Meet our team
Middle School Staff
Our middle school teachers enjoy teaching and are excited to make this a great year for your student!
Gina Brown | Middle School Teacher (English Language Arts [ELA])
Ms. Brown started at Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA) in the middle of the 2017–2018 school year. A recent college graduate, she jumped right into her role as ELA interventionist, helping support the English courses and holding small groups for reading remediation. Ms. Brown's technology and organizational skills and upbeat personality have been a great addition to the middle school team!
Michelle Coleman | Middle School Teacher (History)
Ms. Coleman earned her bachelor's degree in history and political science at Incarnate Word College and her master's degree in international relations (conflict resolution and human rights) from St. Mary's University, both in San Antonio, Texas, where she grew up (and now, she just misses the tacos). She moved to Wisconsin and earned a PhD in curriculum theory (in social studies education), at University of Wisconsin – Madison. She has taught middle and high school social studies for more than a decade! Her students are often entertained with stories of her ridiculous cat Ivan The Terrible, hobbies of baking and watching movies, and her love of all things Star Wars and the Marvel Universe. Ms. Coleman started at WIVA in 2016, but she taught online for two years before that and really enjoys the challenge of teaching in a virtual environment.
Kaitie Gasser | Middle School Teacher (History)
Mrs. Gasser earned her bachelor's degree in English and history education at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. For several years, she was a substitute teacher, librarian, and stay-at-home mom—all of which enhanced her ability to think quickly and be adaptable. She came to WIVA in 2016 to teach American and world history. Mrs. Gasser has enjoyed the opportunities and challenges offered by online education and especially enjoys helping students discover new ideas and interests. She has two children, a husband who is a dairy farmer, and she loves reading, yoga, and trying new recipes.
Abi Gonzo | Middle School Teacher (ELA)
Teacher bio coming soon!
Rachel Knuese | Middle School Teacher (Middle School Lead Teacher, ELA)
Ms. Knuese received her bachelor's degree in education and English from Mount Mary College. She taught 7th grade language arts for four years at Oconomowoc Middle School. Then, while a stay-at-home mom, she worked part-time as a parish administrator, which helped her hone many interpersonal, problem-solving, and technology skills. In 2010, Ms. Knuese transitioned into online tutoring in English and essay writing for students in 4th grade through college, and that experience piqued her interest in virtual education. She started at WIVA in 2012 and has embraced the unique challenges and benefits of working with middle schoolers in an online environment. In addition to teaching English 8, Ms. Knuese is the middle school lead teacher and recently completed a graduate certificate program in e-learning and teaching.
Sara Leonard | Middle School Teacher (Math)
Ms. Leonard received her bachelor's degree with a major in finance and a minor in math. After working as a trainer in many of her jobs in the finance world, she decided it was time pursue her passion for teaching. Ms. Leonard received her master's in education from George Williams College of Aurora University in Williams Bay. She had previously taught in a self-contained 5th grade class and was the business and economics teacher for a K–8 school in Milwaukee. Ms. Leonard joined WIVA in 2016. She's excited to begin the new school year and enjoys the uniqueness of teaching in the virtual world. Outside of school hours, she spends her time watching her son play basketball (and often fetching rebounds).
Karen Schwaab | Middle School Teacher (Math)
Mrs. Schwaab started teaching at WIVA in the 2018–2019 academic year. Her bachelor's degree is in pre-law from Michigan State University's James Madison College. After living in Madison, she and her husband lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for five years while he completed his residency, and she worked as a supervisor for Presbyterian Health, the largest employer in New Mexico. (A headhunter found her the position after she helped with an IS system conversion at Physicians Plus.). After relocating to Illinois, she accepted a position in Research and Planning with McHenry County College, where she worked in statistics. Then her daughters came along! Mrs. Schwaab left her position and finished her master's in sociology from Northern Illinois University where she taught SOC101 and worked in the quantitative research lab. As a stay-at-home mom, she volunteered in her daughters' dual-language classrooms, chaired committees, led their girl scout troops, and taught at church. After student teaching 5th grade and finishing her master's in education from North Park University in Chicago, Mrs. Schwaab and her family moved to Wisconsin in 2016. She has loved teaching in the Madison area as a substitute and long-term substitute K–8. After school, she enjoys spending time with her family. She also loves to bake, read, and garden.
Noel VandeBerg | Middle School Teacher (Science)
Mrs. VandeBerg earned a bachelor's degree in life science from the University of Colorado and an engineering degree from the Colorado School of Mines. She loves to know how things work but finds it even more rewarding to explain how things work to other people. She worked as a veterinary technician during her college years. After graduating, Mrs. VandeBerg worked for Lockheed Martin. A desire to get away from the big city took her to South Dakota, where she worked for a company selling air conditioning equipment. She came to Wisconsin with her husband and children and worked as an engineering manager for Carnes Company in Verona that makes the equipment she sold in South Dakota. After much thought, she decided that teaching was the best way to combine all her life experiences. She has two children, and she loves bike riding and walking her dog in the summer. She hibernates in the winter.
