The MGLVA Staff is an impressive team of professional educators. 100% hold valid teaching credentials. 100% meet the definition of “Highly Qualified” according to No Child Left Behind. We believe that a collaborative relationship between you and your assigned teachers is at the heart of a positive learning environment.
K-5 Administration and Support Staff
Mrs. Noemi "Amy" Lepley: K-5 Principal
Hi, I'm Amy Lepley, and I am the K8 Principal at MGLVA. I believe that each child who enters our school deserves to be treated with respect and should be met each day with positivity, warmth, and consistency. I owe this, not only to the child, but their parents, the school, and the community. In our ever changing world, I believe students need this positive, relationship based approach to fulfill their goals. We are going to have a great year, trust me:)
Our family made a decision to fulfill our dream and make Michigan our permanent home. My husband, Mike, grew up in Michigan and has had a cabin in the Croton area for 18 years. Being a native of Louisiana, nature has always been important to me, and the activities I love all involve the outdoors. Michigan reminds me of Louisiana, only without the alligators and monster mosquitos (except for this year)! We always knew that this would be our home, and our decision has proven to be the right one. I am often caught gazing at a Bald Eagle from my office window (my cabin window). |
Mrs. Stacy Little: K-8 Assistant Principal
I am very excited to start the 2016-2017 school year!!
My husband, daughter, and I live in Wolverine Lake, Michigan with our two dogs. We love to camp, go to the zoo, and take our dogs to the lake. In my spare time I love to garden, decorate cakes, and spend time with my family. I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Michigan State University (GO GREEN!) and my Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Saginaw Valley State University. I am looking forward to a great year! |
Ms. Jennifer Pippel (Canfield): Title 1 Coordinator
I am a K-8 certified teacher, and “Highly Qualified” in Elementary Education through grade eight in Language Arts and Mathematics. I received my Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Arts degree in School Principalship from Central Michigan University. I taught in a traditional school setting for eight years before switching to virtual education. I began teaching with the K12 in 2011 and with Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy (MGLVA) as a Kindergarten teacher in 2014. I enjoy the flexibility and the individual instruction that is possible through virtual education.
When I am not teaching, I am a sports-loving mom to Bobby and Ella Kate. Our family participates in baseball, hockey, football, gymnastics, competitive cheer and soccer. We love to kayak and camp. You will often find us at the beach or on some adventure. We life on the west side of Michigan in Norton Shores. |
Mrs. Theresa Moore: K5 Literacy Coach
Hello! My name is Theresa Moore and I am very excited to be the K5 Literacy Coach for the 2017-18 SY at MGLVA. I have taught at MGLVA since 2014 and have been teaching since 2008. I have taught 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade.
In 2007, I graduated from Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education, with my minors in Math and English. I also received my Master's Degree from SVSU as a Literacy Specialist in 2017. My husband Adam and I have been married since 2008 and have three daughters. Their names are Aubrey, Addison, and Avery. They are a lot of fun and love to keep us busy! Some things that I enjoy when I am not teaching are: spending time with my family, being outside, sports, crafting, going up north, and reading a good book. |
K-2 Teachers
Miss Jessica Fischer: KindergartenHi my name is Jessica Fischer and I am so excited to teach kindergarten again this year! I joined MGLVA in 2014 and I love virtual instruction. I enjoy the flexibility that virtual education has to offer. I am a foster mom to a 7 year old Vizsla named Copper who loves to attend class connects. I enjoy running, biking, swimming, and playing water polo. I spend most of my evenings outside if the weather is nice but in the winter I tend to stay inside and read a good book. My degree in teaching was earned at the University of Michigan-Flint and I am going back to school this year to finish my Master program. I am looking forward to getting to know you this year! This year will be full of learning and excitement for our kindergarten students.
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Mrs. Hayley Weaver: Kindergarten
I am so excited to be teaching Kindergarten at MGLVA this year! I am looking forward to a productive and successful year with your student!
