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Jason Brazil, SUPAR Para-Professional 

My name is Jason Brazil, I was born in April 1983, in Milwaukee, WI. I attended Shorewood High School from 1997-2001 and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater in 2006 with a Bachelors degree in communication and a minor in Business Marketing. Prior to working at S.U.P.A.R., I have worked for MPS as an instructor in the Summer Recreation Program as well as Pre-College Programs at Wisconsin-Whitewater. I have also worked in several marketing positions since the beginning of college including being a Marketing and Associate at Milwaukeejobs.com and Minacs International.

I knew that coming into a non-traditional school would take some adjustment and present several challenges, however in my short time here I have found that the rewards and satisfaction far outweigh the difficult times. I love the position that I am in here as a Paraprofessional, Advisor Partner, and Athletic Director because it allows me to work with each and everyone of the students and staff closely and on a regular basis. The dynamic personalities of the students and staff in the school makes everyday interesting and very engaging.

 

Delia Campbell, SUPAR School Secretary

I am totally new to the MPS system, and I really like my job. I am the secretary at SUPAR. I am a graduate of Mercy High School and I attended two years at UWM. I later attended night classes at MBTI where I learned data entry on various types of computers and key punch machines. I love to knit, crochet and cross stitch projects. During the summer my husband and I spend most of our weekends in the Kettle Moraine area of central Wisconsin in Sheboygan County, maybe about 5 minutes away from the town of Dundee where the Extreme Makeover house was built. I have enjoyed traveling since I was in Mercy High’s drum and bugle corps which won the state VFW championship four years in a row.

The best part of the job is taking attendance because that is how I get to know the kids. I also enjoy the people I work with.

Zachary Dienberg, SUPAR Advisor

I am licensed in Broad Field Social Studies, Economics, Geography, History, and Political Science and hold two Bachelor degrees from the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh -- a Bachelors of Science in Education and a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science. I was attracted to SUPAR's educational program because its project-based focus empowers the students and engages them in current issues. Additionally, SUPAR's commitment to the surrounding community closely reflects my own involvement in the community.

My wife Becky and I recently had our first child, a little girl named Gwyneth Madeline Dienberg on March 29th, 2008.As a couple we enjoy traveling with our daughter and hold season tickets with the Milwaukee Brewers. Hopefully, we'll be able to attend some playoff games at Miller Park this fall.

Nancy Frank, SUPAR Board Member and UWM Partner

My paying job is as associate professor and department chair  of urban planning at University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee.   I was one of the first people to be involved in planning for SUPAR and creating the school.  I spend many hours each week at the school, working with both students and advisors, as well as other volunteers.  I am so proud of what we have accomplished in these first two years, but I am also  mindful of the challenges we have yet to conquer. 

At UWM, I work on environmental planning issues, tackling things like contaminated vacant lots, water pollution, and making public parks more inviting and safe.  At SUPAR, I have worked with students on a number of environmental projects.  This spring, I have been amazed at what the students accomplished in creating an aquaponic system, caring for it, and understanding how to manage it and how it works.  Next year, who knows what we will be able to accomplish.

In my free time, I am a pet lover and avid gardener.  I also have a guilty pleasure--playing computer games.  I start each day watching the "News Hour," recorded the night before, and playing some mindless "match 3" game.  Interestingly, I enjoy making up new games as much as playing them, but haven't ever learned how to create computer games.   I keep hoping a SUPAR student will learn how and then teach me!

Dr. Kirk E. Harris, SUPAR Board Chair and UWM Partner

Dr. Kirk E. Harris has been working on issues related to community development and families for over 20 years. Dr. Harris is a national expert on fathers, families and community building and is a national keynote speaker on issues related to fatherhood, family support and community development. As a former Legal Service lawyer and advocate, Dr. Harris has worked on a variety of public policy and social service practice issues related to families and communities.

Dr. Harris is the Founder and Chairman of the Board for the School of Urban Planning and Architecture an innovative, award winning and first of its kind charter high school that is link to the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee where he is a faculty member. The Wisconsin Daily Reporter named Dr. Harris Architectural Leader and Newsmaker of the Year for his work related to the charter school.

Dr. Harris served as a consultant to the Paternal Involvement Demonstration Project, which promoted opportunities and removed barriers confronting low-income fathers and their families, and co-founded the Center on Fathers Families and Public Policy. The Center served as the policy arm of the Strengthening Fragile Family Initiative, which was a national demonstration focused on the intersection between welfare reform, family support, and father involvement. Dr. Harris also served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Family Support America. Additionally, Dr. Harris has directed an innovative employment audit program for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago and worked as a consultant for South Shore Bank, one of the country's leading community development organizations.

Presently, Dr. Harris is a national consultant working with the National Fatherhood Leaders Group, which seeks to sustain and advance efforts to promote "father-supportive" practice and family support policy.

Dr. Harris has served as the Chairman of the Board for the National Practitioner Network for Fathers and Families and has been appointed by Illinois' Governor Rod Blagojevich to the Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood. Dr. Harris has also served as Vice President of the Board for the Chicago Jobs Council, and served as a Board Member for the Crossroads Fund which is Foundation focused on promoting progressive grassroots activities and services.

Recently, Dr. Harris has contributed to a book on the Hope VI Project to be published by the Urban Institute. Dr. Harris' chapter addresses the issue of low-income fathers, housing and public policy.

Dr. Harris possesses a master of public administration from the Martin School of Public Administration, University of Kentucky, a J.D. from Thomas Jefferson Law School and a Ph.D. from Cornell University. Dr. Harris is also a member of the U.S. Supreme Court bar, and the bars of Georgia and Washington, DC.

