Meet the Faculty
Ken Ferguson
English
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.
Kim Garber
Math, Science
kgarber@kwoods.org
MA in Secondary Education, University of Michigan
MS in Mechanical Engineering, Oakland University
BS in Mechanical Engineering, Michigan Technological University
Before becoming a teacher, Kim Garber worked at Ford Motor Company for 23 years in engineering. She led a variety of programs, including incorporating sustainable technologies used on hybrid vehicles. She enjoys sharing her engineering experience and passion for solving real world problems using math and science. As a parent of two high school and one middle school students, she understands the necessity of teaching in a relevant and inspirational manner. Her goal is to ensure students leave with a desire and passion to continue exploring mathematics and science.
Bob Gluth
Social Studies
Class of 2015 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!'"
Pam Linn
Main Office
plinn@kwoods.org
Jessie MacGonigal Pratt
Art
Director of Student Enrichment and Marketing
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 2015 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
Student Council, Invisible Children Club
Class of 2014 Advisor
emcguffin@kwoods.org
Theresa Marcum
Counselor
Director of Student Services
NHS/Leadership
MA in Professional Counseling, Central Michigan University
BS, Central Michigan University
tmarcum@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.
Cash McGuffin
Custodian
cmcguffin@kwoods.org
Markus Muennix
Foreign Language
Director of Administrative Services
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.”
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."
David Picking
Math, Economics
School Store
Class of 2014 Advisor
MA in Secondary Education, University of Michigan
BA in Actuarial Mathematics, University of Michigan
dpicking@kwoods.org
David joined the KWHS faculty in the 2010-2011 school year after completing his Masters Degree in Secondary Education at the University of Michigan. Before discovering his passion to teach, David spent 23 years as an actuary, where he led all actuarial, product management and regulatory compliance functions of a $200 million personal lines insurer. He is excited about bringing real world examples into the classroom. David appreciates the value of an education, especially a college education, and the opportunities it affords. He has the goal of inspiring students to continue their education and be life long learners.
Shawn Pollman
Math
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
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 Coordinator
Teacher Consultant
Class of 2012 Advisor
Green Club Advisor
MAT in Special Education & Learning Disabilities, Oakland University
BS in Elementary Education, Mathematics & English, 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."