As Launch continues to create new partnerships with school districts statewide, we also add to our team and update roles and responsibilities to best support staff and students.

Coordinator, Digital Learning
Janna Elfrink
Joined the team: May 2019
Roles and Responsibilities: “I lead teams responsible for partner district support and student services support, and I am also responsible for starting Launch’s new liaison network.”
Fun Fact: Janna spent 25 years in education before joining the Launch team. “Through a class project, my former students from 2006 are responsible for crayfish getting their proper recognition as Missouri’s State Invertebrate!,” she says.

Specialist of Student Services
Christopher Kensinger, Ed.S
Joined the team: August 2018 (as an online teacher); promoted to new role May 2019
Roles and Responsibilities: “I work to support SPS students taking Launch courses. I also help mentor and coach Launch teachers, handle parent concerns and am in charge of managing Launch’s dual credit and AP courses.”
Fun Fact: Christopher grew up on a dairy farm in rural Missouri.

School Counselor
David Schuman
Joined the team: May 2019
Roles and Responsibilities: “I’m the school counselor for students in the Springfield school district who complete all of their work through Launch’s online courses. I support students not only in the area of academics, but also in their social and emotional development.”
Fun Fact: David has visited five countries in the last two years—most recently, he and his wife ziplined through canyons and repelled down waterfalls in New Zealand.

Coordinator, Course Development
Dr. Meghan Roe
Joined the team: July 2017 (as Quality Assurance Specialist); promoted to new role June 2019
Roles and Responsibilities: “I’m responsible for Launch’s course development process. I ensure that new courses go out on time and that they are as good as they can possibly be.”
Fun Fact: Meghan has lived in six different states, but lived in Missouri the longest—from 1994 to 2007, and then again starting in 2017!

Quality Assurance Specialist
Linda Ayres
Joined the team: November 2015 (as a digital developer); promoted to new role June 2019
Roles and Responsibilities: “I make sure our course content is understandable and our courses flow naturally. I also ensure that all of the Quality Matters standards are met.”
Fun Fact: “I actually love playing video games,” Linda says. “I don’t play them often, though, because that would take up all of my spare time!”

Launch Support Specialist
Adam Shawley
Joined the team: May 2019
Roles and Responsibilities: “As a tech support specialist, I receive all inbound communication for Launch.”
Fun Fact: Not too long before joining the Launch team, Adam biked 30 miles a day, four days a week. “For now, I’m taking a break to take some phone calls,” he says.

Launch Support Specialist
Tyler Gray
Joined the team: June 2019
Roles and Responsibilities: “As a Support Specialist, I receive phone calls from students, parents and teachers that need help with Launch-related situations. I also respond to our support email.” 
Fun Fact: Tyler is heading back to school to get a
second degree in Computer Information Science.