 Karen Charles / Principal
Karen Charles is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. She received her Bachelor’s degrees in Ballet and Computer Science from Texas Christian University. She worked in Corporate America as a computer analyst for Westinghouse Credit Corporation and Hallmark Cards. After a few years in corporate jobs, Charles decided to renew her interest in dancing and joined the Susan Warden Dance Company in Kansas City. She also studied as a fellowship student at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Charles decided to pursue her Master’s degree after injuries shortened her dance career. She became certified to teach mathematics and computer science through the graduate certification program at the University of Kansas. Fate then allowed her to return to Atlanta where she taught dance, computer science, and mathematics. She was also chairperson of the Mathematics department at Benjamin Mays High School. She received a M.Ed. in Educational Administration in 1998 from Georgia State University. In 2000 Karen moved to the Twin Cities where she has lived for 6 years. She worked as assistant principal and co-principal at the Perpich Arts High School. Upon leaving Perpich she enrolled full-time at the University of Minnesota to begin a doctoral degree in Educational Administration and worked in the College of Education and Human Development as Director of Multicultural Programs and Outreach. In 2003, Charles was offered the rare opportunity to work as project manager for the development of a performing arts charter school – Main Street School of Performing Arts (MSSPA). Currently the principal of MSSPA, Charles believes that the arts are a vehicle to encouraging all students to optimize their potential, excel academically, and grow artistically.
LeAnn M. Slama / Dean of Students
Ms. Slama has an AAS Degree in Interpreting for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, BA in Psychology from Metropolitan State University, Masters of Education degree – Social Studies from the College of St. Catherine, and received her administrative license from Hamline University. She previously taught American Sign Language as a World Language at Minnetonka High School. Ms. Slama is truly impressed by the students and staff of MSSPA for displaying such dedication and creativity to the arts. When not working, Ms. Slama enjoys knitting, spending time with family and traveling with her husband.
 Peter Anderson / Science
Mr. Anderson holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a teaching certificate. He teaches health, physical science, and chemistry. He recently attended the Health Education Assessment project and completed his AP Chemistry training in San Diego. Anderson is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma He moved to Minnesota to attend the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota. During this time he held many jobs including: benchtop chemist, procedure validator, quality analysis technician, student researcher, laboratory technician, summer camp counselor, He tutored throughout this time and decided toteach science. His life has been rich, with the best is yet to come.
Lara Ciganko / Dance
Ms. Ciganko holds a MFA and BFA in Dance from Florida State University, an AISTD (Associate Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing). In addition to teaching at MSSPA, she also teaches for the Minnesota Dance Theatre and the former Ballet Arts Minnesota. She is co-director and instructor of Community Education dance classes ages 3 – adults in Edina and co-director for Children’s Carpathian Dance Ensemble. We are excited to have Ms. Ciganko join the staff of MSSPA.
Johanna (Jody) Clark / Science
Mrs. Clark is thrilled to be teaching science at MSSPA. Born and raised “back east,” she received her B.A. in Biochemistry from Mount Holyoke College, her M.A.T. in Biological Sciences at Smith College, and her Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Boston University. She has taught Life Science, Physical Science, Biology, Genetics, and Cell Biology for 7th – 12th graders and college undergraduates. Mrs. Clark knew from an early age that she would study biology when she was the only girl in her seventh grade class who would handle mice, snakes, and frogs. Even so, she has performed in several musicals and sings anything from Bach to Rock when given the opportunity. She loves the vibrant MSSPA community with its stimulating combination of arts and academics. In her free time, she sings with her parish choir, takes voice lessons, volunteers and performs with the Eden Prairie Players, takes ballet class, and is a part of the backstage production team at the Academy of Russian Ballet in Eden Prairie. She enjoys swimming in the ocean, walking her dogs Sofie and Holly, and relaxing at home with her husband and two children.
Jennifer DeGrote / Social Studies
Ms. DeGrote has a BA in History and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of St. Thomas. Previous to MSSPA, she taught at Minnehaha Academy. Ms. DeGrote has been trained in piano, guitar, and percussion – all of which are excellent skills to have as a staff member at MSSPA. When Ms. DeGrote is enjoying her free time, she can often be found running, water skiing, golfing, listening to music or traveling to the cabin.
