Our Team
Shawn M. Peterson, President
Shawn is President of Catholic Education Partners, a national Catholic nonprofit that advances education choice policy and religious liberty. He has 30 years of legislative and policy experience and serves on several boards, councils, and committees dealing with education. He has served as a member of the SCPA school board as well as the Foundation board. All three of his children are Prep for Lifers and his wife Susan works at school.
Medora Benson, Treasurer
Medora joined the Foundation Board at the beginning of 2021. As a parent of four Prep students, including one alumni, Medora believes strongly in the mission of St. Croix Prep and is very invested in the success of the school. She currently serves as the Associate Activities Director at St. Croix Prep, a role in which she utilizes her 20+ years in organizational and leadership development. Medora is a proud alumna of Baylor University.
Drew Cove, Secretary
Drew joined the SCPA Foundation Board at the start of 2021. He is the first SCPA graduate (2016) to hold a position on the Foundation Board. He is passionate about St. Croix Prep’s mission, knowing first-hand how it impacted his life for the better. Drew possesses extensive experience in the communications industry and works with a digital marketing firm in the Twin Cities.
Kelly Gutierrez
Kelly is a founder of St. Croix Prep and has been engaged in charter school finance and operations for 20 years. During Kelly’s tenure, St. Croix Prep has grown from a school of 200 students and 10 staff in a 10,000 sq. ft. leased store-front to a learning community of over 1,200 students and 150 staff in a 125,000 sq. ft. building located on a 58-acre campus. Prior to St. Croix Prep, Kelly worked as a CPA with Coopers & Lybrand and as an assistant controller with Bank One. Kelly holds a BBA degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Rita Thorson
Rita is an educator of 22 years having taught in secondary schools in Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado and now Minnesota. She is in her second year at Prep and has a Masters in Education as well as an Administrative License for K-12 education from St Mary's University of Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, K-12 Health and Coaching from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. At Prep, she teaches Senior English, AP Research and an elective Leadership class.
Jon Gutierrez, Ex-Officio
Jon is Co-Founder of St. Croix Preparatory Academy and Executive Director since 2004. He has overseen the school’s growth from 200 students in K-7 to its present location serving 1,200 K-12 students on a 60-acre campus. Jon possesses nearly 20 years of business, sales, and sales management experience and has previously served as St. Croix Prep Board Chair and board member of Friends of St. Croix Prep.