Meet
OUR TEAMMeet the men and women who will be actively engaging your learners with hands-on learning.
A refreshing approach
We Know How to Make Learning Both Fun and Effective For Students
Supported by the latest in technology and cognitive science, we move beyond the traditional tools of lectures, homework, high-stakes tests, and grades. At Generations Academy, our learners learn in collaborative environments of multi-age learners. Our flexible approach challenges each learner with their differentiated learning plan, coupled with real-world projects and experiences.
Above all else, each learner that enters our doors begins a journey to discover their unique gifts and passions, and how they can be used to find a calling that will change the world.
Meet Our Team
We’re all working together to bring out the very best in our learners!
Dave
Elementary ages
My name is David Yentsch. I am married to my wife, Jessica, and together we are raising five learners. In addition to raising learners, we are doing our best to raise cows, pigs, turkeys, ducks, chickens, and rabbits along with fruits and vegetables. We have homeschooled our learners, with much learning occurring by way of living everyday life on the homestead.
While I have of course focused on teaching my own learners, I have also taught in many settings, including private pre-schools, public elementary schools, and also online teaching English to Chinese learners.
I love to play games, work, make music, read, eat the fruits of our labor on the homestead, and spend time with my family and friends. I look forward to teaching and learning along with everyone involved with Generations Academy!
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Brady
Middle School
My name is Brady Haas, and I currently live in Chippewa Falls with my wife and 3 young learners. We just relocated here after moving from Nashville, TN a year ago. I have been a teacher for the last 7 years, and am incredibly excited to step into the role of Guide at Generations. I love all things adventure, and getting to discover the depths of who God is and who He has made us to be in the midst of it.Most of my time is spent with my family– we love swimming, going for walks, bike rides, and hikes. Personally, I really enjoying playing Ultimate Frisbee and learning how to fix things (even though I’m not that great at it!)I am looking forward to cultivating meaningful connections with all of my learners at Generations, learning from each other, and growing together.
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Erika
High School
My name is Erika Ehrhard and I’m excited to be part of Generations Academy. I graduated from UWEC in 2002 with a Masters of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. After graduating, I worked for both MJ Care and SPOTS HOUSE, providing speech and language therapy services through the Eau Claire and Chippewa County Birth-to-Three program. I loved that this job allowed me the opportunity to work alongside and support parents and caregivers in helping their kids take steps in their speech and language development.
In 2012, I transitioned out of my position as a speech-language pathologist into full time learners’s ministry through Jacob’s Well church. Again, I had the opportunity to partner with parents and caregivers to help kids take next steps; however, this time, it was next steps in their learners’s spiritual development. During my time in this position, I loved being able to collaborate in writing and developing curriculum, teaching learners of all ages, and developing tools and resources for parents to equip them to be spiritual champions in their homes.
I currently live here in Eau Claire with my husband, Jeff, and my two boys, Ethan and Adam. In my free time, I love hiking, playing pickle ball, playing board games with my family and reading a good book! I’m excited to be part of this school and l look forward to what God has ahead.
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About Our Founders
John & Sandi Polzin are the founders of Generations Academy and have a deep desire to serve those that the Lord puts in front of them daily. They are excited to offer this Acton Academy method to the learners in our area to have the freedom to be curious. To learn to learn, learn to do, and learn to be. The Polzins have a deep desire to make a difference with the youth in the Valley allowing Generations Academy to be a new option for hands on project based style of learning for the learners in the Chippewa Valley. As entrepreneurs and visionaries they share ideas on how to help the academy itself excel in internal and external communications.
In 1993, they started Monkey Business Early Learning facilities in the Chippewa Valley, which served thousands of families, which they later sold to invest in the next business start up. They love to build teams and long to make a difference. Sandi has worked for Hope Gospel Mission since 2009 and is currently the Executive Director. Sandi and her husband John, also own Down to Earth Garden Centers in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire. They both love serving wherever the Lord places them. They have two grown sons, Ben and Chase, and are adoptive parents to Mazie, Schneider, Millie and Mercie, all from their birth country of Haiti. They are also grandparents to two boys and one girl; and couldn’t be more proud.
“Each of us should use whatever gift us have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
– 1 Peter 4:10
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– John & Sandi Polzin