Mr. Nara (he/him) • Bill, our founder & executive director, brings extensive teaching experience from high school. Recognizing a gap in enrichment programming, he initiated The Chess & Strategy Game Association (CSGA). Starting with 5 students in one district, Bill's vision has flourished, now spanning 11 Minnesota school districts and impacting 1,200+ students. His commitment to providing diverse, engaging educational opportunities defines CSGA's success.

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Mr. Nara teaches Analog Simulation Games.

Jason instructs Chess, Strategy Games, Cooking, and Personal Finance & investing. His hobbies are playing golf & poker. He's also a proud dog dad to Larry. 

Mrs. Anderson (she/her) • Carrie teaches math and science to fourth grade during the school year in the Anoka Hennepin School District. In the summer, she has a passion to work with young ocean enthusiasts as they learn more about this vast world and the creatures that inhabit its waters. A proud mother of three kids and two dogs, she enjoys watching and traveling to see all of her children play hockey at a variety of levels from college to high school. In her  limited free time, Carrie enjoys running, the outdoors, reading and doing puzzles.

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Mrs. Anderson teaches Ocean Adventures.

Ms. Arndt (she/her) • Hi, I'm Maria, an art educator at Spring Lake Park High since '93. Returning each summer to Summer Academy, I thrive on inspiring creativity in high schoolers while cherishing the boundless enthusiasm of younger students. With 30+ years teaching diverse classes like "Ceramics" and "Origami," I'm passionate about all aspects of art. Beyond the classroom, my interests include reading, mural painting, and museum exploration. Join me on this artistic journey!

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Ms. Arndt teaches Clay the Architectural Way.

Mr. Jeff (he/him) • Jeff is a retired science teacher and cross country coach from Fridley High School who has taught Astronomy at Summer Academy for the last 12 years.  He has presented workshops on daytime astronomy at National Science Teachers Association conventions, directed the Astronomy Club at FHS, and is a member of the Minnesota Astronomical Society.  His favorite planet is Earth. Jeff creates an atmosphere of creativity and wonder as students are challenged to Visualize Our World in Space.  He and his wife are headed to Arkansas for the April 8 solar eclipse.

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Mr. Jeff teaches Astronomy: Visualizing Our World in Space.

Rachel Cathey (she/her) • Rachel is a local teaching artist for organizations, including Hennepin Theatre Trust and Lakeshore Players. She was a founding member and continues to run the Fridley Youth Community Theatre program, which is celebrating 10 years of youth productions this summer. Rachel performs on stages all around the Twin Cities and was a classroom and specialist teacher in public schools for over twenty years. When not enjoying stage life, Rachel can be found spending time with her amazing grandson or her fabulous cats and reptiles, photographing animals and nature, or writing children’s books.

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Rachel Cathey teaches Actor’s Workshop.

Mrs. Celiberti (she/her) • With 35 years of teaching, my journey began with after-school clay classes. From clay to kindergarten and bible studies, my diverse roles shaped me. Retired from St. Croix Prep in 2021, I now relish time with grandchildren, travel, kayaking, reading, and, of course, sculpting in clay!

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Mrs. Celiberti teaches Exploring With Clay.

Amaris (she/her) • Outside of working for CSGA, Amaris is a part time photographer and loves going hiking. She also has a tuxedo cat named Diego.

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Amaris teaches Videography for Good.

Miss Lydia ( she/her ) • Miss Lydia is studying engineering at Century College. She teaches various elementary and middle school programs, such as TinkerCad, sewing, strategy games, and 3D Printing & Design. Ticket to Ride is her favorite game. She also enjoys embroidery, cross-stitch, and loves cats.

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Miss Lydia teaches Young Rockets and Robots.

Mr. Henry (he/him) • Henry, a licensed teacher, leads Chess and Coding Clubs during the school year. In the summer, he heads Strategy Games and Rock 'n' Roll Band Camp. A proud father of four kids and three dogs, he coaches football and soccer in the fall and spring. In his limited free time, Henry enjoys fishing, the outdoors, traveling, music, and cooking.

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Mr. Henry teaches Young Coders.

Ms. Leslie (she/her) • I am an avid puzzler with a special talent for working jigsaw puzzles. I’ve participated in many speed puzzling contests over the years, but I also enjoy the process of puzzling slowly and meditatively. I’ll use my speed puzzling skills at the upcoming USA National Jigsaw Puzzle Contest. My degree is in Music Theory and Composition, and I play multiple instruments including piano, guitar, banjo, and mandolin. My other interests are needlework, hiking, reading, and spending time with my family, friends, and pets.

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Ms. Leslie teaches Jigsaw Puzzling for Fun and Team Building.

David (he/him) • David teaches Chess and Scriptwriting for CSGA Enrichment. Additionally, he is a talented scriptwriter, and in his free time, he plays video games.

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David teaches Dungeon Master Camp.

Mrs. Nara (she/her) • My favorite place to be is out in nature. With art supplies, snacks, and water in my pack I explore area trails. My art is my response to what I notice.

I've been an art educator for Mounds View Public Schools since 1993. I've been an artist in the Northrup King Building in Minneapolis since 2019. I can help students improve their skills in a variety of styles and techniques. When a student tries a new technique and expresses satisfaction with the result, that is the best feeling!

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Mrs. Nara teaches Watercolor in Nature.

Liam (he/him) • Liam is a Minnesota history buff. He has a border collie named Scout. His favorite game is Operation. Liam has experience as a Boy Scout camp counselor and is a certified lifeguard.

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Liam teaches Rock ’n’ Roll Band Camp.

Ms. Roman (she/her) • Ms. Roman is a professional artist who has been teaching art in schools for the last thirty years. She loves to see students grow in their creative skills. For this program, she uses her experiences as a graphic artist to teach about design.

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Ms. Roman teaches Design Studio.

Mr. Roman (he/him) • Minnesota native and former Summer Academy student, Josh Roman, has been working as a professional magician for the past six years. He picked up magic as a hobby while working as a stay-at-home dad. After finding just the right teacher, he quickly moved on to booking his first professional gig. Now, he wants to share his love of magic with you.

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Mr. Roman teaches The Art of Magic.

Miss Rouzer (she/her) • Amy has been a dedicated media/library teacher in Fridley since 2012, imparting not just library and tech skills but also igniting curiosity through enrichment programs, with a special passion for animal education. Beyond the shelves, she finds joy in reading and contributes her time to volunteering pursuits.

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Miss Rouzer teaches Predators of the Sea and Sky.

Miss Lisa (she/her) • I am a life-long jigsaw puzzler and have competed in jigsaw puzzle contests since 2002. The St Paul Winter Carnival is the largest jigsaw puzzle contest in the United States and the teams I compete with have been in the top ten for most of the years I have participated. My claim to fame is that I have competed with 26 different teams in various puzzle contests around the state.  In March, I will compete in the USA National Jigsaw Puzzle contest in San Diego. I have an Elementary Education degree and have worked with children and youth for 18 years. Join in the puzzling fun! 

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Miss Lisa teaches Jigsaw Puzzling for Fun and Team Building.

Sarah (she/her) • Meet Sarah, aka @SarahDoesPuzzles, a renowned speed puzzler from St. Paul, MN. Competing since age 13, she's 2nd globally in pair and team divisions. In 2021, she turned her passion into a full-time job—hosting competitions, selling rare puzzles, and consulting for puzzle-related companies. Follow her journey on Instagram @SarahDoesPuzzles or at sarahdoespuzzles.com. 

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Sarah teaches Jigsaw Puzzling for Fun and Team Building.