Kindergarten

Danita Jones

Hi, my name is Danita Jones. This is my sixth year working at Excell Academy. I have worked as a Special Education EA and as a Kindergarten teacher. I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I received my B.A. degree in Elementary Education from North Central University. Prior to coming to Excell I taught preschool for almost two years. For fun, I enjoy trying new foods, shopping, reading, Zumba, and spending time with family and friends. I am very excited to be working with the smart, and talented students at Excell Academy this year. (2013)

Sarah Kempf

Ms. Kempf was born in the Twin Cities and has lived in the Twin Cities her entire life. She received her BA in Geography from the University of St. Thomas and her teaching license and MA in Elementary Education from the University of St. Thomas. As an undergraduate at the University of St. Thomas, Ms. Kempf worked in the St. Thomas Child Development Center. After graduating from the University of St. Thomas with her BA she worked at St. Paul’s Childhood Center in St. Paul as a preschool teacher for a few years before accepting a job with Saint Paul Public Schools. Ms. Kempf worked for Saint Paul Public Schools for 8 years as a Teaching Assistant while she completed her teacher licensure/MA program in Elementary Education.

Ms. Kempf lives in Saint Paul with her roommate, 3 dogs, and 1 cat. When she is not teaching, she enjoys walking the dogs and playing with the cat, riding her bike, gardening, cooking, traveling, and playing her violin.

Kayla Gross

First Grade

Bridget Weber

Hi! My name is Ms. Bridget Weber.

I attended Bethel University in Saint Paul, Minnesota and graduated in 2005, with a major in elementary education and a minor in language arts. Right after graduation, I worked as a preschool teacher for three years. Then, I moved to Thailand for two years. I taught first grade my first year and seventh through ninth grade English my second year. Right now, I’m back at Bethel University working on getting my master’s degree in literacy.

This will be my fifth year at Excell! I am currently teaching first grade. The previous years I have taught fourth grade and a split classroom of first and second graders. I absolutely love teaching and could not imagine myself doing anything else! I cannot wait to start another exciting and successful year!

Kula Giddings

Hi, my name is Kula Giddings. I was born in Liberia and came to the United States at the age of 4. I’ve lived in New York, Rhode Island, and Minnesota. I received my Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from St. Cloud State University in 2011. After graduating, I worked as a learning instructor, at a center for learning, to adults with learning and developmental disabilities.

I currently teach 1st grade at Excell Academy. Teaching is Fabulous! I look forward to meeting my new students and their family this upcoming year!

Katy Yelle

Mrs. Katy Yelle grew up in Annapolis, MD and is a graduate of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. After graduating college she spent 2 years serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA in North Charleston, SC at Chicora Elementary School. She loved the school so much she decided to work there full time coordinating special programs and community involvement at the school. She spent her last two years in Charleston establishing a district-wide AmeriCorps literacy program while earning her Master’s in Public Administration. Since she was a little girl Mrs. Yelle always dreamed of being a teacher, these experiences convinced her it was time to start….

Teaching is a dream come true, and she is SO excited to begin her 2nd year at Excell!

Mrs. Yelle lives in St. Paul with her husband and her cat Elsie. She loves playing games, doing puzzles and reading in her free time. She’s currently pursuing her Master’s in Education from Hamline University.

Second Grade

Sarah Sen

Jennifer Schemenauer

Third Grade

Riki Baker

Amanda Walters

Fourth Grade

Rachael Gerhardt

Ms. Gerhardt received her BA from Oberlin College in 2013, and completed her MAT in Literacy at Hamline University in 2015. She has been teaching at Excell Academy since 2013, and has worked as both a second and fourth grade teacher. Her goal in teaching is to give the amazing students of Excell the tools and problem solving skills that they need to succeed both in and out of school.

Ms. Gerhardt grew up in the Twin Cities, and currently resides in North Minneapolis with her spouse and baby boy, Harper. Outside of school she enjoys cooking, camping, and biking with her family.

Amber Merrigan

Welcome to Fourth Grade!

My name is Amber Merrigan and I am thrilled to be back for another exciting year at Excell Academy. I am originally from Minnesota, but have lived and taught in many other states including Iowa, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and Hawai’i. I went to college at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa where I received my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Music. This will be my 8th year of teaching, and I am grateful to have a job where I get to learn something new each day.

Fifth Grade

Julie James

Hello! My name is Mrs. Julie James. I am currently teaching 4th grade. I have also taught Title I, ELL, 2nd Grade, and 5th grade. I have been with Excell Academy for 5 1/2 years and teaching for 8 years. I love the community and families that I have the privilege to serve at Excell Academy.

I am originally from North Dakota. I received my B.S. in Education and my M.S. in Elementary Education from the University of North Dakota. In my spare time, I like to enjoy family time. I have a husband, Justin and two children, Eiley(5) and Connor(3). We watch and play a lot of sports and enjoy the outdoors together.

Elyse Lewis

Sixth Grade

Angela Hillestad

Hi, I am Angela Hillestad and I have been teaching 6th grade at Excell Academy since 2011. I love working at Excell because we have an amazing school culture where teachers and students all strive to do their best.

I grew up in North Minneapolis and attended Patrick Henry High School. I have a master’s degree in Education from the University of Minnesota. My husband, Scott and I have two children, Sydney and Flynn. We enjoy hanging out with our kids, playing outside and watching movies.

Seventh Grade (Middle School Math)

Kip Sneen

Kipton Sneen was born in the Twin Cities and has lived his entire life in Minnesota. He has a BS in Elementary Education with a Specialty in Mathematics and a BA in Painting and Drawing from Bemidji State University. His interests include exercise, movies and martial arts. His values include hard work, strength, persistence and a mentality of improvement.

Eighth Grade (Middle School Language Arts)

Beth Mueller

Hi, I am Beth Mueller and I teach 7th and 8th grade Language Arts. I grew up in Brooklyn Park and graduated from Park Center. I earned my bachelors degree in Communication Arts and Literature (grades 5-12) from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2005. I taught in the Anoka-Hennepin District for four years at Crossroads Alternative High School-West Campus in Champlin before coming to Excell Academy in 2010. I earned my K-12 Reading Specialist Endorsement in August of 2011. I also completed my Curriculum and Instruction Master’s Degree from Concordia University, St. Paul in May of 2012. I am married to Chad and have two sons, Owen and Dominic.

Excell Academy

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Classroom Teachers