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Michelle Wallick - Director
Mrs. Wallick obtained Graduate Certification in Talent Development and Gifted Education from the University of MN, a B.A. in English with a minor in Math/Computer Science from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, and earned her AMI Montessori Certification in 1999. She has taught preschool and elementary aged children for over 30 years. When her two oldest children began their schooling, it became apparent that they had differing needs from other children. Her children knew the curriculum before they entered school and were obviously gifted and unchallenged by their school. She sent her kids to private schools, a charter school, and a public school without success in finding a learning environment that was challenging and engaging to them. She eventually decided to teach them at home. At the same time, her youngest child, although only a toddler, was also clearly gifted and needed a different environment than a typical preschool. Michelle designed a unique preschool program, which includes the Montessori philosophy along with academic time suited to preschool aged children to address the needs of all children who attend. Cyprus was born in 2005 and opened its doors in a small church room with 5 preschool students.
From the experience and research done when her two oldest children were attending elementary school, Mrs. Wallick knew that were no suitable options for highly gifted students. With a handful of 4 year olds working at levels well beyond kindergarten in the Montessori preschool, Michelle designed a unique elementary program specifically for students who are advanced and gifted which could accommodate even the most profoundly gifted students while allowing them to learn with similar-age and similar-ability peers. Cyprus offers Classical education, with ability-based rather than age-based classes and a very in-depth, full-day, enriching curriculum. Cyprus Classical Academy now accommodates students ages 4 - 13.
While spending several years working with academically gifted children, it became apparent that often musical and artistic talent are present too. Michelle felt it was very important to address these talents with the same quality and excellence as Cyprus approaches academics. Although Cyprus has always been very rich in the arts, it now offers a full-scale school for music and the arts open after school hours. Private instrument lessons, art classes, drama, STEM and other classes are offered through Cyprus School of Music and the Arts.
Michelle and her husband, Mike, have three children ages 23, 21 and 13, and she is Founder and Director of all three Cyprus Schools and continues to teach on a regular basis.
From the experience and research done when her two oldest children were attending elementary school, Mrs. Wallick knew that were no suitable options for highly gifted students. With a handful of 4 year olds working at levels well beyond kindergarten in the Montessori preschool, Michelle designed a unique elementary program specifically for students who are advanced and gifted which could accommodate even the most profoundly gifted students while allowing them to learn with similar-age and similar-ability peers. Cyprus offers Classical education, with ability-based rather than age-based classes and a very in-depth, full-day, enriching curriculum. Cyprus Classical Academy now accommodates students ages 4 - 13.
While spending several years working with academically gifted children, it became apparent that often musical and artistic talent are present too. Michelle felt it was very important to address these talents with the same quality and excellence as Cyprus approaches academics. Although Cyprus has always been very rich in the arts, it now offers a full-scale school for music and the arts open after school hours. Private instrument lessons, art classes, drama, STEM and other classes are offered through Cyprus School of Music and the Arts.
Michelle and her husband, Mike, have three children ages 23, 21 and 13, and she is Founder and Director of all three Cyprus Schools and continues to teach on a regular basis.
Kristen Mathias-Tonda: Assistant Director and Lead Preschool Teacher
Kristen Mathias grew up in a small town in Southwest Minnesota. She attended college at Minnesota State University, Mankato. While in college she worked as a certified nurse’s assistant at an assisted living, as well as an assistant teacher in a preschool. Kristen graduated from MNSU in 2011 with a B.S. in Elementary Education with an emphasis on pre-primary age students. In 2012 she taught first and second grade in a small Catholic school in Madison Lake, MN. She then moved to the cities where she substitute taught for a year before coming to Cyprus in 2014.
Kristen has helped to develop and refine our program according to NAEYC standards. When Ms. Tonda isn’t teaching, she enjoys doing DIY decoration projects for her home in St. Paul. She also loves watching movies and spending time with her daughters, Natalie and Charlotte.
Kristen has helped to develop and refine our program according to NAEYC standards. When Ms. Tonda isn’t teaching, she enjoys doing DIY decoration projects for her home in St. Paul. She also loves watching movies and spending time with her daughters, Natalie and Charlotte.
Nicole Sawatzky: Assistant Preschool Teacher
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Nicole Sawatzky has always loved working with children. She began by babysitting and volunteering in her church's nursery. In high school, she began student teaching at her dance studio. She taught tap, jazz, and ballet to preschool and kindergarten age students. While attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth, she was an assistant at a local dance studio. She graduated in 2015 with a B.A. in History and German Studies after spending her final semester at the Universität-Passau in southern Bavaria. Nicole truly enjoys every minute that she spends at Cyprus and appreciates the opportunity to work with all of the Montessori students. In her free time she enjoys reading, doing DIY projects, and spending time with her family.
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Fanny Feng: Preschool & Toddler Teacher, Chinese
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Ms. Feng Graduated from Sichuan University in China where she studied pharmacy for 5 years. She moved to the US in 2013. While in college, she worked in a nearby elementary school as a volunteer teaching English and math. After coming to the United States, she taught in a Chinese immersion school for some time. Fanny believes that the best things for development are nurturing and teaching children.
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Tommy Andersen: Afternoon Child Care Teacher, Academy Teacher
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Mr. Tommy Andersen spends most of his days as an intern at Cyprus Classical Academy, where he works with early readers, teaches art classes, and supervises activity time. Mr. Andersen won the National Merit Scholarship and earned a perfect score in Math on the ACT while in high school. He is working toward the goal of becoming a math instructor, and loves working with children. He currently works with our preschoolers from 3:00 - 6:00 each day.
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Jacob Hofherr: Morning Montessori Child Care. Academy Super K Teacher
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Mr. Jacob Hofherr has worked with children in educational settings for many years. During that time he graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education specializing in kindergarten through third grade education and teaching English as a second language. He has worked in schools as a substitute teacher, paraprofessional, and has volunteered in many elementary as well as preschool classrooms. It is his pleasure to have the opportunity to work with Cyprus families to provide their children with the best learning experience possible. You will see Jacob in our Montessori greeting children and families early each morning before he begins his day in Super K.
Mr. Hofherr became Cyprus Classical Academy's Super K teacher in the 2015-2016 school year, helping to refine and define the program. He is a truly dedicated teacher who spends the time getting to know each and every one of his students and sets academic, emotional, and social goals for each, ensuring their progress every step of the way. He has become the face of Super K, and takes that responsibility extremely seriously, knowing that it is the foundation that he provides that will set his students up for success. |