Instructors
Math I & II
Math III & IV
Karl has a B.A. in Chinese from the University of Minnesota and J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School. He lived in Taiwan from 1982 through 1985 and from 1998 through 2001, becoming aware of the great differences in K-12 education between the United States and other countries. In recent years he has been a board member of state homeschooling and gifted education organizations in Minnesota and is currently a director of the Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented. He is an experienced mathematics team coach and a member of the Mathematical Association of America, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the International Society for Intelligence Research. His current research topics include mathematics education, education of gifted students, and selective college admissions. He is the father of four children ages twenty-two through eleven.
Karl’s oldest son is now launched into adulthood, pursuing a career in software development. His children at home balance self-directed learning of mathematics, literature, science, and fine art with competitive travel soccer. Alumni of Karl’s ECAE mathematics classes have gone on to success in the UMTYMP mathematics program at the University of Minnesota, regional awards in Midwest Academic Talent Search testing, and qualification for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination.
Contact Karl via email
Jolene has a M.S. degree in electrical engineering as well as B.S. degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics from Iowa State University. She was named ISUs Outstanding Senior in Electrical Engineering in 1987. She worked as an electrical engineer for 15 years before becoming a full-time homeschool parent to her highly gifted son. Early in her career she also taught Power Systems Analysis and Technical Calculus at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.
She currently teaches middle-school Competitive Math Training through the Edina Center for Academic Excellence and serves on the board of the Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented. She also founded the Virtual Math Club (http://virtualmathclub.wordpress.com) for students who are interested in developing their mathematical problem solving skills using problems similar to those found on math contests such as the AMC 8, AMC 10, MATHCOUNTS, or the middle school math olympiads.
Contact Jolene via email
Board of Directors
Kelly Bertenshaw, M.A., CF-SLP, B.A., B.F.A, M.F.ASpeech Language Pathology is Kelly Bertenshaw’s second career. She received her undergraduate degree in Communicative Disorders from Utah State University and her master’s’ degree in Speech Language Hearing Sciences from the University of Minnesota, specializing in pediatric therapies. In her current position with Fridley Schools, she works with children in Early Childhood Services through High School.
Other clinical experience includes the Children’s Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development Center, and the University of Minnesota Julia M. Davis Clinic. Prior to becoming a Speech Language Pathologist, Kelly worked for 20 years as a professional actor working in theaters throughout the Twin Cities and as a spokesperson/narrator for radio and television. She received her bachelor’s degree in Musical Theater from the University of Arizona, and her Master’s in Acting for the Theater from the University of Minnesota.
Tony Rinkenberger