I have many years of teaching experience in elementary grades (Kindergarten – 6th grade) both virtually and in a brick and mortar setting. I attended Brock University in Ontario, Canada earning a Bachelor of Arts in Child Studies. I earned my teaching certificate in England (Cumbria College in Lancaster) and a Master's degree from Grand Canyon University in reading and curriculum instruction. I love teaching kindergarten! My mission as a teacher is to help children discover the joy of learning, and to help each child develop a strong belief in his or her own ability. I love to see students have a sense of pride in doing their personal best. I can't wait to meet your family! I am married to my wonderful husband Paul and we have three children. Rhys ,Camden and Preston keep me very busy! We also have two cocker spaniels (Finn and Lucy). In my spare time, I love to read (especially historical fiction), cook, spend time at the beach, and play with my kids! |
Mrs. Aimee Schmidt: 1st Grade
Hello! My name is Aimee Schmidt and I am excited to get to know you! My husband Doug and I have two adorable children, Eli and Olivia. We have two very naughty cats, but I can’t help loving them. I love to take bike rides, play outside in the sand box, take walks down to the creek, and read a book with my little cuddly kiddos.
I am excited to work with you! I graduated from Grand Valley State University with my bachelor’s degree and from Capella University with my master’s degree in reading literacy. I started teaching in 2009 and joined the MGLVA team in 2014. I have always worked with first and second grade. I love seeing children learn to read, write, and discover awesome things about numbers and math. I am excited for another great year! |
Mrs. Rachael Fox: 1st Grade
Hello! My name is Mrs. Fox and I love being a part of MGLVA! I have experience teaching kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade!
My husband Josh and I have three wonderful children who keep us very busy! Their names are Joshua, Addison, and Audrey! We also have 2 dogs named Max and Piston! We love the Detroit Pistons, Tigers, and Lions! Our kids all play sports, sing, dance, and act so we are always on the go! We live in Holly, which is in southeast Michigan. We love hiking, biking, swimming, and just playing outside! I am so excited to be a part of your 1st grade school year! |
Mrs. Jill Graetz: 1st Grade
Hello, Fabulous First Graders! I am so excited to be a part of the First Grade team this year. I have been in education since 2002 and joined the MGLVA staff in 2015! I have taught Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grades! I have a heart and passion for the early foundational school years. First Graders are some of my favorite ages to work with, this is the year all the magic of learning takes place. I love watching my students grow into confident readers, writers and develop a love for numbers. My favorite thing about teaching at MGLVA is the connection I am able to have with the Learning Coaches and the powerful learning experience students have when adults work together in education.
My husband Steve and I have four fantastic children: Anderson, Oliver, Ellery and Isaiah. We live in beautiful Benzie County near Sleeping Bear Dunes and love spending time at beaches, going on hikes, kayaking, swimming and enjoying the outdoors. This is going to be a great year, I am so excited you have joined me in your child’s education experience. |
Mrs. Elissa Damsgaard: 2nd Grade
My name is Elissa Damsgaard, Lissa for short! I just joined the MGLVA faculty in 2017 but I have been a teacher for over ten years and a reading specialist tutor for 4 years. I graduated from Grand Valley State University with both my bachelor's and master's degrees.
My husband, Josh, and I have three kids: Lilia, Jonathan, and Ian. We love to go on family bike rides or walks and watch silly cartoons and eat popcorn. I am so excited to be a part of MGLVA! |
Mrs. Erin Frey: 2nd Grade
Hello! I began teaching in 2009. I joined MGLVA in February 2015 as a long term substitute, teaching first grade and Kindergarten/first grade split. K-2 is truly where my heart is! My favorite aspects of online teaching and learning are the flexibility and ease of tailoring each student’s education to that individual. I look forward to seeing the growth, both personal and academic, of your child over the course of the school year!
My husband and I have a daughter and 2 cats. I look forward to learning about you! |
Grades 3-5 Teachers
Ms. Amanda Horton: 3rd Grade
Hello! My name is Ms. Horton and I am blessed to be a part of the MGLVA family! I have been with MGLVA since 2014 and am very excited to see what the year has in store for us!
