Meet our SCHOOL OF THE Arts Staff!
CHRISTOPHER CARD
Director of The Arts
Piano & Voice Instructor
Music In Movies/World Music Drumming/Exploring Music Instructor
[email protected]
Mr. Christopher Card is a singer, pianist and veteran educator that has led and grown school music programs for the past thirty years. Performing groups under Mr. Card's direction have received high honors at state and national festivals and competitions and have held an international reputation as a program of excellence. On four occasions Mr. Card's ensembles were selected to perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City and twice have represented the United States in performance tours in Europe. Mr. Card's performing groups have received six grand champion trophies at music festivals in the United States. The YouTube channel for Mr. Card's performing groups has a worldwide audience with over 1.5 million views. Mr. Card has directed numerous theatrical productions that have held a reputation for bringing amateur actors to professional standards of performance. His shows are known for creative and artistic excellence which has led to record breaking attendance with sold out showings.
Mr. Card's approach to education is to infuse a high level of energy and enthusiasm, incorporating humour in his teaching. His former schools have recognized him as a highly effective teacher that excels at drawing maximum potential out of all of his students in a caring environment. Mr. Card holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Western Michigan University and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL.
Mr. Card is happily married to his wife of 27 years, Christine. Together they enjoy raising their two children, Cullen and Ceana. He is excited to be taking on the adventure of developing an arts program at MIPS!
Director of The Arts
Piano & Voice Instructor
Music In Movies/World Music Drumming/Exploring Music Instructor
[email protected]
Mr. Christopher Card is a singer, pianist and veteran educator that has led and grown school music programs for the past thirty years. Performing groups under Mr. Card's direction have received high honors at state and national festivals and competitions and have held an international reputation as a program of excellence. On four occasions Mr. Card's ensembles were selected to perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City and twice have represented the United States in performance tours in Europe. Mr. Card's performing groups have received six grand champion trophies at music festivals in the United States. The YouTube channel for Mr. Card's performing groups has a worldwide audience with over 1.5 million views. Mr. Card has directed numerous theatrical productions that have held a reputation for bringing amateur actors to professional standards of performance. His shows are known for creative and artistic excellence which has led to record breaking attendance with sold out showings.
Mr. Card's approach to education is to infuse a high level of energy and enthusiasm, incorporating humour in his teaching. His former schools have recognized him as a highly effective teacher that excels at drawing maximum potential out of all of his students in a caring environment. Mr. Card holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Western Michigan University and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL.
Mr. Card is happily married to his wife of 27 years, Christine. Together they enjoy raising their two children, Cullen and Ceana. He is excited to be taking on the adventure of developing an arts program at MIPS!
MAX MEYER
6-12 Guitar Instructor
[email protected]
Max Meyer, based in Omaha, NE, has been actively performing and teaching for the past 15 years. He holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education with a focus on the classical guitar from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Max joined Rave on Productions (Omaha, NE) in 2016 where he played in theaters all across the United States and parts of Canada, as well as internationally and abroad though varied cruise lines. Prior to touring with Rave on Productions as their lead guitarist, Max played in locally and regionally recognized acts in the music scene around Omaha. With a diverse educational and performance background, Max has proven to be a versatile guitarist and musician.
6-12 Guitar Instructor
[email protected]
Max Meyer, based in Omaha, NE, has been actively performing and teaching for the past 15 years. He holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education with a focus on the classical guitar from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Max joined Rave on Productions (Omaha, NE) in 2016 where he played in theaters all across the United States and parts of Canada, as well as internationally and abroad though varied cruise lines. Prior to touring with Rave on Productions as their lead guitarist, Max played in locally and regionally recognized acts in the music scene around Omaha. With a diverse educational and performance background, Max has proven to be a versatile guitarist and musician.
