We are excited to spotlight our high school departments, allowing students and families to learn more about the outstanding staff who support our Firebirds every day. This month, we are highlighting our incredible English teachers!
Greg Mulder - Introduction to Literature, American Literature
Mr. Mulder earned an M.A. in English from the University of Nevada and has been teaching literature courses at the high school and college levels for the last 10 years, with 6 years at Windsor Charter Academy. He enjoys building relationships with students, helping them build habits that lead to self-sufficiency, and forming mutual bonds of trust and respect. Mr. Mulder has an active teaching style that utilizes small groups and fosters an environment that encourages engagement, interaction, and collaboration. Mr. Mulder loves to be active himself and enjoys hiking, climbing, running triathlons, and traveling with his wife and daughter.
Jennifer Przedpelski - Public Speaking and Communications
Mrs. Przedpelski attended Brigham Young University and earned an M.A. in English with a focus on rhetoric. She is in her sixth year of teaching at Windsor Charter Academy, with a total of 14 years of teaching experience at both the college and high school levels. She entered the teaching profession after discovering in college how rewarding it was to help fellow classmates understand difficult content. She loves to see her students grow in knowledge and skill, as well as in the confidence to express themselves verbally. Mrs. Przedpelski believes there is great cognitive value in having students listen, process, and take focused notes, but has also started incorporating learning through gamification — increasing engagement in learning by teaching through games. She loves to journal, play with words and their meanings, and also enjoys swimming in lazy rivers.
Eliza Ekstrand - Classics & Composition
Ms. Ekstrand earned her B.A. in Secondary English Education from Colorado State University and is in her 3rd year of teaching 9th-grade Classics and Composition at Windsor Charter Academy. Her classes all focus on writing and composition, and evaluating sentence structure to formulate strong writing with eloquent grammar. She uses physical activity, such as tossing a ball around during class, to identify parts of speech in a sentence, helping to break up the rigorous focus required for writing. Ms. Ekstrand enjoys building relationships with students in and out of the classroom and attends many of their extracurricular activities to see them participate in activities they are passionate about. She feels it helps her understand and gain insight into them, and encourages their learning. When not at school, she enjoys camping (all year long)!
Anne Kingsley - English Composition
Dr. Kingsley has been at Windsor Charter Academy for 9 years, but is a seasoned educator with over 25 years of teaching and 15 years of administrative experience. She loves the conscientious students at Windsor Charter Academy and helping them discover the “light” they find as they understand and apply the concepts they have learned to their lives. She considers herself strict in the classroom, with high expectations for research and writing at the college level, but strives to bring balance through collaboration and engaging activities, sometimes even incorporating spontaneous singing. Dr. Kingsley hopes all of her students demonstrate improvement throughout the year and develop a sense of pride in their final portfolio. Outside of school, she enjoys reading and spending time with her granddaughters and dog.
Karen Percy - American Literature
Ms. Percy has been teaching for over 15 years and has been at Windsor Charter Academy for the last 6 years. Her love of literature inspired her to become a teacher and share her passion for how an incredible book can transform one’s life! She believes people who love to read, even when not inclined, become better writers, thinkers, and problem solvers in every aspect of life. She hopes to help her students understand the connections and parallels that can be drawn from the texts to their own personal experiences. Karen wants each student to leave her class at the end of the year with competence and confidence for whatever career path they may choose.