Spotlight On...

Efficacy Parent Coaches

Children have a wide variety of gifts and talents, but ALL children can achieve academic proficiency. The Efficacy program equips parents to help their children succeed in school, teaching strategies for effective learning and for making failure a stepping stone instead of a stumbling block. Meet our five new parent coaches:

Bobbi Jean Tweed, M.Ed., has worked with ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) in Minnesota for the past 19 years. She is licensed as a parent educator and early educator and loves working with families. She enjoys doing educational workshops for parents, teachers, child care providers, church groups, and others. She and her husband, Mike, have five children and enjoy vacationing in Northern Minnesota, camping at State Parks, and watching birds and other wildlife in their backyard.

Iliana Gomez de Celis was born in Mexico City. She studied to be a Bilingual Executive Secretary and worked first for a law firm and later for PEMEX, the third largest crude oil producer in the world. In her free time, she was a Girl Scout leader and Sunday school teacher and also volunteered in local schools. She married in 1989 and now has four boys aged 8, 10, 16 and 18. Iliana has lived in Rochester since 2004 and currently works as a substitute paraprofessional in Rochester Public Schools and as a troop leader with the Wolf Den Girl Scout troop.

Julie Timm is originally from Albert Lea, MN. She has two older brothers and three nieces and a nephew whom she enjoys spoiling. Julie attended Winona State University where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice/Corrections. She has been employed with the Family and Children's Center for almost 9 years where she works as a counselor. Julie enjoys running and has participated in numerous 5Ks and one half marathon. She also enjoys spending time with Koda, the three-year-old cock-a-poo that she rescued from the Humane Society.

Charles Johnson is the Director of Teen Services at the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester. Educated at Loyola University, Winona State University, and Hamline University, where he is currently working toward a Master’s degree, Charles has also worked in the psychiatric department of two Twin Cities hospitals and as an English teacher at Rochester Public Schools.

Mohammed Omer is originally from Somalia, but Minnesota has been his home for many years. He currently works at IMAA (Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association) as a health outreach worker and professional interpreter, and is also studying toward a business degree at RCTC and Winona State University.

Mechelle Severson has worked in Early Childhood & Diversity Education for over 25 years. She partnered with the Diversity Council in founding the Prejudice Reduction Workshops (now called Spark workshops). She is currently serving her second term as a Rochester Public School Board member. Born in Rochester, Mechelle and her life partner Steve Severson have two adult daughters and a son-in-law that graduated from Rochester Public Schools.