Our Team

  • Jill Purvis

    Jill is the Director of Programming and has been with WEI since its inception. Jill was part of the initial planning team to start WEI (formerly known as the Sally Ride Academy) with Melinda Corey and the WASDI group.​

  • Ashley Michaels

    Ashley is our Program Assistant. She served as a Milwaukee Public School teacher for six years and has an extensive background in early childhood education, social-emotional learning, and teaching mindfulness-based practices in classrooms among various school districts. In addition to teaching students, Ashley has even shared this knowledge in facilitating professional development for school leaders and teachers around the community.

    You can often find Ashley petting her two cats and watering her plants. And eating french fries. And keeping up with her toddler.

  • Erin Gudeyon

    Erin has been with WEI since May 2009 and now serves as our Financial Manager. Prior to her work with WEI, she spent five years working for the Whitewater Unified School District.

Board of Directors

Claus Dunkelberg, Burns & McDonnell, Inc (President)

Mike Leach, Wisconsin Virtual Learning / Northern Ozaukee School District (Vice President)

Milton Cockroft, Pathways Milwaukee (Treasurer)

Jill Ries, Swallow School District (Secretary)

Deidre Roemer, School District of South Milwaukee

Shawon LeFlore-Turnch, Glendale-River Hills School District