I grew up in Muskegon, MI and graduated from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. I lived in South Korea for 3 years and loved it! I tried sushi for the first time when I was in Japan and I also got lost in China for a bit...but made it home safely. I’ve taught elementary education in Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. I've traveled to a lot of other places and can’t wait to get a chance to travel a little more! I have a daughter named Molly and a son named Gunnar. We have two fur babies...Gizmo and Gidget! Both are white Persians that I actually adopted in Korea. We love going to the beach and doing anything outdoors. This is going to be a great year! |
Mrs. Jennifer McCleary: 3rd Grade
I am so excited to be teaching 3rd grade here at MGLVA. I began teaching at MGLVA in 2015.
I grew up in Michigan. I have lived near or on a lake my whole life. I am currently living in White Lake, Michigan on Pontiac Lake. I love being outside and enjoying nature with my family. My husband (Scott), daughter (Adelena) and Great Dane Dog (Foxy) love to have adventures on the lake. Before I started teaching at MGLVA, I was a learning coach here. I loved the school so much I became a teacher. I currently have a younger brother and sister who attend MGLVA. I can not wait to meet many of you during our field trips. There are so many exciting adventures third grade will bring. |
Mrs. Raena Kalfayan: 4th Grade
My name is Raena Kalfayan and I am excited to have you in my class this year. I have been with MGLVA since 2015 and love the convenience and flexibility of the virtual school. I received my Bachelors in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan – Flint (GO BLUE!) and am currently pursuing my Masters in Mathematics Education. My favorite part of teaching is seeing students complete something they didn’t think they could, watching confidence build along the way.
When I am not in the classroom, I enjoy being outside (in the summer) with my family, swimming, walking and playing sports. I hibernate in the winter with a good book. I live in Davison with my husband (Mark), two daughters (Taylor & Kendra) and 3 dogs (Sadie, Angel & Maizey). Mrs. Theresa Dilts: 4th Grade
Welcome to MGLVA! I am so excited to be your teacher this year!
My husband, Mike, and I have a daughter, Kayla! My favorite things to do: I love to swim, dance, read, and spend time with my family. My favorite color is purple. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree from Spring Arbor University in Elementary Education with a minor in Reading and Social Studies. |
Mrs. Mary Tsaloff: 5th Grade
Welcome to Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy (MGLVA)! I am so excited to meet and work with you this school year. My name is Mrs. Tsaloff (pronounced saul-off), or Mrs. T.
I graduated from Central Michigan University with a B.S. in Elementary Education with a focus in reading. I have also taken graduate classes through Central Michigan University and Grand Valley State University. My previous experience includes teaching developmental kindergarten, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, special education, and 11 years of tutoring at-risk elementary students in language arts and math. In addition, I have worked at Northwestern University for the Schools of Speech and Music and the Office of Foundation Relations; for the Wisconsin Historical Society in development and public relations; and as a librarian for the Bay View Library. I have two daughters, Grace and Anne. My husband, Adam, is a physical therapist in Charlevoix. I enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends. As you know, 5th grade is an important time for you to build upon and strengthen the skills you have learned throughout elementary school. These skills will also help prepare you for your upcoming middle school experience. I look forward to learning more about you and having the best year ever! |
Mrs. Marcie Seavolt: 5th Grade
Hello! My name is Marcie Seavolt. I have been with MGLVA since our school opened in 2013!!! I taught 6th, 7th and 8th grade, and will be teaching 5th grade this up coming school year at MGLVA. Prior to switching to the virtual setting, I taught 6th grade at a Charter School in the Big Rapids area.
Each school year that passes reiterates my love of children. I am excited, anxious, and nervous to work with you (the student) and your family!! We will have a lot of fun, and I know you will be successful through your hard work. The virtual setting is an amazing learning environment for you to be able to spread your wings and soar to great heights!! I live in Leslie, which is located in between Lansing and Jackson. My husband and I have 4 children, Tyler, Presley, Mitchell and Trever.....we have a busy, yet fun household. We also have 2 fur babies, our Norwegian Elkhounds, Miss Athena and Miss Freyja. I look forward to meeting all of you and welcome to our team! |
Mrs. Denise (DeeDee) Englehart: 5th Grade
Hello! I began teaching at MGLVA in February of 2015. Prior to coming to MGLVA, I had taught grades 4 – 8. I’ve accomplished quite a few courses toward my master’s degree, with a concentration in early childhood special education. I currently hold a Michigan professional level teaching certificate.
