Wichita Collegiate School

Amy Dokken

Dean of Students

After graduating from Texas A&M University and teaching in the public schools for two years, I joined the Collegiate family in 2000.  For 14 years, I enjoyed teaching 7th grade biology, but after finishing my Master’s Degree in School Leadership, I had the opportunity to move into the Middle School Dean position, and I love it!  Through daily interaction with my students, I get to know each and every one of them in grades 5th-8th.  I kind of feel like their “school mom”.   While in the middle school, my hope is that I can help all students appreciate the core values of integrity, hard work, compassion, wisdom, and respect through role modeling.  I understand adolescents and know how rough middle school can be for children.  I want to help guide every one of them get through this, sometimes, challenging part of growing up with confidence.

I consider Collegiate my second home and have watched my own two children grow up here under the guidance of many wonderful teachers and faculty.  I feel blessed to work in this loving environment.  Go Spartans!

Irving Aguirre

Seventh and Eighth Grade Spanish

Doug Bradley

Eighth Grade Mathematics

Doug has 15 years of experience teaching middle school and high school mathematics, 13 of those in the British Virgin Islands where he taught at a private IB school and in public schools.  Before his teaching career he was an IT executive and has been able to utilize those technology skills in the integration of technology in his classroom.  He has a wealth of knowledge, energy and enthusiasm.  He and his wife Kathy are originally from Kansas and are happy to be back near family.

Joyann Brake

Values in Action, Entrepreneurship, Old & New Testament

“Develop a passion for learning.  If you do, you will never cease to grow and be amazed.” Collegiate helps develop the whole child, and Enhancement classes are a major component of this.  I have the privilege of being an Enhancement teacher including classes such as Problem-solving, Entrepreneurship, Music Explorations, Values in Action, and Old and New Testament.  I started my career as an English Literature teacher in Chicago, and I also have a degree in music.  Through the course of working in several private schools, I have loved every opportunity to get to know middle-school students and use creativity to discover new subjects.  I consider WCS one of the biggest blessings in my own life, and that of my children!

Lynn DeVries

Sixth Grade English

Sixth grade is an exciting year for middle school students and their teachers.  As the sixth grade English teacher, I want students to realize the importance of writing in their lives. So, the focus of my class is to help students harness their excitement into a variety of writing projects that showcase what they are studying in their other classes. My room is known as the English Garden. It combines two of my favorite things – writing and gardening. Students find the garden a pleasant and safe place where they can reflect on what they are learning.  Being a published author and having had teaching experience from elementary school through graduate school, I bring to the classroom a knowledge of language and effective teaching practices. To learn more about the English Garden, please visit my website.

Christine Dunleavy

Eighth Grade English

I  was born in England and hold dual citizenship from both the United Kingdom and the United States. I obtained an undergraduate degree in English, History and French from the University of London as well as both undergraduate and graduate degrees in English/Education from the University of Maryland.  I have taught English language and literature from sixth grade through college and French courses from kindergarten through twelfth grade in a number of states including Maryland, Texas, North and South Carolina as well as Missouri and Kansas. At present, I am the eighth grade English teacher and Eighth Grade Team Leader.  My passion is working with students, especially those inquisitive minds  at Collegiate, and  I am thrilled to see the progress they make throughout the eighth grade year at that critical juncture between middle school and high school.

Brian Finan

Sixth Grade Science, ECybermission Coach

I began teaching in Litchfield, Connecticut at Forman School in 1998.  I worked alongside a French teacher there who happened to be a graduate of Collegiate.  Several years later we were married and moved to Lawrence to earn graduate degrees from the University of Kansas.  We eventually came to teach at Collegiate in 2007.  Since then, I have taught sixth grade science at Collegiate and my wife, Brooke Finan, has taught English and French here.  My mother-in-law teaches English at Collegiate and both of my children attend Collegiate.  To me, the most important part of teaching is helping children build self-confidence.  This starts by making my classroom a safe place where students can trust that I, as well as their peers, will appreciate their ideas and work.  My students are then responsible for doing their best and I am responsible for giving each student what they need to succeed. View my blog to learn more!  

