Meet Our Staff

Scroll down to read about our entire staff!

John Byrnes, English Teacher 
College and degree(s): University of Minnesota, Masters in Education English Secondary Education
Licensure: Communication Arts and Literature 5-12
John chose to move to Saint Paul because of a personal connection to the Mississippi River, which he is excited about exploring through the English classroom. He enjoys spending time with his family and music. John also enjoys canoeing and biking. River's Edge offers a unique experience to students, parents and staff where community gatherings and community involvement enhance ordinary classroom experiences, and where adventure is encouraged on a daily basis. John taught Summer School English at Mounds View High School, in Arden Hills MN, and student taught at Saint Paul Central. John enjoys reading, film, and Tai Chi. jbyrnes@reamn.org

Sky Davey, Special Education/Humanities Teacher 
College and degree(s): BAA University Minnesota-Duluth and BS History/Mass Communication Bemidji State University
Licensure: K-12 Special Education and 5-12 Social Studies.
Sky Davey grew up on a small family farm in Southwest Wisconsin. He attended college at Rochester Community and Technical College, Bemidji State University, and later at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. His career as a teacher began soon after college when he found work as a substitute teacher, teaching all grades K-12. Also shaping his life experience was summer work with the Minnesota Conservation Corps. He has taught either social studies or special education for the Proctor School District, Harbor City International School, Red River High School, and now at River's Edge Academy. In his free time Sky enjoys working out, playing ultimate frisbee, backpacking, canoeing, studying history, and travelling. Sky sees REA as school with dynamic opportunities for growth. This great potential and the journey of bringing it to realization makes this school a great fit. sdavey@reamn.org

Heather Evjen, Math Teacher 
College and degree(s): St. Olaf College, BA Math and Argosy University, ME Teaching and Learning with a concentration on Integrated Instruction. (Anticipated graduation date May of 2013.)
Licensure: Math 5-12, ESL K-12
Heather brings a passion for helping students achieve their goals, including finishing high school and becoming successful college students. She spent the past several years teaching on an interdisciplinary team in Hawaii in an SLC (small learning community) setting much like River's Edge. In addition to writing and implementing authentic curriculum, she also advised the College for Every Student club and student council. In her free time, Heather enjoys hiking, camping, running, and cooking. Teaching at River's Edge is an amazing opportunity for Heather to do the things she loves while playing a meaningful role in the development of REA's students and encouraging them to be contributing members of the community. hevjen@reamn.org

Dave Melvin, Humanities Teacher
College and degree(s): University of Minnesota, BA American Economic History, MEd Education
Licensure: 5-12 Social Studies
Dave Melvin teaches Humanities with an emphasis in Economics and Civics. Presently, he is taking courses to add a Special Education license in addition to his Social Studies license. Dave has spent two of his summers as a ranger for
the National Park Service researching the history of water pollution in St. Paul and the Mississippi River. He is a Wilderness First Responder and able to provide excellent emergency care and first aid in a crisis situation. He is an instructor of bicycle mechanics and was the general manager of Youth Express Bike Shop in St Paul for several years.
He studied Hmong linguistics and culture for two years at the University of Minnesota. Dave enjoys camping, canoeing, cross-country skiing, woodworking, and juggling. dmelvin@reamn.org

Sarah Oppelt, Science Teacher
College and degree(s): Northland College, B.S. Biology; University of Minnesota, M.Ed. Life Science
Licensure: 9-12 Life Science
River's Edge Academy fits Sarah well because it combines her love of science with her love of teaching in the outdoors. She enjoys the unique opportunity to develop curriculum and projects that are often focused on the environment and Mississippi River. Sarah also brings experience with environmental and outdoor education through Wilderness Inquiry, Outward Bound, and other organizations. She has spent time canoeing, backpacking, and rock climbing with students in Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Pacific Northwest and California. When Sarah is not teaching she enjoys spending her time exploring the natural areas in the Twin Cities, walking with a dog along the river, and cooking meals with friends.
soppelt@reamn.org

Angeline Bickner, AmeriCorps Promise Fellow
College and degree(s): University of Wisconsin – Madison, Psychology
Angeline Bickner is working as the Promise Fellow at Outward Bound Twin Cities. Angeline acts as a connection between River’s Edge and Outward Bound as the partnership continues to grow. With support from the Minnesota Alliance with Youth, her role is to create and implement programming that supports REA students by providing academic enrichment, adult mentorship, and service learning as tools for success. Angeline’s background includes several years of work as a facilitator and supervisor at Adventure Learning Programs, the UW-Madison Experiential Education organization. When she isn’t climbing ropes and jumping off of tall things, Angeline is likely to be found singing, reading, playing piano, decorating cakes, and throwing pottery. abickner@outwardbound.org

Beka Hennessey, Paraprofessional
College and degree(s): University of Minnesota, BA Psychology Minor French, Hamline University, Education, Natural Science/Environmental Education (Anticipated graduation date September 2012.)
Beka focused her studies on learning theory and behavior management in college, and started her career working with animals. She spent time as an aquarist in Hawaii, doing enrichment activities with an octopus and stingrays, and later found that her true passion was in education and promoting stewardship of the environment. Currently, Beka is seeking a Master's degree in Education for Natural Science and Environmental Education at Hamline University. River's Edge Academy provides Beka with the opportunity to help students focus on their education and achieving their goals, while working outdoors and in the environment, which makes it a great fit. Beka's favorite activities include SCUBA diving, reading, baking, and gardening. bhennessey@reamn.org
 
Joe Reeves, Behavioral Specialist
College and Degree(s): Dakota Wesleyan University, BA Psychology and St. Mary's University, MA Counseling and Psychological Services
While attending college in South Dakota, Joe helped pass the time by working with adolescents in several environments including a group home, a middle school, and a church youth group. After graduating, he returned to Minnesota and began working with students in day treatment settings. Due to the school’s direction and purpose, Joe is excited about joining River’s Edge Academy’s team and is looking forward to contributing to the students’ and the school’s growth in the future. jreeves@reamn.org