About Us

The Education Minnesota Foundation for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was established in 1992 as the MEA Children’s Foundation. It is affiliated with Education Minnesota, but functions independently as a nonprofit corporation.

It is funded through Education Minnesota members and donations from individuals and organizations that believe in the mission of the Foundation, promoting educators’ innovation and achievement focused on the practices of equity and inclusion..

The decisions about funding and management of the Foundation rests with a Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is made up of eight K-12 teachers, one ESP at-large member, one higher education at-large member, one at-large member, one retired at-large member, and the officers of Education Minnesota. You can read about the board below.

The Foundation Director carries out the board’s management decisions and day-to- day operations with the Collaboration Lab Coordinator and the assistance of a support staff person.

All grants and scholarships offered by the Foundation are offered only to active, dues-paying Education Minnesota members.

Lisa Nelson, Foundation Board President

Lisa Nelson currently teaches fourth grade in Mounds View. In her over 24 years as an educator, she has also served as a math specialist and taught kindergarten and first and second grades. Lisa enjoys working with practicum students and student teachers in her classroom, passing along the lessons she learned along the way.

When she has free time, Lisa enjoys cooking, traveling, and staying active. Lisa has been on the board serving in the Congressional District 4 seat since 2018.

Marty Fridgen, Education Minnesota Vice President

Marty Fridgen was elected vice president of Education Minnesota at the 2025 Representative Convention.

Marty is a 27-year licensed vocal and classroom teacher who has also worked in student support positions in both rural and urban school districts.  

Raised in central Minnesota by two public school employees—a custodian and an elementary teacher—who were active in their unions, Fridgen learned the value of collective action from a young age. 

She has a wealth of union leadership experience at the local, state and national levels. She has served in multiple positions on the Education Minnesota Governing Board and on several Education Minnesota committees. Nationally, she has served as a delegate for the AFT, NEA and AFL-CIO conventions, on the NEA Board of Directors and on the AFT Women’s Rights Committee. Locally, she has served as Metro Area Council President and as president of United Teachers of South Washington County.  

Marty looks forward to building stronger relationships with the broader labor community and empowering locals to advocate for their professions, students and communities.  

Ryan Fiereck, Education Minnesota Secretary-Treasurer

Ryan Fiereck was elected secretary-treasurer at the Education Minnesota 2025 Representative Convention.

Ryan has taught business and computer technology in St. Francis Area Schools for 19 years. His experience spans grades K-12 and includes both in-person and online through the district’s virtual program. Most recently, he has served as a business education teacher. 

Prior to becoming secretary-treasurer, Ryan served as president of Education Minnesota-St. Francis. He was on the Education Minnesota Governing Board and has served on the Executive Committee, the Budget and Finance Committee. In 2022, he briefly served as vice president of Education Minnesota until the election of Monica Byron.  

Ryan has been active in Education Minnesota’s pension reform work, serving as chair of both the Pension Advocacy Group and the Pension Task Force. Nationally, he has served as a delegate to both the NEA Representative Assembly and the AFT Representative Convention.  

As secretary-treasurer, Fiereck looks forward to empowering members at the local level and creating ways to engage new members in the union. 

Jamie Alsleben

Jamie Alsleben has been an elementary educator for 32 years; 28 of those years teaching for the Eden Prairie School District. His experience spans grade 1-6 and includes both in-person and online. Jamie was named the Gen. E.W. Rawlings MN Chapter Teacher of the Year and the Air Force Association’s Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 2014. Most recently, he is teaching at Cedar Ridge Elementary School.

Jamie has a variety of union leadership experience at multiple levels. Locally, he has been a Member Rights Advocate and served as EPEA’s (#7073) Vice-President and Treasurer. At the State level, he has served on the Education Minnesota Governing Board’s Executive Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee. He has also been the Chairperson of the Professional Advocacy Committee and EdMN Audit Committee during his service to our Union. On occasion, he has been a delegate to the Education Minnesota Representative Convention. Nationally, Jamie has served numerous times as a delegate for the AFT and NEA Representative Assemblies advocating and being the voice of members’ successes and concerns.

In his free time, Jamie enjoys being outdoors. Depending on the season, you see him playing tennis and pickleball or cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Jamie joined the board in 2025 and serves in the Congressional District 7 seat.

Myriam Castro-Franco

Myriam Castro-Franco has been teaching for over 32 years—ten years in her home country, Colombia, and over 23 years in various immersion elementary schools in Minnesota. Currently, she teaches at Little Canada Elementary in Roseville. Myriam has Minnesota teaching licenses in English as a Second Language (ESL) and Elementary Education; she also holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.

