Resource InstructorsSpecialistsSupport Specialists

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Karen MurphreeInstructional Coach

Hello! My name is Karen Murphree and I'm thrilled to serve Pope Farm Elementary as the Instructional Coach. I look forward to cultivating a strong community where our students will thrive! I love to read, learn, practice yoga, and spend time with my husband and two dogs.

Deb DagitzLibrary Media Specialist

Hello Pope Farm Families!

I am so excited to be part of this new adventure with you! My name is Deb Dagitz, and I am the Pope Farm Library Media Specialist. I am married with two daughters. My oldest daughter, Maddie, is 21 years old and attends the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. My younger daughter, Isabel, is 19 years old and attends the University of Iowa. We have lots of interesting cheering at our house on football Saturdays, as my husband, John, and I are total Badger fans. I love to read, go on walks, and go to garage sales. I grew up in Middleton, and attended Sauk Trail Elementary School, Kromrey, and MHS. I look forward to meeting you all soon!

Hi! I am Amanda Eckhardt. I teach Special Education. I went to high school in Waunakee and college at the University of Northern Iowa. I had a great opportunity to student teach in North Carolina where I then stayed for 7 years. I met my husband, Alex, there. We moved to the Madison area to be closer to family in 2016. We had our first baby boy, Owen Xander, this past August. Owen is 9 months and growing so fast that he's already walking! I've been teaching at Sunset Ridge Elementary in Middleton, and now I'm excited to start the new adventure at Pope Farm!

Amanda EckhardtSpecial Education Teacher

Abby OpsalSpecial Education Teacher

Hello Pope Farm Community! My name is Abby Opsal and I will be joining Pope Farm as a special education teacher. I have been a special education teacher for three years on the east side of Madison. I am a Middleton graduate myself, and I received my bachelor’s degree from Edgewood College. I start graduate school this summer at UW Madison. I love to travel and most recently hiked 26 miles on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. I have a rescue dog named Hazel, and we love to go on runs together. I am very close with my family, and we are all huge Badger fans. I am so excited to be joining this brand new community and getting to know everyone!

Hello Pope Farm Families!

I am very excited to share that I am the Speech and Language Pathologist at Pope Farm Elementary! My name is Lauren Sell and this is my seventh year in the district. I am thrilled to not only be on this new journey with you all, but also to be a part of the Pope Farm family! A little about myself, I live in Windsor with my husband, Nic, and our 2-year old daughter, Audriana. We have a 6-year old Bernese Mountain Dog, Lola. Our family loves to cheer on the Wisconsin Badgers, ride bikes together, take trips to the family cabin and boat on the lake, as well as explore all that Madison has to offer! I am very excited to meet each of you! I absolutely love sharing the power of communication with my students. I am passionate about working closely with my student’s families to achieve amazing growth from each of our kiddos!

Robyn ZietlowSpecial Education Teacher

Hello Pope Farm Families!!

I am thrilled to be joining the Pope Farm family this fall! I have loved being a Special Education teacher for 28 years! I have taught in Illinois, Kentucky, and Wisconsin, which includes 15 years at MCPASD! I live with my husband, Jeff. Our four children are either finishing college or working and living on their own so we are empty-nesters. In my free time, I enjoy reading, exercising, taking long walks outside, playing cards, and spending time with my family and friends. I am SO excited to meet you all soon!!

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Lauren SellSpeech & Language Pathologist

Hi. I'm Krysia Braun (said like Trisha but with a 'K' in front).I’m originally from CA & have a B.S. in landscape architecture & a masters in teaching. I'm married with 3 sons, 2 at MHS & 1 starting at UW Whitewater this fall. My husband works for a mapping company in Sun Prairie if anyone is interested in having him as a speaker. I was a 3rd gr. teacher for Chicago Public Schools before I took a 15 year parenting hiatus. After 3 years of subbing, I’ve been a para at Sunset Ridge since 2016. I have really loved being a special ed para & look forward to working with everyone at Pope Farm to build a kind, inclusive, & supportive community.

