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Learn more about our exceptional teaching staff.
Kelly grew up in northwestern Wisconsin and returned as an adult, having developed a great appreciation for its culture, history, and traditions. Her life story has been less traditional. Curiosity and a desire to serve have led to a variety of professional and volunteer opportunities that honed an eclectic collection of skills.
Bachelor degrees in Community Health Education and Nursing, along with post-baccalaureate teaching credentials, have provided Kelly with a strong academic foundation. Kelly enjoys learning. She is an avid reader, actively pursues continuing education, and is always game to try something new. Bible worldview and cultural issues are two of Kelly's driving interests.
These qualities brought Kelly to Ascension Academy. "He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God's providence to lead him alright." - Blaise Pascal.
A verse central to Kelly's philosophy of life is "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy. and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8.
You can reach Kelly at kellybagley @ ascensionarrows.org.
Bridget and her husband own a construction company in Barron, and have three sons and two daughters. They live near the dairy farm where
she was raised. Growing up, Bridget was
active in Awana at her church and in many activities at Barron High School, and then studied teaching and science at Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, IL.
She has enjoyed her various jobs working as a farm hand, CNA, radio DJ, volleyball coach, East Coast tour guide, and homeschool mom. When possible, she enjoys kayaking, camping, gardening, traveling and spending time with friends and family. She also enjoys listening to bible teachers and learning about christian apologetics.
Bridget feels so blessed to be a part of Ascension Academy, where she can assist with the goal of training students to view the world through the lens of the Bible. She appreciates the wonder and excitement of younger students as they discover new things and are learning to interact positively with the people around them.
One of Bridget's heroes in the Bible is Daniel, who "purposed in his heart" (Daniel 1:8 KJV) as a teenager not to defile himself by dishonoring God, and remained faithful throughout his life.
You can reach Bridget at bridgetbartlett @ ascensionarrows.org
Amber graduated from Southern New Hampshire University, majoring in Childhood and Adolescent Development. She spent 2 years working as a Behavioral Therapist, specifically working with children diagnosed with autism and other developmental delays. During her undergrad,
she spent a summer in Corning, New York
working at the Corning Museum of glass. She learned from local artists and practiced the
craft of glass blowing.
Amber also has a passion for sports. During high school Amber was a 3 sport varsity athlete playing volleyball, basketball, and track & field. Amber was committed to playing basketball for the University of St. Thomas unfortunately, due to injury, she had to forfeit that opportunity.
Trusting in the Lord has helped her walk through hard times. Romans 12:12 says, "rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer."
Amber and Craig, her husband, both have a passion for teaching. They enjoy spending time together outdoors, camping, hiking, playing sports, and spending time with family. Amber and Craig are members at Red Cedar Church in Rice Lake. Amber is passionate about Christian education and is excited to be part of the Ascension family.
You can reach Amber at amberderousseau @ ascensionarrows.org
Teresa’s journey as an educator began at Rock Co. Christian School in Beloit, WI and includes teaching grades 7-12 in four states along with teaching at four universities. Most notably she spent 18 years at University of Northwestern - St. Paul as a professor of mathematics education in both the Mathematics & Engineering Department and the Education Department where she had to opportunity to teach all levels of college math and coordinate the program for preparing future math teachers. Teresa enjoyed mentoring these students and often told them that she’d like to one day go back to teaching middle school because that’s where you have lots of potential do really fun math!
Teresa believes learning should be active, engaging, collaborative and involve connections across subjects because God created this world with both fascinating variety and amazing order. She is thankful that as a young person she was allowed to experience difficult circumstances through which the truth in Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose,” became very real as an anchor to trust through life’s future storms.
Following college graduation Teresa attended the Association Free Lutheran Bible School and later earned a MA degree in Mathematics and a PhD in Educational Mathematics with Applied Statistics and Research Methods from the University of Northern Colorado. While living in Colorado she also was blessed to meet her husband John at Snow Mountain Ranch - YMCA of the Rockies.
Teresa grew up on a dairy farm in Rice Lake, was involved in many school, church, and 4-H activities, and now looks forward to returning to these rural community roots and family ties. She enjoys spending time gardening, sewing, playing piano, speed skating, and xc skiing..
