Our Team

Kelsey brings experience in nonprofit management, educational leadership, and youth development to her work with the Duluth Community School Collaborative. Prior to joining the Collaborative, she served as Food Access Manager and Rutabaga Project Manager at the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency and the Operations and Communications Manager for the Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association. She has a passion for building sustainable community connections and holistically supporting youth. She holds a BA in Business Management and English from the University of St. Thomas. 

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Contact: kelsey@duluthcsc.org or 218-212-5952

Scott Cunningham joined Duluth Community School Collaborative in Summer 2023, working with the Denfeld High School Out-of-School Time DASH program. Before joining the Collaborative, Scott had a 20 year career in educational technology content creation. Prior to that he taught 9th grade history and 12th grade government in Minnesota and Arizona. While in college Scott spent five summers working in K-5 youth recreation programs for Lincoln (NE) Parks and Recreation. From personal experience Scott knows how supportive schools and communities can enrich the lives of students and is committed to being an ally and advocate for our young people. Scott has a BS in Education for Secondary Social Science from the University of Nebraska.

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Contact: scott@duluthcsc.org

Nicholas Heck is the Out of School Time Coordinator at Myers-Wilkins Elementary, focused on bringing enrichment opportunities to students through after-school/summer programming. Nick's role allows him to connect students with community leaders, fun clubs, helpful resources and anything else they may need to fully cultivate their school experience. Before coming to DCSC, Nick was an elementary school teacher from 2015 - 2023 and still maintains his Minnesota Educator's License. Nick has immense pride in the Duluth community he serves and believes in equitable learning opportunities "for all students in all places". When he's not at school, you can usually find Nick on the trails with his border-collie, Chester, or cozied up with a book he won't stop talking about. Nick is excited to be part of such a great team and always looks forward to helping others as best he can.

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Contact: nd.nicholas.heck@isd709.org

She has spent the past six years learning about and connecting with the Duluth community. She holds a degree in Community Psychology and Health Promotion from the Southwest Minnesota State University and is a trained sexual assault advocate with Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assualt (PAVSA). 

Sadie strives to be a trusted friend and advocate, who can offer judgment free, culturally appropriate, and trauma conscious support and resources to those she meets. Her studies in psychology alongside her personal experiences with food, health, and wellness, led her to become deeply passionate about using food as medicine, uncovering what it means to truly be healthy, and sharing that knowledge with others.  

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Contact: nd.sadie.herbst@isd709.org

Jessica is a new addition to the team at the Duluth Community School Collaborative. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Cultural Studies. She has experience supporting student's and families at Robbinsdale Area Schools. Her work has provided her understanding of the unique barriers faced by folks within the school system and the passion to make those more navigable. She is excited to continue that work with the collaborative. Outside of work you can find her backpacking or riding her bike.

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Contact: jessica@duluthcsc.org

Molly is a former MSW intern from UMD and has extended her time with DCSC. She is continuing to work at Myers-Wilkins supporting students during after-school programs. She is passionate about youth work and creating a supportive and encouraging environment for all students. She comes from International Falls, MN and has worked at the International Falls Public Library as a full-time Youth Library Associate. At the library, she ran STEAM programming for K-6th grade students. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UMD and a minor in Early Childhood Studies. She is currently working to obtain her MSW. In her free time, she likes to cross-country ski, take walks, read, and bake.

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Contact: nd.molly.larson@isd709.org

Anne has been a youth work professional since 2003, coordinating programs that build opportunities for stronger youth-adult partnerships, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL),  Service-Learning, and youth leadership in both school-based and community-based settings. Before taking her current role at DCSC in 2023, Anne served in several youth-serving Minnesota nonprofits in Carlton County and the Twin Cities, as well as international NGOs. They have Master’s Degrees in Education and Youth Development Leadership from St. Catherine University and The University of Minnesota respectively. Anne authored a chapter in the book Service-Learning by Design for the National Youth Leadership Council. In 2020, they received a Fellowship from the National Mentoring Summit. Anne currently serves on the board of directors for The Minnesota Alliance with Youth. 

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Contact: nd.anne.parish@isd709.org

Saraiya began her position as Denfeld Community School Site Coordinator in 2020. She has been working with children in nonprofit settings, including the YWCA Duluth, Boys & Girls Club, and Northwood Children's Services since 2013. She attended the Education Studies Program at the University of Minnesota, focusing on Early Childhood Education and Special Education. Saraiya specializes in mental health, trauma, and emotional and behavioral needs. She currently serves as co-chair for the MLK Planning Committee of the Duluth NAACP. She enjoys going on hikes and spending time outside during her free time. Saraiya cares deeply about building a safe place for all students to meet their needs and reach their full potential.

