Dan Tanz: Special Education Teacher/Middle School WINGS
I am a licensed special education teacher, and have been teaching in Minneapolis Public Schools since 2004. I have licensure in the following three areas of special education: Developmental Cognitive Disability (DCD), Learning Disabilities (LD), and Emotional Behavioral Disabilities (EBD).
I received my Masters in Special Education from the University of St. Thomas in 2004. My philosophy in education is to respect all students, include them, challenge them at their academic and emotional level, and provide a safe, caring environment for learning, growth, and personal development. I believe that communication is key, as are clear expectations, positive reinforcement, and a meaningful learning experience. I
have a strong focus on literacy, and value creativity and collaboration. I also have a son who will be two this May, and enjoy playing guitar, filmmaking, and spending time by the lakes.
Leif Hallen: 3rd Grade
I received my undergraduate degree from Mankato State and my Master's degree from UW-River Falls. I am excited to be teaching at Lake Harriet. I have worked in the building as a short- and long-call substitute for the last several years. I have gotten to know many students and families over the years and feel very comfortable here. I enjoy spending my free time outdoors, especially fishing, hunting, and playing golf. I also spend time with my wife and four school-aged children.
Amy Hollembeak: 3rd Grade
Since I was very young I have always wanted to be a teacher. After graduating from Kellogg High School in Little Canada, I attended UW River Falls where I received a BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, I worked at a school in St. Paul for several years before coming to MPS. I have been working in MPS for 17 years. During that time I received a MA in Elementary Education from St. Catherine’s. I have devoted my life to instilling a love of learning to my students. I am passionate about working with families and children to ensure this happens for children. I believe that children learn concepts best from working with materials rather than by direct instruction alone. In my free time, my daughter Kaitlynn and I enjoy traveling, picking strawberries in my family’s strawberry patch and driving around in our ’67 Mustang convertible.
Ian Hunter: Middle School Math
This is my first year of teaching. I completed my student teaching at South High School in Minneapolis. I attended the University of Alaska—Anchorage and the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities for my undergraduate studies. I received my teaching degree also from the U. of MN. I live in St. Paul and have two children, ages 3 ½ and 2 months. I enjoy cross-country skiing, running, and camping.