Faculty and Staff
All teachers employed at the Minnesota North Star Academy have a Masters in their content area and have approved licensure from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).North Star teachers are also screened for ASL and English fluency.
- Kimberly Kause
- Director
- Ms. Kause holds a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Gallaudet University and a Master of Education degree in deaf education from Kent State University. She taught American Sign Language (ASL) at Kent State and was involved with development and implementation of the curriculum there. Ms. Kause taught a variety of subjects in academic and elective areas at South High School before teaching at Metro Deaf School (MDS). In addition to her tenure at MDS, Ms. Kause has taught ASL at the University of Minnesota. Currently, Ms. Kause is a student at the Gallaudet Leadership Institute, studying for her Educational Specialist degree in change leadership, and expects to earn her principal’s license from the University of Minnesota by Spring 2008.
- Kristin Cuta
-
Science Teacher
Prior to teaching, Cuta received her Bachelors of Arts (B.A.) in Biology from the University of Minnesota (UMN). For about two years, she was a molecular biologist at a cancer research lab, mainly working with mouse DNA. After a few years of lab research in her pocket, she went back to the UMN for a Masters of Education (M.Ed) and a teaching license in Science Education. Right after receiving her teaching license, Cuta taught science to 6th grade hearing students at Coon Rapids Middle School for three years. She has also received her M.Ed in Deaf Education and licensure in Deaf Education, and has been teaching science at Minnesota North Star Academy since its opening in 2004.
Cuta enjoys the outdoors with recreational activities such as triathlons (swimming, biking, and running), marathons, other outdoor activities and sports, and reading books, whether they are about science, or crime mysteries for pleasure.
Cuta is Deaf and is a fluent ASL user. - Heidi Ernst
Language Arts
Heidi graduated from Augustana College with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Elementary Education. Before going off to college in Sioux Falls, Heidi grew up in Lake Elmo and graduated from Stillwater Area High School. Heidi, during her free time, enjoys kitting, softball, hanging out with her dog and doing small renovations on her house.- Ronda Jo Miller
Electives Teacher
Ronda Jo Miller is a Minnesota Native from Little Falls. She received a B.A. in psychology from Gallaudet University, and has a Masters of Education teaching licensure from the University of Minnesota. Ronda Jo loves the outdoors along with canoeing, backpacking, camping, and horseback riding.- Susan Outlaw
-
Language Arts and Lead Teacher/Curriculum Coordinator/Mentor
Susan Outlaw has over seven years of teaching experience. Her credentials include a Bachelors of Arts (B.A.) in Special Education and a Masters in Education (M.Ed) in Deaf Education from University of Northern Florida. She has completed her Ph.D. coursework at Gallaudet University, with an emphasis in literacy development and ASL/English instruction. She is currently writing her dissertation.
Outlaw has served as research assistant to Dr. Carol J. Erting on two projects associated with Signs of Literacy and taught college level courses. At the national level, she taught as a lead mentor for the ASL/English Bilingual Professional Development Project at CAEBER (Center for ASL/English Bilingual Education and Research). She has experience with interdisciplinary teaching and strong connections to other researchers in deaf education.
Susan Outlaw is hearing and a fluent ASL user.
- Cheri Piemeisl
-
Social Studies teacher
Cheri attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she double majored in education of the Deaf and hard of hearing and elementary education. Cheri received her Bachelors of Arts degree in both fields in December of 2005. Prior to teaching at Minnesota North Star Academy Cheri taught in a variety of school settings, deaf programs, general education programs, elementary settings, middle school settings, resource rooms, and self contained classrooms.
When not in school Cheri enjoys working out (biking and running), reading books, and spending time with family and friends. - Anthony Ritz
-
Math teacher
Anthony Ritz is starting his 3rd year teaching here at Minnesota North Star Academy in Mathematics. For many years, he worked with freshmen transition programs at the University of Minnesota.
Ritz grew up in Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelors of Arts (B.A.) in English. He continued his studies at the Minnesota State University, Mankato and received his Masters of Science (M.S.) in Counseling. After working at the University of Minnesota for several years he decided to obtain his teaching licensure in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education.
Ritz, during his free time, enjoys crosswords, playing volleyball and kickball, and hanging out with his cat, Ernie. - For information on North Star Academy's board and committees, please see our Community Partners page.