Elizabeth Harger, SUPAR Advisor

William E. Huxhold, UWM Partner

Professor Huxhold has been teaching courses on geographic information systems at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee since 1988. Prior to his full-time appointment at the University in 1990, he was MIS Project Director at the City of Milwaukee, having responsibility for the development of information systems for the City. In 1975 he established and directed the nation's first computer graphics based geographic information system at the City of Milwaukee.

Professor Huxhold was the 1984-85 national president of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association and was awarded the Association's Leadership Award in 1987 and its prestigious Horwood Distinguished Service Award in 1999 for significant contributions to URISA and the industry. In 1991, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Land Information Association, serving two terms, and was awarded its President's Award in 2004. He was President of the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) in 2000 and he was also a member of the Board of Directors of the GIS Certification Institute through 2006. He has authored or co-authored five books on geographic information systems and now serves on the Editorial Boards of three GIS journals.

Since 2004, Professor Huxhold has conducted a high school and middle school program for summer and after school activities related to urban planning, architecture, and geographic information systems called "PUPS" (Pre Urban Planners Preparing for Urban Problems). This program has been featured nationally by GeoSpatial21, funded by the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment & Training Administration (Go to: www.geospatial21.com/videos_geotech.asp and click on the name under "Featured Videos.")

His educational background includes a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University in 1968 and an M.S. degree in Engineering Management (with a Public Administration emphasis) from the University of Dayton in 1973.

Tess Kenney

Dr. Kenney has been teaching since 1993. She has taught at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and has been teaching at Concordia University since 1998. Dr. Kenney teaches design, graphic design, and art education graduate and undergraduate courses at Concordia University. As creative director for Graphic Outlook, an in house senior level design firm at Concordia University she does substantial service learning working with non profits organizations. Dr. Kenney has published with Prentice Hall the study guides and instructor manuals for Marilyn Stokstad's History of Art. Dr. Kenney has presented extensively at the Wisconsin Art Education Association and the National Art Education Association.

Dr. Kenney has an active presence in the community at large outside of her teaching responsibilities. She is on the board of directors for the Riverwest Neighborhood association. She currently works with the Milwaukee River Group, the Riverwest Co Operative, The Solo Business Association and the Kilbourn Victory Gardens.

Bachelors of Fine Art in Drawing from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design.
Masters of Fine Art Film and Video from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Internship at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Community Media Internship Television Graphics with WMVT & WMVS Milwaukee PBS station. Doctorate in the Philosophy of Urban Education (Art Education) from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.

Christine Krzyzewski

I am excited to finish up my first year of teaching high school.  I have an M.A. in Philosophy, and previously taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  I am currently taking courses at Cardinal Stritch University to receive my Master’s Degree in Special Education.  I have lived in the area for most of my life and am happy to return after being gone for a few years.  In my free time, I like to create things, though I am not the best at it.  I like knitting, beading, and painting.  I am also an avid reader, especially of mystery stories.  I’m always looking for book recommendations. 

This year has been a great first year.  The students I have had contact with in my advisory and throughout the school are phenomenal.  I am amazed every day how students step up and take leadership responsibilities in school.  I could not have made it through my first year without the support of my students and the rest of the staff.  I could not be at a better school.  I am looking forward to all the excitement and challenges of teaching next year.

  Barb Opferman

My commitment to teaching art in urban settings reaches back my experience as a Vista Volunteer in Columbus, Ohio where I was given the task to develop an after school program for inner city youth. Afterwards, I received my bachelor’s degree in Art Therapy, and went on to gain teaching certification in Art Education. I have approximately l6 years of teaching experience, mostly at the elementary and middle school levels. My focus continues to be working with youth to find a way for individual expression while learning the discipline and aesthetic enjoyment of art. I am married and have one son in college who is studying graphic design, and one son who is in middle school. I continue to find my own expression and enjoyment working on ceramics and sculpture.

Cris Parr, SUPAR Advisor

I graduated from Bay View High School (Fritsche Middle School before that). I got my BA in Exceptional Education from UWM and my MA in Multicultural Education from St. Mary's University. My licenses are: Deaf Education ages 3-21, Regular Education 1-6, and a Charter License

I love to travel. I've been to Mexico, Australia, Tahiti, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Wales, and Canada. I've also traveled extensively throughout the United States. I have always had animals. My maniac Golden Retriever, Desta, is now 2 years old. We are working toward her becoming a therapy dog. She's been through puppy kindergarten, basic obedience, and agility. She's received her Canine Good Citizen Award. I've wanted to teach since I worked at Holler Park one summer in middle school. I spent two weeks working with twin brothers who were deaf. From that point on, I knew I wouldn't be happy if I wasn't working with kids. I've taught everything from 3 year olds through GED classes with adults. I've taught for 23 years in the Milwaukee Public School system (Green Bay Ave. School, Irving, Milwaukee Sign Language School, Victory, IDEAL Charter, Professional Learning Institute).

  Charles Smith

I am a veteran MPS employee whose school experiences are vaired and diverse thanks to an intensive learning program by the Safety Division that provided real-life experiences in a professional learning environment. My law enforcement training began in 1975 with the US Army, who introduced me to a career that is interesting and allowed for professional/personal growth in different areas. It allowed me to become a better overall team member as a correctional specialist assigned to a Military Police Company in Anchorage, Alaska.

Jerris Vandenberg

I have lived in the Milwaukee area for my entire life, and went to MPS schools. I am currently a student at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, getting a degree in Psychology. I’ll be working with students at SUPAR this year on Physical Education and small group tutoring. After I complete my degree, I would like to pursue a career that allows me to work with students with emotional and family problems in learning how to cope with the hand they have been dealt. I am glad to be back at SUPAR again this year.

 

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