Troy Fischer

Band Director

I am a graduate of Wichita State University, where I completed both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Instrumental Music Education. I strive for passion and excitement in the instrumental music classroom, and hope the musical experiences of the Collegiate student lead them to a lifetime of Fine Arts Appreciation! When not in the classroom, I am active as a professional musician, performing on upright and electric bass in area jazz groups, musical productions, and with the pop/rock cover band, Lucky People.

Rebecca Gehrer

Fifth Grade Mathematics

Rebecca joined us from Meadowlark Elementary in Andover where she taught 4th grade.  Prior to that she was an instructional coach and classroom teacher at USD 259 for 10 years.  While at USD 259 she was the winner of a Golden Apple Award and served on her building leadership team for 9 years.  Rebecca brings a warmth and professionalism that both our students and parents love!  Rebecca is also the wife of 6th grade teacher Joe Gehrer and mother to Lucy, Olivia, and Crosby.

Emily Goodpasture

Drama

Emily came to WCS from The Independent School where she served as the Director of Fine Arts, the Upper School Fine Arts Department Chair and the Upper School Drama Teacher for the past 13 years.  She has a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Acting and Design and two Master's Degrees, one in Elementary Education and the other in Theater Studies in Production and Design.  She has been an active leader both in her previous school and in the community.  Her numerous awards for producting, directing, costumes, graphic design, sets, costumes, and lighting are too many to list!  Our students are learning so much from this knowledgeable and passionate teacher.

Sam Hake

Drumline Director, Assistant Band Director, Music Technology

I graduated from Friends University with a Music Business Degree in 2008 where I was highly involved in the percussion department and jazz program. I have now been teaching instrumental music at WCS ever since and I love it! I strive to help each student find their own voice on their instrument, and with that find an outlet to be creative. Outside of work I perform professionally on percussion and drumset for local jazz concerts, musicals, and many other live music productions. I also enjoy going to concerts, composing, running, golf, roasting/drinking coffee, and most of all my family.

Dave Hawley

Seventh Grade History, Middle and Upper School Tennis Coach

History is the most amazing thing to examine of all our classes…because we are creating it every day! I have been at WCS since 1977 (there’s that History thing again!), and I have been privileged to watch our school blossom into THE best school in the Midwest. My wife Sally and I have three grown children, all of whom attended WCS and graduated from here. I grew up in New York and Nebraska (preacher’s kid!) and attended York College and Harding University, as well as accumulating Masters hours at WSU.  I LOVE exploring the twists and turns of our nations’ past with our students, and the chance to impress upon them their thread in the quilt of our society! Proba Te Dignum!

Scott Hawley

Eighth Grade Science, Science Explorations

I have always believed that one of the best ways to influence our world is by being a teacher. I love to see the gleam in a young person’s eye when they reach that moment of understanding. Finally, I love to learn too! So I enjoy learning new things about science and teaching as I work in the classroom.  I began teaching at Collegiate in 1991 and have taught 8th grade physical science and Upper School physics and AP Physics. I have also coached MS football, US baseball, US Robotics and both US and MS Science Olympiad. During the years I have been so impressed with our tremendous faculty, excited students and supportive parents. Collegiate really is a community that is focused on the goal of an outstanding education. I am proud to have been a part of this community.

Cynthia Koepsel

Seventh Grade English

As a native of West Des Moines, Iowa, I have passionately pursued life-long learning experiences in the U.S. Southwest, Spain, Greece, and Africa! My degrees= Monmouth (Associate of Arts); Drake U. (BA English/Secondary ED/Spanish and Speech); Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (Special Agent #644, General Criminal Investigation: Homicide & Undercover); Wichita State U. (BS Legal Assistant & Science K-9). Work History= Jr. English, Valley High School, W.D.M., IA; Iowa Bureau of Criminal Investigation; Senior English Composition & College Reading & World Literature, Southeast High, Wichita, KS; 7th Grade English, Poetic Justice Magazine Class, and Duke Tip Instructor, WCS.  A certified teacher awarded Professional License in Business, English, & Science, I have a plethora of experiences enriching my effectiveness and fun as an English teacher! Ron and I are parents of alumni, Dr. David Koepsel, (DDS), 2000, and Jacquie Koepsel, (MED), 2003, and cherish our exceptional Wichita Collegiate family!