KERRY FLEET
K-5 Art Instructor
[email protected]
Ms. Kerry Fleet is a creative and caring art teacher. She has more than ten years of experience teaching students of all ages, from kindergarten through 12th-grade. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Art Education and a concentration in ceramics. In 2009, Ms. Fleet had the opportunity to travel to South Africa to teach art at The Ubuntu School in Pietermaritzburg. While there, she was able to share and grow her passion for the arts and learning. Ms. Fleet also worked as a graphic designer at the Indiana Geological Survey, where she developed an interest in digital art.
Ms. Fleet became an art teacher so she could inspire young people and broaden their appreciation of art in an encouraging manner. Her hope is to share the love of art that has been her passion since she was young. Ms. Fleet’s teaching style focuses on process and the art-making experience, as a higher priority than the finished result. She provides supportive guidance to each student she works with, so that they may develop creatively in their own unique way. She hopes to inspire children to appreciate and welcome their creativity and imagination through making art.
In her free time, Ms. Fleet loves to spend time with family, hike, and travel. She’s been to Ireland, South Africa, Mozambique, Peru, Alaska, Hawaii, and loves to practice her photography and art journaling while traveling. Creating cross-curricular projects with art and nature is something Ms. Fleet is very passionate about. While not teaching, Ms. Fleet also loves to draw, paint, and embroider. Her artwork has been displayed at art galleries and art festivals. She is excited to meet all her MIPS art students, and is eager to help further develop each student’s passion for the arts.
K-5 Art Instructor
[email protected]
Ms. Kerry Fleet is a creative and caring art teacher. She has more than ten years of experience teaching students of all ages, from kindergarten through 12th-grade. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Art Education and a concentration in ceramics. In 2009, Ms. Fleet had the opportunity to travel to South Africa to teach art at The Ubuntu School in Pietermaritzburg. While there, she was able to share and grow her passion for the arts and learning. Ms. Fleet also worked as a graphic designer at the Indiana Geological Survey, where she developed an interest in digital art.
Ms. Fleet became an art teacher so she could inspire young people and broaden their appreciation of art in an encouraging manner. Her hope is to share the love of art that has been her passion since she was young. Ms. Fleet’s teaching style focuses on process and the art-making experience, as a higher priority than the finished result. She provides supportive guidance to each student she works with, so that they may develop creatively in their own unique way. She hopes to inspire children to appreciate and welcome their creativity and imagination through making art.
In her free time, Ms. Fleet loves to spend time with family, hike, and travel. She’s been to Ireland, South Africa, Mozambique, Peru, Alaska, Hawaii, and loves to practice her photography and art journaling while traveling. Creating cross-curricular projects with art and nature is something Ms. Fleet is very passionate about. While not teaching, Ms. Fleet also loves to draw, paint, and embroider. Her artwork has been displayed at art galleries and art festivals. She is excited to meet all her MIPS art students, and is eager to help further develop each student’s passion for the arts.
RINA GJOKA
K-12 Theatre
Producer/Director of the MIPS School Play
[email protected]
Rina Gjoka is an actress, filmmaker, and educator. She is passionate about using the theatre arts to foster students’ creativity, self-expression, imagination, confidence, and teamwork skills. Mrs. Gjoka holds an MFA in Acting with a focus on the creation of new works from The Ohio State University, and a Bachelor’s degree in both Theatre and Justice Studies. Her specialties include acting, the Linklater voice and speech technique for the actor, filmmaking, and devising new work. Her previous research includes breath work, the actors’ voice, mental health and drama therapy, and more. She is a member of the Voice and Speech Trainer’s Association.
Mrs. Gjoka’s recent roles include Vera in the award-winning film, My Sekret War, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, various Shakespeare improv roles with Lumen Repertory Theatre in Jacksonville, FL, and various film and theatre projects. Her award-winning film, My Sekret War, has won awards at the Los Angeles Film Awards, Phoenix Film Festival, and DEA Open Air Festival in Albania. In 2019, Mrs. Gjoka directed a new play at the interdisciplinary and acclaimed Wexner Center for the Arts. She is an OSU Global Arts + Humanities Society of Fellows grant recipient for cross-disciplinary research on film and social change.
