Family Academic Support Team

Justine Johnson, FAST Engage Lead and FEC

Justine Johnson is the FAST Engage lead/FEC. She came to WIVA at the beginning of the 2007 school year, bringing with her previous experience and expertise in leadership, not-for-profit business administration, customer support, sales and marketing, and executive administrative support. Her first endeavor was to assist in opening the high school, which launched in the 2007–2008 school year. In the years she has served at WIVA, she's been in the capacities of admin support, community development manager, state testing logistics, student/learning coach support, high school advisor and, now, ENGAGE lead and family engagement coordinator. In her role, she is excited to bring her knowledge of curriculum and systems and her focus on creating a community for Learning Coaches and their students at WIVA and DCA. She is committed to the students at our school, and is dedicated to supporting Learning Coaches as they encourage learning and create accountability for their children.

Michelle Polyakov, FAST Re-Engage Lead and FEA

Michelle Polyakov is the FAST Re-engagement Lead/FEA at WIVA and DCA. She received her bachelor’s degrees from Drake University with a degree in Secondary Education and English. She moved, after graduation, to Delavan, WI from the North suburbs of Chicago to be closer to her family. She’s worked in alternative education and charter schools since her sophomore year of college and loves the flexibility and connectivity to families in alternative education. She is thrilled to be a part of the WIVA/DCA FASTeam, and to be able to support students in their educational success! In her free time, she loves diving into a good book, experimenting in the kitchen, and messing around with her puppy!

Jodell Gagnow, Family Compliancy Liaison (FCL), FAST

Jodell Gagnow, Certified Advanced Practice Social Worker (CAPSW) graduated from George Williams College with her Masters of Social Work (MSW), graduated from Marian University with a BSW and Fox Valley Technical College for dental assisting. She has served on the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Wisconsin Board of Directors and has previously worked eight years as a dental technician. Jodell enjoys spending time with family and loves spending time outside. She has a passion for helping students learn about their strengths and building new life skills.

Kerry Marren, Family Resource Coordinator (FRC), FAST

Kerry Marren has been working with at-risk middle school and high school students in Illinois, Washington State and Wisconsin for over 8 years. Kerry received her degree in Communication Journalism from DePere 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 join the Wisconsin Virtual Academy team as the Family Resource Coordinator where she will continue to pursue her goal to help every student have the resources they need to succeed.

Advisors & Family Academic Support Liaisons (FASL)

Laura Dollar, K–8 Strong Start Onboarding Specialist

bachelor's degrees in family resources and consumer science and education with a pre-K through 12th grade teaching certification. She has more than 20 years of experience in home-based education and five years teaching experience in a public brick-and-mortar high school. Laura is passionate about education and is enthusiastic about assisting families who choose WIVA to educate their students.

Danelle Kraszewski, Grades K–5 Family Academic Support Liaison (FASL)

Danelle Kraszewski enjoys working with students and families at WIVA. She shares that she is inspired by WIVA families, staff, teachers and students who courageously follow their vision and seek out new ways to participate in educational excellent. She graduated with a BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and continued her studies as a graduate student at the University of South Florida.

Rebekah Kellogg - Grades 6-8 Family Academic Support Liaison (FASL)

Rebekah Kellogg is a former WIVA student herself. She is now married and she and her husband have been hosting exchange students for several years! They have hosted exchange students from Norway, France, Germany and Thailand. They have two dogs and a cat. In her free time, she enjoys escape rooms, board games and spending time with family. Rebekah is excited to join the Family Academic Support Team at Wisconsin Virtual Academy and looks forward to supporting the students here.

Michelle Patterson, High School Strong Start Onboarding Specialist

Michelle Patterson served many roles in the virtual education field before joining WIVA, including special education secretary, student services, attendance, and student advising. When she started in virtual education in 2009, she knew that this is where she wanted to use her skills and passion to serve students and their families. Michelle is an advocate for student success and is excited to assist students and their learning coach in getting a strong start. She looks forward to serving the students and their families at WIVA, Insight and Destinations Career Academy and is excited to be a part of your team.

Kristin Brazier, High School Family Academic Support Liaison (FASL)

Kristin Brazier earned her BA in Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Marian University. She has taught for 18 years in both private and public school settings and is excited to begin this new opportunity with WIVA and the virtual school environment. Kristin enjoys working with students of all ages, building positive relationships with them, and helping them to be successful with their schooling. In her free time, she enjoys being with her family—husband and two children. In the warm weather their family loves to be outdoors—camping, playing sports, gardening and playing with their foxhound, Tipsy!

Ashley Becker, High School Family Academic Support Liaison (FASL)

Ashley Becker graduated high school online and is a current student at UWM (blended courses), so is very familiar with the challenges of online learning. She is married with a young child and lives in Ozaukee County area. Ashley is a coffee fanatic, so on the weekends you may find her in a local coffee shop enjoying her coffee! Ashley also enjoys adventuring and trying new things, whether that be locally or taking a trip somewhere, she’s always up to something. She looks forward to the opportunity to help others be successful online learners.

Bill Brazier, High School 11th Grade Advisor

Bill Brazier is a graduate of Marian University where he received both his teaching certification and BS in Business Administration. He is also working toward completion of his Masters in General Education at Marian University. At WIVA, Bill has also taught math to students in grades 6-8. Before WIVA, Bill taught 3rd—4th grade split class and summer school math classes for grades 2–7. He has taken many on-line courses and is looking forward to supporting students in their virtual schooling. Bill has a passion for helping students succeed and is excited to continue this new chapter of his career.

Toni Flood, High School Advisor

Toni Flood comes from a teaching family with a sister and brother who are or were teachers. She was a home-schooling parent and "learning coach" having educated her three sons for all of their schooling and three nephews through high school (she taught World History so many times she was able to CLEP out of Western Civilization when she returned to college). Toni and her family were a part of the very first Wisconsin virtual charter school, Connections Academy, and were a part of the very first year of WIVA. When she was finished with the responsibilities of their education, Toni returned to being a student herself and finished her undergrad degree at the college her grandmother had graduated from 75 years earlier - and, yes, her grandmother was there for her graduation ceremony!

Colleen Podbielski, High School Advisor

Colleen received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Marquette University. Her work in education began when their two children went to a parochial school and she started as an aide in preschool and then moved on to being the school librarian/building substitute. When it was time for a change in their education, they found Wisconsin Virtual Academy. Both Colleen’s son and daughter started at WIVA in elementary school, graduated from WIVA and are attending college at Concordia University.

In her spare time, you can find Colleen watching their two children compete in taekwondo events, hiking, gardening, or reading.

Colleen has seen firsthand the difference a virtual education can make for children, and is excited to join the WIVA and DCA team!

Mary Price, High School 10th Grade Advisor

Before coming to WIVA and DCA, Mary Price worked in a pharmaceutical manufacturing company as a Purchasing and Inventory Control Manager. She has extensive background working with youth as an AWANA Commander, and also teaching lessons to youth at her church. She enjoys forming relationships and has a passion to serve others. Mary is a strong advocate for education and is excited to begin her new journey with students of WIVA and Destinations Career Academy. She is looking forward to serving others as a part of this team.