Meet Our Instructors

Bill Nara is the founder and executive director of CSGA Enrichment, which he established in 2014 after recognizing a significant need for before-and-after school programs and summer programming for K–12 students. With a background as a former high school teacher, Bill’s vision for CSGA was to offer diverse, engaging educational opportunities that would inspire creative thinking, shift mindsets, and foster entrepreneurship.

Starting with just five students in one district, Bill’s initiative has grown to span 11 Minnesota school districts, positively impacting over 1,200 students. Throughout his career, Bill has taught Chess, Tabletop Strategy Gaming, and a variety of other youth activities and programming. His additional expertise includes cartography, CAD drafting, and model building, all of which contribute to his innovative approach to education​.

Henry holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from St. Cloud State University and an M.A. in Elementary Education from Augsburg University. A licensed teacher in the Twin Cities area since 2012, he has focused on STEM enrichment since 2019, teaching computer science skills through his popular and engaging Coding Clubs in the Roseville and White Bear Lake areas. His mission is to inspire a love of coding in youth from an early age.

During the school year, Henry leads Chess and Coding Clubs, while in the summer, he runs Strategy Games and Rock 'n' Roll Band Camp. He is a proud father of four kids and three dogs, and he coaches football and soccer in the fall and spring. In his free time—what little he has—he enjoys fishing, the outdoors, traveling, music, and cooking.

Jeff is a retired science teacher and cross country coach from Fridley High School who has taught Astronomy at Summer Academy for the last 12 years. He has presented workshops on daytime astronomy at National Science Teachers Association conventions, directed the Astronomy Club at FHS, and is a member of the Minnesota Astronomical Society. His favorite planet is Earth. Jeff creates an atmosphere of creativity and wonder as students are challenged to Visualize Our World in Space. He and his wife are headed to Arkansas for the April 8 solar eclipse.

Nate Metcalf is new to CSGA, but not new to teaching. After 25 years of writing educational theatre programs seen by literally millions of elementary students, he has now turned his talents directly to the classroom. He has previously taught classes in Theatre History, Improv, Scenic Design, Props Design for The Theatre, Character Development, Dialects for the Stage, Ballroom Dance, Board Games, and Board Game Design.

When not teaching, Nate designs board games, hosts bar trivia, freelances in the ballroom, trains his puppies (unsuccessfully) and dabbles in sewing machine repair.

Ms. Roman is a professional artist who has been teaching art in schools for the last thirty years. She loves to see students grow in their creative skills. For this program, she uses her experiences as a graphic artist to teach about design.​

Shane earned his degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he also pursued studies in Early Childhood Education. He has over four years of experience teaching students a variety of recreational activities, with a specialization in chess and strategy games. In his free time, Shane enjoys serving as a Dungeon Master for Dungeons & Dragons.

Jason Lavine is the Associate Executive Director of CSGA Enrichment. Jason instructs a variety of classes, including Chess, Strategy Games, Cooking, and Personal Finance & Investing, bringing his diverse skill set to CSGA’s programming.

Outside of his professional work, Jason enjoys playing golf and poker. He is also a proud dog dad to Larry.

Liam has been teaching after-school and summer programs on music technology, moviemaking, rock and roll, and many other subjects since 2022. Liam also manages and maintains equipment and program materials within CSGA. In his free time, Liam enjoys fixing things and hanging out around town.

With 35 years of teaching, my journey began with after-school clay classes. From clay to kindergarten and Bible studies, my diverse roles have shaped me. Retired from St. Croix Prep in 2021, I now relish time with my grandchildren, travel, kayaking, reading, and, of course, sculpting in clay!

David graduated from St. Cloud State with a BA in Film Studies in 2022 and has been teaching students how to unlock their creative spark ever since. A multifaceted instructor, David has worked with students across the Twin Cities to help them discover new passions in computer science, 3D modeling, filmmaking, game design, and more. Outside of teaching, he enjoys taking long road trips to explore the country and gain new perspectives on the world.

Minnesota native and former Summer Academy student, Josh Roman, has been working as a professional magician for the past six years. He picked up magic as a hobby while working as a stay-at-home dad. After finding just the right teacher, he quickly moved on to booking his first professional gig. Now, he wants to share his love of magic with you.​

With a degree in Elementary Education and 18 years of experience working with children and youth, Lisa brings exceptional problem-solving skills and a competitive spirit to everything she does. She assists the Executive Director with the company’s needs, ensuring smooth operations and success.

A lifelong puzzler, Lisa has been competing in jigsaw puzzle contests since 2002. Her teams have consistently ranked in the top ten at the St. Paul Winter Carnival, the largest jigsaw puzzle contest in the U.S. Her claim to fame is competing with 26 different teams in puzzle contests across the state.

Becky holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood Education, as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Technology. She has experience teaching in ECFE programs, working in Kindergarten Readiness, and participating in various summer programs for children. Currently, she is an elementary school teacher.

Becky’s favorite parts of teaching are witnessing her students’ progress (both big and small) and fostering a sense of community within the classroom. Outside of work, she enjoys volleyball, reading, camping, and crafting. Becky is married to her husband, who is also a teacher, and they have an almost two-year-old daughter.

Paul is a music education major from the University of Minnesota. When he isn't jamming on his double bass he loves to play board games with his friends and family. It is one of his greatest joys to work with students in the summer to create music and play games.

Jason is a special education teacher at Roseville Area High School and has been teaching in public schools for 15 years. He has also spent 16 summers working at summer camps and teaching summer programs. Jason is passionate and knowledgeable about comic books and board games and loves combining his love of teaching with his enjoyment of these hobbies.

Morgan is a college student working on a BFA in Costume Design at the University Of Minnesota Duluth. She loves using her experiences in theatre to share her experiences with her students! In her free time, Morgan also loves photography, sewing, reading, and playing video games!