John Leddy

seventh and eighth grade latin, rock band, kids fun night director

I have a wonderful wife Tanya and two children, Katrina and Tristan, at Wichita Collegiate and I have taught here since 1995.  Every year while at Collegiate I have taught Okiniawan Goju Ryu Karate, in the spring of 2009 I started a Rock Band class for 7th and 8th graders, I coached tennis for nine years and I was assistant coach for MS girls basketball for two years.  I received a bachelor's degree in Latin and English with a minor in Greek and graduated Cum Laude from Wichita State University.  I grew up in Conway Springs, KS a small town about 30 miles south west of Wichita.  I enjoy playing music, reading, playing video games, physical fitness training, and movies. 

Jan Nicodemus

Art

I was raised in Summit, New Jersey, where, at a young age, I developed a love for art and for working with children. After graduating from high school, I attended The University of Kansas, where I studied Fine Arts and Education, minored in Sculpture and Ceramics, and earned my BA in Art Education. It was there that I found my passion for clay sculpture and wheel-throwing. I began my teaching career in 1975, teaching Art to 1st through 5th graders in the Argentine district of Kansas City, Kansas. After 5 years, I left teaching and moved to Wichita to raise my two young daughters, Katie and Briana. I devoted 10 years to being “mom-at-home” before returning to teaching again. Prior to being hired at Wichita Collegiate School, I was awarded the Graduate Teacher position in the Art Education department at Wichita State University for the 1988-1999 school year. In 1990, I was hired by Wichita Collegiate School to be the assistant to the head of the Middle School. After 2 years in the office I was offered a position to teach Art to 3rd through 8th grade students.  In 2003, I was asked to also teach the Middle School “Transitions” class, a healthy life-skills and drug and alcohol prevention course, which I taught for 10 years.  My love is working with children, my joy teaching Art, and my blessing is being here, at my beloved Wichita Collegiate School. 

Diana Nixon

Eighth Grade Ancient History

In 1989 my family became a part of Wichita Collegiate School. Our sons came as students, and my husband and I as teachers. We learned very quickly what a unique and very special place this is. Both of our sons graduated from WCS, and my husband and I are privileged to continue teaching here. I taught in public schools and gifted programs for ten years before coming to WCS. At WCS I have taught fifth grade and eighth grade ancient history. It has been the most rewarding experience. Eighth graders don’t know that most of their peers don’t read Plato or debate Hammurabi’s Law Code. They don’t know they “can’t do it,“ so they do, with joy, confidence, curiosity and enthusiasm.  My work with the National Endowment for Humanities, including a six week study tour in Italy, workshops, university course work, and international travel have all helped to give me the background to make the ancient world come alive for my students. For more information, please visit my blog.

Charlotte Owens

Transitions

After working more than a decade in the Andover school system, I’m delighted to find a home at Collegiate.  As the Middle School Transitions teacher, I’m excited to share a part as our students mature throughout middle school and prepare for high school.  What an exciting and change-filled time middle school is!  I hold a degree in Psychology (and a Master’s in Criminal Justice), which will, no doubt, help us as we navigate the “growing up” process. Originally from the St. Louis area, I married a native Kansan, and my husband and I raised our family in Andover. Our two children are grown, but Ron and I are still active in our community. Outside of school, I teach yoga and enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.  

Ruth Powell

Fine Arts Department Chair, Music Theory, Vocal Music, Encore Director

My husband and I moved to Wichita from the United Kingdom in 1997 for a three year job opportunity and I am pleased to say we loved Wichita so much that we decided to stay. I graduated from the University of North Wales, Bangor with a B.Mus(Hons.) and also completed my Post Graduate Cerificate of Education. Prior to WCS I worked at Clifton College and Redmaids in Bristol and Wycombe Abbey School just west of London. We have two boys who have both attended Collegiate and who thrived on the ethos that ‘at Collegiate you can do it all’. Currently I teach the AP Music theory class, vocal music in the Middle School and I am the Fine Arts Department Chair.  I enjoy sharing my love for music with my students both in the classroom, on the stage and in the community. Music should be fun!

