Walbridge Teachers and Staff
Nancy Donahue, Director
Nancy became the Director of Administration and Education in June of 2009 and continues into her third year of teaching (on a part time basis). She teaches Art and Social Studies and is developing a Study Skills class curriculum. Nancy has a BA in Psychology (1986), MA in Education (2005) and is currently pursuing doctoral studies in the area of Curriculum and Instruction at the UW-Madison School of Education. She has over 15 years of experience in classroom teaching and educational program development as well as experience in business management and administration. Throughout the years, Nancy has conducted research and developed a special interest in educational programs for children who are not "mainstream" learners and specializes in project-based learning that also integrates the arts and technology with learning in other subject areas. nancy.donahue@walbridgeschool.com
SueAnne Boyum, Office Manager
SueAnne is a 2002 graduate of Loras College and has been at Walbridge School over two years. She sincerely enjoys how her position impacts her personal growth and professional career. SueAnne could not be more proud of working with such a dynamic staff that emanates compassion to every single child with a genuine care for the students’ unique learning differences. Walbridge is an authentic asset to the Madison community and she plans to keep it that way. sueanne.boyum@walbridgeschool.com
Sally Allen, Teacher
Sally first joined the Walbridge team in 1987 with a masters and teaching degree in Special Ed. She quickly recognized that Walbridge encourages an environment that respects individual learning differences and provides a team approach that promotes self-esteem and success in all of our students. Sally has taught reading/literature, writing, and math to students across grade levels and thrives on watching the students learn and grow. Walbridge continues to be an exciting place for students and teachers to experience success in the classroom. sally.allen@walbridgeschool.com
Karen Bakken, Teacher
Karen has been at Walbridge since 1998. She is trained in Orton-Gillingham and tutors at her home in her "spare" time. Karen loves teaching and strives to teach children in ways that they can best learn. She is a graduate of UW - Whitewater and lives with her husband in Mt. Horeb and has three grown daughters. karen.bakken@walbridgeschool.com
Colleen Lourigan, Teacher
Colleen has taught at Walbridge since 2004. She is trained in Orton Gillingham, Project Read, Making Math Real, and Sensory Processing Approaches to Learning and Self Regulation. She has a B.S. in Geology & Geophysics from UW-Madison and a M.A. in Education from Edgewood College. Colleen uses multi-sensory teaching methods in her instruction. Her goal as a professional educator is to help all students work to their potential by working with their strengths and challenging them to stretch beyond their areas of weakness. She hopes to impress upon her students that learning is a life long process. colleen.lourigan@walbridgeschool.com
Julie Mazer, Teacher
Julie Mazer has lived and worked in Madison as a music teacher for the past seven years. She graduated from UW-Oshkosh with a degree in Music Therapy. Her background includes work with early childhood, adults/children with developmental disabilities, and the elderly. Julie has been trained in the Orff Schulwerk philosophy of music education and has completed the Orff Levels courses. Through active participation in movement, poetry, singing/chanting, and instrument play, this child-centered model of education fosters a strong foundation of rhythm and melody to inspire children to be creators of their own music. Outside of Walbridge School, Julie is the children's music director at Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ and is a private piano teacher. julie.mazer@walbridgeschool.com
Irene Meinholz, Reading Tutor
Irene has been at Walbridge for four years as a reading tutor. She tutors students with the Project Read method in reading, spelling, writing, and comprehension. Irene adores seeing the wonderful change in kids after being at Walbridge for an amount of time and loves the way the staff works together to initiate programs for each individual child; doing so immediately for the sake of the child. irene.meinholz@walbridgeschool.com
Last updated October 28, 2009