Faculty and Staff, 2012-2013
ADMINISTRATION
Dean Ball - Principal
You can email Herr Ball at Ball_Dean@asdk12.org
Herr Ball comes to the Rilke Schule from A.J. Dimond High School with fifteen years of extensive foreign language experience in German, French, and Spanish. During his tenure at Dimond High School, he served as the World Languages Department Chair, a teacher mentor to both colleagues and University of Alaska, Anchorage student teachers, and has organized numerous exchange programs to Bremen, Germany, and most recently San José, Costa Rica.
Herr Ball brings to the Rilke Schule a passion for German culture and language, an enthusiasm for life long learning, as well as a commitment to the implementation of technology. As the Department Chair of World Languages at Dimond, he has experience in budgeting, fund-raising, and program building. Dimond offers five languages and over fifty percent of the student body is enrolled in one or more of those classes.
Herr Ball earned his Masters of Educational Leadership and Master of Arts in Teaching from UAA and his Masters of Education (Counseling) from Boston University. In addition, Herr Ball is an adjunct member of UAA’s German and French Faculty, a member of the AATG (American Association of Teachers of German)/Alaska Chapter, and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
Throughout a given school year, he has striven to involve his students in many extra-curricular activities. At German Camp (Lager Nordlicht), he most often has led sessions on Fußball (an ardent Werder Bremen fan) and helped in skit writing and performing. His service as a judge at the Regional and State Declamation Contest has surpassed sixteen years. He is most proud of his students though, some of whom have taken top honors in the state. As a means by which to encourage his students to continue their study of German, he brings them to German Day at UAA. “Deak”, as those who know him best call him, evidently enjoys being busy. When asked what motivates him, he remarked without hesitation, “It’s all about opening doors to the world for kids by providing them with opportunities to achieve success,… now let’s get down to it!” Better stated, “Auf die Plätze, fertig, los!”
Amanda Marley – Secretary
You can email Frau Amanda at Marley_Amanda@asdk12.org
Born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne England, Amanda first came to the US in 1990 as a long term visitor. She officially moved here in 1994, and worked in retail. She was volunteering at her children’s school a couple of years ago when she saw a flyer about Rilke Schule. You guessed it – She came to volunteer, and never left. Boy are we glad. Amanda is the smiling face (with headgear) you often see in the morning and afternoons answering questions and directing traffic, and at midday on the playground helping the children. In between those times she is tirelessly helping out wherever she is needed, sometimes in the Secretary’s Office, but just as often anywhere else. If you ever need to know where anything in the building or storage units is, ask Amanda, aka the Chief Schlepper.
When she isn’t at Rilke Schule, she enjoys scrapbooking, stamping, knitting, refinishing furniture, and looking after her families menagerie of puppy dogs and other wonderful creatures.
Her favorite word is actually the Yiddish “Schlep”, something she is very good at.
TEACHING STAFF
Michael Helgesen – Kindergarten English
You can email Herr Helgesen at Helgesen_Michael@asdk12.org
Michael Helgesen is one of the English kindergarten teachers at Rilke Schule. He has been teaching kindergarten in the Anchorage School District for more than a dozen years. Herr Helgesen learned to speak Spanish and taught in South-Central Los Angeles for four years. He then worked for three years in early childhood at the Providence Hospital Early Childhood Learning Center. Michael has also studied German, Norwegian, French and Russian. He lives in Anchorage with his wife, Yuliya, his two sons, Roos and Alek, and their cat, Rock.
Claudia Bittlingmaier – Kindergarten German
You can email Frau Bittlingmaier at Bittlingmaier_Claudia@asdk12.org
Frau Claudia was born in Schwaebisch Gmuend, in southern Germany. She was raised in that area, and lived there until she was 20 years old. She travels to Germany once a year to visit her family. Almost all of her relatives live there.
She has her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Ed. She taught 5th grade for 3 years on the island of Guam and 6th grade for 10 years at a Title I
school, Taku Elementary, here in Anchorage. This is Frau Claudia’s third year teaching Kindergarten German immersion at Rilke Schule.
In 2007, Frau Claudia took a leave-of-absence from the school district in order to travel to South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana with her husband. En route they visited many local schools and Frau Claudia volunteered regularly at an orphanage in South Africa. While still in South Africa, Frau Claudia became aware of Rilke Schule through e-mails from friends and co-workers at Taku Elementary. She applied for a teaching position, and is excited and happy to now be a member of the Rilke Schule team.
