Meet the Faculty
Cristi Dikeou
FlexTrac Instructor
cdikeou@kwoods.org
MA in Curriculum and Teaching, Michigan State University
BS in Kinesiology, minors in Mathematics and Health, Michigan State University
Cristi Dikeou has been working in education since 2000. What she loves most about working in education is building meaningful relationships with students and helping them to realize their full potential. "It is rewarding and exciting to watch the intellectual growth that takes place in students between their Freshmen and Senior years as they discover who they are and who they can become as young adults."
Ken Ferguson
English, Math
Newspaper, Games Club
Class of 2013 Advisor
kferguson@kwoods.org
MAT in Teaching, Marygrove College
BA in English, University of Michigan
Ken Ferguson returned to Kensington Woods in 2009. He was a teacher from 2002 to 2004 and then left to do missions work in Tanzania, East Africa from 2004 to 2009. Over the last decade Ken has had experience working a very wide range of settings. He taught at a International Missions school called Haven of Peace Academy in Tanzania. Before that, he worked at various schools in Livingston County including Charyl Stockwell Academy, Renaissance Alternative School and KWHS. For the last two years, Ken has been teaching English in a small Swahili fishing village on the coast of the Indian Ocean.
Ken is very excited about being back and sharing his experiences in his life and his education with the students at KWHS. He loves the friendly atmosphere that KWHS fosters and truly enjoys working every day with the professional, intelligent and motivated staff.
Bob Gluth
Social Studies
Class of 2011 Advisor
rgluth@kwoods.org
Currently working towards MA in Social Science, University of Michigan, Flint
BA in History and Social Studies, minor in Political Science, Eastern Michigan University
Before becoming a teacher, Bob Gluth worked in the Credit Union Industry as a Branch Manager and at World Computer Corporation, as a Systems Manager and Software Trainer. What Bob loves most about his job is watching students mature and grow as individuals. He hopes he plays a positive part in that growth. Bob's favorite quote is attributed to Bobby Kennedy by his brother, Ted, at Bobby’s funeral. “Some people see things as they are and say, 'Why?' I see things as they could be and say, 'Why not!'"
Dan Kittell
Math, Science
MA in Secondary Education, University of Michigan
MS in Physics, Eastern Michigan University
BS in Astronomy, University of Michigan
dkittell@kwoods.org
Dan is very excited to be a part of the community at KWHS. Prior to coming to KWHS in 2009, Dan studied physics and astronomy in graduate school. During that time, he was an instructor for astronomy and physics courses at Washtenaw Community College, Eastern Michigan University and the University of Toledo as faculty and as a student. Dan soon discovered that teaching was the most rewarding part of academia and enrolled in the MAC program at the University of Michigan to earn his teaching degree. Dan is very much looking forward to supporting students along their path to success at KWHS.
Pam Linn
Main Office
plinn@kwoods.org
Kim Love
Social Worker
MSW in Interpersonal Practice: Children and Youth w/ School Certification, University of Michigan
BA in Sociology, specializations in (1) Social Inequality: Race, Class, and Gender and (2) Law, Criminology, and Deviance, University of Michigan
klove@kwoods.org
Kim Love has been working in the Michigan Public School System since 2004. She has worked as a social worker in Pontiac and Novi, focusing on at-risk and special education students. Kim focused more on PREVENTION than INTERVENTION. In addition to Kensington Woods, Kim serves as a School Social Worker to students at the Ann Arbor Learning Community and is also working to improve area charter schools, through CSP and MAPSA. What Kim loves most about being a School Social Worker is, "The position gives me the real opportunity to enhance the lives of our community’s youth, by building confidence and competence. I am able to be an advocate for students, in order to guide them down the academic, emotional, and social path that best suits each individual."
Jessie MacGonigal Pratt
Art
Athletic Director, Cross Country, Running Club, Yearbook, NHS/Leadership
Class of 2013 Advisor
MA in Art Education, New York University
BFA in Ceramics, Photography and Graphic Design, University of Michigan
jpratt@kwoods.org
Before joining Kensington Woods in 2007, Jessie Pratt taught art at a middle school in the Bronx, NY. What Jessie loves most about her job is seeing her students grow, learn and link what they learn in the classroom to the world outside of school. "I love to challenge them to ask the question “why” and create personal definitions about what art is and can be. Students should feel empowered to create work that makes themselves and others think."
John Maxwell
Science
Class of 2011 Advisor
BS in Biology, minor in Chemistry, Eastern Michigan University
BS in Anthropology, minor in Psychology, University of Michigan
jmaxwell@kwoods.org
Before becoming a teacher, John Maxwell worked in the hospitality industry; most recently he was Vice President of Food and Beverage for Winthrop Properties Inc. He decided to become a teacher as a way to give back to society some of what he had received. "As the father of two grown children I have seen the importance of educators in the lives of children and believe I can make a positive impact on our future by being a professional teacher."
Liz McGuffin
English, Social Studies, Music
Student Council
Class of 2010 Advisor
emcguffin@kwoods.org
Theresa Marcum
Counselor
NHS/Leadership
Class of 2010 Advisor
MA in Professional Counseling, Central Michigan University
BS, Central Michigan University
tmerrill@kwoods.org
Theresa Marcum has held a Professional Counseling license since 1993 and received her Guidance Counseling license in 2003. She has spent her counseling career providing counseling sessions for children, adolescents and families. She has worked in Detroit Foster Care for five years and has since facilitated substance abuse recovery groups for adolescents and adults for the past nine years. Theresa has also facilitated counseling groups regarding anger management, self esteem, sexual abuse and family transition issues.
