Schools That Matter-Our Team

OUR TEAM

Steve Van Bockern
Founder
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Dr. Steve Van Bockern is a professor emeritus of education at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He taught at Augie for over 35 years. Steve has been a teacher and a principal. He has directed programs and grants for talented and at-risk students. Steve co-authored the book Reclaiming Youth at Risk: Our Hope for the Future. The work of the authors has been shared in over twenty countries. Steve has presented worldwide including Russia, Thailand, South Africa, Australia and extensively in Canada. His book, Schools That Matter: Teaching Minds, Reaching Hearts was published in June, 2018.
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In 1997, Steve helped create the non-profit organization Reclaiming Youth At Risk and served as its president for a number of years. He continues his work with Reclaiming Youth.
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Steve works in juvenile justice as an expert witness. He is a recipient of the Crazy Horse Award and an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Winnipeg, Canada. Steve and Sarah have four children and three grandchildren.

Anna Brokenleg
Senior Trainer
Sioux Falls, SD
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Anna Brokenleg holds a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in special populations from Augustana University. A trainer for Reclaiming Youth at Risk she has taught for fifteen years in Title I buildings with diverse student populations. Currently she coordinates programming for Indigenous youth k-12. An enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and mother of two Ms. Brokenleg regularly speaks on topics of resiliency, Native American youth and culture, and the importance of teaching from multiple perspectives.

Nick Jackson
Senior Trainer
Sioux Falls, SD
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Nick Jackson is an instructor of education at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he teaches courses concerning pedagogy, human relations, and the integration of movement, the arts, and mindfulness. Nick has been an educator for 14 years in a variety of settings, including work in traditional, charter, and independent schools spanning from Pennsylvania, to Colorado, to South Dakota.

He received his undergraduate degree from Augustana and his Master's from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. He has served as a teacher, instructional coach, and founding principal. His most difficult and rewarding work, however, has been as a stay-at-home parent for his two children, June and Charlie! Nick and his wife, Kristina, enjoy traveling, riding their bikes, playing volleyball at the park, overly competitive game nights with friends, and performing in their radio show, the Midtown Coffee Radio Hour.

Vikki Hennard
Senior Trainer
Denver, CO
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Vikki Hennard has been a professor at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, is currently a professor at Regis University in Denver, and is a behavior specialist at Char-Em Intermediate School District. She received her doctoral degree in educational leadership at Eastern Michigan University, earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education at Oakland University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education at Michigan State University. Vikki Hennard has been a proponent of the Circle of Courage model for youth empowerment for nearly 20 years and continues to work to enhance educational practices based on research-based principles and practice-based evidence. For over 30 years she has worked in K-12 education as a teacher, professional learning instructor and trainer, and as an educational coach in the area of special education, school climate and behavior.

Aaron Dang
Senior Trainer
Sioux Falls, SD

Aaron Dang has worked in elementary education and elementary instructional coaching. He has a masters degree in educational psychology with an emphasis on teacher application. His mission is to use life as a learning tool. Aaron believes that teachers can create unique experiences to enhance students lives. He is married to Kathy Dang, together they have an energetic and beautiful two-year old, Marty.

Kari McCluskey
Senior Trainer
Winnipeg, Canada
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Kari McCluskey supports educator networking, growth, and learning as the Lost Prizes Coordinator in the Faculty of Education at the University of Winnipeg. Her teaching areas include supporting newcomer youth, working with at-risk youth and their families, service learning, and mentoring. In addition, Kari is the facilitator of the Vicarious Trauma and Resilience Initiative at Aurora Family Therapy Centre where she provides workshops and peer support for service providers working with refugees.

Stacy Kelsey
Senior Trainer
St. Peters, MO
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Stacy holds a Master's degree in Teaching Special Education and is completing her doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Brainworks Pediatric Group, The Mind Development Center, and The Center for Exceptional Learning. These centers provide innovative and individualized educational programs for children with disabilities, developmental delays, and developmental trauma. She is a national trainer, speaker, and consultant offering professional development and training opportunities for parents, teachers, and therapists in relational education.

Susan Jones
Senior Trainer
Binghamton, NY
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Susan Jones, MSEd, is a Certified Educator in Early Childhood - Grade 6 and Students with Disabilities Birth- Grade 6. She serves as an adjunct lecturer with Binghamton University and the University of Winnipeg. Sue is currently employed with Broome-Tioga BOCES, Binghamton, NY as a Trauma-Informed Practices Coach. She is certified as a Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Trainer, Mental Health First Aid Instructor and a Life Space Crisis Intervention senior trainer. Sue has been an international speaker on the impact of trauma on students learning and development, collaborative partnerships with families, relationships between schools and community, as well as the impact of trauma on those in education.

Maggie Brusven
CEO
Red Lodge, MT
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Maggie Brusven received her undergraduate degree in Secondary Education and Political Science from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Montana. Previously she worked as a Training and Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator for CASA of Yellowstone County.

She lives in Red Lodge, MT with her husband, Mike, and their two children, Finley and Hazel. She enjoys spending time in the mountains, running, and can always find a project that needs completing around the house.