Additional settings for Safari Browser.
Staff
Staff
MVA faculty are highly qualified Kansas licensed teachers who value the relationships they build with students and families. Teachers believe those relationships provide the foundation for quality instruction and engaging students in their learning. The heart of our school is the MVA team: experienced and compassionate virtual educators who keep students excited about learning. Collectively, our staff brings over 100 years of teaching experience and 18 years of virtual learning leadership in Kansas, MVA brings world-class education to your home.
We invite you to meet the people that set MVA apart. Join us for your education journey and together we will lead the way for today’s learners and tomorrow’s leaders.
-
Hi! I am so excited when looking to the future of Manhattan Virtual Academy! How did I acquire the privilege to serve as the Principal of MVA? It comes from growing and developing as an educator in a community where education is a priority, and the school district is a leader in education in Kansas.
I have lived in Manhattan, Kansas for over 30 years, graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a Reading Specialist endorsement, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration. My teaching experience has been at all levels, Kindergarten through High School. My leadership and administrative experience has been in instructional technology and in the global world of online learning. For the past 18 years I have served as Director of Manhattan Virtual Academy.
In my time away from work, I enjoy being outdoors, hiking, kayaking, and spending time with my family.
-
Hello! My name is Becky Broce, and I have been teaching with this MVA staff for over 18 years. I absolutely love my job—the staff and students are the heart of our school, and I feel so fortunate to be a part of it. Teaching online to Kansas students across the state, who are pursuing their passions and interests, is so invigorating and inspiring to me.
My specialty areas include English Language Arts, Physical Education, English Language Learners, and various elective courses. I earned a B.S. in Secondary Education, with an emphasis in English from Kansas State University, and a M.S.E. in Curriculum and Instruction, with a program emphasis in TESOL, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, from The University of Kansas. I was also fortunate enough to study Spanish language and culture at La Universidad de Granada and live with a host family.
Currently, Kansas City is home to me. My hobbies include cooking, yoga, tennis, gardening, reading historical fiction, and photography.
-
This is my 16th year teaching math and my 6th with MVA. I have a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk) and a master’s degree in curriculum & instruction from Emporia State.
My husband and I currently live outside of Fort Benning. We are an Army family and have been stationed at Fort Riley (Kansas), Eau Claire, Wisconsin (recruiting), Fort Hood (Killeen, TX), and Fort Benning (Georgia). We have 2 sons (James and Teddy), a daughter (Nora), and two dogs (Lulu and Sheldon).
When I’m not working or helping little boys with homework, I enjoy reading, baking, watching the Chiefs, KU basketball, and being a Swiftie.
-
Hello & WELCOME to MVA! My name is Lydia Huninghake (he-knee-hawk) and I’m starting my 17th year of teaching with USD 383. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education through Kansas State University while graduating with my Master’s degree in Adaptive Special Education K-12 through Emporia State University. My role with MVA is to case manage students with exceptionalities along with instruct and organize our MTSS Tier intervention courses.
Virtual teaching has been a wonderful opportunity for families to support their students in collaboration with our team alongside them. I truly appreciate the ability to stay involved with helping our families, show student progress and push students to think about future goals.
My family and I live in Frankfort, Kansas on our family farm. Bryce, my husband, is a local farmer and we share three wonderful children together, Retley, Ellie and Perry. In our spare time, you can find us enjoying the outdoors, being on the farm, catching toads in our sand pile, spending time with our families and attending K-State football games in the fall.
Welcome to MVA - truly a great place to be. Let’s get rolling and find your word, your impact.
-
My name is Morgan Jobe, and I have over fourteen years of experience teaching English-Language Arts. This is my fifth year with MVA and I am so happy to be part of this team. I have a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English, and a Master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction, both from Kansas State University. Go CATS!
I currently live in the Manhattan area with my husband, John (the local county 4-H agent), our sons, Julian and Rowan, and our Golden Retriever, Leon. When I'm not teaching, you'll find me enjoying the outdoors with my family, spending time on our screened-in deck, doing projects around the house, or traveling. -
Hello! I am a science teacher with a passion for helping students explore the wonders of the living world. I began teaching in 2006 and have been proud to be part of the Manhattan Virtual Academy community since 2012.
I hold a Master of Education, a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry, and an associate’s degree in respiratory therapy. My academic background and classroom experience allow me to bring both scientific depth and real-world relevance to my teaching.
At Manhattan Virtual Academy, I teach middle school science, Biology, and several life science courses. I believe that every student can succeed in science when curiosity is encouraged and learning feels meaningful. My goal is to make science engaging, understandable, and connected to everyday life.
When I’m not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, and playing golf.
-
I am a Kansas State University graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. I am also currently working on my Doctorate degree in Curriculum. I have been a teacher for over 20 years and am especially thrilled about helping students learn online!
My husband and kids sometimes poke fun at me because I have proclaimed that Math is my passion. (It's true!) I have taught and tutored students in a wide variety of math levels from elementary school through college. I love helping students overcome insecurities with Math. My next favorite subject is Spanish. Learning a second language can be an amazing experience because you learn to communicate with new people from another culture. I am beyond excited to be teaching both Math and Spanish for MVA! In my free time, I enjoy watching my four kids and my husband in their various sports, theater, and music activities, along with volunteering in my church.
-
I am a graduate of Wichita State University with a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education. I will be starting my 15th year as an online teacher and my 20th year as a teacher overall. I teach the physical sciences like chemistry, physics, etc.