Laura Moellering
Curriculum Development
MA in Curriculum and Instruction, Eastern Michigan University
BA in Secondary Education, major in English, minor in Psychology, Eastern Michigan University
lmoellering@kwoods.org
Laura Moellering joined Kensington Woods in 2003. Previously, she taught in Grass Lake and Pinckney. Prior to teaching, she stayed home raising her three daughters. What Laura loves most about teaching is when students realize how much they are capable of doing and she can help them see how many ideas and events and people are out there. "I really believe that all students want to achieve and I enjoy helping them get there, I have high expectations for my students and am gratified when they experience success with a challenging task. The world is full of possibility and helping students see that is rewarding."
Markus Muennix
Foreign Language
School Store, Games Club
Class of 2012 Advisor
MA, Eastern Michigan University
BA, University of Michigan
mmuennix@kwoods.org
Markus Muennix has worked at Kensington Woods since 2005. Markus believes that everybody can learn, that learning is for everybody and that everybody owes it to themselves to learn. "It is my role to help each student to capitalize on their ability and willingness to learn to their highest potential." Markus' favorite quote is by Epictetus from Discourses, “Only the educated are free.”
Krissy O'Grady
FlexTrac Instructor, English
BS in English, Language and Literature, minor in Communications and Theatre Arts, Eastern Michigan University
kogrady@kwoods.org
Prior to coming to Kensington Woods in 2002, Krissy worked as Facilitator and Curriculum Developer for Sandcastles Divorce Group through Livingston County Courts. Her favorite saying is, "Everyday is a new day."
Jim Perry
Principal
MA in Education, University of Michigan
BA in Psychology, University of Michigan
jperry@kwoods.org
Jim Perry has been working in the field of education since 1992, with particular interest in incorporating experiential education into the small high school model. He has been a member of the Kensington Woods High School faculty since the first year in 1995/96. The most motivating part of his job is seeing students discovering and experiencing new dimensions of their intellect. Jim's favorite saying is, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
Shawn Pollman
Math
College Counselor
MAT in Teaching, Marygrove College
Certification in Mathematics and Social Sciences, University of Michigan
BA in Economics, University of Michigan
spollman@kwoods.org
Shawn Pollman has been teaching since 1993, joining Kensington Woods in 2003. Shawn has experience in a variety of educational settings, teaching court placed juveniles, middle school, high school and night school
students. What Shawn loves most about teaching is having the opportunity to build positive relationships with students that often carry on from one school year to the next. "I am always looking for new ways to engage my students and their understanding of mathematics. This position allows me to be creative and to try new strategies in the classroom. I love that I am always learning new things, right along with my students. Our math classrooms are equipped with the latest technology, which allows students to tackle problems which are more challenging and relevant to the real world. It is an exciting time to be teaching mathematics!"
Mary Rohn
Special Education
Class of 2012 Advisor
Currently working towards a MAT in Special Education and Learning Disabilities, Oakland University
BS in Elementary Education and Mathematics, Madonna University
mrohn@kwoods.org
Mary has been teaching since 2001, in both general and special education. She joined Kensington Woods in 2007. This is her first experience with a charter school system, and she feels it is most refreshing, reassuring and unique. "Students are individualized; they are not just a number or a random name." As a teacher, Mary believes that all students can learn, but just not at the same pace. "Students must be taken where they are at, and it’s up to us, as teachers, to discover their strengths and their weaknesses and help them to move forward."
Karen Smith
Math, Special Education
Class of 2012 Advisor
Currently working towards a MA in Special Education with a focus in Autism, Madonna University
Learning Disability (LD) endorsement, Madonna University
BA in Earth Science, Minor in Geology, Eastern Michigan University
AA in General Studies, Concentrations in Math and Science, Lansing Community College
ksmith@kwoods.org
Karen Smith lives in Brighton and is a parent to 7 children. She has been a teacher here at Kensington Woods since 2000. Karen chose the teaching profession because she has a compassionate heart for students who struggle with academics. That inner passion has been a driving force for 25 years. "Personal experience, from both living and working with individuals who struggle with disabilities, has had an immense impact on my life. I believe that all people are capable of leaning and that given the right environment, positive personal and academic change can happen. It is exciting to teach a struggling student, who failed in math and has a negative self-concept, begins to grow more confident in his or her own abilities."
Lori Waas
FlexTrac Instructor, Social Sciences
Teaching Certificate, Eastern Michigan University
Certificate in African Studies, Indiana University
BA in History, Indiana University
lwaas@kwoods.org
Lori Waas has been working in education since 1996, beginning as a substitute which led to earning a teaching certificate and joining Kensington Woods in 2000. She has also taught for the Sylvan Learning Center, for Brighton Adult Ed, both as GED Instructor and as classroom supervisor, and evenings at Kensington Woods in our FlexTrac program. Lori loves teaching high school because, "Teenagers are refreshing and challenging at the same time, which makes my teaching continuously new."