 Michelle Erickson / Social Studies
Michelle is honored to teach Social Studies and serve on the MSSPA school board. She studied Sociology and History at Wheaton College; B.A. 1993. She loves the MSSPA community – the welcoming place that students and staff create. Her experience in education, social work, and the arts includes tutoring, respite work (DuPage County, IL), and church curriculum development and teaching. She also served as stage manager for the Academy of Russian Ballet (Eden Prairie) productions in recent years. When not teaching and studying- she loves to spend time with her family, camp, drink tea, and participate in the rich cultural events of the Twin Cities. Having grown up in the Minneapolis area, Michelle and her husband Toby are pleased to be raising their elementary aged daughters here with the hope that they will attend MSSPA one day.
 Cassy Furo / Language Arts
Cassy Furo has had the pleasure of teaching half of the Language Arts courses at MSSPA since the 2005-2006 school year. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education/Communication Arts and in English from Augsburg College in 2004. She looks forward to pursuing her Master’s in Education at Augsburg in the future. Before Main Street, Furo did her student teaching and a semester of teaching at Minneapolis South High School. She loves Main Street’s small school environment and the arts! Some of her interests outside of school are reading (of course), hiking and camping, going to cabins and lakes, visiting with her family in Duluth, MN, and walking her dog Edison.
 Allison Goulson / Nurse
Allison Goulson has been a registered nurse for 24 years. She received her BSN from St. Scholastica in Duluth and her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification from St. Catherine’s in St. Paul. Before coming to Main Street School of Performing Arts she practiced as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner for 14 years in a private pediatric group. As part of school nursing, Allison enjoys educating students on topics pertinent to the health care needs of teenagers. She also has become involved in community organizations that can assist the school community in providing a safe and healthy environment for all students. Goulson enjoys reading, traveling, cooking and spending time with her family. She lives in Minnetonka with her husband and two children.
 Virginia Herzog / Science
Bio to come...
 Andrew Holmbo / Special Education
Andy Holmbo joined the MSSPA team for the 2006-2007 school year. Holmbo is very excited to be a part of MSSPA and is looking forward to working with such a vibrant and dynamic staff and student body. He specializes in EBD (emotional and behavioral disorders) special education, and plans to acquire his Master’s of Special Education. In spring of 2006 Holmbo worked at Rum River North Day Treatment Center, a level IV EBD setting in Milaca MN. During his free time Holmbo enjoys reading, swimming, snowboarding, rough housing with his son,Carter-Lee, board games, telling campfire stories, and spending time with family and friends.
 William Leaf / Theatre
William Leaf has been teaching at Main Street since 2004. He performed with the Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) in high school and eventually became a Performing Apprentice with the company, where he toured the Midwest and the West coast. He received his BA in theatre from the University of Minnesota, and after spending over four years with Cedar Fair, L.P., he pursued his Masters in Education at Hamline University.
 Betsy Maloney / Dance
Betsy Maloney earned her B.A. in Dance and English from Gustavus Adolphus College and her M.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Colorado. She’s been dancing for a very long time (since she was 3!) and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon. In addition to teaching at Main Street, Maloney also performs locally with Three Dances Dance Company. When not dancing (which is not very often), she can be found devouring a good book, walking her miniature beagle, cooking or gardening.
Allison Maud-Hallin / Mathematics and Gifted and Talented Coordinator
Ms. Maud-Hallin has a BS in Mathematics Education from the University of Minnesota and a MA in Gifted, Creative and Talented Education from the University of St. Thomas. She has taught at Hopkins West Junior High and for Intermediate District 287. There is so much that she loves about MSSPA but narrowed her list down to the following: dedicated staff, innovative, students and staff learning together, inclusive, fun, unique student population, high expectations, respectful, small, caring, creative and talented. Outside of school Ms. Maud-Hallin enjoys cooking, weaving, and motorcycling.