My life is rich with wonderful relationships and good humor. My husband and I reside in Bay City. I am married to my childhood friend, Jeff (we met when we were seven years old), and have four children: Skyelar, Taylor, Destiny, and Landon. I also have a wonderful son-in-law named Thomas and a dog named Benson. As a family we are involved in numerous community events, and we support our local church helping out however we can. I enjoy reading, cooking, and specialty stitching. |
Special Education
Ms. Ashley Krenzke: K-5 Special Education Teacher
Hello! My name is Ashley Krenzke and I am a K-5 Special Education Teacher. I grew up in Sanford (an extremely small town in Michigan) and graduated from Central Michigan University. When I’m not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my kitties, traveling, cooking healthy meals, and spending time with my family. I am so excited and thankful to be teaching at K12 this year! I love meeting new people and helping anyone I can, so please don’t hesitate to contact me for any reason.
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Ms. Carol Groters: Grades 4-5 Special Education
Hello. My name is Carol Groters. I am a graduate of Grand Valley State University. I am an elementary resource room teacher at Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy (MGLVA). I sincerely care about kids. I look forward to working with you and your children in a partnership to help them reach their learning goals and have fun doing it.
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Mrs. Rachel Halewisz: K-2 Special Education
My name is Rachel Halewicz. I am a Special Education Teacher here at MGLVA. My passion is teaching and I love the feeling of helping student’s succeed! I live in the center of Michigan in a small town called Beal City, which is right outside of Mt. Pleasant. I enjoy going to our family cottage (just a short drive away), hiking in parks, and spending time with family. I look forward to meeting you and working to build a great relationship so we can help your student have a successful year at MGLVA!
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Mrs. Michele Brelinski: K-8 Self-Contained Class
Hi, I am Michele Brelinski and I teach the K-8 Self-Contained class. I joined MGLVA in 2014 and love working with the wonderful students in this program. I am married and we have one adorable daughter, Ayla, and one adorable dog, Buddie. When I am not busy with school work, I enjoy spending time with my family.
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Mrs. Carrie Meyers
Hello, my name is Carrie Meyers. I will be teaching Special Education this year (K-8). Previously, I have taught for 13 years and this has included special education and preschool. I am looking forward to meeting everyone and teaching virtually.
I live in Weidman, Michigan which is about 20 minutes NW of Mt. Pleasant. If you are a Central Michigan University fan, you know right where I am at! I live with my husband Joe and my two amazing kids, Grace and Zachary. I’m a full time mom and my kids enjoy lots of extra-curricular activities, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Our family loves to camp, fish and hunt and we have two dogs, Katie and Lucy. Along with the dogs, my kids have two lazy cats, Rookie and Midnight. The most enjoyment we have as a family is visiting our cabin up north and relaxing. I’m looking forward to a great year and making a difference! |
Ms. Margaret PerryHi! I live in beautiful Port Austin at the tip of Michigan’s thumb. It is the only place in Michigan where you can stand in one spot and see the sun rise and set. I enjoy working with children and have served them in many different capacities, as a classroom teacher, and as a special education teacher. I especially enjoy working with the primary grades. I have a son who is 25 and lives in Bay City, Michigan, and I live next door to my mother who is 81 years old. When I’m not working with kids, I enjoy my time reading, gardening, and spending time with friends and family.
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Miss Meghan SeibertHello! I am CMU grad (Go Chips!) and am so excited to be working with your child at MGLVA. I live in Bay City with my labradoodle, Nora. I love traveling and even did my student teaching in Australia. When I’m not traveling or teaching, I enjoy spending time outside hiking, camping, or hanging out with family and friends.
