Staff Bios

Lori Stoltenburg - School Improvement Specialist
Lori holds a Masters degree in Education Administration. She taught Kindergarten and first grade. She also has experience as an elementary principal and was an AREA and SD READS Literacy coach. With 26 years of experience in the field of education, Lori now focuses mainly on providing schools in the region with school improvement opportunities, data retreats, 6+1 Writing, literacy strategies, and on-going educational experiences. Lori also is a DIBELS and CORE trainer for the region. To contact Lori, please email lstoltenburg@edec.org		 Mary Teply - School Improvement Specialist
Mary Teply joined the Educational Service Agency 2 with nine years of experience in education, leadership, staff development, and business management. Mary’s experience began in teaching. After six years in the classroom she served as an Executive Director of a non-profit organization that offered services to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse victims and their families. She thereafter became Director of Education at a science, performing and visual art museum.
Mary brings a unique combination of instructional, business management, colleague mentoring and professional development experience to ESA2. Mary holds a Masters of Art degree in Educational Administration; Principalship K-8 from the University of Nebraska . To contact Mary, please email mteply@edec.org
Dana Berg - School Improvement Specialist 
Dana works with a number of schools in the Southeast region to provide professional development and opportunities for school improvement. Dana holds a Masters degree in Education Administration. Before joining the ESA in 2009, Dana spent her years teaching in the Harrisburg School District. Drawing on several years of experience in the field of education, she now focuses mainly on providing schools in the region with development opportunities, data retreats, cognitive coaching, and ongoing educational experiences. Dana is a member of the South Dakota Educational Association (SDEA), Associated School Boards of South Dakota (ASBSD), and School Administrators of South Dakota (SASD). To contact Dana, please email dberg@edec.org

Melissa Goodwin, - School Improvement Specialist
Melissa has worked with ESA Region 2 as the Technology Integration Specialist since July 2007. Prior to this position, Melissa was at Infinite Campus headquarters in Minneapolis, MN, where she managed the software implementation for the BIA schools nationwide as well as acted as a technical training specialist for K-12 schools across the nation. She has also held positions in pharmaceutical R&D and technical sales.
Melissa holds a Bachelor's Degree from USD in chemistry and mathematics. She also holds a Master's Degree in Technology for Training and Development from USD. To contact Melissa, please email mgoodwin@edec.org
Kim Dougherty - School Improvement Specialist 
Kim works with a number of school districts in this region to
provide professional development and several opportunities for school improvement. Kim holds a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Black Hills State University. Kim has been an elementary teacher since 1979, working with DIBELS for reading and math, monitoring reading blocks, and modeling strategies and curriculum for teachers. She is a trained reading coach through the national BIE Reads model and Kim has worked with explicit instruction in reading through LETRS training, fast mapping vocabulary strategies, and more. She has also consulted in schools needing assistance with meeting AYP in Arizona and New Mexico. To contact Kim, please email kdougherty@edec.org

Vickie Venhuizen - School Improvement Specialist
Vickie holds a Masters degree in Educational Administration. She taught Kindergarten, fourth grade and K-6 computers. She also has experience as an elementary principal, Title I Director & Special Education Director. With 17 years of experience in the field of education, Vickie now focuses mainly on providing schools in the region with school improvement opportunities, data retreats, Achievement Series training, differentiated instruction, and on-going educational experiences. Vickie also serves as a trainer for Balanced Leadership and assists with the Master Teacher Academy. To contact Vickie, please email vvenhuizen@edec.org
Pat Hubert - School Improvement Specialist
Pat joined the Educational Service Agency 2 after 11 years at The University of South Dakota working in the areas of professional development, technology training and continuing education. Pat supports regional administrators and classroom educators in the areas of curriculum, instruction and assessment in a variety of professional development topic areas. Pat holds a Master's Degree in Technology for Training and Development from USD. To contact Pat, please email phubert@edec.org		 Natalie Musser – SD Counts Math Specialist
Natalie’s work includes designing and facilitating staff development and supporting teachers as they learn and grow as math instructors.  Natalie holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and is endorsed as a K-12 Reading Specialist and Teacher Educator and Math Specialist.   Prior to her work with ESA 2, Natalie taught 12 years in Southern California as a Kindergarten, first and second grade teacher, Curriculum Resource Teacher (CRT) & mentor teacher.  More recently Natalie served as a SD READS / AREA instructor and literacy coach for five years.  To contact Natalie, please email nmusser@edec.org

Cate Sommervold - Cognitive Coach & School Improvement Specialist
Cate’s primary role is to work as a coach with Title IID: Success through Assessment and Technology (STAT21) program participants. In addition, Cate works with ESA2 member schools to provide professional development and facilitate school improvement. Her academic background includes of a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, a Master’s of Arts in Biology, SD State teaching certification and a Educational Doctorate in Leadership, Policy and Administration (ABD) from the University of St. Thomas. She is a certified grant writer and Cognitive Coach. Before joining the ESA in 2007, Cate spent her years in teaching, strategic planning and program development. Cate now focuses primarily on helping teachers transform their classrooms into 21st century learning environments through coaching, action research and classes specifically tailored to educators. She works with her colleagues to provide schools in the region with development opportunities, data retreats, cognitive coaching, and ongoing educational experiences. Cate has presented at many regional and local conferences, district in‐services, and other professional educational, scientific and philanthropic gatherings. Cate is a member of the Association of Curriculum and Design (ASCD), Sigma Xi, Edutopia, and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). To contact Cate, please email csommervold@edec.org