Staff

Father John Bauer

Pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary & NDA Canonical Administrator

Fr. John serves as the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and the Canonical Administrator of Notre Dame Academy. Having gone through Catholic Schools for most of his life, he is convinced of the value of a Catholic education. Being a part of Notre Dame Academy fills him with a whole lot of joy.

Father Paul Haverstock

Pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel

Father Paul Haverstock is the parochial administrator of St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in Hopkins. A native of Eden Prairie, Fr. Paul was raised Lutheran (Missouri Synod) and converted to Catholicism in 2006 thanks to the witness of his college roommate. He was ordained a priest by Archbishop Hebda in 2016. Fr Paul’s first assignment was in Shakopee, where he loved spending time in the parish school. He is so excited to be a part of Notre Dame Academy.

Bonnie Jungels

Principal

Dr. Bonita Jungels has passionately served in Catholic schools for over thirty years working with preschool through 12th grade students. She holds several degrees including a doctorate in Leadership, Policy and Administration from St. Thomas University. Dr. Jungels has been serving NDA for over 5 years. She believes that our primary goal is to share the joy of Christ with others and through Him we will grow, learn and serve others in an amazing NDA faith community we call family.

Liz Flom

Business Administrator

Mrs. Liz Flom has been working in the school office since 2014, and has a business and education background. Over the years, she has been involved in the school as a parent, volunteer and employee. Her favorite time of year is back to school time when the students and families return to the building.

Vivian Pritchard

Development Director

Ms. Vivian Pritchard came to Notre Dame Academy after spending many years doing Development work and volunteer work in a variety of Catholic school settings. Ms. Pritchard started at NDA teaching in the preschool, and then was excited to transition to the newly created development role to use her expertise to advance the mission of the school. Ms. Pritchard loves the welcoming and receptive demeanor of the NDA community.

Louise Wilson

Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Louise Wilson is the first person you meet when you come to Notre Dame Academy. Her English accent is noticed by all and loved by the students, who repeat all the announcements she makes on the PA system. She previously worked at St. Gabriel’s Parish before starting at Notre Dame Academy in 2013, where she is happy and blessed working with your children every day.

Joann Meyer

Marketing & Enrollment Manager

Mrs. Joann Meyer began working at Notre Dame Academy in 2016. Mrs. Meyer, her husband and their three children have been part of the school community since 2006. After working in the corporate world for several years, Mrs. Meyer feels blessed to spend her days in the school office and loves welcoming new students and their families.

Heather Discher

Site Director/Lead Kinderstart Teacher

Ms. Heather Discher has worn many hats working for both Notre Dame Academy and Immaculate Heart of Mary. Ms. Discher loves being in the classroom and enjoys creating a close bond with her young students. Ms. Discher loves spending time with her family which includes two daughters (one NDA alumni and one current NDA student).

Julia Johnson

Lead High-Fives Teacher

Mrs. Julia Johnson is the High Fives lead teacher. Full-time, part-time or simply substitute teaching while raising little ones, Julia has taught in Catholic schools for almost three decades. For the last several years, she taught PreK and Kindergarten. Recognizing special ways children feel appreciated and their a-ha moments are treasures. Julia and her husband lead a family circus, which includes six children. She also enjoys line dancing and country music. Cookie Monster and five year olds make Mrs. Johnson belly laugh.

Madison Fuglseth

Lead Discovery Teacher

Ms. Fuglseth joined the NDA team in the fall of 2022. I have always enjoyed working with children within my long history of childcare. I am passionate about teaching them new skills. My goal as a teacher is to help children reach their potential in their journey toward development milestones. In my free time, I like spending time with family and friends. I love swimming, shopping, camping, reading, and creating crafts.

Taylor Russell

Lead Explorers Teacher

Sherlyn Renteria

Preschool Assistant

Bio coming soon!

Elsie Grey

Preschool Assistant

Ms. Elsie has a background in the arts, has a passion for creativity, and is eager to bring a unique perspective to the classroom. Ms. Elsie holds an MFA in Visual Studies from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and a BA in Studio Art and Digital Media from Hamline University. She’s had the joy of working with young children, guiding them in exploring creative expression, STEM activities, and bodily movement. Her goal is to create a warm, inclusive environment where each child feels valued and inspired to learn and grow. Outside of school, she loves hiking, painting, creating digital content and designing activities that make learning fun and engaging.