Frau Claudia’s hobbies include motorcycling, gardening, skiing, and traveling. She lives with her husband and their German Shepherd.
Her favorite German word is Knoedel (dumplings). She likes to eat them, too!
Jessica Martin – Kindergarten English
You can email Frau Martin at martin_jessica@asdk12.org
Frau Martin was born and raised in Zeeland, Michigan. Her family moved to Soldotna, AK when she was a junior in High School.
She received her B.A. in Elementary Education from U.A.A. She student taught in a kindergarten class. That was when she realized that she loved kindergarten! She has spent her first two years teaching Kindergarten at Rilke Schule and loves it!
She enjoys exploring Alaska, as well as traveling overseas (her next stop, Germany!!). She loves to read, scrapbook, bake, and ice skate.
Her favorite German word is “Schade”.
Judith Keihl – Kindergarten German
You can email Frau Keihl at keihl-teekell_judith@asdk12.org.
Judith Keihl-Teekell was born and raised in the beautiful country-side of Oberschwaben (Swabia), a region in the very south of Germany. Adventurous and curious about other cultures, Judith traveled early on and found herself in Alaska after graduating from her German high school (Gymnasium).
She finished two years of studies in Elementary and Middle School Education at the Paedagogische Hochschule in Freiburg, Germany. Rilke Schule had just opened when she looked into a career change to finally pursue her calling as a teacher. Months later, she substituted for Jo Sander’s Kindergarten classes and knew from then on that she
wanted to teach primary grades (German immersion, of course). She has been teaching at Rilke Schule ever since. Received her graduate certificate in Elementary Education from Alaska Pacific University.
She visits her home town once a year and uses the summer break to catch up
with family and friends there. She enjoys skiing, hiking, and spending time with her Bouvier dog Maja. Craft projects and fine arts have always been an interest of hers that she pursues especially during holiday times. She likes to travel inside and outside the United States learning more about history and culture.
Her favorite German word is Lieblings + noun, e.g. Lieblingswort = favorite word, Lieblingsfarbe = favorite color, Lieblingsessen = favorite food……
Kim Nelson – 1st Grade English
You can email Frau Nelson at Nelson_Kim@asdk12.org
Personal background:
She was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and has been living in Alaska since 1985. She studied German in high school and was pretty good at it then, but it has been more years than she cares to admit and, to say the least, it will take a bit of a refresher to uncover what she knows is buried in her brain somewhere. She’s been married to Gary Nelson since 1986. They don’t have any kids or pets, but they have lots of plants. In her spare time (of which she has little), she works on home improvement projects, gardens, crochets, and reads John Grisham books. She also likes to do Sudoku and crossword puzzles.
Professional background:
She received her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Frostburg State University in Maryland in 1979 and has taken lots of Continuing Education credits, enough for a Masters Degree plus if they counted. She has focused on literacy instruction because learning to read and write is key to a quality education. She taught 1 year (subbing) in Pennsylvania right after college, then took a many-year detour into the legal secretarial field. After moving to Anchorage, She subbed for the Anchorage School District for 2 years before being hired at Klatt Elementary. She taught at Klatt for 9 years (8 years of 1st grade and 1 year of Kindergarten). She then taught at William Tyson Elementary for 5 years, where she taught 1st and 2nd grade classrooms and 2nd grade literacy.
Why she chose teaching as a career:
She loves working with kids — they are fun to be with and it is exciting to watch them grow. Young students make so much progress throughout the year. It’s amazing to see them mature both academically and socially.
Frau Nelson has two favorite German words, Schadenfreude and Kreutzwortraetzel
Heather Tarrant – 1st Grade German
You can reach Frau Tarrant at tarrant_heather@asdk12.org
Frau Tarrant is from Holt, Michigan. She attended Central Michigan University and graduated in December 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. Her Majors are German K-12 and Social Studies 6-12. Her Minor is History 6-12. She studied abroad twice. She spent a semester in Bielefeld, Germany and attended the Padaegogosiche Hochschule Karlsruhe for a year in Karlsruhe Germany on a full scholarship from the Federation of German American Clubs. She Student taught at Morley-Stanwood High School German 1 and World History.
When she studied abroad in Germany, she lived with a host family the first time, and lived in student housing the second time.
