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Ridgeway Community School Board Members
2023-24 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 4, 2023 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 18 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 also serves on the board's Personnel and Policy Committees.  Rhonda and her husband have four adult children and two grandchildren.  She lives in Pickwick, Minnesota.

Term dates: 7/1/22 to 6/31/24



Sarah Bloom
sbloom@ridgewayschool.org

Photo of Sarah BloomBoard Chair - Parent Representative - Serving on the Board Governance Committee 

Mrs. Bloom is in her first term on the Ridgeway Community School Board. She has been a licensed insurance agent with Country Financial insurance for the past seven years.   She and her family live in the Ridgeway area and Sarah attended Ridgeway Elementary School prior to its conversion to Ridgeway Community School.   Sarah currently serves as the Pleasant Hill Township Clerk and is active in Ridgeway Evangelical Lutheran Church.  She recently stepped down from her position as the treasurer of the La Crescent  Applefest board where se served for many years.  Sarah's daughter Averie is currently a 2nd grader at Ridgeway Community School.  

Term dates: 7/1/23 to 6/30/25



Danielle Helms
dhelms@ridgewayschool.org

Danielle Helms photoBoard Member - Teacher Representative - Serving on the Finance and Policy Committees.   ​​​​​​

Mrs. Helms is serving in her first term on the RCS board.  She is in her 9th year as a kindergarten teacher at Ridgeway Community School.  Danielle serves on the finance and policy committees.  Prior to working at RCS Mrs. Helms completed her education degree at Winona State University and worked as a preschool teacher at a local preschool.  Danielle and her husband have two boys one of whom is a 1st grader at RCS.  She and her husband and family reside in Winona where they are licensed foster parents through Winona County Human Services.  

Term dates:  7/1/23 to 6/30/25
 



Jennifer Krings
jkrings@ridgewayschool.org

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

Mrs. Krings is in her sixteenth 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 3rd grader attending Ridgeway Community School and a 7th grader.

Term Dates: 7/1/23 to 6/31/25

 



Brad Kanz
bkanz@ridgewayschool.org

Photo of Brad KanzBoard Member - Teacher Representative - Serving on the Policy Committee

Mr. Kanz is serving in his first term on the Ridgeway Community School Board.  He is entering his ninth year as a 2nd and 3rd grade teacher at RCS.  Mr. Kanz also taught for one year at Dakota Area Community School and served on that school's board of directors prior to coming to Ridgeway.  Before completing his teaching degree at Winona State University Mr. Kanz worked for several area businesses.  He and his wife have two boys, a 4th grader attending RCS and a 6th graders.  Mr. Kanz and his family live in La Crescent, MN where he assists his son's hockey teams as a coach with La Crescent Youth Hockey.  


Term dates: 7/1/22 to 6/31/24 



David Nutter
dnutter@ridgewayschool.org

Dave Nutter PhotoCommunity Representative - Board Treasurer - Serving on the Finance Committee
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 the University of Sioux Falls and is teaching 1st grade in Souix Falls, SD.  His son Grant is studying pharmacy at Drake University, and his youngest son Ryan is a sophomore at the La Crescent High School.  Dave has volunteered at RCS for a number of years running open gym sessions and has twice chaperoned the 4th and 5th grade field trip to Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center.  Dave was the co-owner of a software development company, HAV Inc., for 30 years.  Dave, his wife and family live south of Ridgeway in nearby 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