Emily Polinsky

Preschool Assistant

Bio coming soon!

Megan Smith

Preschool Assistant

Bio coming soon!

Matthew Adamek

Preschool Assistant

Bio coming soon!

Hallie Keenan

Kindergarten / Literacy Coach

Hallie Keenan is the Kindergarten teacher at Notre Dame Academy. Ms. Keenan earned her Masters in Education from St. Catherine’s University and is also certified Literacy Coach through Groves Learning Organization. She strives to create a hands-on, active environment for her students to succeed and grow. Through the use of STEM and other engaging activities, Ms. Keenan helps students to become excited learners and problem solvers. Outside of school she is passionate about spending time with her dog Leroy and traveling the world. You may view the Kindergarten website page here.

Rachael Feldkamp

First Grade

Ms. Rachael Feldkamp earned her B.S. in Special Education and Physical Education from Winona State University. She has taught in Catholic and charter schools for the last 7 years and been with NDA for almost 2 years. Ms. Feldkamp’s dynamic and compassionate teaching style makes her a favorite with her first graders! With a special interest and passion for special education, she also serves the NDA community as a Learning Specialist. She loves to watch the wonder and joy on kids’ faces when they make a learning breakthrough.

Jamie Tschida

Second Grade

Mrs. Tschida is excited to be teaching at Notre Dame Academy. She earned her M.A. Education from St. Scholastica Universit and has been working in Catholic schools ever since. It is her passion to instill a love of learning in students and help them develop a desire to become life long learners. In her free time she enjoys being with family and friends, attending her children’s sporting events, swimming, going for walks with her dogs, biking, reading, and traveling.

Marissa Magnuson

Second Grade

Mrs. Magnuson is excited to be a part of the NDA community. In the classroom she values the unique personality of each child. She utilizes the gifts of each child and nurtures growth through challenge and support. She earned her M.A. in K-5 Reading Endorsement from St. Thomas University and has been a Catholic School teacher for the last 7 years. Ms. Magnuson loves to help every child discover Jesus’s presence in their lives. In her free time she enjoys walking, hiking, reading, and spending time with her family.

Mary Ellen Gross

Third Grade

Mrs. Gross is the third grade teacher at Notre Dame Academy. She has committed her entire professional career of over twenty-five years to Catholic education. Mrs. Gross brings our NDA mission to life every day providing a program of academic excellence, grounded in faith, maximizing the strengths of her students. She is an advocate for her students’ needs and strives to meet the potential of all her students.

Kirsten Segar

Third Grade & Learning Specialist

Mrs. Kirsten Segar has taught for over 20 years with 5 years at NDA. She earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from University of MN Moorhead and has since enjoyed a variety of educational roles including being an elementary classroom teacher, a middle school teacher, and a math and reading specialist. No matter what the role, Mrs. Segar’s purpose is the same – to create an environment where students thrive academically and emotionally by building relationships and encouraging curiosity. 

Andrew Weeres

Fourth Grade

Mr. Weeres loves being the fourth grade teacher at NDA. He joined the downstairs hallway in 2018, and started his Catholic school career in 2014. One of his classroom highlights is when he teaches his students how to tie flies and shares his love for fishing. When Mr. Weeres is not teaching, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Janel Dysart

Fifth Grade

Mrs. Janel Dysart has been teaching at NDA for 21 years. She earned her Masters of Education from St. Catherine’s University. Mrs. Dysart has taught fifth grade for the past eighteen years and also spent three years as an Elementary Music Specialist. She loves coming up with new and creative projects for her students, enjoys incorporating technology whenever she can, and her favorite class activity is Literature Circles. She enjoys music, superheroes, and spending time with her family. Please feel free to visit her class website.

Jerry Dargis

Science and STEM

Jerry Dargis graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BS in Environmental Education and Natural Resources in 1998 and started his teaching career outside as an environmental education specialist. He then taught in conventional classrooms at Nativity of Mary, St. Alphonsus, Visitation, and Thomas Jefferson High School. Mr. Dargis is in his eleventh year at Notre Dame Academy. He lives in Bloomington, MN, with his wife of 33 years, two cats, one dog, and a corn snake named Sid.

