Ben Agar, M.D., Photography
Ben works as a physician. He has a lifelong love for photography, and is eager to share his skill and knowledge about photography with the students.
Ben works as a physician. He has a lifelong love for photography, and is eager to share his skill and knowledge about photography with the students.
Shawn teaches English, Social Studies, Dance, and Circus Arts and is the YIHS Development Coordinator. Shawn has a BA from University of Chicago in Anthropology and has a funny story about how he moved to Viroqua (ask him about it!). YIHS inspires Shawn because it challenges students, parents and faculty alike to build community, take responsibility and be creative.
B.A. Spanish/Latin American Studies and Elementary Education, University of Minnesota-Morris; Bilingual Specialization, University of Minnesota-Minneapolis. Professional Experience: Bilingual Class Teacher and Tutor; Step Dance Instructor; Performance Dancer.
Has been with the YIHS for many years. She is trained in Spatial Dynamics™
Deborah Baer lives in Viroqua and is a tutor, licensed counselor, and registered nurse, with a B.S. in Nursing from UW-Madison, and an M.A. in Counseling from Louisiana Tech Univ. As a nurse she worked with terminally ill patients, then with psychiatric patients in Madison. Later, in private practice as a counselor, she worked with clients using a humanistic/Jungian/transpersonal approach and was also at that time an assistant administrator at a Montessori school in Louisiana. She has been a private tutor since 1991 in math, English, science, social studies, study skills, ACT/SAT preparation, and the writing of essays and research papers.
Has been teaching History and English at the YIHS since 2001. He received his BA in History, English, and Economics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Since then, he has worked as a researcher at the Library of Congress, a stock analyst on Wall Street, and a Fulbright Scholar in Jamaica.
Received a BA in French from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA and a master’s degree equivalent in French at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland and extensive training in Waldorf Education. Her pedagogical experience includes work in Cleveland inner city schools, leading in the establishment of the Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School and St. Isaac’s Russian Orthodox School, and work with students with learning difficulties. Philothea is a great example of the parent involvement that characterizes YIHS, having a son, Anton, as an alumnus, class of 2006.
Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, with High Honors, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (1969); Extensive environmental and technical consulting for homes, businesses, and farms, including coordination and technical implementation, through Environmental Options, Inc.
Liz started the Development office at the Youth Initiative High School in 2005 and carried it until there became a need for Administrative support. She has completed many and various workshops on Development and communications, including the Administration with Spirit course through the Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, CA.
AnnaJo has taught partner dance, skating, and stiltwalking at YIHS, and was a co-organizer of the Performance Art Theme Week. She is currently the movement teacher at Three Rivers Waldorf School. She has studied and taught contact improv, stilt, modern and Tango dance and is a Level III Spatial Dynamics trainer.
Lives on his farm near Viroqua, and teaches chemistry, physics, calculus, and statistics as a substitute teacher at Viroqua High School. Howard has a BS degree in chemical engineering, and decades of work experience in industrial, governmental, and not-for-profit agencies in engineering and science, including 17 years with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where his duties included conducting inspections, and assessing and reporting environmental deficiencies.
Studied at the Fine Arts University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. Colleen has extensive experience as a painter, mechanical designer, and doing drafting work. She has been teaching drawing classes for a number of years to mixed age groups. Her work has been at exhibitions at galleries and art shows in Wisconsin and Kansas.
I was raised in Minnesota where I studied arts of all kinds through internships, personal study and academic means. Growing up with a printmaking grandmother introduced me at an early age to it’s possibilities. I am really excited to try and pass that wonder to the students I will be teaching this year. I now live near LaFarge working constantly in many mediums of graphic and fine art.
MA in Social Sciences, University of Chicago. Jacob is a founding member of the YIHS. After graduating from the YIHS, he attended Deep Springs College, the American University in Bulgaria, and the University of Chicago.
John graduated from Deep Springs College and Brown University with a BA in Religious Studies. An interest in sustainable agriculture brought John to the Driftless region from his native South Florida and an equal but less marketable interest in alternative education brought him to YIHS.
Vicki is state certified to teach Broadfield, Biological and Environmental Sciences for middle and high school students. Her undergraduate work focused on the study of Plant Community Ecology. She received her Bachelors of Science in Biological Aspects of Conservation in 1997 from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She has worked for many years as an advocate for women and children who have experienced domestic violence and as a tutor for children in school. She and her husband Sam, first settled in the Kickapoo Valley in the spring of 2000 where their son, Kele, was born.
B. A. in Food Science and Nutrition. Teacher of Foods/Nutrition at YIHS since 1996; She graduated from the Foundation Course in Anthroposophy and the Arts in 2001, Dietician, Organic Farmer, Teacher of Sustainable Living; Continuing self education in natural foods and holistic health.
Is a certified teacher of Integral Yoga – which includes the physical postures, breathing practices, Yoga philosophy and meditation. She recently studied at the Satchidananda Yoga Ashram in Buckingham, VA. Nancy has been a practicing student of Yoga since 1992.
Mr. Voz received his Bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Minnesota, Morris and his Master’s Degree in Rural and Agricultural History from Iowa State University. Mr. Voz teaches Histories, English language, and Social Studies. Mr. Voz has been part of the YIHS faculty for three years and is a Core Faculty member, the faculty representative to the Board of Trustees, member of the Curriculum committee, Development committee, Long Range Planning committee, House leader, and Assistant Development Coordinator.