Eva Denny, President

Eva operates Kingfisher Farm and Fermentation, an organic vegetable and sheep farm outside of Argyle, Wisconsin, together with Caleb Coccari-Swift and their three children. She is an active community member, serving as a member of the Argyle Community Fund Advisory Board for the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, and as a Water Action Volunteer for the State Department of Natural Resources and University of Wisconsin Extension, among other things. Eva is also a homeschooler. She believes that learning is a lifelong pursuit that can provide people with a wide variety of opportunities in their lives. She brings these values, as well as her business skills and a desire to help the next generation to the Academy's Board of Directors.

Steve Engles, Vice President

Steve was raised in a small, Northwest Illinois farming community, then practiced hospital pharmacy for 41 years at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Upon retirement, he and his husband, Richard, bought a small farm north of Argyle, WI in 2020. Steve is an active volunteer, strongly believing that service work and giving back are vital to the health and development of the local community and economy. His history of volunteer service includes being co-director of his church executive board for five years, treasurer for various organizations, and an election worker. He has also worked with COVID vaccination clinics, the Argyle Public Library Building Committee, AARP sponsored tax preparation service for seniors, Wisconsin DNR stream monitoring, and the Driftless Reading Academy. He stays busy with travel and antiquing, gardening, prairie restoration, establishing a small fruit orchard, and beekeeping.

Nicole Zimmerman, Secretary

Nicole brings a wealth of knowledge and ideas to the Academy board. She is deeply committed to ensuring the Academy’s success and its mission to help local students grow and thrive. As the owner of Nicole’s Salon & Wellness Center in Argyle, she knows what it takes to build a successful organization. Nicole’s business sense and experience help inform board decisions.

Ginny Bean, Treasurer

Ginny is a longtime resident of rural Argyle. She is retired from Colony Brands, where she founded and led the "Ginny's" business for 26 years. While there she also worked extensively with the creative teams, customer research, credit marketing, and customer service teams. Prior to that, she worked in non-profit arts management in New York City. Now she volunteers for local and regional organizations, works on her prairie restoration, and travels the world. Ginny believes that education has the power to enrich lives, and that every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Lynn Rossing, Executive Director

Lynn serves as the Academy’s instructor. Originally from Portland, Oregon, she has lived in Wisconsin since 2020. A retired AMI Montessori teacher, Lynn was honored in 2006 with the Susie Huston Award from the Oregon Montessori Association for exemplifying excellence and inspiration in Montessori education. She is delighted to bring her passion for reading and early childhood education to her adopted community of Argyle, Wisconsin. Lynn serves on the board of the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association and volunteers with a variety of nonprofit organizations.