She loves to travel and see things she has never seen before and takes tons of pictures of those things. Her favorite German word is Zwiebel, which means onion and is really fun to say!
Elizabeth Cooper – 1st and 2nd Grade German
You can email Frau Cooper at Cooper_Elizabeth@asdk12.org
Frau Cooper is originally from Great Falls, MT. She taught grades 7 – 12 German, and also taught for 2 years in a rural school in Victor, MT. Prior to that she earned an M.A. from Ohio State University and taught Russian to college freshmen. She speaks German and Russian, plus a smattering of Polish, Serbo-Croatian and Spanish.
She is an avid cross-country skier and hiker. In addition, She is married with two daughters at Rilke Schule. They hunt and fish as a family; her primary role in hunting has been to run around with the pheasant decoy to train the dog. She is excited to be a part of Rilke Schule and to finally make it to Alaska!
Tyler Schlagenhauf – 1st Grade English
You can email Herr Schlagenhauf at schlagenhauf_tyler@asdk12.org
Herr Schlagenhauf comes to us from Boise Idaho.
He attended Minot State University in North Dakota because he received a scholarship to pitch for the Minot State Beaver Baseball team. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. After graduation Herr Schlagenhauf received a teaching job with the Bering Strait School District which landed him on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. He taught 2nd grade in Gambell, AK, which is a Siberian Yupik Eskimo Village 33 miles from Russia. Yes, he could see Russia from his living room! He was the Athletic/Activities Director in Gambell as well as the Head Varsity Basketball Coach. In 2010 he recieved Coach of the Year in the Bering Sea Conference. Herr Schlagenhauf was a baseball player for 20 years and has coached baseball and basketball for the last 7 years.
In July 2010, he made the drive up to Anchorage, Alaska from Boise, Idaho with his girlfriend Amanda and Siberian Husky, Qiluk, to begin teaching at the wonderful Rilke Schule.
Denise Cotten – 1st and 2nd Grade English
View Frau Cotten’s Website at http://fraucotten.wikispaces.com
Or you can email her at cotten_denise@asdk12.org
Frau Cotten was born in Pensacola, Florida and raised outside of Atlanta, Georgia. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Early Childhood Education, with a minor in Psychology, from North Georgia College and State University. She moved to Anchorage in 1998 to start her new life with her husband, Evan. Frau Cotten taught third grade at Ocean View Elementary from 2000-2004 and then took time off to be at home with her two girls.
Frau Cotten and her family have been a part of Rilke Schule since her daughter started there in Kindergarten in the 2009-2010 school year. In those past 3 and a half years she has seen the school flourish and continue on it’s path of excellence. The Cotten’s younger daughter will be starting Kindergarten at Rilke in 2013-2014.
You might also remember Frau Cotten from last school year 2011-2012 when she returned to the classroom as a long-term substitute in 4th Grade and the 4th / 5th Grade Multi-Age classroom at Rilke Schule for three quarters year. During the 2012-2013 school year, Frau Cotten has also enjoyed substituting frequently in all grade levels at Rilke Schule. She is very happy and excited to be the 1st / 2nd Grade Multi-Age Classroom afternoon Teacher and looks forward to continuing her career at Rilke Schule.
Heidi Hale – 2nd Grade English
You can email Frau Hale at hale_heidi@asdk12.org
Frau Hale is originally from Alaska. She was born in North Pole, but moved around to the East Coast for about 10 years before her family decided to return to Alaska.
She always knew that she wanted to work with kids, but originally thought she wanted to go into Pediatrics. She started college at Loyola University in Chicago and it was there that she decided she would rather go into teaching. Frau Hale transferred to Colorado Christian University in Denver, CO and completed her Bachelors of Science in elementary education. She graduated in May of 2009 after completing her student teaching in a first grade gifted and talented class. After graduating, she moved back home and began to substitute in the Anchorage School District. Frau Hale’s connection with Rilke Schule came through a parent who she worked with in the construction/landscaping business. She started subbing at Rilke in Frau Charmin’s class every Friday.
In the summers, Frau Hale works for her family’s business driving a dump truck for Team Hale Trucking. She absolutely loves it! It always takes people by surprise to see a girl pull up in a dump truck. She is also a hockey player and though she doesn’t play as competitively as she once did, she still loves it. When there is time in the summer, she tries to get out and go fishing, camping and hiking.
