Staff Directory
2011-12 Watershed High School Faculty and Staff
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Paul Kinsley, Executive Director. After 23 years in the corporate world, Paul felt a calling to work with youth. He has received masters degrees in Special Education and Psychology at Augustana College, Special Education Licensure at the University of St. Thomas, and Education Administration at St. Cloud State University. Over the past 14 years, Paul has worked with students, ranging from 5 to 21 years, in both school and residential settings. With extensive experience in the therapeutic models of behavior intervention (i.e., Life Space Crisis Intervention, Circle of Courage), Paul has been instrumental in assisting students to attain their goals and equipping caregivers to effect change in the lives of youth. Email: pkinsley@watershedhs.org |
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Destiny Sparks, Director of Education. Educated at Bethel and St. Mary’s, Destiny has worked in education for 17 years and in the charter school community for a majority of that time. In her charter school tenure, she has worked as a paraprofessional, special education teacher, English teacher, district assessment coordinator, school board chair, and currently as the Director of Education. In her spare time, Destiny enjoys spending time with her three sons, the family pets, and reading. Email: dsparks@watershedhs.org |
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Ariella DePrenger-Gottfried - Special Education. Ariella recently received a graduate degree from the University of Minnesota in the area of special education and is excited to begin her first teaching job at Watershed High School. In addition to her enthusiasm for teaching students with learning differences, she is a competitive long-distance runner specializing in the marathon distance (26.2 miles). When Ariella is not running or teaching, she enjoys reading, sewing, playing with her dog, and exploring the city on her bike. Email: agottfried@watershedhs.org |
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Linda Gavanda - Mathematics and Visual Arts. Linda has a BA in Mathematics and Urban Teachers Degree from Metropolitan State University and a BA in Visual Arts from Bethel University. She has several years experience teaching in both traditional and charter public schools. This will be her 3rd year of teaching at Watershed High School. Linda is also the faculty Q-Comp Coordinator, faculty board member, and this year's 10th grade sponsor. Email: llgavanda@yahoo.com |
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Marc Gutman - Computer Sciences. Marc holds a Masters in Math Education from the University of Minnesota and began working as an educator in 1998. He started performing in 1998 as an Improv-Origamist and studied Improv for a number of years. Marc currently resides in Minneapolis where he is a partner in Matheatre and is busy writing, composing, and recording new songs for Matheatre's next two albums which are about other Pre-Calculus topics. Email: mgutman@watershedhs.org |
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Ingunn Henrikssen - Science. Ingunn has studied biology and environmental science in the U.S., the Caribbean, and Norway, and loves sharing what she's learned with students. As science is primarily a process for building knowledge about the world through experimentation, she wants to bring opportunities for inquiry into the classroom as often as possible. Ingunn has a BA in Biology from Smith College, an MS in Environmental Science from SUNY-ESF, and an MPA (Public Administration) from Syracuse University. Email: ihenrikssen@watershedhs.org |
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Jason Kinsley - Social Studies. Jason was educated in sculpture at the University of Iowa and curriculum/instruction at the University of St. Thomas. This is Jason's 10th year of teaching. He enjoys writing, art history, and boxing. Email: jkinsley@watershedhs.org |
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Sean Mattner - English and Theater Arts. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Sean has always had the spirit of adventure, bringing him to such incredible places as Ireland on a cultural exchange as a teenager, traveling around the United States for a year and a half as a DJ and Master of Ceremonies for Microsoft XBOX, as well as an actor at Universal Studios Japan, playing a wide range of characters - from Santa Claus to a tacky tourist! His passion for English and his enthusiasm for helping students brought him back to pursue a Masters in Education here in Minneapolis. He looks forward to being part of the Watershed community and getting to know all the students and their families. Email: smattner@watershedhs.org |
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Nicole Navratil - Music (license pending). Nicole graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with a Vocal and Choral Music Education degree and has been teaching for seven years. In addition to her class at Watershed High School, she teaches piano and voice at the Westbank School of Music. Nicole sings with the Minneapolis group Sonic Love Child and also writes a vegetarian food blog called Pepperoni is Not a Vegetable. She loves hanging out in her new NE Minneapolis home in with her husband and cat. Email: nnavratil@watershedhs.org |
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Seth Tupper - Social Worker. Seth grew up in South Central Wisconsin and moved to the Twin Cities to attend Hamline University where he received his BA in Social Justice and Conflict Studies. He worked in a Minneapolis alternative school for five years as a Student Support Coodinator before deciding to pursue a Masters Degree in Social Work at the U of M, graduating in 2008 with his MSW. In addition to being a licensed social worker, Seth is a trained circle keeper and incorporates restorative justice into his daily work and life. He lives in South Minneapolis with his wife, son, and dog. In his spare time, he loves to cook or be outdoors: biking, camping, hiking, canoeing, hammocking, playing soccer, or skiing. Seth loves adventures, traveling, and experiencing new cultures. Email: stupper@watershedhs.org |
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Merrilee Walburg - Special Education. Merrilee has a BS in Visual Art Education from Northwestern College and a Master's of Education in Emotional and Behavioral Disorders from Bethel University. She has taught for 8 years and just recently returned from teaching in China. Now that she is back in Minnesota, she is excited to join the staff at Watershed High School. In her free time, Merrilee enjoys playing hockey, reading, learning Chinese, and spending time with her husband. Email: mwalburg.watershedhs@gmail.com |
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Sandra L. Smith - Reception/Registrar. Sandra arrived in Minneapolis in 1959 with her parents and 14 siblings. She resided in the Field neighborhood until recently when she moved to the Bryant neighborhood with her daughter, son, and 2 grandchildren. She retired from nursing in September 2001. In addition to her role on the Watershed Board, she is an active volunteer for several area organizations including: Nokomis Healthy Seniors board member; Respite Volunteer & Transportation volunteer; Minnesota State PTA Diversity chairperson; Field Community School PTA co-chair; Hale-Field Foundation; Bryant Neighborhood Organization; Southside Home Improvement Fair committee member; Lake Nokomis Girl Scout Service Unit registrar; and Mobile Loaves & Fishes Make Ready Team. Her hobbies include reading lots of books and seeing an occasional good movie. Sandra enjoys helping others and when they do well, she feels like that is the best reward. Email: ssmith@watershedhs.org |
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Daphne Bodene - Educational Assistant. Email: dbodene@watershedhs.org |