Administration

Carl Phillips
Assistant Director

TEACHERS

Frederick D. Biga
Lead Science (one of original founders of Lighthouse):
BA in Wildlife biology from the University of Juba; Masters degree in biology; Education Specialist in administration; teaching experience at the University of Juba in the Sudan and the University of Northern Iowa; science teacher and administrator at Abraham Lincoln High School; 14 yrs. administrator/teacher for refugees; co-founded the St. Augustine High School for Displaced students in Khartoum; Immigrant from Sudan whose experiences mirror those of Lighthouse Academy students; his expertise in developing schools for immigrants; ability to identify academic, social-emotional/physical needs of recent immigrant students will be a great asset to the Lighthouse Academy.

Languages: English, Arabic.

Abdullahi Mohamed Elmi
Lead Mathematics
BS and MS in Civil Engineering from Padua University in Italy pursuing MA at University of Minnesota. 25 years experience teaching high school math/architecture in East-Africa and Minneapolis…immigrated to Minneapolis in 1996; an active leader in the Somali community; provides training in life skills, homeownership, and responsible citizen classes to new immigrant families; actively involved with the new leadership in Somali to rebuild the government, legal and social structures.

Languages: English, Italian, Somali, Czech and Arabic.

Thomas G. Gulick
Lead Social Studies
BA in Humanities, MA in Teaching; Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa; travel throughout Southern Africa, Western Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and Saudi Arabia; taught in Los Angeles City High Schools; Professional journalist in Washington, D.C. , quite familiar with the federal government & foreign policy; Independent businessman in both the art field and in internet marketing.

Languages: English, French


Beth Peck
Lead Language Arts
BA & license in Literature, Communication Arts; Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate, and an Masters of Arts in Teaching. She has spent time teaching EFL in Bulgaria and lived for a year in China, working as an EFL teacher; taught Special Education at Groves Academy in St. Louis Park; High School English and Speech at New Life Academy in Woodbury. A transplanted Californian, she loves the outdoors, the BWCA, gardening, reading, traveling and learning about/experiencing other cultures.

Languages: English, Chinese, Sign.

Emily Tichich
Lead English
BS in Environmental Science; MS in English as a Second Language (ESL); Peace Corps (w/husband) in Ecuador; teaching ESL 6+ years at the secondary (New York)/adult; born/raised in Ohio; Minnesota roots through grandparents; parents were Peace Corps/Iran; young Iranian boy “joined” the family when she was 14; He/wife still part of the family. Passionate about language learning; Values cross-cultural experiences, and education; High school teaching is by far the most challenging; therefore the most rewarding/fun!

Languages: English, Spanish.

Amy Schuler
Social Studies

Becky Bryant
Language Arts

Carmen Vanegas
Science

Douacha Vang
Teacher's Assistant

Daniel Namarra
Mathematics

Dr. Tadesse Negassa
Mathematics

Ahmed Elmi
Computers/Technology

Erika Sass
Computer Learning Center

Yawo Mottey
English

Liz Lahmann
Lead English

Kevin Schuttinger
Special Education/Math

Jon Rossum
Special Education

Support Staff

Abdiweli Mohamud
Educational Communications Coordinator

Pursuing a degree from St. Paul College; worked in light industry for 12 years; immigrant from Somalia; translates English to Somali for immigrant parents. I would be happy to assist all students whatever they need based upon my abilities.

Languages: Somali, English



Amal
Educational Communications Coordinator

Fadua Pastrano
Educational Communications Coordinator

A Xiong
Educational Communications Coordinator

Stacey Avila

Nery

Denise

Shorty