Peter Birmanns – 2nd Grade German
You can email Herr Birmanns at Birmanns_Peter@asdk12.org
Herr Birmanns is from Aachen, the most western German city at the border to the Netherlands and to Belgium. He went to university in Tuebingen, near Stuttgart in the South. He has taught two years College German and History, ten years High School and two years Middle School German and Spanish
and two years Elementary.
His family can be traced back to the 13th century in the same village close to Aachen in Germany.
Herr Birmanns is married to a Spanish teacher. He has survived careers as baker and as roofer. He was hit by lightening once in the Alps, and survived that too!
His favorite German word is either Schmierfink or Faulpelz, both words he heard a lot in his childhood and again in married life.
Kate Ferris – 2nd and 3rd Grade English
You can reach Frau Ferris at ferris_kate@asdk12.org
Carrie Ross – 2nd and 3rd Grade German
You can reach Frau Ross at ross_carrie@asdk12.org
Debra Schwicht – 3rd Grade English
Frau Schwicht
You can email Frau Schwicht at Schwicht_Debra@asdk12.org
Frau Schwicht grew up on a farm in Georgia. She graduated from UAA with a bachelors in Elementary education with an emphasis in History. She is the mother of six, and has been here in Alaska with her husband Steve for 29 years.
She has been involved with education for 12 years, teaching preschool through High School. In her three years at Rilke Schule she has taught every grade except first, and been the librarian as well!
She has been able to travel to Germany 3 times, twice with students from Rilke Schule.
In her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling and being outdoors.
Her favorite German word “Entschuldigen!”
Catherine Radke – 3rd Grade German
You can email Frau Radke at Radke_Catherine@asdk12.org.
Frau Radke graduated from college in 2003 with a B.A. in German and Latin, having spent her junior year in Vienna, Austria. Subsequently she moved to Freiburg, Germany and was an English language assistant in a Gymnasium (grades 5-13) there. After that she moved to Gimmelwald, Switzerland, a tiny farming village in the Alps, and worked on a farm and at a B&B while being totally immersed in Swiss mountain culture. After deciding she needed a full time job (though raking hay and making cheese was quite enjoyable), she moved back home to Texas and taught 3rd-5th grade Latin at a private school. She wanted to pursue German, though, so she applied to graduate school and received her M.A. in German with teaching licensure in 2008 from Tufts University in Boston.
She is thrilled to be able to help kids along on the road of discovery that is a natural result of learning another language. She loves to ski, play piano, hike, take pictures, and learn about the Middle Ages.
Tim Whiteley – PE
You can email Mr. Whiteley at whiteley_timothy@asdk12.org
Herr Whiteley graduated from Washington State University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. He knew that he either wanted to teach near his hometown, in the Seattle area, or move to Anchorage. After receiving a phone call at a Mariner’s game asking him how quickly he could relocate to Alaska, he started to realize he was about to begin a new journey in his life. About a week later he found himself in a new city he had not been to and teaching at an interesting and exciting place.
He looks forward to furnishing student learning in the classroom and showing students how they can apply themselves outside of the classroom. He knows he made the correct decision to move to Anchorage, and he looks forward to leaving a lasting impact on our future leaders.
Charmin Martin – 4th Grade English / German
You can email Frau Charmin at Martin_Charmin@asdk12.org
Charmin has a Master of Arts in teaching and a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies, focused on Russian studies. She speaks Russian and German and enjoys learning new languages. Charmin taught English as a second language at Bartlett High School for her internship. She then switched gears and taught ESL at the elementary level at Tanaina Elementary. During her time at Tanaina, she also taught an hour and a half extension of kindergarten in Russian. Charmin started at Rilke the first year it opened as a substitute teacher, felt like she had found her home, and stayed. Charmin’s thirst for knowledge and experiences is something that she looks forward to sharing with her students to promote lifelong learning.
Charmin is an avid climber of ice, rock and mountains. She relishes outdoor experiences like sea kayaking, biking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating, and is trying to add whitewater kayaking to her skill set. Charmin also spends time exercising her creativity making cards, beading, sewing, scrap booking, lettering, drawing, coloring, color design, painting, and doing paper crafts, wire crafts and calligraphy. She spent four months traveling through Estonia and Russia and spent a week in Austria. This jump started her hunger to experience new cultures, gain new perspectives and meet interesting new people. She is very excited to add to her travel experiences.
