Click through the tabs below to learn about our incredible team members!!
Emma Johnson EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR I’m the founder of La Senda Spanish Center and a passionate educator with over nine years of experience teaching Spanish. I hold a double major in Spanish and Biokinetics from Bethel University. My journey with Spanish began when I was 13 - what started as a school subject quickly turned into a lifelong love for the language. I've had the privilege of living and teaching in Segovia, Spain, where I deepened my understanding of immersive language learning. Since then, I’ve taught in a variety of settings from primary schools in Spain to local programs here in Minnesota such as the Minnetonka Spanish Immersion program. |
Rissa Langguth Communications & marketing director Hello! I'm the Communications and Marketing Director here at La Senda. Even though I don’t speak Spanish, I truly love being part of the La Senda community. I discovered my passion for marketing through school classes and DECA, where I compete and present marketing campaigns and projects. |
Audra Treburg Hola me llamo Audra! I learned Spanish through the Spanish immersion program at Minnetonka, where my passion for the Spanish language and culture grew alongside my passion for helping kids build their love and enjoyment of Spanish. I have been working for La Senda since the very beginning and every year my love for creating a space where kids can have fun, learn and create their own passion for language has only grown more and more! |
Evy Noah Hola! My name is Evy and I started learning Spanish in kindergarten in Alexandria, VA and then continued learning Spanish through Minnetonka's immersion program. I love how Spanish brings people together and I love sharing that with everyone at camp! This is my second summer at La Senda and I am so excited to see some familiar faces and meet new campers while making Spanish fun!! 
Brittany Uittenbogaard Hola, me llamo Brittany! I am a graduate of Minnetonka’s Spanish Immersion Program and have always loved learning and speaking Spanish. I enjoy sharing my passion for the language with kids and helping them build confidence in their Spanish skills. My goal is to make learning fun, engaging, and encouraging so that every student develops a genuine love for the language! |
Chloe Schwalbe ¡Hola, me llamo Chloe! I am a current 4th grade teacher and volleyball coach. I graduated from Bethel University in 2019 with an elementary education and social studies degree. I also recently graduated with my masters in Organizational Leadership. I have worked at camps for 8+ years and it brings me so much joy to see kids having a blast and learning new things! I have a passion for La Senda with our vision for celebrating Spanish and developing others. I am so excited to enter my third year working on La Senda! |
Vera Ballard I learned, and am continuing to learn, Spanish through Minnetonka's Spanish immersion program that I started in kindergarten. I am passionate about Spanish because my grandma grew up in Mexico City and I love and am fascinated with Latin American culture. Lastly, I am passionate about being a part of the La Senda team because I want to teach others about the Spanish language and culture because it is fun and and a helpful way to expand ones knowledge of the world! |
Olivia Rindahl Hola, soy Olivia! Since kindergarten I have been enrolled in the immersion program in Minnetonka. I love watching children develop their love of speaking Spanish and encouraging them along their journey! I am very passionate about La Senda and its mission of discovering the path to learning and loving Spanish. |
Luci Penteado Hi, I'm Luci I am a student at MHS and a part of the class of 2028. I learned Spanish through the immersion program and Spanish has been so fun to learn and now I can speak with people from all around the world when I travel. I am so grateful to be on the La Senda team so I can teach the next generation how to communicate in Spanish. 
Jackie Loftus I go to school at Breck and learned Spanish from Deephaven immersion elementary school and take advanced Spanish classes. I have a strong love and passion for Spanish since I have been immersed in the culture my whole life and have grown a strong bond with Spanish. I am passionate about La Senda because I want to spread the love I have for Spanish to other kids because I believe Spanish is an important and fun language that I hope more kids can lear to love. 
Mackenzie Kollasch Hola, I'm Mackenzie! I've been in Minnetonka's Spanish Immersion program since kindergarten. I like learning about different cultures, and learning to speak Spanish has been a gift that will impact my life forever. I am excited to work at camp this year, have fun, and be a part of the kids' Spanish journey! 