Leslie Prechtel

Head Librarian

The Prechtel family’s relationship with Collegiate began over fifty years ago. My father-in-law was a member of the original board and my husband was a member of the second graduating class. My relationship with Collegiate began when we brought our daughter, Abbie ’97, to preschool in 1982. For the next 10 years I was an at home mom who became very involved with Collegiate life. I helped with classroom projects, was a member of CAP, and a volunteer in the library. In 1993, Bunny Hill gave me the chance of a lifetime and I became the Upper School librarian. I worked under a Head Librarian who encouraged me to return to school to earn my Masters in Library Science. In 2001, I completed my MLS at Emporia State. I feel blessed every day that I have the opportunity to work at Collegiate. My dream is for Collegiate to grow stronger with each passing year and to one day celebrate its one hundredth anniversary.

Lori Primm

Fifth Grade English

My teaching career began in the fifth grade classroom of a small country school. In 2000 I came to Collegiate and taught first grade for 14 years. It is exciting to be back in the fifth grade classroom where I now teach English. I have a BA in education from WSU and am currently pursuing an MA in English. I have been passionate about reading and writing for as long as I can remember. My husband Jerry and I have three grown children and four grandchildren. Our youngest son Grant is a 2007 WCS alum. Reading and journaling are two of my favorite hobbies. I also enjoy traveling, cooking, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. One of my favorite quotes is by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - “The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, and all the sweet serenity of books.”

Corene Ramser

Computer

I have been a part of the Collegiate community since 1994. From the moment I stepped foot on the campus, everyone made me feel welcome. It quickly became a second home for me and my family. Both of my children have been blessed with a strong WCS education.  My first seven years were spent as the middle school administrative assistant. I moved from that position to the middle school computer lab where I still have the privilege to work with 5th through 8th grade students as I try to keep them on top of the every changing world of technology. They also teach me a thing or two! When the one-to-one laptop program launched in 2012 for middle school and upper school, I took on the additional role of monitoring the middle school help desk. This position has given me the opportunity to help students trouble shoot and fix their computer issues as well as keep me on my toes learning new things daily. To keep up with what is happening in my classroom, be sure to go to my blog.

Suzanne Schwarz

Sixth Grade Mathematics, MATHCOUNTS coach

After teaching middle school math for twenty-three years in public school, I joined the amazing staff at Collegiate in 2005. What a blessing this has been! I hold a B.A.T. with an emphasis in math from Sam Houston State University and an M.B.A. in finance from the University of Houston. It is a joy to help students build confidence in their math ability and challenge them to become strong problem solvers. For over twenty years, I have also enjoyed my role as a MATHCOUNTS coach. This program is designed for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students who have a high interest in math. For more information, please visit my blog.

Joel Walker

Fifth Grade Science

Science is life! I have been blessed to have the opportunity to explore science in many different forms over the years and the passion that I have for science has led me here to Collegiate. My journey within the field of science has taken me from the Kansas Wetlands (Baker University) to Gulf Coast microbial ecosystems (University of South Alabama) to the exploration of outer space (Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center). It has been an amazing ride. Along the way I have taught high school at McGill-Toolen High School (Mobile, AL) , the Cosmosphere Academy and Wichita Heights High School. Now I have the opportunity to teach in a special place with incredible students and I could not be happier. My family (beautiful wife and five amazing children) and I are excited to be a part of this community here at Collegiate and look forward to many more explorations in the future. I am excited about the opportunity to open up the world of science to my students and watch them begin their own journey of exploration. Start the journey in Walker's Sciencesphere today.

Jim Wetta

Physical Education, Middle School Football Coach, Intramural Director

I am a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in Communications.  I attended UK on a football scholarship and graduated in 1989.  I worked for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe until our youngest was born in 2005.  In 2006 I began coaching at Collegiate and working with the middle school aged kids.  I've coached at the middle school level since and have also taken on 5th and 6th grade physical education.  Our youngest is now in middle school and we would not want him any where else.  All of our kids have or are attending Collegiate and my wife and I couldn't be happier.  This is/has been a wonderful place to raise our children.