Liz JohnsonParaprofessional

I'm Liz Johnson. I have been working for MCPASD since 2018 as a paraeducator with students with disabilities. I am passionate about this role and very grateful to be continuing in it at Pope Farm Elementary. I have been working as an educator in various roles for 15 years in the Madison Area. I am also a mom of three boys ranging in age from 5 to 11 years old, all of which attend school in MCPASD.

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Krysia BraunParaprofessional

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Mason KellsHead Custodian

Hey there, I’m Mason Kells! I’ve been with the district since 2018. I live in Cross Plains with my super cool wife and six awesome kids. I enjoy home improvement projects, gardening, rockhounding and meditating on my lawn mower.

Sarah CaldwellParaprofessional

Hello Pope Farm Families!My name is Sarah Caldwell, and I am so glad to begin this new adventure at Pope Farm. My family moved to Middleton from Illinois in 2011. The MCPASD community of educators embraced our three children, and made it a seamless transition to the Badger state. I spend my time outside of school hiking with my family, reading books, and volunteering. It is an honor to begin my 21st year as an educator here at Pope Farm.

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Bonnie BromleyPhysical TherapistI've been a physical therapist in MCPASD for 10+ years and I'm excited to be working with the students and staff at Pope!

My family includes my husband, Matt, and our son, Henry, who will be a 3rd grader. We live in Verona and as a family we enjoy biking, camping and outdoor activities.

I love warm weather, sports, traveling, DIY projects, and HGTV.

Carin SandemanOccupational TherapistMy name is Carin Sandeman and I’m an Occupational Therapist. I’ve been honored to call MCPSD my home for the past five years. Prior to coming to Middleton I practiced for 18 years in both a medical setting and educational settings. I look forward to joining the Pope Farm family this fall. When I’m not at work, I love spending time with my husband Jon and our 3 beautiful daughters Grace, Ruby, and Ava. As a family we love to explore new places, watch movies, play board games, read, garden, and spend time with friends and family.

I love to stay active and be involved in many groups and organizations as well as spend time with my two children (ages 4 and 7). There are so many exciting opportunities ahead, and I can't wait to see where the road leads!

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Hello! My name is Kristin Pavelec, and I am thrilled to be joining the Pope Farm staff next year. I currently teach fourth grade at Sauk Trail and direct Camp Invention in the summer.

Hello Pope Farm Families! My name is Jen Theisen and I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Pope Farm Team! I have been a proud teacher in MCPASD for 15 years, currently finishing up my 20th year of teaching altogether! My teaching experience includes being a classroom teacher in the first and second grade classrooms, along with being a Reading Teacher for grades K-5. My husband and two children live in the Pope Farm community and are so incredibly excited to start this new journey together with you! When not teaching, I love to spend time playing outside, traveling, and hiking with the family! I also enjoy running and time on my yoga mat! :)

Jen TheisenReading Specialist

Kristin PavelecMath Interventionist/ Advanced Learning

Specialist

I am so excited to be working with our Pope Farm students. This will be my 10th year teaching in an elementary school. My family and I live on a small farm where we raise sheep, chickens and turkeys. My wife Jennifer is an art teacher at Middleton High School. We have 2 children and love spending time as a family in the outdoors gardening, camping, kayaking and hiking. I can’t wait for the fall so we can start learning together.

Alex SchutzScience Specialist TeacherHello Pope Farm Family! My name is Melissa

Schwenn and I am beyond thrilled to be joining the Pope Farm Family as an ESL teacher. I grew up in Beloit, Wisconsin and have enjoyed teaching four year old kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. This is my fourth year as an ESL teacher. It's hard to believe that this fall I will be starting my fourteenth year of teaching! In 2014, I completed a master's degree in Educational Leadership, and am very passionate about scaffolding curriculum that makes learning fun and accessible for all learners. My husband and I live in Middleton with our energetic three year old daughter named Madelyn. We love to cook together, spend time with friends and family, and play outside. We are huge Badger fans and are hopeful to watch some football this fall! I look forward to working with all of the staff, students, families at Pope Farm, and partnering to make this a wonderful school year!

Melissa SchwennESL Teacher