Janeen Wilkins 4th and 5th Grade French
You can email Frau Wilkins at wilkins_janeen@asdk12.org
Branden Strauch – 5th Grade German
You can email Herr Strauch at strauch_branden@asdk12.org
Branden Strauch was born and raised in the little town of Augusta, WI. In 2007, he received his B.A. in German and History from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. While attending UW-Madison, Branden had the opportunity to study abroad at the Friedrich Wilhelm Universität in Bonn, Germany. After graduation, Branden and his wife, Katria, moved to St. Paul, MN, where he attended University of Saint Thomas and is currently finishing his M.A. of Education.
Following his dream to move out west, Branden was put in contact with Rilke Schule through the Anchorage School District. Shortly thereafter, Branden accepted a position and moved to Anchorage, AK in the summer of 2009. Rilke Schule has given Branden the opportunity to pursue his passions in German, history, and teaching. Branden currently teaches at the middle school level. During his free time Branden enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, and playing and watching sports. On Wisconsin!
Tobi Radke 6th, 7th and 8th Grade German
You can email Herr Radke at Radke_Tobias@asdk12.org
Susan Oakley – 6th, 7th and 8th Grade English and French
You can email Frau Oakley at Oakley_Susan@asdk12.org
School Wide – Staff
Kevin Downie – Music
You can email Herr Downie at Downie_Kevin@asdk12.org
Herr Downie was born and raised in Alaska. He has worked for the Anchorage School District teaching music for the last 16 years. He spent a year studying music at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and enjoys teaching with some of his materials from the institute.
He loves teaching and has a philosophy that all children can learn and be successful in music. He teaches kids to learn to read, write and play music through singing, performing, listening, dancing, and creating.
He loves to ski, climb, and travel, and his most exciting adventure in the last few years has been a successful summit of Denali in 2005. He and his wife now enjoy skiing with their young daughter.
He enjoys being part of the Rilke Schule community.
Mary Collins, Art
You can email Frau Collins at Collins_Mary@asdk12.org
Robae Robinson, School Nurse
You can email Frau Robinson at Robinson_Robae@asdk12.org
Teaching Assistants
Angelika West – Teaching Assistant
You can email Frau West at west_angelika@asdk12.org
Frau West grew up in south west Germany and was fortunate enough to travel and learn many different languages. Her goal was to work with children in many different places. She got close!
She became a ”KINDERGÄRTNERIN” in Germany in a Fröbel seminar, then studied pediatric nursing and spent months in England and a year in Minneapolis, USA. After several years as a nurse and nanny, She really wanted to return to the USA. Through friends she learned about the Montessori Method.
She landed in Fairbanks in 1966 and taught for approximately six years at the Fairbanks Montessori school, nine years at the Anchorage Montessori school, and 15 1/2 years at the Providence Center for Child Development. She happily retired and did a little volunteer work. But she got bored and then heard about the NEW German School. So here she is! She loves working with the staff and children and experiencing the new challenges of a young charter school.
She has grown twin children and is the proud grandmother of 3 grandchildren.
Trevor Sandberg – Teaching Assistant
You can email Trevor at sandberg_trevor@asdk12.org
Curriculum
Jo Sanders – Founder / Curriculum Director
You can email Frau Sanders at Frausanders@alaska.com or you can telephone her at 345-0203.
Jo Sanders is a 35 year veteran of the Anchorage School District (West HS, Bartlett HS, Village Charter, and Aquarian Charter). She is one of the founders of Rilke Schule. Frau Sanders has been the president of the American Association of Teachers of German, the Northwest Council on Foreign Languages and the Alaskan Foreign Language Association. She was named the outstanding German teacher in the United States by the American Association of Teachers of German, was Anchorage Teacher of the Year, a Walt Disney Salute to American Education Teacher, a Fulbright Exchange Teacher, recipient of the national Florence Steiner Award for Leadership in Foreign Language and received the Bundesverdienstkreuz (Federal Cross of Honor) from the Federal Republic of Germany.
Frau Sanders is a consultant and trains teachers all over the United States for the Goethe Institute and the AATG. As a local teacher, she co-founded the state German Camp, which has run since 1973 and the state Foreign Language Declamation Contest. Many of the local German teachers did their student teaching under Frau Sanders. Her personal interest in nature is reflected in her classroom teaching and her methods emphasize hands-on learning, lots of songs, games and physical activities.
