Rebecca Andreasen (Science Teacher)

Some of you know me as Ms. Sanborn, my name has changed over the summer to Mrs. Andreasen! I live in Crystal with my husband, Brian. My hometown is Elk River, MN. My parents still reside in Elk River and I have one brother, he is married and lives in Virginia. Brian and I have 4 wonderful pets- 2 dogs named Dixie (shih tzu/poodle) and Hailey (bichon/ mini schnauzer)- and 2 cats, Alley and Felix.

I started my education at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI and graduated with my BS in Zoo Science from Friends University in Wichita, KS. I continued my education by attending Bethel University for graduate school to teach secondary science!

In my spare time I love to explore new towns and travel to places I have never been. Places I have explored far from home are Hawaii, Jamaica, Italy, Spain and of course the US and Canada! But I like to explore my backyard as well as little towns in Minnesota. I also love to read, watch movies and spend time with my friends and family.

This will be my third year teaching at LoveWorks Academy, I teach middle school science and I LOVE it!! I love being a teacher because I love to see dreams grow and shape to become reality. Each child is so unique and special and it is an honor to teach them science here. I think this school attracts such unique students because of its ability to see each child for who they are and adapt to meet their needs and require them to put forth maximum effort to be successful.

“The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” ~ Michelangelo

Marlene Jarrell (Math Teacher)

I am a native of Clinton, Louisiana with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Arts degree in Teaching. I am married with two teenage children. I love to sing, listen to music, and help people. I started teaching at Loveworks in the fall of 2007 as the music teacher in the morning and a substitute teacher in the afternoon. Since then I have taught fourth grade and am currently teaching middle school math. I love teaching because it gives me an opportunity to give back to my community and impact lives.

Favorite Quote:

“Hard does not mean impossible.”

Juliet Nordin (Language Arts Teacher)

I am originally from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I went to college at the University of Minnesota Duluth for four years where I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Teaching Communication and Arts (Grades 5-8). I grew up in a very close family of five, which seems to be growing every year! I love my job and everything it stands for. Working with children and young adults everyday is something I genuinely care about and love doing. Outside of work, I keep very busy. I enjoy sports, running, art, writing, music, and traveling. I have taught Fourth Grade for three years here at LoveWorks and am very excited to take on my first year of teaching Middle School Language Arts. Reading and Writing have always been a tremendous passion of mine. There is so much you can do with creative minds. I teach at LoveWorks because it is unlike any other school. The teachers here genuinely care and the children are so incredibly talented. We are a close group and I truly consider LoveWorks to be a second family to me. I look forward to my job every day, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

Jason Werthmann (Social Studies Teacher)

Hello

My name is Jason Werthmann and I am excited to join LoveWorks Academy as a full time teacher. Last year I was fortunate to spend time as a long-term substitute teacher at LoveWorks and I was honored when I was approached and asked to teach Middle School Social Studies for the 2010-2011 school year.

Life for me, started on the East Coast were we bounced around between New York and Pennsylvania before my parents moved to western Wisconsin to start a community that provides Special Needs individuals with a fulfilling and comfortable work and living environment. I went to middle school in the Twin Cities and High School in Wisconsin. After HS I traveled to New Zealand to live and work for a year before making stops in England, Scotland and finally San Francisco. By this time college felt long overdue and I randomly picked Hamline University in St. Paul, where I graduated as a History Major with a focus in Political Science and an Education Minor with Teaching Certificate. I traveled and worked for another year before arriving at LoveWorks.

My passion in life is to teach Social Studies as I believe it is the foundation for creating racial and social justice and a more empathic and passionate population. In addition to teaching, I enjoy soccer which I played in college and now coach. I enjoy traveling and new experiences of any type and I value my family and friends for all they have given and shown me in life. I like dancing, reading, sports and most importantly laughing. Favorite quotes, “The most important things in life are: style, style and water.” – Andrew Werthmann (my brother) and the less famous but equally influential quote by Gandhi “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.”