Student Services
Biographies
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 Erin Adams
B.A. University of Minnesota - Duluth
M.A. University of Minnesota - Duluth
Upper School Counselor
Erin Adams is in her third year as the Upper School Counselor at The Blake School. Prior to coming to Blake she worked for six years in public schools, serving both middle and high schools as a guidance counselor. Her experience includes positions in the Minneapolis and Osseo Area School Districts as well as in Maui, Hawaii. Ms. Adams holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology and is a licensed school counselor.
 Jeanette Gadeberg, LICSW
B.A. University of Minnesota
M.S.W. University of Minnesota
Director of Student Services PK-12 at The Blake School
Middle School Counselor
Jeanette Gadeberg has been a practicing mental health counselor for 22 years. She is the mother of a Blake graduate and a current junior at The Blake Upper School. She is also the author of two books, Raising Strong Daughters and Brave New Girls. Prior to coming to Blake, Ms. Gadeberg worked as an outpatient psychotherapist at Fairview Counseling Center. She is a member of the American School Counselor Association and holds a Minnesota Board of Social Work state licensure. She is committed to supporting students, parents and faculty to as all work together to raise academically strong and emotionally healthy children. All are welcome to call or stop by her office.
 Jon Halpern
Lower School Counselor - Blake Campus
B.A. Macalester Collge
M.A. St. Thomas College
Jon Halpern has been with The Blake School for twenty years, first as a classroom teacher and currently as Blake’s first Lower School Counselor. Previous to that he taught in public school and served as a psychometrist for the Washburn Child Guidance Center. He has been a consultant for Community Intervention, Inc. and an adjunct professor for Hamline and Saint Mary’s Universities. He is also the co-founder of ChildSense, a company providng seminars to parents and educators.
 Jane Johnson
B.S. University of Minnesota
M.A. San Francisco State University
M.A. University of St. Thomas in Gifted Education
Learning Specialist - Highcroft Campus
Jane Johnson is delighted to be back for her 16th year at Highcroft as the Learning Specialist. After teaching fourth and sixth grades in Seattle, Washington, she returned to Minnesota to work with high school learning disabled students at Minnetonka High School. In the last few years, she has become especially interested in students who have been tested as gifted or talented and diagnosed as learning disabled. This unique combination of learning styles is one that exists in a number of our students at Blake. Mrs. Johnson finds it is a pleasure to be able to support and guide them.
 Marilyn Marn
Learning Specialist - Blake Upper School
B.S. St. Cloud State University
Graduate Work at St. Cloud State University and University of Minnesota
Marilyn Marn taught in a public high school resource room as a Special Education teacher for 5 years before coming to Blake in 1980. She was hired as the assistant to the Director or Student Services. Her main duties consisted of: Consultant for Learning Differences, working with admissions, compiling studies for Gr. 9-12, being in charge of testing K-12, meeting with college representatives, and one of six college advisors. She resigned from this position after the birth of her second son, and the Director of Student Services (Lois Nottbohm) asked Ms. Marn to consult with her on Learning Differences one day a week. This position evolved into the present position. Ms. Marn is a graduate of St. Cloud State University with a B.S. in Special Education. She has also continued with graduate work at St. Cloud State University and The University of Minnesota in Psych-Educational Studies in LD and Counseling. This is presently her 25th year at Blake.
 Deanna Preiss
B.S. St. Cloud State University
M.Ed. University of Minnesota
Learning Specialist - Blake Campus
Deanna Preiss, the “Learning Device” is excited to be part of the Blake community. Mrs. Preiss began her teaching career in a suburb of Milwaukee, WI. After an eight year break for raising three beautiful daughters, she went back to the classroom and to graduate school. Mrs. Preiss received her L.D. and E.B.D. certification and completed her Master’s Degree in Special Education. In her spare time, she enjoys power walking, biking, reading, stamping and memory books, and now, knitting! Mrs. Preiss loves her position at Blake, as she has the unique opportunity of knowing students and parents over the course of six years in the Lower School. Mrs. Preiss welcomes visits and calls anytime!
 Kaari Simonson
B.A. University of Wyoming
M.A. University of Colorado at Denver
Learning Specialist Middle School
Kaari Simonson is very excited to be back at Blake as the Learning Specialist at the Middle School. Having grown up in Minnesota, she is "back home" from having gone to school and teaching in the west. After having completed her Master's degree in Learning Disabilities/Behavior Disorders K-12, she served as a Special Education teacher, diagnostician and case manager for 12 years at Horizon Middle School in Denver, Co. In 2000 she came back to be closer to family and worked with students with learning disabilities at Burnsville Sr. Campus as well as substitute taught at both Blake Lower campuses. During the 2002-2003 school year, she taught a 1 year transition program at Groves Academy.
After co-founding The Whole Learning School St. Louis Park,MN, which serves a population of students with unique learning styles, she feels very fortunate to have the opportunity to work again at the middle school level here at Blake with students who have learning differences and serve as part of the Student Services department.
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