Staff Profile
Ellen Tronnes
Tchr - Grade 4-5
This is my seventh year teaching at Highland Park Elementary. Before joining this community, I taught grades 5–8 in Bloomington, MN, where I coached the math team, led a writer’s club, and helped direct the spring musical. I am excited to learn more about your children’s interests so I can support them in their academic, social, and extracurricular pursuits.
I hold a Master’s in Elementary Education from St. Kate’s and am licensed in K–6 Elementary Education and 5–8 Mathematics. Teaching is actually my second career. After 17 years as a professional musician, I returned to school to follow my passion for teaching. These days, I sing and play flute and piano just for fun - and I’ll admit I still get more nervous speaking in front of people than I do singing!
At home, I’m lucky to share life with my husband, who is a registered nurse and also a self-taught mechanic, stereo technician, chef, gardener, and woodworker. We have four kids - two in college and two in high school, so our home is always full of energy, music (violin, viola, banjo, french horn, drums, flute, piano, plus a record player or two), and plenty of activity. That lively spirit inspires me to embrace the energy and unexpected moments of learning in an active classroom.