Mrs. Gjoka is passionate about telling important stories, and she is passionate about using the theatre arts to transform students’ lives. She is thrilled to be a part of the strong and collaborative School of the Arts at MIPS, where she will have the opportunity to share her love of acting and connect with students she would otherwise not have had the chance to meet. With MIPS, she is thrilled give each student individualized attention and to inspire an appreciation for all things Theatre! In her free time, Mrs. Gjoka enjoys spending time with her husband and family, participating in theatre productions, making movies, and enjoying Mediterranean food.
K-12 Theatre
Producer/Director of the MIPS School Play
[email protected]
Rina Gjoka is an actress, filmmaker, and educator. She is passionate about using the theatre arts to foster students’ creativity, self-expression, imagination, confidence, and teamwork skills. Mrs. Gjoka holds an MFA in Acting with a focus on the creation of new works from The Ohio State University, and a Bachelor’s degree in both Theatre and Justice Studies. Her specialties include acting, the Linklater voice and speech technique for the actor, filmmaking, and devising new work. Her previous research includes breath work, the actors’ voice, mental health and drama therapy, and more. She is a member of the Voice and Speech Trainer’s Association.
Mrs. Gjoka’s recent roles include Vera in the award-winning film, My Sekret War, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, various Shakespeare improv roles with Lumen Repertory Theatre in Jacksonville, FL, and various film and theatre projects. Her award-winning film, My Sekret War, has won awards at the Los Angeles Film Awards, Phoenix Film Festival, and DEA Open Air Festival in Albania. In 2019, Mrs. Gjoka directed a new play at the interdisciplinary and acclaimed Wexner Center for the Arts. She is an OSU Global Arts + Humanities Society of Fellows grant recipient for cross-disciplinary research on film and social change.
Mrs. Gjoka is passionate about telling important stories, and she is passionate about using the theatre arts to transform students’ lives. She is thrilled to be a part of the strong and collaborative School of the Arts at MIPS, where she will have the opportunity to share her love of acting and connect with students she would otherwise not have had the chance to meet. With MIPS, she is thrilled give each student individualized attention and to inspire an appreciation for all things Theatre! In her free time, Mrs. Gjoka enjoys spending time with her husband and family, participating in theatre productions, making movies, and enjoying Mediterranean food.
MEGAN POLI
K-5 Music Instructor
[email protected]
Mrs. Megan Nuss Poli has been teaching music for fifteen years at various levels and parts of the country for both public and non-profit entities. Among these roles, she has served as a children’s choir clinician, director for a non-profit children’s choir, presented music education research at the national level, and directed multiple musicals. She attended Doane University in Crete, Nebraska where she discovered her passion for sharing and teaching music with young people. During her undergrad, Mrs. Poli sang in the top auditioned choir for 4 years, the jazz choir, and played in the symphonic wind ensemble. A few years later, she received her MA in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Her drive and passion is to nurture the musician in all students, and genuinely care and value each individual child.
Mrs. Poli was raised in small-town America, where she found her love for all things music. She grew up performing and singing in children’s choir, church choir, auditioned choir, show choir, band, community choir, and community theater. Mrs. Poli is excited to be in beautiful Michigan with her husband, dog, and kitten. She absolutely loves reading, embracing her inner nerd, cooking, all things outdoors, and is a dog enthusiast.
K-5 Music Instructor
[email protected]
Mrs. Megan Nuss Poli has been teaching music for fifteen years at various levels and parts of the country for both public and non-profit entities. Among these roles, she has served as a children’s choir clinician, director for a non-profit children’s choir, presented music education research at the national level, and directed multiple musicals. She attended Doane University in Crete, Nebraska where she discovered her passion for sharing and teaching music with young people. During her undergrad, Mrs. Poli sang in the top auditioned choir for 4 years, the jazz choir, and played in the symphonic wind ensemble. A few years later, she received her MA in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Her drive and passion is to nurture the musician in all students, and genuinely care and value each individual child.
Mrs. Poli was raised in small-town America, where she found her love for all things music. She grew up performing and singing in children’s choir, church choir, auditioned choir, show choir, band, community choir, and community theater. Mrs. Poli is excited to be in beautiful Michigan with her husband, dog, and kitten. She absolutely loves reading, embracing her inner nerd, cooking, all things outdoors, and is a dog enthusiast.