Raymond Muir I go to school at Minnetonka High school. I first started learning Spanish when I was in kindergarten, and I have been learning it since. I'm really passionate about Spanish because of how much it has boosted my confidence and helped my understanding of the world. I'm passionate about La Sends because it's such an amazing chance to share what I've learned and hopefully inspire more people. 
Elsie Vogel ¡Hola! My name is Elsie. I attend Minnetonka High School, and I have spoken Spanish for almost 10 years. I am passionate about Spanish and La Senda because there is always more to learn about the language, and you can always find ways to grow in your skills! 
Hadassah Gunderson I am Hadassah Gunderson, and I attend Minnetonka High School. I am half Puerto Rican, so I have been speaking Spanish since I was a baby. Spanish is a big part of who I am and is very important to me, as it connects me with my culture and my family back in Puerto Rico. I'm very excited to be able to work here at La Senda, and I can't wait to share my love of Spanish with the kids at camp! 
Isabelle Bebensee I went to Clear Springs Elementary School and Minnetonka Middle School West, and I learned Spanish in daycare and have continued it every year of school. I am in Spanish now and will continue taking it in high school. I am passionate about Spanish because most of my friends speak it, and we love talking to each other in Spanish. I also use it on vacation if our taxi driver doesn’t speak English. I am passionate about La Senda because I love that they want to teach kids Spanish. I think it’s great for them to learn a second language. Spanish is very fun to learn, and you can use it all the time. 
Mariana Houle ¡Hola! I am a senior at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. My passion for Spanish stems from a secondhand love passed down by my Costa Rican mother. While I grew up hearing the language, it truly became my own through “scrappy,” everyday conversations and activities with my cousins during visits to Costa Rica. That is exactly why I love La Senda—it steps outside the classroom to replicate that fun, authentic environment where the language genuinely sticks! 
Clara Fernández O'Halloran I am a sophomore majoring in Kinesiology at St. Olaf College. I grew up in Madrid, so Spanish has always been a natural part of my life, and over the years I’ve come to value the culture, traditions, and connections it brings. I’m excited about La Senda because it gives me the opportunity to build community and share my love of Spanish in a fun environment! |
Valerie Paine I attend Academy of Holy Angels and am a 2027 graduate. I grew up in a Spanish speaking household and attended a spare elementary immersion School. I am passionate about Spanish because I love being able to communicate with people from foreign countries and I would love to help share this language with others. 
Addison Johnson I go to Minnetonka High School, and I've been learning Spanish since kindergarten. I'm passionate about La Senda because it's a great way to improve my own Spanish and hang out in a very fun environment while teaching your kids Spanish. 
Elly Heuer Hello! My name is Elly and I currently attend Minnetonka High School. I have been speaking Spanish for 9 years now and I am so pumped to work at La Senda! I am passionate about Spanish and La senda because it gives me opportunities to connect with kids that I wouldn't have otherwise! 
Courtney Uittenbogaard Hi! I'm Courtney! I attend Minnetonka High School, and I went to Minnewashta Elementary and MMW and am part of Minnetonka's Spanish Immersion program. I've been taking Spanish since kindergarten, and I love knowing two languages. I can't wait to help kids learn Spanish! 
Lila Swedlund I went to Clear Springs Elementary School and Minnetonka Middle School West and currently attend Minnetonka High School. I have been in the Spanish Immersion program in Minnetonka since kindergarten. I love La Senda because it has two of my favorite things: Spanish and kids! 
Sophia Higgins I have been in Spanish Immersion every year of school since kindergarten. I love speaking Spanish because it opens up opportunities—whether it's meeting new people or learning new things. I also have a lot of family who live in Spain, so it's important for me to know how to talk to them. I'm very passionate about La Senda because it's a great way to meet new kids, speak Spanish, and have fun. 
Ella Rosewarne I attend Minnetonka High School. I learned Spanish through the immersion program growing up and became passionate about the language through that experience. 
