Meet the Lee Education Staff

Jim Lee: Elementary Ed / Middle School / Owner of Lee Education

Jim Lee grew up in Hastings, Minnesota, and graduated from Hastings High School in 1983. Jim earned his bachelor of arts degree and obtained his teaching licensor in social studies from the College of Saint Thomas in 1990. Jim went on to earn his master of education degree in special education from the University of Minnesota in 1994. At that time, he expanding his teaching licensors to include learning disabilities and emotional behavioral disorders. Jim taught at Oakland Junior High School as a special education teacher from 1993 -1998. It was there that Jim discovered the difficulties of making significant academic progress while working with many students at different levels in different academic areas,all at the same time. It was at this point that Jim decided he could make a lot more of a difference by working with students one at a time, at an appropriate level and pace, without the red tape associated with special education. So on September 1, 1998 Jim opened the doors of Lee Education Center, and has never looked back.

Michelle Bump: Elementary Ed./Middle School

Michelle has been a member of our staff since December 1998. She graduated from Mankato State University with an elementary education degree, a minor in early childhood education and a concentration in kindergarten education. She has worked in school districts 197, ISD 621, and ISD 11. She has worked with students with special needs, and was in charge of the after-school program at Mendota Elementary School for many years. She resides in Cottage Grove, MN with her husband and two daughters.

Jessica Lee: Administrative Assistant

Jessica has been working at the center for more than eight years. Jessica is a freshman at college and currently resides in Mendota, MN.

Pat Monson: Advanced Math / Science / ACT-SAT Prep

Pat has been an educator for over 30 years in Minnesota and Missouri. She has a bachelor of science in chemistry and biology, with minors in mathematics and physics. She also has a masters degree in biochemistry from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and Southern Illinois University. She has been a part of staff at Lee Education for the past four years.

Nicole Thompson: ACT English/Reading

Nicole is one of our newest editions to Lee Education Center. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and History. She also has a Masters of Arts Degree in Teacher Education and was involved in the Ph. D program in Modern European History from the University of Notre Dame. She has worked in many settings in the education field, for example, as a teaching assistant for the Department of History at the University of Notre Dame, Research assistant, Classroom Paraprofessional, Writing Tutor, and a Faculty Assistant.

Mary Hogan: ACT English/Reading

Mary is another one of our newest edition to the Lee Family. She has a Bachelor of Arts in History/Political Science and a Masters of Arts in Teaching. She has experience in the Middle School and High School setting. Mary has had experience as an English teacher and working with the GED program. We are excited to welcome her into the Lee Family.

Kate Endres: Foreign Languages (Spanish) Advanced Math

Kate grew up in Forest Lake and graduated from Forest Lake High School. Kate spent her senior year as an exchange student in Sevilla (Seville), Spain. She began working at Lee Education Center in June 2004 just after graduating from Concordia College at Moorhead with a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics and Spanish. Kate is currently completing her interpreter certification at the University of Minnesota.

Kathy Chapuran: ACT/Foreign Language (French) ESL

Besides being a French tutor with Lee Education,she has had many years of experience with ESL students and teaching French to high school students. Kathy is a French teacher at Minnetonka High School. Kathy resides in the area.

Sheena O'Brien: Advanced Math/Intermediate Math

Sheena O'Brien has been working at Lee since October of 2001. She graduated from UW-River Falls with a BA Degree in Psychology with a Math Minor. She also has a Master's Degree in counseling from St. Mary's University. Sheena's full-time job is at Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps Center as the Director of Outreach/Admissions and Career Transition. She is originally from Mendota and loves to come here each week to tutor the youth of our neighborhood.

Robin Eggum: Middle School/High School Math

Our newest arrival. Robin is a retired teacher from the Inver Grove Heights School district. Robin worked with middle school students.