Dolly Fritz (grades 1 and 2)

Mrs. Dolly Fritz, a veteran educator, has taken the position as the first and second grade teacher. We are all very excited to have her as part of our staff. Dolly brings expertise as a teacher of primary grade students and a passion for environmental education. Mrs. Fritz believes in engaging her students through experiential learning. She builds on the interests and needs of students to help them develop a love of learning.

Dolly received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Elementary Education and Special Education. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh to acquire certifications to teach students with Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities and English as a Second Language. Dolly also obtained a Master’s Degree in Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Reading, gardening, and camping are hobbies Dolly enjoys in her spare time. She lives in Appleton with her husband, Peter. They have four children, Ben (Heather), Alice, Sarah, and Spencer. A dog named Hoss and a cat named Butterscotch Mocha Latte complete the household.

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 Emily Schwanke (grades 3 and 4)

Emily Schwanke received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from St. Norbert College with minors in Language Arts and English as a Second Language. She believes creativity, a positive attitude, and a passion for life-long learning are contagious, and she is eager to pass these aspirations on to each of the students in her classroom! She is dedicated to integrating literacy and environmental stewardship across the curriculum and currently serves as Co-President of the Mid-East Reading Council.

In her free time, Emily enjoys anything active, including hiking, biking, running, and diving into a good book. She also loves to travel and is involved in the Good News Project, which delivers humanitarian aid to the underprivileged of the West Indies.

Something her third and fourth graders might want to know is that she finished the seventh Harry Potter book (784 pages) in one day, while she sat in her garden to enjoy the sunshine.

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Joann Engel (grades 5 and 6)

Joann came to the Fox River Academy after working at the Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve in Appleton for the past twelve years and spending the last six as their environmental educator.  Joann also works part-time during the summer at Hartman Creek State Park in Waupaca.  She believes in a hands-on approach to education, whether it is in or out of the classroom. 

Joann enjoys hiking, biking, camping, bird watching, geocaching and reading.  She lives in Waupaca with her son Brandon and their cat, Hershey.

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Sandra Vander Velden, Co-founder  (grades 7 and 8)

Mrs. Vander Velden has 22 years teaching experience with children in the Appleton Area School District. She is passionate about teaching and learning. Her experiences and research indicate that student understanding of concepts is enhanced by the integration of subjects into thematic units and the use of hands-on, real world experiences.

She received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education at University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Master's Degree in Reading Education. She is a licensed reading specialist and serves as President Elect of the Wisconsin State Reading Association.

Reading, biking, walking, gardening, and travel are interests that Sandy pursues in her free time. She lives near Medina on a farmette with her husband and three daughters.

Awards and Honors: Mielke Elementary Educator of the Year 2007-2008, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification 2003; Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Fellowship Award 2002; WSRA Pat Bricker Research Award 2004, 2001.

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Lori Leschisin comes to us after serving as one of the associate principals at Appleton East High School for the past six years. Lori was a PE/APE/Health teacher in the Appleton Area School District since 1994.  Previous to that she taught in Minnesota and Florida. Her administration degree comes from Marion University in Fond du Lac.  Lori and her husband Mike have three children, twin girls who are studying at the University of WI- LaCrosse and a son who is at the University of WI-Milwaukee.  Lori enjoys running, biking, swimming and organic gardening and cooking.

Honors and awards: Appleton Area School District Elementary Teacher of the Year 2002, Finisher of the Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon 2010

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Laurie Brewton - Spanish Teacher

A native of Appleton, Maestra Brewton taught Spanish for 12 years in Indiana before moving back to Wisconsin.  She is very enthusiastic about sharing her passion of the Spanish language and culture with students.  Maestra Brewton believes that learning a second language increases global understanding, improves awareness of one’s own language, and sharpens cognitive development in areas such as creativity, higher-order thinking, and problem solving. 

Maestra Brewton lives in Appleton with her husband, three children, and dog.  She loves spending time with her family and together they enjoy camping, fishing, biking, hiking and playing games.  She also enjoys reading, knitting, and exercising. 

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Cathy Seidl / Paraprofessional 

Cathy has returned for her second year at the Fox River Academy and her thirteenth year in the Appleton Area School District.  She feels being part of the Fox River Academy allows her to express her love for the outdoors and to work with a great group of staff and students.  Growing up she enjoyed family camping, ice fishing, skating and snowmobiling.  Cathy lives in Appleton with her husband and continues to do some of these activities with her husband, children and grandchildren.

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Debbie Schroeder / Paraprofessional 

Debbie comes to Fox River Academy after having been a career Facility Space Planner/Designer and then a stay at home mother for 12 years raising four wonderful children.  She has been actively involved as a volunteer/parent at the schools her children attend and has also served as Board President, Vice-President, and working parent for several years in the cooperative preschool her children attended.     

Her passion is being actively involved with her children’s education as well as being in the classroom on a daily basis to encourage and help other children learn and grow in their education.  Debbie believes in the Charter School environment where the school community works in unity to produce solid, well rounded students.  Her interests include traveling to visit family, as well as any sights along the way for a spontaneous “field trip” for her kids.  She loves swimming, photography, the outdoors, relaxing to her favorite music, and attending her children’s activities (hockey, piano, viola, karate, soccer, swimming, scouting, and gymnastics) which keep her plenty busy!

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