Amanda Dvorak
Associate Principal for Alternative Pathways
Richard Blonigan
Administrator of Alternative Programs
After 16 years teaching in a traditional learning environment, I am so excited for a change and Options seems like a great fit! I spent my first 10 years of teaching in St. Paul, MN and then taught in rural Iowa for the past 6. I’m so pumped to be back in urban education!
I love to work with Alternative Education students. I have had the honor to work with this population for more than twenty years and have learned so much from my students and families. It is very important to me to be able to build relationships and help students overcome barriers to be successful in the classroom and outside the classroom.
I’m excited about educating students about career pathways and how to get them there!
Jake Hestbech
Options Academy Social Studies Teacher
I am incredibly grateful to be able to work at Options—the students and staff here are truly amazing. The students are resilient, the staff is compassionate, and both are incredibly dedicated to helping each other succeed.
Cheyenne Holliday
Options Academy English Teacher
I love helping students realize that a non-traditional path is still a path that leads to success.
Jon Knapp McAlister
Options Academy Social Studies Teacher
For myself, I love the intellectual and emotional puzzle of finding ways to reach students. More importantly, I love being present when students feel success.
I have been on a team in an Alternative Educational setting for more than a decade of my career, am overjoyed for the invitation to be a part of this one, and am glad I made the change to Options. “Be who you needed when you were younger” is the opportunity I am truly afforded here.
It is truly an honor to serve DMPS students at Options! I look forward to teaching math to these amazing students every day!
It gives me joy to serve my community on a daily basis. I’m thankful to work in such a rewarding profession and at a place like Options Academy.
I have been working with Alternative Students for 26 years. I love watching them grow into better versions of themselves and Options is a great place to do that. Graduation is the best day of the year. Our students have so much to offer the world.
Travis Pierce
Options Academy Special Education Instructional Strategist Teacher
Relationships. I have always been a people first kind of guy.
I love being able to build relationships with my students and watching them grow as a person and in the educational setting.
Melissa Spencer
Options Academy Science Teacher
I am so excited to be part of the team at Options Academy and working with students to find their path forward!
Options Academy is a brilliant program for so many of our students that have fallen behind academically because of various life obstacles. We are adaptable and flexible to meet students exactly where they are. Despite whatever barriers, Options provides a safe and supportive learning space to those that have felt defeated and hopeless about their future.