Minnesota Learner-Centered Network

Gina Meinertz is the Assistant Superintendent and Transformation Leader at Spring Grove Schools. After getting to experience the magic and successes of experiential, place-based, and project-based learning as an educator, Gina decided it was her life goal to bring more of these concepts to her students and school systems. 

Gina works with schools and organizations to create student-centered systems to bring more enjoyment, equity, and engagement for all. Here is Gina's statement of purpose with my work:

I coach and lead because I believe children hold the capacities to bring peace to our world. I want to empower teachers and leaders to create experiences and environments in which the children ask, answer, challenge themselves, learn from failures, and celebrate their stages of learning.

​​Renee received her undergraduate degree in Genetics and Cellular Biology from the U of MN - Twin Cities.  After working in the biotechnology field, she went back to school to receive her Master's of Arts in Teaching, with a license in 9-12 Life Science, from Hamline University.  She has been a science teacher and Assistant Director of Education at HSRA for 12 years.

Renee currently is a lead teacher and instructional coach focusing on developing HSRA's hands-on inquiry based learning, blended learning re-engagement strategies in the classroom, art integration through Hip Hop Pedagogy into science and other core content fields, and student-centered competency assessment and portfolio process. Through these endeavors Renee has been able to offer students learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom into community collaborations, travel opportunities, extensive field trips and site visits and offering a look into the careers related to the content students are learning about. The students at HSRA have received multiple awards and recognition for the work they have done creating environmentally focused hip hop music. In 2018, Renee was a top 10 finalist for MN Teacher of the Year.

To keep her work/life balanced, Renee spends most of her extended time off from school keeping life in perspective by traveling with her husband and two kids, mainly by bicycle, around the world. She also enjoys winter camping, trail running and just about anything that gets her outdoors.

Tim Quealy began working at Avalon School in 2008.  Since 2014, Tim has served as Program Coordinator and high school teacher, sharing an advisory with Nora Whalen.  In June of 2018, Tim was  recognized by the WEM Foundation as an Outstanding Educator in Ethics Education, a recognition he recieved again in 2019.

Though licensed in Language Arts, Tim loves math, bad jokes, and soccer. Tim has a degree in English from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s in Teaching from Hamline University.