Pam Murphy

Math

Mrs. Pam Murphy is a new teacher at NDA, but is not new to NDA or teaching. She has three daughters and a son at NDA, and she has been a math teacher for many years, most recently at Southwest High School in Minneapolis. In her classroom, she likes to relate math to the “real world” for her students. She enjoys coaching swimming (or any sport), doing Tae Kwon Do, reading, and spending time with her family.

Aggie Maurer

Language Arts

Ms. Aggie Maurer enjoys teaching language arts. Ms. Maurer joined Notre Dame Academy in 2016. She loves getting to know each and every one of her students. During her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, music, photography and reading. Ms. Maurer loves meeting new people, and is sure she will be learning just as much as her students!

Kelly Dopp

Social Studies, Fundamental LA & Math

Mr Kelly Dopp graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2007 with a B.A. in Education and has taught Social Studies ever since. He lives in Elk River, Minnesota with his wife JoAnn of 23 years and their two dogs. Mr. and Mrs. Dopp have a son and a daughter and Mr. Dopp loves to play guitar in his band.

Annette Watz

Grades 5-8 Religion & Grades 7-8 Study Skills Plus

Mrs. Annette Watz is the religion teacher at Notre Dame Academy for students in grades 5-8. She earned her Masters in Religious Education and has been teaching in Catholic Schools ever since. Her passion for faith and learning led to a degree in elementary education, a master’s in religious education and enjoying many years of working and volunteering in a variety of Catholic settings. Her goal is to help students grow in relationship with Jesus while creating an engaging and nurturing environment where they can explore and deepen their understanding of Catholicism. Outside the classroom, you can find her with her husband watching their daughter compete in barrel racing, enjoying an afternoon at the arboretum, reading or spending time with family and friends.

Daren Tesch

PE and Health

Mr. Daren Tesch earned his B.A. in Physical Education from Minnesota State University – Mankato and has been teaching in the Catholic school system for almost two decades. On any day you may find him teaching health to the middle school students in the classroom, teaching Physical Education to the preschoolers, or supervising the gym during our home sporting events. He believes in teaching life long health skills to keep our students healthy long after they leave Notre Dame Academy.

Jesse Robertson

Technology

Jesse Robertson graduated from Moorhead State University with a BS in Elementary Education in 1995. He started his teaching career in Houston, Texas; teaching 5th and 6th grade students. He then moved back to Minnesota and taught at The Tesseract School, Nativity of Mary Catholic School, and Howard Lake – Waverly – Winsted Public Schools. Mr. Robertson is in his third year at Notre Dame Academy. He lives in Minnetrista, MN, with his wife of 25 years, two daughters, a dog, and a cat.

Maggie Turner

Spanish

Mrs. Maggie Turner started at St. John’s in 2007 and has been with NDA since the beginning. She loves seeing the kids practice speaking in another language and being excited to learn about different cultures. Mrs. Turner enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.

Lori Wukmir

Music and Theatre

Mrs. Lori Wukmir has spent the last fourteen years with the NDA community, teaching music and drama! A native of Colorado, she first made a living in the Twin Cities as an actress before receiving her teaching license from the University of Minnesota. She loves getting to know ALL the kids at NDA, but looks forward most to putting them all on stage!

Adam Bestler

Band and Staging

Mr. Bestler came to be the Director of Bands at the Hopkins/Minnetonka Catholic Schools in 2000 after several years of working at Hopkins High School. In addition to directing the Notre Dame Academy Bands, he is a performing multi-instrumentalist in the Twin Cities metro area and conducts two adult professional bands. He also teaches the Jazz Studies program at Chaska High School and is the owner operator of a local small business. If you’d like to reach his class website, click here.

Brittnee Olson

Art

Mrs. Brittnee Olson graduated from the University of Minnesota with her Masters in Art Education. Working with students is a passion of hers. Over the past ten years she worked with students in a variety of ways including nannying, teaching in early childhood education and elementary education. She values teacher and student relationships and seeks to create a safe environment for her students to learn and grow in the art classroom. Mrs. Olson’s goal as an Art Teacher at NDA is to help empower students to create artwork that is meaningful to them. Mrs. Olson enjoys hiking, running, art, baking and spending time with her husband, Sam, son, Elijah, and their dog, Rosa.

