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Page updated 04/28/2009
Meet the Curriculum & Instruction Team
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Kelvin Pamperien, Director of Instructional Improvement |
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| Dr. Pamperien is in his 25th year with SPS and his 5th in his current position. Kelvin has served as a high school mathematics teacher, middle school assistant principal and principal, and high school assistant principal and principal. He earned a BS (82), MSEd (87), and EdS (91) from Missouri State University and a Doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Missouri – Columbia (97). Kelvin and his wife Rebecca have three daughters. | ||
| Email Dr. Pamperien | 523.5503 | |
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Rhonda Galbraith, Career & Technology Facilitator |
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| Rhonda joined the curriculum department in July of 2007. She has a master’s degree in secondary education from Drury University and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Missouri State University. When asked why she chose this career path, she replied, “I have a passion for all areas of Career & Technical Education and see this as an opportunity to make a difference in a new way.” Rhonda is active in her church and enjoys a variety of down-time activities such as gardening, reading, antiquing, and crafting. | ||
| Email Ms. Galbraith | 523.5558 | |
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Kathy Follis, Administrative Assistant for the Director of Instructional Improvement and Career & Technical |
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| Mrs. Follis is in her 23rd year with Springfield Public Schools, coming to Tefft in 2003. The first 18 ½ years were in the Building Services Department at GSC. Mrs. Follis states, “I have made some really good friends in the district, and I especially like the 'family' atmosphere here at Tefft.” In her spare time she likes spending time with her family, movies, reading, and an occasional trip to Branson. | ||
| Email Mrs. Follis | 523.5503 | |
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Denise Kelly, Communication Arts Facilitator |
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Denise Kelly recently accepted the position of K-12 Communication Arts Curriculum Facilitator after working in the Springfield Schools Title I Department for 11 years. Her focus is to support the literacy learning of all students, regardless of where they may be on the developmental continuum. Denise’s literacy training began at Pittsburg State University where she received a MA in Reading. She has since completed her Administrative Leadership Degree from Evangel University and is finishing her EDS in Literacy Leadership from UALR. She also trained as a Reading Recovery Teacher for the most at-risk first grade readers. After teaching this population for 5 years, she worked 5 years as a Literacy Coach at two SPS elementary sites implementing the researched Partners in Comprehensive Literacy Model (PCL). Her most rewarding experience in literacy was teaming with 22 SPS literacy coaches last year in the capacity of District Coach Trainer.
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| Email Mrs. Kelly | 523.5554 | |
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Nancy Schneider, Social Studies & Foreign Language Facilitator |
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| Mrs. Schneider comes to Springfield after twelve years in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she taught Social Studies and Language with the Clark County School District. While in Las Vegas, Mrs. Schneider was a member of the New Teacher Training Cadre and helped coordinate content area professional development for teachers and administrators. Prior to teaching, Mrs. Schneider spent ten years in Marketing with the Star Tribune Newspaper in Minneapolis and worked as a research analyst in the Legislative Research Office of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. Mrs. Schneider has a BA in Public Policy and Political Science from Willamette University, Salem, OR, and a MA in Education from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. She is married with three children and lives on a hobby farm outside of Springfield. Her hobbies are gardening, cooking and keeping up the many activities of her active family. Mrs. Schneider is very enthusiastic about her job, “I love working with Springfield teachers,” she exclaims! “They are the most dedicated and interesting people I know. I feel fortunate to be part of such a high-qualtiy, high-achieving district.” | ||
| Email Mrs. Schneider | 523.5557 | |
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Marla Zahner, Administrative Assistant for Communication Arts & Social Studies / Foreign Language |
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| Marla has been with the district for 19 years. She worked at Building Services as a financial secretary for the Maintenance Department, Materials Expeditor, and Custodial Secretary. Mrs. Zahner then moved to Tefft to work in the Staff Development and Technology offices and finally moved to Curriculum 9 years ago. She has a daughter who lives on her own and a son at home. Marla likes to spend time with her family and friends, read, and enjoys needlecrafts. | ||