You can reach Teresa at teresagonske @ ascensionarrows.org
Katee is joining Ascension Academy for the 2023-2024 school year! Katee is a first-year teacher. She is getting married in July 2023 and will become Mrs. Kidder! Katee grew up in Hudson, WI and was a homeschool high school graduate. She spent many summers in Shell Lake, WI with her grandparents, so she has always had a spot for Northern WI in her heart! After high school, she went on to attend Concordia University Wisconsin as an online student and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education.
Katee loves being able to spend time with her horses, playing piano, reading books, singing, and enjoying an Iced Vanilla Chai from her
local coffee shops.
Katee is going to be moving up to Shell Lake this summer and is so excited to be joining the family at Ascension. She is currently attending Spooner Wesleyan Church and is enjoying being able to connect with the congregation and continuing her relationship with Christ.
There is a verse that reminds Katee of the amazing power of the Lord, Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” She can’t wait for this next school year and is praying for an amazing year!
You can reach Katee at kateekidder @ ascensionarrows.org
Donna Kurschner comes to Ascension Academy with over 20 years of teaching experience in the public schools of New Jersey. She is an NJ native with a BA in Italian and certifications to teach Italian and Spanish from Montclair State University. She later continued her studies at the same university to achieve an MA in Applied Linguistics with certification to teach English as a Second Language. She later took additional graduate courses in Education through the distance learning program at Marygrove College.
The transition to Wisconsin began with a series of events stemming from the circumstances of 2020. These events led Donna and her husband, Alan, to leave NJ and to move to WI where some of Alan’s family still resides. (In fact, the first Kurschners settled in northern WI, so if you know a Kurschner, it’s likely you know a relative of Alan!) Donna has spent the last few years homeschooling their son but has definitely missed being in the classroom. She is excited to be in the classroom again at Ascension Academy! She is also excited to be teaching as part of a Christ-centered community.
A quick look into Donna’s childhood games would tell you about her love for both teaching and world languages. She would often play “school” with family, neighborhood friends, and even her stuffed animals. She loved learning words in Spanish while watching Sesame Street, and she often created her own languages among friends.
Donna knows how strongly both teachers and students can impact the lives of one another. There are some special teachers who influenced her throughout her life. Therefore, from the start of her career, she has strived to be a positive influence to her students as well. During her beginning years of teaching, fellow colleagues and one student had important roles in her coming to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior. One of her favorite verses is John 6:68, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
You can reach Donna at donnakurschner @ ascensionarrows.org
Ruth Westendorf and her husband Peter have been a part of Ascension Academy from the beginning, serving on the steering committee (both), curriculum committee (Ruth), and school board (Peter). The children of Christian school teachers, principals, and school-starters, they are deeply committed to Christian education. Ruth homeschooled their five children through high school, and served on the leadership team for the GRACE (Greater Rice Lake Area Christian Educators) homeschool group until she accepted a part-time teaching position at Ascension. Ruth served as afternoon 4th-6th grade teacher and as the lead STEAM teacher in our first school year, and will continue this year as the STEAM teacher for 4th to 8th grades. She will also be teaching afternoon classes in the 2nd-3rd grade classroom on non-STEAM days.
Ruth’s list of hobbies is too long to list, but she tries to bring as many of them into her STEAM classes as possible, believing that a skill learned in one sphere could easily lead to the next innovation in another. Last year our STEAM classes included baking (soft pretzels), crafting (stuffed bunnies, homemade paper, pysanki eggs), gardening (seed starting), homesteading (making apple cider and maple syrup, hatching baby chicks, and learning all about honey bees), and music (her double bass helped the kids learn about sound waves). She also loves studying Christian apologetics, and doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations with her students. Her blueprint for life comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12: “You yourselves have been taught by God to love each other . . . we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
You can reach Ruth at ruthwestendorf @ ascensionarrows.org
Rylie is joining Ascension Academy for the 2023-2024 school year! Rylie is the 4K teacher assistant. Rylie grew up in Barron, WI and graduated there. After high school, she went on to attend Northwood Technical College as an online student. Rylie is still working towards Business Management associates, but will finish spring 2024 and then go for Early Childhood Education!
Three words to describe Rylie are unstoppable, patient, and independent. Rylie looks after
children for a family frequently while working at an elementary school's after-school program.
When Rylie has free time, she loves being outside (hammocking, running, on the lake, fishing), around family, or using her creativity to work on a project.
A Bible verse Rylie thinks of often, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
You can reach Rylie at ryliewilliams @ ascensionarrows.org
Ascension Academy, Inc. admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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