Our Staff, Committed to Your Success

Meet the Dedicated Team Behind Excel High School

At Excel High School, our passionate and experienced staff are dedicated to supporting students every step of the way. From our expert educators to our caring support team, we are committed to providing the best online learning experience possible. Get to know the team that makes it all happen!

Accredited Education

Excel High School offers regionally accredited courses, ensuring that diplomas are recognized by colleges, employers, and the military.

Affordable Tuition

We offer low monthly tuition options, making high-quality education accessible to a wide range of students, including those seeking an adult diploma.

Flexible Learning

Our self-paced, online programs allow students to learn on their own schedule, making it easier to balance education with other commitments.

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Rod Clarkson

M.B.A., Ed.S.,

Chief Executive Officer/Chairman

Rod Clarkson is the visionary founder, Chairman, and CEO of Excel Education Systems. With extensive experience in business development and educational technology, Rod has built a successful EdTech company focused on delivering innovative, accredited digital education. His leadership and passion...

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Mark Ulven

M.A., Ed.D.,

President/Chief Academic Officer

Mark Ulven serves as the President and Chief Academic Officer at Excel Schools. A state-licensed educator, Mark has taught math and science for many years. He holds degrees in Education from Bemidji State University, a Master’s from St. Mary’s University,...

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Charlie Buehler-Hoard

M.Th., Ed.D.,

Chief Operating Officer

Charlie Buehler is the Chief Operating Officer at Excel Schools, overseeing strategic planning and supporting both staff and students. With over 12 years of experience in higher education, Charlie has expertise in admissions, marketing, academic delivery, and student services. He...

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Heather Farmakis

Ph.D.

Chief Strategy Officer

Heather Farmakis, PhD, is a distinguished leader in global education and strategic operations, currently serving as the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at Excel Education Systems. Drawing upon a wealth of experience from her roles as Chief Operations Officer and Chief...

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Nate Herrmann

B.S., M.B.A., SHRM-CP

Director of Operations

Nate, with over two decades in higher education administration, brings a unique blend of academic and business expertise to his role as Director of Operations. He holds an MBA from Globe University and SHRM-CP certification, integrating human resources management with...

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Kate Clarkson

B.S., M.B.A

Director of Strategic Initiatives & Business Development

Ms. Clarkson came to Excel Education Systems in 2016. Before joining Excel, Kate was employed as a Sales Manager at LifeTime, Inc. In her role, Kate consistently ranked in the top ten nationally out of 600 sales agents for outstanding...

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Rachel Bjerstedt

B.A., M.B.A

Director of Marketing

Rachel is a marketing professional with over 15 years of experience, combining creativity with strategic execution. She holds a BA in Screenwriting and an MBA in Marketing. Her career began as a tutor, igniting a passion for making education accessible....

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Robert Ulven

B.M.

Director, Learning Systems & Media Services

Rob is responsible for the accessibility, organization and archiving of the various types of educational media used within the coursework at the school. Rob plays a vital role in the development of EES courses and ensuring the efficient operation of...

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Abby Berndt

B.S.

Academic Coach

Abby Berndt is a state-licensed science teacher with five years of experience in both high school and higher education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Life Science Education from Crown College. During her time at Crown, Abby worked as...

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Kelly Bredesen

B.A., M.B.A.

Student Services Manager

Kelly is a higher education professional with 11 years in admissions and university management. He believes education is essential for society to evolve and creates opportunities for each individual.

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Megan Balcer Lapensky

Academic Coach

Megan Balcer Lapensky is a state-licensed educator with a background in Psychology and holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from Saint Cloud State University. During her time at SCSU, Megan gained valuable classroom experience working with Kindergarten, 3rd, 5th, and...

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Noah Sevett

Educational Technologist

Noah holds a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a concentration in Physical Education. Following his college education, he worked for eight years as a PE teacher for K-5 students at two different schools. During his teaching...

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Mike Bohme

Auditor

Mike has been with Excel High School since its inception in 2005, bringing over two decades of experience and dedication to the team. Prior to joining Excel, Mike worked in the transportation, import, and export industries before transitioning into online...

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Erin Shevchenko

Student Services Specialist

Erin Shevchenko brings a unique blend of interpersonal skills, leadership experience, and cultural curiosity to her role as a Student Services Specialist. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Youth Development with an Individualized Emphasis in Counseling from Crown College,...

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Aaron Baker

B.A., B.Ed.

Success Coach

Aaron Baker is a dedicated Success Coach at Excel High School, bringing over a decade of experience in education and student support to the team. Aaron holds a dual Bachelor’s degree in Education and Arts, with a major in English...

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Malini Wijesinghe

B.S., B.A.

Success Coach

Malini is a dedicated educator and mentor at Excel Education Systems (EES). She attended Bradley University, where she played Division I tennis and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Philosophy and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry.

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Makenna Heitman

B.S.

Success Coach

As a Success Coach at Excel Education Systems, Makenna brings a genuine passion for student growth and a deep commitment to supporting learners throughout their academic journeys. She holds a BS in Communications & Journalism from North Central University in...

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Kylie Nybaaken

Academic Coach

Kylie brings vibrant energy and a strong academic foundation to her new role as Academic Coach. She has most recently worked as a 10th Grade Language Arts Teacher at White Bear Lake High School, teaching both general and honors sections.

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Michele Aed

Multimedia Content Specialist

Before joining Excel, Michele was an award-winning visual journalist immersed in diverse communities across the country. Her BA in Mass Communications and extensive background in journalism taught her how to break down complex, nuanced topics and present them in ways...

