three years, and her daughter is a recent Stillwater graduate. She grew up on a third generation farm and enjoys spending time outdoors gardening, taking care of her animals and exploring beautiful places.
Sandi Bonarski, Business Manager
Email: sbonarski@marineareaschool.org
Sandi Bonarski is an integral member of the front office team, now as the business manager. With a 26-year background in nutrition services, Sandi started her career in food service in Forest Lake, MN. She moved to Michigan where she continued as a nutrition manager, and then she was the Nutrition Director for Amery Medical Center before joining the River Grove team in 2019. Sandi has two sons, one grandson, one granddaughter, and two Pomeranians. She enjoys golf, gardening, and organizing spaces, but mostly spending time with family.