CASEY RAMTHUN
6-12 Art Instructor
[email protected]
Mr. Casey Ramthun graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design with a BFA in Illustration and has worked professionally as a graphic designer and has also worked as a freelancing artist. He has previously taught Visual Arts with Grand Rapids Public Schools. Mr. Ramthun has always returned to drawing and writing as his favorite means of creative expression, with a focus on portrait drawing. In his free time, Mr. Ramthun can be found tinkering with some new hobby or creative outlet to broaden his artistic experience.
Mr. Ramthun has been fortunate enough to have been surrounded and encouraged by several outstanding artists within his family, all of whom have fostered in him a deep appreciation of the arts for as long as he can remember. It is this unwavering support structure that drove Mr. Ramthun to the classroom where he can provide his students, the burgeoning artists of the world, with that same encouragement during these pivotal years of their artistic journey. In his classroom, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to face new challenges, encouraged to be brave and take creative risks, and be provided a creative environment where all students feel welcome and recognized when they make that leap forward in their never-ending artistic growth.
6-12 Art Instructor
[email protected]
Mr. Casey Ramthun graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design with a BFA in Illustration and has worked professionally as a graphic designer and has also worked as a freelancing artist. He has previously taught Visual Arts with Grand Rapids Public Schools. Mr. Ramthun has always returned to drawing and writing as his favorite means of creative expression, with a focus on portrait drawing. In his free time, Mr. Ramthun can be found tinkering with some new hobby or creative outlet to broaden his artistic experience.
Mr. Ramthun has been fortunate enough to have been surrounded and encouraged by several outstanding artists within his family, all of whom have fostered in him a deep appreciation of the arts for as long as he can remember. It is this unwavering support structure that drove Mr. Ramthun to the classroom where he can provide his students, the burgeoning artists of the world, with that same encouragement during these pivotal years of their artistic journey. In his classroom, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to face new challenges, encouraged to be brave and take creative risks, and be provided a creative environment where all students feel welcome and recognized when they make that leap forward in their never-ending artistic growth.
AMY DOBBEN
5-12 Piano
[email protected]
Amy Dobben is passionate about music! She holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Louisville and a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Piano from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. She has participated in numerous recitals and served as an accompanist for various choirs, vocalists, instrumentalists, and dramatic stage presentations including Annie and Fiddler on the Roof. Mrs. Dobben has taught piano to students of all ages and levels for over 20 years. She likes to hike and kayak in her free time, but reading is her favorite sport. When not doing something musical, she can usually be found with a book in hand. Mrs. Dobben lives in Louisville, KY with her husband Jim, three teen children, and a Goldador named Ezra.
5-12 Piano
[email protected]
Amy Dobben is passionate about music! She holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Louisville and a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Piano from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. She has participated in numerous recitals and served as an accompanist for various choirs, vocalists, instrumentalists, and dramatic stage presentations including Annie and Fiddler on the Roof. Mrs. Dobben has taught piano to students of all ages and levels for over 20 years. She likes to hike and kayak in her free time, but reading is her favorite sport. When not doing something musical, she can usually be found with a book in hand. Mrs. Dobben lives in Louisville, KY with her husband Jim, three teen children, and a Goldador named Ezra.
HEIDI ALLEN
Private Voice Coach
[email protected]
Heidi is an accomplished vocalist that has graced the stage in solo performances and leading roles in stage productions in her time at Oxford High School. She currently is working on a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre degree at Liberty University. Heidi enjoys spending her time going on runs, hanging out with friends, hiking, playing pickle ball, and reading.
Private Voice Coach
[email protected]
Heidi is an accomplished vocalist that has graced the stage in solo performances and leading roles in stage productions in her time at Oxford High School. She currently is working on a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre degree at Liberty University. Heidi enjoys spending her time going on runs, hanging out with friends, hiking, playing pickle ball, and reading.