Myriam enjoys being part of the Education Minnesota Foundation Board, and she appreciates in particular the different skills and knowledge each board member brings to the table. Awarding grants, in Myriam’s opinion, is incredibly fulfilling because it helps to facilitate strong relationships amongst grantees and their coworkers, and it allows educators to be innovative with their students. Serving on the board also allows Myriam to have a small personal impact on education for years to come.

Outside of her job, Myriam enjoys traveling with her family. These experiences give her a closer understanding of the cultures she visits, and at the same time helps her better support her students and their families. Myriam has been on the board serving in an At-Large seat since 2015.

Matt Dempsey

Matt was elected in 2019 as Vice President of MSCF and was re-elected in 2021.  He has been a faculty member in Mathematics at Normandale Community College since 2001. At Normandale he has served as the local chapter president, a member of the local executive committee, chair of the Academic Affairs and Standards Council, and many other roles. Since arriving at Normandale, Matt has been an advisor to Normandale’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year colleges. Matt earned his master’s degree in mathematics at Minnesota State University, Mankato after which he taught for three years at Saint Mary’s University in Winona, MN and six years at Jackson Community College in Jackson, Michigan. Outside of the classroom, Matt is a high school and collegiate lacrosse official and was recently appointed the chair of the National Federation of High Schools Boys’ Lacrosse Rules Committee. Matt has been on the board serving in an At-Large Higher Education seat since 2023.

Valarie McWilliams-Jones

Valarie McWilliams-Jones currently works as an achievement specialist in the Wayzata School District. She has spent much of her career advocating for students with disabilities and Black males. Prior to joining education, she worked as a children and family therapist and addictions counselor. Valarie serves on Education Minnesota’s Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee (EMAC) and Special Education Advisory Committee. She also active with Education Minnesota’s Racial Equity Advocate (REA) Program. Valarie has been on the board since 2021, currently in the Retiree At-Large seat.

Carrie Sparks

Carrie Sparks has been teaching 8th grade math in Rochester Public Schools since 2002 and has proudly served as a member of the Rochester Education Association Executive Board since 2012.

At Kellogg Middle School, she took on leadership roles as both the department and grade-level lead, as well as staff-development co-chair, where she supports colleagues in strengthening instructional practices. Her commitment to advocating for educators and students recently expanded with her election to the Education Minnesota Governing Board.

Over the years, Carrie has also actively represented her profession by attending numerous Education Minnesota Representative Conventions and National Education Representative Assemblies, where she continues to engage in shaping the future of education at both state and national levels. Carrie joined the board in 2025 and serves in the Congressional District 1 seat.

Kiah Tremble

Kiah Tremble has been teaching social studies at her Alma Mater, Denfeld High School, in Duluth Minnesota since the Fall of 2018. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and French from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 2017, and then went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Social Studies Education there, as well. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, hiking, running, and reading a good book.

Born and raised in Duluth, Kiah’s love for learning and teaching began when she started kindergarten. As she grew older, she realized the importance of social studies and understanding our history. Now, Kiah is extremely passionate about helping her students become civically engaged citizens. She strives to instill in students a love for learning, not just for now, but for life. Kiah joined the board in 2025 and serves in the Congressional District 8 seat.

Michelle Urevig-Grilz

Michelle Urevig-Grilz has been a parent and family education teacher in Minneapolis Public Schools for over 20 years, an equity advocate, and an active union member since college. Michelle served as chair of her local elections committee for 2 years and brought back online voting so that members could have a fair and equitable elections process. Michelle also serves on the Education Minnesota Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee (EMAC) and is a member of the Early Career Leadership Fellowship as a coach for teachers entering the field. Michelle has been on the board serving in the Congressional District 6 seat since 2021.

Kamille Wells

Kamille has been a public elementary school teacher since 1999. She is currently a literacy coach at Sullivan STEAM in Minneapolis Public Schools. Kamille earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1997. She obtained her first Master’s Degree in 2004 in teaching and learning from St. Mary’s University. In 2010, she obtained her Education Specialist Degree from St. Mary’s University in curriculum, assessment and instruction. She also received her Reading Specialist license in 2012 along with her second Master’s Degree in Literacy. In her free time, Kamille enjoys painting/coloring, hiking, listening to music, reading, watching scary movies and spending quality time with her family watching football. Go Vikings!

Kamille is a firm believer that all children can learn and reach their highest potential, when we provide Windows for students to see things from a different perspective and Mirrors for students to see themselves represented in their education. Equity, culture inclusion and diversity is meticulously weaved into every inch of her classrooms. She is committed to public education. Kamille has been on the board serving in the Congressional District 5 seat since 2021.

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