School Board Elections

Social Studies Teacher – PiM Arts High School

This is Jim’s second year at PiM teaching Social Studies, with classes including World Studies, History of Mythology, and AP European History. Overall, the 2023-2024 school year has been his sixth year teaching in the Twin Cities metro area after graduating from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities with his M.Ed in Social Studies Education, a B.A. in History, and a Minor in Finnish Language and Culture. In addition to teaching Social Studies at PiM, Jim also serves as one of the current staff advisors for Student Council. Growing up in Eden Prairie and continuing to work and live in the area, Jim hopes that by serving on the Board, he may better serve the students of PiM and the local community for years to come.

Social Studies Teacher- PiM Arts High School

My name is Emily Weber and for the last 11 years I have been working with High school students on topics ranging from history to social justice. My license is for Social Studies grades 5-12 and I have a real love for the subject, with a special interest in special education. The diversity of the subject makes it so that each educator can create a unique environment. I hope to do just that within the PiM community, already a unique place to work, I would like to keep the culture and quality of education moving forward.

I would like to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion to create a more supportive environment for all students. I have the skills to communicate effectively with people from all walks of life and to focus on successes. I believe in the ideals that it takes an entire community to teach and I am confident that I could effect positive changes for our PiM community. I have worked as a coordinator for students with 504 plans, named for section 504 of a federal civil rights bill. My past experiences have been with very diverse groups of people and I have learned to be open and listen to all peoples’ experiences.

I am very interested and motivated to be a part of the PiM School Board of Directors. Though I am new to PiM as a teacher I think this also means I am just at the beginning of the impact I can make

Dance Teacher- PiM Arts High School

Karis Sloss graduated from the University of MN with a BA in both Dance and Theatre Arts. After graduation, she founded Eclectic Edge Ensemble, a non-profit theatrical jazz dance company, who had 15 successful years of productions and educational outreach programming throughout the metro area. During this time she also served as a teaching artist and choreographer for many organizations including Ballare Teatro Performing Arts Center, Illusion Theatre, Project Success, Children’s Theatre, and SteppingStone Theatre. In 2008-2011 Sloss also worked as SteppingStone Theatre’s Development and Community Relations Manager where she organized a variety of fundraiser and community events, ran multiple fundraising campaigns, and was their main grant writer.

After working for over 15 years both professionally and as a teaching artist, she went back to U of MN and received her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and teaching licenses in both Dance and Theatre Arts. From 2019-2023 she taught dance and theatre at FAIR Middle School and Plymouth Middle School (PMS), District 281 Robbinsdale Area School. During her time with the district, she served on leadership teams including PMS’ ILT (Instructional Leadership Team) and BLT (Building Leadership Team), District 281’s Middle School Dance curriculum head writer to align their program with the new MN State Dance Standards, Member of Robbinsdale Restorative Practice Cohort supporting students, families and staff. In 2021 Sloss was Awarded MNSHAPE Dance Education Teacher of the Year.

In the fall of 2023 Sloss came on board here at PiM Arts High School and has been ecstatic to be teaching dance, choreographing, and working as a Performing Arts Outreach Coordinator. She feels like she could be a great addition to PiM Arts High School School Board with her experience in education, fundraising, event planning, and relationship building.

Math Teacher – PiM Arts High School

Chris Mortika would like to serve another term on the PiM school board, which he did from 2020 to 2022. He’s been a math teacher at PiM since 2014, teaching everything from introductory-level pre-algebra to AP Calculus and Statistics. This year, we rolled out Fundamentals of Computer Programming.

Chris was nominated for Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 2023. He did not win but appreciated the nice banquet meal and plaque. If elected to the board, his priorities would include deeper outreach to student families and the school community, and building structures that support staff connections.

Community Member

Buck Campbell has served on PiM’s Board of Directors as Board President since being elected in 2020. He has been working in Design since the 90’s and graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with a BFA in Furniture Design. He’s passionate about design, brand, observation and exploration. He always engages in meaningful conversation in order to deliver insightful and objective design solutions. A father of two amazing young people to which he dedicates his everything, he is a maker of things and believes in giving out free smiles.

Community Member

Ann Williams has a BA in Dance and Mass Communications from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and has been dancing and performing for over 30 years and has taught for over 20 years at different studios and schools in the Twin Cities area. She has studied with many prestigious companies, institutions and individuals.

She opened Ballare Teatro Performing Arts Center in 1998, and has grown the business from 75 students and 2 instructors to over 300 students, 14 instructors and one admin. Under Ann’s direction, Ballare Teatro has become known for high quality dance education in a professional, nurturing environment. The instructors at Ballare Teatro are professional dancers and dance educators. The studio serves families from all over the Twin Cities area.

Ann has served on the board of Keane Sense of Rhythm; the Longfellow Business Association (co-chair); The Longfellow Community Council (business representative); Art Works in Eagan; and is currently the chair of the board for Off-Leash Area Contemporary Performance Works.

Community Member

Andy Meyer attended PiM for all four years of his high school experience, graduating in 2018 with high honors and seven letters in Instrumental Music. PiM fast became a place for Andy to foster skills as a multi-instrumentalist and composer, with heavy emphasis in performance while leading Outreach Ensembles and participation in extracurricular Pit Orchestras, the No Shame House Band, as well as Jazz and Traditional Ensembles.

Taking this experience into college, Andy was able to accelerate his four year Bachelors of Music in Music Theory and Composition at University of Minnesota Duluth to three years. Andy studied contemporary classical theory and New Music composition with Dr. Justin Rubin, continued his jazz experience and education while playing in top University ensembles and combos with Prof. Ryan Frane, and studied privately as a contrabass soloist with Prof. Joseph Pettit.

Alongside all of Andy’s pursuits in music performance, he has independently been studying audio engineering and photo/video production, which he has held Production Director titles in for several award winning production companies throughout the Twin Cities. Andy now owns his own A/V and Photo Production Company, plays music regularly around the country with his band Ashbringer, and has lived with his loving partner Josephine and their four cats in Wichita for the past two years. Now living in Minnesota, Andy is excited to get back involved full time with the Twin Cities classical and jazz scenes while growing his production company, Luminance House Production.