Etta Pennington I attend Minnetonka High School, and I started learning Spanish in preschool. I love being able to speak another language, and I love working with kids! 
Sonya Hendrickson Hola, I'm Sonya! I'm a graduate of the Minnetonka Immersion program and currently attend the University of Missouri, double majoring in elementary education and Spanish. I have always loved language learning, and I’m excited to bring my passion for Spanish to all the campers this summer! 
William Garrity I currently go to Waconia High School, but I first started learning Spanish when I was in kindergarten at Cologne Academy. Since kindergarten, Spanish has helped me connect with people and make new friends; that’s why I like La Senda. It allows me to help others create those important connections, new friends, and valuable lessons that will help them later in life. 
Vera Leighton I went to Minnewashta Elementary, where I started Spanish Immersion in kindergarten. I’m excited to help younger kids find the joy in being able to speak such a beautiful language! |
Autumn Ueland Hola! I'm Autumn Ueland, this is my sixth summer working at La Senda. This fall I will be a Junior at Minnetonka High School. I have been in Spanish immersion since kindergarten and continue to be in it. I love Spanish and teaching it to kids because I can connect with so many more people and help them grow. I can't wait for this summer to continue to make connections with all the kids and build my Spanish and teaching experience! Nos vemos este verano!! 
Gia Klobucar Hola! My name is Gia, and next fall I will be attending Minnetonka High School as a 9th grader. I learned Spanish through the immersion programs at the elementary schools and have continued to study it throughout elementary and middle school, and I hope to continue it in high school. I am passionate about Spanish because it helps you connect with another culture. You get to learn about different countries, people, and places. I love working at La Senda because it's amazing to be in such a caring and nurturing environment for kids to learn Spanish. It's always so fun because, even as a counselor, I get to meet new people and make new friends. The kids are always so amazing, and it's great to see them learn and grow in the language and as people. 
Bristow Mahowald ¡Hola! Me llamo Bristow. I go to Hopkins High School. I've been in Spanish immersion since preschool and love learning languages. I speak Spanish fluently, I'm learning Portuguese, and I will start French in 2025. I'm passionate about Spanish because I love to travel and connect with people. I also enjoy surprising others by speaking Spanish and eavesdropping in public. I'm excited to work at La Senda because it lets me share my passion for Spanish with others. 
Kaleb Rakers I am going to be a Sophomore at Minnetonka High School next fall. I have been in Minnetonka's Spanish Immersion program since kindergarten, and am taking several Spanish classes at the high school. I am excited to work at La Senda because I love that we foster an environment where kids learn Spanish in a natural way. 
Ava Bartsch I attend Minnetonka Middle School West, and I have been in Spanish Immersion every year since kindergarten. I learned Spanish through my immersion program, which continues into high school. I am passionate about Spanish because of the culture and the history behind the language, and I also enjoy being bilingual. I am passionate about La Senda because of how it teaches kids to love the language and helps them develop a more profound relationship with Spanish. 
Gabriella Rodriguez I attend Chanhassen High School, where I am part of the Spanish Immersion program. I started learning Spanish in elementary school at La Academia and am passionate about it because I love learning about other cultures. I am excited about La Senda because it is a great way to grow my Spanish skills, share my love of the language with younger kids, and have fun! 
Kate Vogel I attend Minnetonka Middle School West, and I have done Spanish since kindergarten and continue to study it in middle school. I am passionate about Spanish because it allows me to communicate with more people and learn about their culture and what might be different from mine. I am passionate about La Senda because it allows kids to speak Spanish and practice their Spanish skills while doing fun activities and spending time with friends. 
Senia Fowell Hola! I go to Minnetonka High School. My parents have taught me Spanish since I was a toddler, and I also went through the Spanish Immersion program at Minnewashta Elementary. I really love Spanish and the culture that surrounds it, especially because some of my closest friends are Mexican and Venezuelan, so I’ve been immersed in Hispanic culture for most of my life. I also love spending time with kids, so I'm super excited to work at La Senda this year! |
