W E S T  
Wings Educational Services for Teens  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Language Arts


Ms. Patsy Brekke
(Writing Foundations 1/2)
(Writing Foundations I )
(Writing Foundations II)

A graduate of Moorhead State University with a BS in English, Patsy Brekke, a.k.a. “Ms. B.”, has been a Licensed English Teacher since 1987. She has taught English, Social Studies, Math, Science, Reading and Study Skills in Minnesota, Oregon and California. She has extensive experience with the California Achievement Writing Project and scoring timed essays, the Achievement Via Individual Determination Program (A.V.I.D.), The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), Curriculum Development and Leadership Training. On two occasions, Ms. B. was nominated Site Teacher of the Year at Wilson Academy of International Studies in San Diego, California. She proudly received the A.V.I.D. Teacher of the Year award from the San Diego County Office of Education in 1993. Ms. B. has tutored writing for 3-6th graders and 7-12th graders since 2001. She is the creator of Writing Foundations, Inc. and the author of the timed essay program Essays on Demand. Ms. B. also works as a curriculum writer, consultant, speaker, and publishing editor. Accredited in 2008 by the Institute for Excellence in Writing, Ms. B. has received the highest ranking of Accomplished Instructor. Her heart’s desire is to come alongside other parents and take the mystery and misery out of writing.

Mrs. Becky Brist
(Writing with Confidence: American History-Based Writing Lessons I)
(Great Literature of the Western World)

Mrs. Becky Brist, BA, MA, has been homeschooling her own children for the last 17 years. After graduating from Bethel College with a degree in Language Arts/Secondary Education, she taught secondary school English classes in a private Christian school. She received her Master's degree in English Literature from the University of Minnesota. For the last 12 years, she has taught English and a variety of other classes at home school cooperatives she has been involved with. She has written and/or edited a variety of business, church, and school newsletters, literary magazines, yearbooks, and promotional materials. Most recently Mrs. Brist taught this course and its sequel for LIGHT of Maple Grove.

Diane Windingland
(Introduction to Communication and Speech)

Diane Windingland became a professional speaker and author in 2010, speaking on communication topics (http://smalltalkbigresults.com/) and publishing a book, Small Talk Big Results: Chit Chat Your Way to Success! She has also attained Toastmasters International highest educational award, Distinguished Toastmaster, which recognizes her for both leadership to the organization and for completing more than 40 speech projects. Additionally, her speaking education includes improv and stand-up comedy classes with Stevie Ray’s Improv School and the Apprentice and Graduate programs of the Minnesota National Speakers Association. Prior to becoming a professional speaker, Diane worked as an engineer and co-owned a small technology business. Her teaching experience includes homeschooling her own children, teaching a homeschool speech class and organizing an introductory speech class for a couple of 9th grade classes at Elk River High School. A second-degree black belt, Diane also teaches karate.