Meet our team
Support Staff
The staff at Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA) are dedicated to providing students with high-quality learning experiences.
Kathy Schefft | Enrollment Manager
Ms. Schefft has been with Stride K12 since 2002. She has the distinction of being the first Stride K12 employee hired at WIVA and has served as office manager, open enrollment specialist, and enrollment manager during her time here. She brings more than 18 years of office experience with her, including working in accounting, data/order entry, customer service, engineering, human resources, purchasing, manufacturing, sales, and shipping and receiving.
Karisa Weske | School Psychologist
Karisa Weske has been a practicing school psychologist in Wisconsin schools since 2013. She got her undergraduate degree from UW-Madison and her Master of Science and Education Specialist degrees from UW-La Crosse. Ms. Weske has worked in both rural and suburban school districts in the south-central part of the state, where she conducted psychoeducational evaluations and focused on growing students’ social-emotional learning and behavioral skills. Since joining WIVA, Ms. Weske has loved serving the educational and mental health needs of students and families from all over the state of Wisconsin. Virtual schooling can be a fabulous means of learning about yourself and learning about the world, and she looks forward to growing the skills of students in this virtual environment!
Miriam Mueller-Owens | Elementary Teacher (K–12 ELL Coordinator)
Mrs. Mueller-Owens has been working with WIVA since the school started through McFarland School District. She previously taught elementary students in the classroom, served as an instructional coach, and is now the ELL coordinator for students in our schools. Mrs. Mueller-Owens brings more than 15 years of teaching experience to the team. She began teaching kindergarten in southern Louisiana, and after three years, she moved to Madison where she earned a master's degree in curriculum and instruction at University of Wisconsin – Madison. In Madison, she taught a variety of grade levels, from 1st through 5th. She is excited about another wonderful year with WIVA.
Mimi Finger | Special Programs Social Worker
Ms. Mimi is excited for another school year at WIVA! She graduated from Luther College in Iowa with a bachelor's degree in social work. She also received her master's degree in social work from UW Madison. She worked at an alternative high school in Chicago that helped immigrants from Mexico and Puerto Rico receive their high school diploma, as well as Chicago’s Child Protective Services. Ms. Mimi also works part time nights and weekends at Mansfield Hall which is a residence hall in downtown Madison that helps college students with disabilities. During her free time, she enjoys swimming, buying candles, and spending time with friends and family! She also loves corgis, and she hopes to have one of her own some day!
Cassie Wolfgram | K–12 Speech and Language Pathologist
Mrs. Wolfgram lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and three children. She obtained her master's degree from George Washington University in May of 2000 and has been a speech-language pathologist for about 20 years. She has worked with children in school and clinical settings. She has specialized in augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) and has provided online speech therapy services in Wisconsin and North Dakota schools for the past four years. Mrs. Wolfgram enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and going to comedy shows. She is excited to be a part of the WIVA team!
Amanda Maedke | Special Programs Lead Teacher
Hello! My name is Amanda Maedke. I am currently the Lead Special Education Teacher here for WIVA/DCAWI/ISWI. I was born and raised in southeastern Wisconsin and currently live there with my husband and two children. I have my Master of Education in Instructional Design and my bachelor’s in both General and Special Education with an emphasis on Intellectual Disabilities. When I’m not working, I enjoy camping, reading a book or listening to one of the many podcasts I follow. My kids will tell you I also enjoy dancing terribly and singing loudly to embarrass them. When I’m not doing that, we can be found playing games and eating snacks together.
Paul Fitts | School Psychologist
Hello, my name is Paul Fitts. I am a school psychologist entering my 11th year in the field and I'm so excited to be joining the Wisconsin Virtual Academy! I am the proud father of 2 wonderful girls ages 9 and 12 and my wife and I just celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary. In June, we moved to Waunakee Wisconsin from Okinawa, Japan where we spent the last three years. Japan was an amazing cultural experience for our family, but we have been very happy to return to our family and friends here in Wisconsin. Throughout my career, I have worked with children from pre-k to the 12th grade. I love working with kids because they are full of life, optimism and fun questions. My practice is grounded in a strong belief that every child wants to be successful at school. If a child is struggling academically or behaviorally it is my mission to figure out why and help the adults around them provide appropriate interventions and accommodations. It is my hope that through this teamwork with adults and students, the children we work with can experience the success they deserve. I am honored to serve the students, parents and staff of WIVA and can't wait to meet all of you!
Andrea Schmidt | 504 Coordinator
Mrs. Schmidt lives in Pulaski, WI with her husband and four kids. She has been the 504 coordinator at WIVA since 2019. Mrs. Schmidt earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a minor in German from St. Cloud State University. After she began subbing, she realized high school was a better fit for her and returned to school. She completed a graduate certificate in Family and Consumer Sciences and a Master’s in Education from UW Stevens Point. As a lifelong learner, Mrs. Schmidt continued with her post-secondary education and earned a Master’s in Educational Administration, as well as Director of Special Education and Pupil Services from UW Superior. In her free time, Mrs. Schmidt loves watching her kids at various sporting events, traveling and spending time outside (when it’s warm!).
Kerry Marren | MKV, Migrant & Foster Care Coordinator
Kerry has been working with at-risk middle school and high school students in Illinois, Washington, and Wisconsin for over 15 years. She received her degree in communication journalism from DePaul University in Chicago. She left the corporate world to pursue her passion for helping students achieve success both socially and academically through positive educational experiences. Kerry is excited to continue serving WIVA students and families as the MKV/Foster/Migrant Coordinator, where she will continue to pursue her goal of helping every student have the resources they need to succeed.
