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Maggie BarthEducational ArchitectMaggie is The Innovation School's founder and director. With a background in business and marketing but a heart for research, inquiry, and education reform, Maggie began learning about how other states and countries challenge the traditional model of school. In 2015 she asked the question... "Why can't school look different, not just for my child, but for all children?" In 2016, she asked "How can I be the one to make these changes and create an environment based on personal growth and engagement?" And in the spring of 2017, she launched The Innovation School. Based on her research, study trips, and collaboration with other like-minded educators, she continues to learn about how to change modern education. Maggie is dedicated to designing an environment based on the whole child, where children can learn academics within context and inquiry, while also learning who they are through engagement, play, and community.
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Andrea VizziEducational ChangemakerAndrea is the Early Childhood educator for The Innovation School. This new program will be serving students ages 4-6 years old. Andrea has been working in the Early Childhood Education field for 16 years. She received her degree in Early Childhood Education from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA in 2012 and earned her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from California University of PA in California, PA in 2014. She is eager to help expand The Innovation School into preschool and kindergarten as she helps our students explore within our Reggio Emilia inspired classroom environment and curriculum.
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Amber KemmetEducational ChangemakerAmber is our new Early Childhood Teaching Assistant. She has a teacher's heart and a love for children. She enjoys working with children at her church and is eager to begin her journey in education with us. Amber has experience in marketing, social media and photography as well as management and training and will be a great asset for our school and our youngest students.
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Barry StriegelEducational ChangemakerBarry is The Innovation School educator for our green band. Because it is important for young people to know that they can make things happen, he is a "learning by doing" kind of teacher. For most of his 40-year career, he created original, project-based learning experiences for science, natural history, language arts, math and North Dakota Studies classes. Barry wants kids to experience and understand the skills and attitudes associated with academic, economic and social success, opportunity recognition, intelligent risk-taking, resilience, creativity and collaboration. Barry lives on a small farm SW of Mandan with a few cows, a miniature donkey and soon another dog. Gardening and cooking are his major hobbies.
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Kelsy AchtenbergEducational ChangemakerKelsy is The Innovation School PT educator for our blue band and wellness class (PE). Kelsy was born and raised in Bismarck. She graduated from Dickinson State University with a degree in Elementary Education with concentrations in Spanish and Social Science. Kelsy has earned her Master of Education in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from the University of Mary. Before joining our team, she taught at a local private school for 5 years and has enjoyed creating STEM projects and helping students see connections with learning across different subjects. Kelsy has a passion for building relationships with her students and helping each achieve individual growth. She is inspired by the Albert Einstein quote, "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."
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Nancy WalkerEducational ChangemakerNancy is one of The Innovation School's PT educators for our blue band. Nancy is a graduate of Mayville State University earning her bachelors degree in Elementary Education and an associate's degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught for 31 years at Killdeer Elementary School and upon moving found herself in other roles, all of which had elements of teaching. She has recently moved to Bismarck and is excited to share her passion of lifelong learning. Nancy strongly believes that it is vital to create a positive learning environment, where growth and cooperation are emphasized, where failure isn't fatal, and where success and achievements are celebrated. She is inspired by the quote, "Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire."
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Meagan SharpEducational ChangemakerMeagan is The Innovation School educator for our middle school pathway. She is passionate about making school look different and believes this can only happen when each child is valued for who he or she is and seen by the adults teaching them. Meagan is excited to be part of making this change and helping other families and children find value in something different. She hopes to make school a place where individuals are valued and unique strengths are known by each person. Meagan has an undergrad in English teaching and Elementary Education as well as her Masters of Administrative Leadership. She came to The Innovation School from a local middle school serving as their assistant principal, also where she previously taught sixth and seventh grade English and reading for six years. Mark Twain once said, “I never let schooling interfere with my education.” Meagan hopes to continue to merge true learning with school.
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Photo credit: Lyra Lee Photography