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Academic Support
Mrs. Ashleigh Campbell: K-8 Math Intervention
Hello, my name is Mrs. Campbell, and I am excited to be a part of the MGLVA family! I have taught children from preschool through high school and even spent some time teaching in the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East. I graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Elementary Education, and I am currently finishing (online!) my Master of Arts in School Principalship. Teaching is a great passion of mine, and I am excited to share that enthusiasm with the students in our virtual classroom!
I live in Howard City, MI with my husband, Jeffrey, and four amazing children. Seth is 8, Jacob is 6, Navia is almost 2, and Malcom is 1 month! Summer is our favorite time of year as we enjoy being outdoors as much as possible and spending time on our pontoon boat that we have been restoring as a family. When we are forced to hibernate, we enjoy watching family movies, reading together and playing games! I look forward to getting to know you and I know we are going to have an amazing school year! |
Mrs. Ann Johnson: K/1 Title Math Specialist
I am so happy to be a Title 1 Mathematics Specialist for kindergarten and first grade at Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy. My qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with minors in mathematics, social science, and early childhood education.
I live in Metamora with my husband, Jim. We have been blessed with one son, Austin, and one daughter, Allison. We also have a miniature dachshund named Lucky. My focus is to help my students achieve a high level of success in mathematics and meet grade level expectations. Students work in small groups with me. This specialized attention helps students gain confidence in their skills and allows them to see multiple strategies that can be useful in mathematics. |
Mrs. Andrea Ginac: 2nd Grade Title ELA
I am very excited to be teaching Title 1 for 2nd grade here at MGLVA. I started teaching with MGLVA in the winter of 2017. Before coming here, I taught for 1 year as a Kindergarten teacher in Essexville, 1 year in a 2/3 split class in Bay City, and 4 years as a Title teacher K-8.
In 2004, I graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education, with minors in English and Social Studies. My husband Ben and I were married in 1999 and we have two wonderful children named Damion and Victoria. I love to camp in a tent, kayaking, hiking, reading and spending time with family and friends. |
Mrs. Joy Vander Heuvel: 3rd Grade Title ELA
I am thrilled to be a virtual teacher! I have taught 4th grade, 5th grade and worked as a 5th grade math specialist at MGLVA.
I am a graduate of Michigan State University with my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. I am currently working on my Master’s Degree in Reading through MSU as well. Go Green! Go White! One thing I love about teaching online with MGLVA is the time I get to spend with each student. Over the years, I have gotten to connect with many learners in ways I never could have imagined. I love when students understand that their efforts allow them to learn and grow in new ways in our virtual environment. When I am not teaching I am spending time with my husband and kids, shopping with friends, or reading. I love the outdoors and exploring new places as well! |
Mrs. Michelle Heuft: 4th Grade Reading Intervention
Hi! My name is Michelle Heuft and I am excited to teach 4th grade reading intervention this year! This will be my 2nd year with MGLVA, my 4th year teaching virtually and my 9th year teaching. I went to Eastern Michigan University and have a Master's in Reading with a Reading Specialist Endorsement. I live near Ann Arbor, MI (GO BLUE!) with my 6 pets, 2 children and wonderful husband! In my free time I like to read and travel with my family. I love that Michigan has so many lakes! I look forward to an amazing year!
Jennifer Fauskee: 4th Grade Math Specialist
Hello! I am excited and blessed to be a part of Team MGLVA. I am the Fourth grade Math specialist, and am excited to see our students understanding of and love for math grow and explode! :) I struggled substantially with math as a kid, so I get the frustration that comes with that and feel it has made me an even better math teacher. My education degree was obtained at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI - because I fell in love with the area early on, I have made it my home.
In my time outside of teaching and other work-related sundries, I rely on family time with my husband Chad, son James, and our fur-babies, Jazz (cat) & Lindy (dog) to keep me balanced, sane, and happy. I also enjoy writing when the bug bites, ballroom and swing dance, spending time at Higgins Lake in central, northern MI, traveling, and taking pictures (someday I hope to be a budding photographer) - mostly of my son. :) I look forward to working with you! |