 Matthew McFarlane / Music
A musician of diverse abilities and interests, Matt McFarlane has taught at MSSPA since its inception in 2004. McFarlane studied Music Education at Graceland University in Lamoni, IA and dual majored in Piano and Trombone. After teaching instrumental music at the Lamoni School District, he pursued a Master of Music degree in Piano Accompanying and Coaching from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. New York performances have included choral performances in Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. McFarlane has performed with the Minnesota Chorale at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis and The Ordway in Saint Paul. His teachers have included Dalton Baldwin and JJ Penna. Conductors have included Osmo Vanska, Joseph Flummerfelt, Kurt Masur, and Colin Davis. Matt has accompanied in many voice studios, including those of Martha J. Hart and Sharon Sweet. Master Classes have included Diana Soviero, Virgina Zeani, George Shirley, William Preucil, and the Scholars of London. When not at MSSPA, he spends time as the co-director of music with his wife Molly at Discovery Methodist Church in Chanhassen and spends his summer as the Director of Operations at the Bay View Music Festival.
 Rachel Mollick / Music
Ms. Mollick has a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music Education from Concordia College, Moorhead. She enjoys the creative diversity of the students and feels that there is so much unique art that happens here at MSSPA. While outside of school, Ms. Mollick enjoys golf, photography and playing with her dog, Annabel.
Susan Pence / World Language
Ms. Pence is excited to be teaching French at MSSPA. She has a B.S. in Education from the University of Minnesota and completed most of her graduate work at the University of St. Thomas and Hamline University. Ms. Pence has taught French to grades 3-12 in public schools in Duluth, MN and Rochester, MN. She has also worked with adult learners through community education courses. In addition to French, she has taught English and ESOL to grades 9 through adult level. When she isn’t teaching, she enjoys reading, bicycling, film and theatre, scrabble, and spending time at their isolated cabin.
 Jacqui Smith / Office Manager
Bio to come...
 Robert Thompson / Theatre
Rob Thompson is thrilled to be one of the “new guys” at MSSPA. Rob holds a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Florida in Performance and Undergraduate Degrees in Acting, Speech Communications and Psychology from St. Cloud State University. Thompson was an adjunct faculty member of the University of Florida, teaching Acting and Directing. While in Florida Rob was a member of the acting company at the Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville and served as the Production Stage Manager for the Hippodrome for five years. After his time at the Hippodrome, Thompson traveled to Miami to run an Independent TV station serving Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and the Florida Keys He has directed for the past four years at Robbinsdale Cooper High School in their extra-curricular program. Thompson has worked professionally in Florida and Minneapolis and is a founding member of A-Stage, a group that has made a home in the Minnesota Fringe Festival. He is finishing his second Masters Degree a Master of Education at Hamline.
 Samantha Thompson / Special Education
After years of working with students of all different ages and backgrounds, Samantha Thompson has been teaching at MSSPA since it’s opening in 2004. She received her Bachelor of Science in Special Education (K-12) and Elementary Education from Winona State University. She then went on to earn her Masters in Teaching and Learning from St. Mary’s University. Thompson has taught dance and is also a member of the coaching staff of the Minnetonka Dance Team. Her other interests include eating vegetarian cuisine, hiking, traveling, scrapbooking, watching movies and playing with her daughter, Scarlet.
 Eryn Warne / Language Arts
Eryn Warne is a charter member of the MSSPA faculty, returning for her third year as a Language Arts teacher at Main Street. In addition to teaching, Eryn oversees the publication of The Main Street Muse, our school’s monthly newspaper. She also enjoys directing plays from time to time and filling is as an “adjunct teacher” for the Theatre Department. A graduate of St. Cloud State University, Ms. Warne received her Bachelor of Science degree in both English and Theatre in 1999. After three years of teaching, Eryn moved to New York City to pursue Graduate studies at NYU, where she earned an MA in Speech and Interpersonal Communications. While studying in New York, she also worked as a tutor and mentor for the “America Reads” program, and she spent some time working in Public Relations for Proctor and Gamble. She loves being at Main Street the and looks forward to many more years of working with MSSPA’s amazing students and staff.
 Deborah Wolf / Counselor
Deb Wolf is excited to be joining MSSPA as the school counselor. This will be her fifth year in education and she comes to MSSPA from a private school in St. Paul. She has been following Main Street since its inception and jumped at the opportunity to accept a position here. She loves working with high school students – especially creative ones! Before following her passion to work with young people, she was a systems trainer for a large health care corporation. Wolf finds that her systems background, combined with her Master’s in Counseling from the University of Minnesota, helps her to use technology to assist her students. She will be charged with helping students with college and career searches, personal and academic counseling, course scheduling, standardized testing, and removing barriers to high school and post-secondary education. Please feel free to send her an email or give her a call if you have any questions about how she can help.
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