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Sloane Hager-Plahn

Office Administration Specialist

With over a decade of experience in childcare and education-focused roles, Sloane brings a nurturing, structured approach to supporting families and young learners. Her career began as a Site Director at the YMCA, where she led after-school programs and designed...

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Shannon Trimberger

Academic Coach

Shannon comes to Excel as an Academic Coach after spending 13 years as an award-winning high school (grades 9-12) English teacher of mostly honors and AP-English classes. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University in 2011...

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Kendra Grothmann

Success Coach

Kendra has spent 10+ years in middle/high school education as an English Language Arts/English Language Learner teacher. Kendra brings a rich and diverse background in education, both domestically and internationally. Most recently, she served as a long-term reserve teacher, working...

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Jodi Alama

B.A.

Account Manager

Jodi discovered her love for teaching and supporting students early in her career. Jodi’s biggest reward has been watching her students progress and grow as learners and individuals. Before joining Excel, Jodi’s most recent experience includes working as a school...

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Nancy Hoff

B.S.

Account Manager

Nancy was born and raised in Minnesota. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Paralegal studies from Winona State University. Before joining Excel, Nancy worked in the hearing health industry.

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Adam Kiefer

B.S., MS.Ed.

Enrollment Services Manager

Adams comes to Excel with nearly ten years of experience in higher education and recruiting across the Midwest. His journey in education was centered within collegiate athletics with four different colleges and universities, serving as an assistant coach for football,...

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Hannah Chisham

B.S.

Enrollment Services Manager

Hannah earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from Crown College. Prior to joining Excel in 2024, Hannah spent the last six years dedicated to the education field serving as a Regional Director to eight west metro early childhood schools across...

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Alicia Loe

B.A., M.A.

Multimedia Content Specialist

Alicia has been with Excel Education Systems since 2020 after graduating from the University of Minnesota with a M.A. in Education, Curriculum, and Instruction. During her time at Excel, Alicia had the opportunity to support students as an Academic Success...

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Max Marsland

BA, MAT

Associate Director, Academics

Max comes to Excel after having spent 10 years in teaching and education in a variety of schools and roles from a technical secondary school in Rwanda, to a gifted magnet school in Manhattan, and most recently a charter school...

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Noah Buggs

B.A.

Operations Training Lead

Noah has always had a passion for working with and helping people achieve their dreams. A Minnesota native, Noah earned a bachelor’s degree in Digital Video and Media Production at IPR-College of Creative Arts. Noah has since spent several years...

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Chloe Kennedy

B.A.

Operations Training Lead

Chloe is a state-licensed teacher and passionate education enthusiast. After earning a degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Dakota, Chloe developed a passion for teaching and went on to teach 2nd and 3rd grade.

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Jack P. Lund

B.A.

Lead Success Coach

Jack was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He attended the University of St. Thomas with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Education and STEM instruction. He was a K-8 classroom teacher and athletics coach for 7 years before...

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Chris Hill

B.S., M.B.A.

Success Coach

Chris has spent 13 years in higher education as a Professional Tutor, Academic Advisor, and Admissions Advisor. Chris has a strong passion for education and the doors it can open. Chris has taught college business courses and is credentialed as...

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Jennifer R. Ulven

B.S.

Curriculum Designer

Jennifer joined the Excel team in 2019. She brings over 25 years of music education experience to her students. Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Science in K-12 Vocal, Instrumental, and Classroom Education from Bemidji State University in 1997.

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Ty Ulven

B.S.

Curriculum Team

Ty attended Ashworth College, where he received his B.S. degree in eBusiness. During his studies at Ashworth, Ty studied various topics dealing with electronic media, marketing, and commerce.

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Nicole Drilling

B.S.

Lead Registrar

Nicole serves as Excel’s Registrar, managing one of the busiest offices at the school. She handles student records, graduation processing, transcript requests, and more. With over a decade of registrar experience, including leadership roles at a career college, Nicole brings...

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Brittanie A. Kruegel

B.A., MA, MSOL.

Registrar

Brittanie brings 20 years of teaching experience in K-12 schools across PA, NJ, and VA, with a focus on high school students. She holds degrees in English, Spiritual Theology, and Organizational Leadership. As Excel’s Registrar, she is passionate about helping...

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Jon Armajani

B.S.

Education Technologist

Jon is an Educational Technologist at Excel Education Systems, bringing over 10 years of experience, including as an English instructor and special education case manager. He holds a Bachelor’s in English Education and a full-stack developer certification. Jon is passionate...

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Jackie Noel

B.S.

Education Technologist

Jackie, originally from Northern Michigan, holds a degree in education with a focus on mathematics. She has extensive experience teaching middle school math and mentoring educators. Passionate about educational technology, she earned a full-stack web development certificate. Jackie now combines...

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Excel Education Systems Family of Schools

Excel High School

Excel High School offers flexible, accredited online programs for grades 6-12 and adult learners. With self-paced courses and affordable tuition, we help students reach their academic goals at their own pace

Northgate Academy

Northgate Academy provides a Christian-based online high school program for grades 9-12. An excellent homeschool alternative, with 60+ accredited courses.

Washington Technical Institute

Washington Technical Institute offers accredited certificates in IT, healthcare, business, and more, serving students nationwide and internationally since 1999.

Accreditation You Can Trust

See Our Accreditations

Recognized & Respected Nationwide

At Excel High School, we are proud to be regionally accredited by Cognia, along with additional accreditations from NCA, SACS, NWAC, and the Middle States Association. Our programs meet the same rigorous standards as public schools, giving you the confidence of earning a well-respected diploma.

Global Recognition for Our Accredited Diplomas

Excel High School’s regionally accredited diploma is accepted by colleges and universities around the world. With our recognized accreditation, you can confidently pursue higher education wherever your journey takes you.