Prudence O’Connor

Learning Specialist

Ms. Prudence O’Connor is a dedicated, well-educated teaching professional. She comes from a family of educators and has experience with a variety of children in a wide range of settings. Ms. O’Connor embodies the principles of a lifelong learner.

Kris Nelson

Learning Assistant

Mrs. Nelson is the Learning Assistant for grades K-4. After working in the business world, teaching and training adults, she left to raise her two boys, both of whom attended NDA (PK through 8th grade). She understands first hand that everyone learns differently and feels blessed to be able to support the students in any way possible, helping them to feel confident and successful.

Katie Schneeman

Literacy Coach

Wendy Dellis

Special Education

Denise Bielke

Reading Specialist

Nicole Sundby

Hopkins Nurse

Erica Landers

Hopkins Counselor 7/8

Ms. Erica Landers is a licensed K-12 school counselor who seeks to promote student engagement and help foster an equitable school learning environment. Erica’s mission as a school counselor is to create a comprehensive program that empowers all students to challenge themselves to meet their fullest potential. She believes a school counseling program should address the academic, career, and social/emotional developmental needs of students. She believes it’s her job to ensure all students develop the skills necessary for academic success, personal growth, positive interpersonal relationships, career development, and healthy choices.

Mindy Berkowitz, MSW

School Counselor

Ms. Berkowitz brings 25 years of medical social work experience to NDA. During her time in medical social work, Mindy worked with all age groups. She has spent the last three years working in Catholic schools. Ms. Berkowitz is part of the Phoenix Counseling Team and will be at NDA one day/week. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her grown boys and her dog.

Megan Miller

Food and Nutrition Manager

Mrs. Miller is a mom of five current NDA students with a passion for nutrition and fitness. Her background might be in city planning and development, but her love for good, whole food drove her to a career in nutrition and cooking. Megan’s goal is to increase the number of made from scratch meals our kids get and giving them the nutrition they need to learn as much as they can! Outside of school Megan loves to run, spend time with her kids, and beat her personal records at CrossFit.

Christy Mergen

Cafeteria Manager

Mrs. Mergen is the Assistant Food Service Manager in the Lions’ Den Cafe. After “retiring” from mortgage banking in 2003 to raise three girls (of which two attended NDA, PK through 8th grade) she is blessed to be working in a place she has called home since 2006. The most favorite part of her day is interacting with each student as if they were her own and capturing many precious moments as an NDA photographer.

Kathryn Henriksen

Cafeteria Team & Learning Assistant

After spending 20 years as a senior strategy director in the advertising industry, Kathryn/Mrs. Henriksen left to spend more time with her family. She is the parent of an NDA 7th Grader, an avid volunteer for the school and now an official lunch lady and teacher assistant! She loves working with kids, impromptu dance parties in the kitchen, and seeing the kids blossom as the school year progresses. 

Lions Lair

Before & After School Care

Notre Dame Academy provides quality extended-day child care and summer programs for our students, K-8th grade. The program provides teacher-directed activities as well as free play, homework help, arts and crafts, music, dance and technology.

Milton Stephens

Music/Lion’s Lair Lead

Mr. Milton Stephens is the lead member of the Lions Lair team at NDA. He enjoys getting to know students outside the classroom before and after school and during school breaks. He also serves as a substitute teacher at NDA and loves the challenge of whatever class the day may bring! At school Mass, you may spot Mr. Stephens at the piano serving as NDA’s Mass accompanist. Mr. Stephens grew up in Minnetonka, attended Hopkins High School, and graduated from the University of Minnesota, majoring in Mathematics. He feels so blessed to be a part of the NDA family!

Kathie Witta

Librarian

Mrs. Kathie Witta absolutely loves working with NDA students! After more than twenty-five years of working with seniors, Kathie, an IHM parishioner, has been with NDA since its first day. Thanks to her many grandchildren, Mrs. Witta relates well to kids and understands the importance of reading to help students in their life beyond school.

Joan Davy

Librarian

Ken Lindsay

Custodian

Gansyam Jagdeo

Custodian