| Email Mrs. Zahner | 523.5551 | |
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Jennifer Petersen, Mathematics Facilitator |
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| Jennifer joined the curriculum department in Summer 2007 after teaching math for nine years at Parkview High School. She earned her BSEd at MSU in 1997 and MSEd at MSU in 2002. Jennifer looks forward to working with math teachers at all grade levels and hopes to support them in any way she can. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, working in her yard, and reading. Jennifer has two favorite quotes: "If you don't make mistakes, you're not working on hard enough problems. And that's a big mistake." - Frank Wilczek. "It's better to solve one problem five different ways than five problems one way." - George Polya. | ||
| Email Ms. Petersen | 523.5555 | |
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Ann Wallenmeyer, Science Facilitator |
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| Ann Wallenmeyer currently facilitates science for K-12 students and teachers. She enjoys sharing the wonder and curiosity that science brings with all ages, students and teachers alike. She has worked in the past as a Curriculum and Instructional Accountability Assistant – Science (4 years) and Parkview High School Science Teacher (7 years). Ann graduated from Missouri State University in 2000 with her Masters in Secondary Education with an emphasis in biology and from Southwest Baptist University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science – major in biology and minor in chemistry. One of her passions is to be a lifelong learner. One of her favorite quotes is “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow.” – Ronald E. Osborn. One of her personal goals is to visit aquariums and zoos across the United State. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, needlework, and spending time with her family. | ||
| Email Mrs. Wallenmeyer | 523.5556 | |
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Lynn Neff, Administrative Assistant for Math & Science |
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Mrs. Neff is the Administrative Assistant for the Science and Math Curriculum departments. She enjoys working with and helping teachers. She has learned many new science and math facts and sometimes takes the knowledge she has learned from the day home at night to impress her family. Lynn loves to spend time with her family and dog, Max. Her new philosophy for the year is that everyday is precious, and we need to enjoy and live each day to its fullest. |
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| Email Mrs. Neff | 523.5502 | |
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Bev Rohlf, Coordinator of Music & Visual Arts |
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Dr. Rohlf’s key preparation came from working as a child on her parent’s farm. She picked up rock, gathered 4,000 chicken eggs a day and cased them (great to have a little sister to help), and later fought off tom turkeys when the farming operation moved from chicken to turkey production. At age nine, her maternal grandmother purchased a piano for her and commented, “You aren’t educated unless you know music!” Dr. Rohlf's background includes a B.S.Ed in music education from MSU, Master of Music from Indiana University, Specialist in Ed. Administration from MSU, and Doctorate in Ed. Administration from MU-Columbia. She taught for 7 years, served as an elementary principal 15 years, and began her work as Coordinator in 2003. "I believe the fine arts create the emotions to motivate us to direct our lives. Keep dancing!" |
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| Email Dr. Rohlf | 523.5532 | |
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Vicki Williams, Administrative Assistant for Music & Visual Arts |
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| Vicki joined the Music Department in July of 2007. She has worked in the past with software companies in customer service and technical quality control. She has a life-long love of music and is and has been very involved in her sons’ musical endeavors. “I’m so happy to be a part of the music department of Springfield and that I get to deal with music all day long.” She has two married sons, a third son who is a junior at Hillcrest and her first grandbaby. In her spare time she likes to walk, ride motorcycles and read. | ||
| Email Mrs. Williams | 523.5531 | |
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Pat Ward, Administrative Assistant for Music & Visual Arts |
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Pat Ward is part-time secretary in the music office. This will be her 29th year in this position. She loves working with the music department teachers and hearing students perform at the various performances throughout the year. Pat loves spending time with her family (especially 5 grandchildren) and is involved with activities at her church. |
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| Email Mrs. Ward | 523.5534 | |