Diana Kaardal-Board President
Diana Kaardal is the parent of an Avalon student. She currently works as the Operations Manager for the Public Safety Department at the University of St. Thomas. Diana received a BA from Union University and an MA in English: Literature from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Among many diverse occupations, she has taught essay and research writing as an adjunct professor at Morningside College, has worked as a children’s librarian and as a researcher for a law firm.
Brian Evans:
Brian is the parent of a 7th grader at Avalon. Brian grew up in South Minneapolis after emigrating with his family from England in 1969. After completing a B.A. at Carleton College and an MBA at UW Madison he realized the error of his ways and moved to the right side of the river. He currently resides in the Mac-Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul with his wife, Carla, and 13-year old son – Tyler.
Brian has over twenty years experience in marketing, market research and strategic planning. He is currently employed as Senior Manager, Strategy and Business Development at Ameriprise Financial in Minneapolis. Prior work experience includes stints with Ecolab, Inc. in St. Paul, and IBM.
In addition to his work experience, Brian has served on the board of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Marketing Association, and has been an active member of the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals – including participation on local panel presentations.
Brian has also been active in local school governance, serving a two-year term on the EXPO elementary school Site Council, including one year as parent Co-Chairperson of the Site Council. During his tenure he co-led the rewriting of the school’s Vision and Mission Statements, including implementing an online wiki to help facilitate the process. Brian also led the most recent Principal Search Committee leading to the hire of EXPO’s current Principal.
Outside of work Brian enjoys activities with his family – Carla, Tyler, and Reilly the dog; maintaining their 80-year old home; and dabbling with open-source internet applications that help make his work-life easier.
Jo Sullivan:
Jo Sullivan has an unusual background for a high school teacher, but the many hats she has worn in her various work experiences provide her with a rich experiential history in the sciences and a wealth of real world experiences to share with students (one of the advantages of aging, she says). After teaching chemistry and biology for five years in the late 70’s, Jo spent the next twenty years working in the health care area for 3M including several years in Europe as a European marketing manager. After leaving 3M, Jo decided to come full circle by teaching because of her desire to “make a difference” and her recognition being with teenagers makes her happy (She has raised two of her own.).
Jo received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Oberlin College and a Master’s degree in Medical Genetics from the University of Wisconsin.
Jo has been a researcher (cancer research and clinical research), published research in medical journals, helped write a drug application to the FDA, planned and organized medical seminars, and lectured on biological topics in at least 12 countries. Jo has always enjoyed biology, but says it is especially fun to teach at this time because of the biological renaissance in our midst, thanks to programs like the Genome project. Her favorite saying, which she learned from her dad is, “Plus the pluses and minus the minuses.”
Chris Jandro:
After leaving the contentment that the cows and colleges of Northfield provided him throughout his childhood, Chris graduated from Macalester College in 2004 with degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies. He took a hiatus from studying to paint houses with the family business, and when he spent a month at an environmental education camp (Camp Widjiwagan-near Ely, MN), he realized that he was to become an educator.
In the fall of 2006 he both enrolled in Hamline’s Master of Arts in Teaching program and started working at Avalon Charter School as an educational assistant. He left Avalon in May of 2008 for Peru to do his student teaching, and returned in the fall as a licensed teacher! He has enjoyed working at Avalon ever since in his roles as Advisor, Technology Coordinator, High School Seminar Instructor, Middle School Science Teacher, and now board member.
When Chris is not busy teaching, he can usually be found enjoying the outdoors.
Chris is also the board secretary.
Kevin Ward:
Kevin Ward is an advisor at Avalon School. He is married and has two children. He tries to take the bus to work. A graduate of Oberlin College, in Ohio, Kevin has taught in Wisconsin, Connecticut, and Minnesota. He has a license in teaching Language Arts.
Kevin can be reached at (651) 649-5495 ext. 211 or kevin@avalonschool.org
Regina Goldner:
In 2005, Avalon School was introduced to Regina Goldner. She was enthusiastic about math, thought the co-op model was a great fit for her, and was ready share her love of project-based learning with everyone. Regina has a BA from Fairhaven College with a concentration in Environmental Justice and Social Liberation. She is just as proud of her Masters in Education from the University of Minnesota and knows that teaching is the job of her dreams and Avalon the school which she loves. She is also the board treasurer.
Laura Savin:
Laura Savin is the parent of two students who attended Avalon. Her oldest son attended Avalon during its first year of existence and her younger son graduated in 2009. She is the executive director of the foundation and alumni relations at Saint Paul College – A Community and Technical College. She has a law degree from Hamline University and a BA in English from the University of Minnesota. She and her husband live in St. Paul.