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Contact: nd.saraiya.piantek@isd709.org

Robin hails from Florida, where she taught high school Social Studies for 21 years. She moved to Duluth in 2023 and loves her new life in the Northland! Robin served as department chair and county lead teacher in various school districts in the Sunshine State, and developed online curriculum for Florida Virtual School. She also worked as an Instructional Designer for a large community blood bank, and learned a lot about the diversity of learning styles and adaptations that can help people grow personally and professionally. She managed and volunteered at several nonprofits, and has experience both writing, reviewing and tracking grants. She loves all things outdoors, and is an avid cyclist, runner, and swimmer and loves a good trivia game. Robin always has a houseful of rescue dogs that fill her home and heart. 

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Contact: robin@duluthcsc.org

Cassie Joined the Duluth Community School Collaborative in the spring of 2024. She grew up in Duluth and has 20 years worth of working experience in the community serving families, working in non profits, and she solely raised her 3 grown children here in the northland where they attended the Duluth Public Schools. Her work has provided her with the compassion, the knowledge, and the understanding needed to support our students and families that we serve here at the Collaborative. She looks forward to helping our Volunteers get placed properly, co creating lasting procedures for onboarding and tracking volunteers, is hopeful for building partnerships with like minded community members, and wants to be a continuous support to her team at DCSC.

When Cassie is out of the office, you can find her enjoying the outdoors. She loves flowers and planting, being out and about in her SxS, being by the lake, engaging with her friends, cooking awesome dinners, and lastly being home with her cherished loved ones.  

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Contact: cassie@duluthcsc.prg

Caitlin Smith started with the Collaborative in September, 2021. She brings her experience working with youth who have been impacted by homelessness living in permanent supportive housing. She attended UMD’s Unified Early Childhood program and has a passion for understanding brain development and the impacts of trauma on the brain. She is an experienced Circle of Security Parenting facilitator and has recently been trained in Restorative Practices. Caitlin also serves on the board of The Duluth Center for Women and Children. She loves to spend her free time with her loved-ones. Any activity by a body of water is her favorite, including paddleboarding, rowing, swimming, fishing, rock-picking, and pontooning.

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Contact: nd.caitlin.smith@isd709.org

Rachel works alongside a collaborative leadership team composed of families, school staff, and community partners to create, strengthen, and maintain the bridge between school and community. She has been in her current role since 2016 and has been involved with the Collaborative since 2003, including several years on staff at the Myers-Wilkins site. Rachel has a B.A. in Behavioral Arts and Sciences with emphases in Psychology and Education, and more than fifteen years of experience in youth development and full-service community schools. She is inspired by the strength and resilience of people around her and a vision of a more hopeful future. Rachel is committed to co-creating the conditions of well-being necessary for all people to learn and thrive through authentic connection and collaboration.

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Contact: rachel.thapa@isd709.org

Tori is proud to be Kiowa and Lenni-Lenape (Delaware Nation). She uses her background to inform her work, believing that our youth are our greatest investment for our future. She is passionate about learning from and connecting with people from all walks of life, ages, and backgrounds. Tori has been focused on youth development and serving youth, their families, and the community since she moved to Duluth during the pandemic in 2020. Seeing a need to support youth, Tori began her youth work career serving as a TrueNorth AmeriCorps member at the Boys and Girls Club - Lincoln Park branch; after her term ended, she worked for the organization as their Membership Supervisor. She continued in after-school programming at Neighborhood Youth Services and Family Freedom Center where she collaborated with many members of the community as well as community-based organizations to provide interest-based learning opportunities for youth. She developed and led her own programs, teaching youth technical art skills in braiding and design, leadership, and academics. Tori graduated from the University of Iowa, where she studied Environmental Science and Biology. Formerly, she was a research and field scientist working for the Science Museum of Minnesota. She helped research lakes across the state and specialized in identifying magnificent microscopic organisms called diatoms (ask her about them!). Tori promotes authenticity, curiosity, critical-thinking, creativity, leadership, and learning with youth. She believes in building supportive and caring relationships with youth by meeting them where they’re at and coaching them to independently reach their fullest potential! Outside of work, Tori is a fine artist, crocheter, beader, and braider as well as an amateur chef, comedian, power-lifter, hooper, dancer, and pickleballer.

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Contact: nd.victoria.thrash@isd709.org