I love teaching online. I find that our students are as diverse as any school in Kansas and have so many interesting backgrounds. Getting to know students and their stories is one of the best parts of being a teacher at MVA. I absolutely want to have fun while teaching. I want students to want to come to vClass rather than be forced to come so I strive to create a fun and enjoyable atmosphere for students.
It is great to be a part of the team we have here at MVA. Many of our core teachers started at our school before I did! We were one of the first virtual schools in the state of Kansas. To have the same core teachers working together for such an extended period provides a great environment for students to learn and prosper.
I love to play golf, spend time with my English Mastiff, Max, and work in my vegetable and flower gardens. My wife and I will celebrate 35 years of marriage this fall. We have 5 sons, and four wonderful grandchildren.
-
Hi, I’m Rhea Littrell, and I teach a variety of Social Studies courses at MVA. I began my teaching career in 2016 after completing a majority of my undergraduate work at Johnson County Community College and Kansas State University. I continued my education with graduate studies in History at Fort Hays State University.
I have lived throughout Kansas, which has helped shape my diverse background and perspective, but I now happily call Northwest Arkansas my home.
Teaching virtually has been a rewarding experience. Our students are incredible, and I enjoy learning about their unique talents and interests. Manhattan Virtual has some of the best and brightest learners, along with a dedicated team of teachers and staff who are passionate about education. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow with our students and colleagues.
When I am not working, I stay busy with my two kids and three dogs who keep life lively. Our family enjoys nature hikes, spending time at the lake, visiting family, and traveling whenever possible. I also love to read, and some of my favorite series include Harry Potter, Divergent, and The Hunger Games.
-
Hi, I am Lori Rice and I teach social studies and am the gifted teacher and NHS sponsor at MVA. I was born and raised in Kansas, completing my Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education at Kansas State University and my Master of Science with a major in Special Education focusing on gifted education at Emporia State University. I taught elementary for 25 years at Wamego. This is my fifth year with MVA.
My passions are STEM education, social studies and helping each student find their unique perspectives and talents. When I am not working, I stay busy hiking and exploring new places. My oldest is finishing pharmacy school at KU, my middle daughter is a working on her Physical Therapy degree at Creighton University, and my youngest is in high school and loves video games and coding languages. We live with my parents in a multi-generational home which allows for family and fun. I love to read, run, do puzzles and spend time with family and friends.
-
Hello! My name is Tracy Ridey, and I am excited to begin another school year with you.
I have been teaching since 1997, marking nearly three decades in education. My career includes 11 years at Manhattan High School, 11 years at another school, and I was pleased to return to the Manhattan district in 2019. After teaching virtually during the initial phase of the pandemic and the following year, I then transitioned to Manhattan Virtual Academy (MVA). I hold both a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education and a Master's degree in Adaptive Special Education from Kansas State University.
My diverse interests led to extensive certification in: K-12 Art, 5-12 Mathematics and Computers, 6-12 Special Education, and, more recently, Theater and Speech. I am deeply grateful to be part of such a wonderful school community with dedicated educators.
My roots are on a farm just north of Manhattan, and my love for animals is strong—we currently have four dogs and two cats at our home in Newton, KS. With our three children now grown, my husband and I now enjoy supporting our three children as they navigate their adult lives.
Building strong relationships and maintaining open communication are central to my teaching philosophy. Even in a remote environment, I work hard to ensure you and your family feel comfortable asking for help. Please don't hesitate to email, text, or call with any questions, concerns, or even to share some good news! I enjoy utilizing technology to enhance our learning and can't wait to work with you all this year.
-
Hello! My name is Tami Simkins and I am very excited to continue my journey at MVA as the school counselor. I moved to Kansas 18 years ago. I have lived in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and California. I earned my bachelor's degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from Louisiana State University in Shreveport and my Master of Arts Degree in Education through Baker University. I earned my Master of Science Degree in Counseling and Student Development in 2021. This is my 2nd year supporting students and families as a school counselor. I transitioned to school counseling after 20 years of teaching mathematics. I am a proud mother of 7 children. Brianna, Chris, Madalyn, Megan, Colby, Caitlyn, and Cooper. Their ages range from 31 to 11 years old. I am also a grandmother to Bentley, Brooklyn, Brayden and Seraphina. I am very proud of them! I have been teaching online for 11 years. I look forward to helping you design a plan to help you reach your future goals.
-
I am a lifelong resident of Manhattan, KS and a HUGE K-State fan. I have a husband, a 13 year old son, and three cats at home. In other words, I have five kids. This is my second academic year at MVA and third with USD 383. I see to the day-to-day office operations, along with Mrs. Wefald. If you call or email with any ParentPortal, enrollment, or student record questions, I will be the one who works with you!
My word this year: Persistance.
Persistence isn’t about speed or instant success—it's about consistency and not giving up. Even small steps forward matter, as long as you keep moving. Progress, no matter how slow, leads to growth and eventual achievement.
-
Hi! I handle Operations & Student Support for MVA! I am a graduate of Kansas State University with my Masters in Academic Advising and Bachelors in Social Work. I am in my eleventh year of managing MVA's Learning Management System (LMS) and virtually supporting students and love what I do!! When I’m not working, I am busy with my husband, three kids, two step kids, and our Pit Bull, Ellie (our biggest baby!), who loves her daily walks. I love traveling, especially to my home country of Croatia, reading, hiking, and keeping up with what’s happening in the world.