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Ridgeway Community School Board Members
2022-23 School Year



Ridgeway Community School’s seven-member board of directors is a teacher majority board comprised of four teachers, two parents, and a community member (see list below). The board is elected to two year terms by the school’s parents/guardians and staff at the annual meeting which is typically held on the first Thursday of May.  On May 6, 2021 two teachers. a parent, and community representative were all elected to the board. 

The RCS board meets once every month with committee meetings being held in between the regular board meetings to accomplish tasks and make recommendations to the board for final action.  The board regularly reviews student academic progress and receives updates presented by the lead teachers, school coordinator, and business manager.  The assessment results and educational program plans are the basis for the academic and non-academic strategic goals.  The board has five committees which meet regularly and include board, parent, and community members.  These boards are: board governance, finance, personnel, policy, and wellness. 


Rhonda Anderson
randerson@ridgewayschool.org

Photo of Rhonda AndersonBoard Member - Teacher Representative - Serving on the Personnel and Policy Committees

Mrs. Anderson has been a teacher at Ridgeway Community School for 16 years.  She was the school's first preschool teacher for two years before continuing on to teaching one of the school's fourth and fifth grade multi-age classes.  She teaches reading and language arts to her 4th and 5th grade class, math to all the school's 5th graders and social studies to all of the 4th and 5th grade students.   Rhonda has served as one of the school's co-lead teachers for 14 years and served on the Educational Leadership Team and oversees the school's Title programs.  She aslo serves on the board's Personnel and Policy Committees.  Rhonda and her husband have four adult children and two grandchildren and live in Pickwick, Minnesota.

Term dates: 6/1/20 to 5/31/22



Samantha Conway
sconway@ridgewayschool.org

Samantha Conway PhotoBoard Chair - Teacher Represetative - Board Governance Committee Member

Mrs. Conway has been the special education teacher at Ridgeway Community School and has served on the Educational Leadership Team for thirteen years.  She also oversees the school's intervention (RISE) program and  is serving in her third term on the Ridgeway Community School Board of Directors. Mrs. Conway serves as the chairperson of the Ridgeway Community School board and also serves on the Board Governance Committee. She and her husband have a preschool-aged daughter.  
Note:  Samantha Conway is not related to Jennifer Conway who also serves on the board.

Term dates: 6/1/19 to 5/31/21



Jennifer Krings
jkrings@ridgewayschool.org

Photo of Jennifer KringsBoard Treasurer - Teacher Representative - Serving on the Finance and Personnel Committees

Mrs. Krings is in her fourteenth year as a fourth and fifth grade teacher at Ridgeway Community School.  Her responsibilities include teaching 4th grade math and science to all of the 4th and 5th grade students as well as reading and language arts to her 4th and 5th grade class.  In addition to her teaching responsibilities Jennifer also serves as the school's Co-Lead Teacher and Assessment Coordinator.  She is also a member of the Educational Leadership Team and serves on the board's Personnel and Finance Committees.  Mrs. Krings and her husband have two sons, a 4th grader and kindergartener attending Ridgeway Community School. 

Term Dates: 6/1/19 to 5/31/21

 



Tessa Loken
tloken@ridgewayschool.org

Photo of Tessa LokenVice Chairperson - Parent Representative

Tessa in her second year on the RCS Board and is serving on the board's Personnel Committee.  She has a first and third grader attending Ridgeway Community School.  Tessa has valuable insights into wellness and community-based programs as she has been an Adult Mental Health Case Manager with Winona County Community Services and has been working in the Winona area for over eleven years.  Tessa lives in the Ridgeway area with her husband and two daughters.  

Term dates: 7/1/22 to 6/31/23



Brad Kanz
bkanz@ridgewayschool.org

Photo of Brad KanzBoard Member - Teacher Representative 
Mr. Kanz is serving his first term on the RCS board.  He is entering his eigth year as an RCS 2nd & 3rd teacher.  Mr. Kanz taught for one year at Dakota Area Community School and served on the school’s board of directors prior to coming to Ridgeway Community School.  Before completing his teaching degree from WSU, Mr. Kanz worked for several Winona area businesses.   Mr. Kanz has two boys attending RCS; one a 5th grader and the other is a 3rd grader.  He and his family live in La Crescent where he has been assisting his sons’ sports teams as a baseball and hockey coach and is hoping to serve on the La Crescent Youth Hockey board this year.
Term dates: 7/1/22 to 6/31/24 



David Nutter
dnutter@ridgewayschool.org

David Nutter
dnutter@ridgewayschool.org


Community Representative

Mr. Nutter is serving his first two-year term on the RCS Board. Dave is the parent of three RCS alumni.  His daughter, Alex, is a recent graduate from USF and is teaching 1st grade in Sioux Falls, SD.  His son Grant is studying pharmacy at Drake University, and his son Ryan is a freshman at La Crescent High School. Dave has volunteered at RCS running open gym sessions and was twice a chaperone on the 4/5 field trip to Eagle Bluff.  Dave also volunteers at the Humane Society and the Exchange in La Crosse.  Dave was the co-owner of a software development company (30 yrs), HAB, INC, in La Crosse.  Dave, his wife and family live south of Ridgeway in Houston township.
Term dates: 7/1/22 to 6/31/24



Breana (Bree) Larsen
blarsen@ridgewayschool.org

Bre Larsen photographBoard Member - Parent  Representative - 
Mrs. Larsen is serving her first term as a parent representative on the RCS board.  She is the assistant Athletic Director at Winona State University and is responsible for all aspects of athletic program compliance including student-athlete eligibility.  She  has received awards for her service to the university on  due to her work on several university committees.  While her primary work has been at the collegiate level she has held a K-12 teaching license.  Bree is a bonus mom of two boys who attended RCS and has a son in our first grade class. She also has a preschool-aged daughter.  Bree, her husband and family family live in Pleasant Valley.

Term dates: 7/1/22 to 6/31/24
  



Mailing Address
35564 County Road 12 Houston, MN 55943
Phone/FAX
Primary: (507) 454-9566
Secondary: (507) 896-4112
FAX: (507) 454-9567