Our Incredible Staff

Our hiring process is in-depth and highly competitive. The result is a group of administrators, teachers, and integrated service providers who are not only extremely well-qualified, but who have the outstanding skills, enthusiasm and dedication needed to bring out the best in our students.
LD Specialists

The Learning Disability Specialists at HPDS are the facilitators of the learning environment. They co-teach with a team of educational specialists, regular education teachers, and professional artists. Together, they create an educational environment that fosters achievement, embraces diversity, and leads to students acquiring strategies for actualizing their potential.
Co-Teaching
We believe that co-teaching provides for a richer and more integrated educational experience for our students. At HPDS, regular education teachers, LD specialists and professional artists often work together. In addition, we offer consultation to regular education teachers to ensure a smooth transition for students returning to their home school.

Hyde Park Day School’s strength is directly related to the best-in-field quality of our faculty.

Pamela Adelman

Executive Director Emerita

Ph.D. Reading and Language Development, Northwestern University

M.A. Learning Disabilities, Northwestern University

B.S. History/Secondary Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Kimyatta Barksdale

Teacher

B.S. Criminal Justice, St. Joseph College

Julie Barrera

Development Associate

M.A. Communication, Purdue University Northwest

B.A. Organizational Communication, Purdue University Northwest

Ashley Bean

Teacher

M. Ed. in Elementary Education, Texas State University

M.S. in Exercise Science, Georgia State University

B.S. in Management, Georgia Institute of Technology

Meagan Boyle

Teacher

Ed.D. Reading and Language, National Louis University

M.Ed. Special Education, Vanderbilt University

B.S.S.P. Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern

Janine Brown

Administrative Assistant

B.A. Human Social Services and Behavioral Studies, National Louis University

Yaasmeen Brown

Permanent Substitute Teacher

B.F.A., California Institute of the Arts

Madeline Burke

Teacher

B.S. Elementary Education, Butler University

Deirdre Byrne

Teacher

M.A. Reading, Concordia University

B.A. in English/Education, University of Iowa

Monique Capouch

Teacher

LBS1 Special Education Endorsement, Lewis University

B.A. Elementary Education, Trinity Christian College

Wendy Carter

Teacher

M.A. Curriculum and Instruction, Concordia University

B.S. Education, Northern Illinois University

Marisa Churchill

Instructional Coach

M.A. Language, Literacy, Society and Culture, University of California, Berkeley

B.S. Secondary English Education, Indiana University

Patricia Clancy

Teacher

M.A. Reading Specialist, Concordia University – River Forest

B.M. Music Education; Music Therapy, Wartburg College

Kelli Corkle

Teacher

M.A. Learning Disabilities, Northwestern University

B.A. History, Northwestern University

Molly Cowley

Teacher

M.A. Curriculum and Instruction, Louisiana State University

B.A. Elementary Education, Spring Hill College

Casey Crnich

Executive Director

Ed.D. Educational Leadership, National Louis University

M.A. Education, DePaul University

B.S. Special Education, Northern Illinois University

Carolyn Dean

Occupational Therapist

B.S. Occupational Therapy, St. Louis University

Lenore Deutsch

Social Worker

M.S.W. Social Work, Loyola University

B.S. Speech Pathology, Illinois State University

Casey Dwyer

Teacher

B.S. Special Education and Elementary Education, Salve Regina University

Kathy Eslinger

Teacher

M.A. Education, Literacy Specialist, DePaul University

B.S. Elementary Education, Spanish, Marquette University

Lisa Evans

Teacher

M.Ed. Reading Specialist, National Louis University

B.S. Special Education, Northern Illinois University

Cameron Fishback

Teacher

M.Ed., University of Florida

B.S. Psychology, University of Florida

Jamie Friedman

Occupational Therapist

M.S. Occupational Therapy, University of New Hampshire

B.S. Occupational Therapy, University of New Hampshire

Jessica Goldman

Teacher

M.A. Secondary Education, University of Michigan

B.A. Classics, Grinnell College

Jennifer Gooze

Teacher

M.A. Differentiated Instruction, Concordia University Chicago

B.S. Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Germaine Gordon

Transition Specialist

M.A. Dance Movement Therapy and Counseling, Columbia College Chicago

B.A. Arts and Humanities, University of Louisiana – Lafayette

Kristin Graham

Wilson Trainer

M.A. Reading, St. Xavier University

B.A. Early Childhood Education, Illinois State University

Jade Henchel

Teacher

M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, Olivet Nazarene University

LBS1 Certificate, St. Francis University

B.S. in Elementary Education, Trinity Christian College

Lynn Hiatt

Administrative Assistant, Northfield Campus

Jennifer Hodges

Teacher

Certified Personal Trainer, National Academy of Sports Medicine

M.S. Physical Education, Florida State University

B.S. Physical Education, Ball State University

Heidi Holladay

Teacher

M.A. Curriculum and Teaching, Michigan State University

B.A. Elementary Education, Michigan State University

Laura Holton

Teacher

M.Ed. Reading and Learning Disabilities, DePaul University

B. A.  Communicative Disorders, University of New Mexico

Sarah Imboden

Instructional Coach

M.Ed. Technology in Education, National Louis University, Chicago

B.S. Elementary Education and Learning Disabilities, Southeast Missouri State

Sarah Jarnagin

Teacher

M.A. Teaching, Relay Graduate School of Education

B.S. Public Relations, Mississippi College

Therese Jilek

Director of Technology

M.E. Educational Computing, Cardinal Stritch University

B.S. Elementary Education, University of Illinois, Champaign

Tricia Kanellopoulos

Teacher

M.A. Special Education, National-Louis University

B.A. Psychology, Loyola University

Jennifer Kobey

Teacher

Education Endorsement in LBS1, University of St. Francis

B.A. Elementary Education, Indiana University

Gloria Konrad

Teacher

M.A.T. Elementary Education, National-Louis University

B.S. Communication Studies, Northwestern University

Julie Koors

Speech Language Pathologist

M.S. Speech-Language Pathology, Miami University of Ohio

Zehava Krauss

Speech/Language Pathologist

M.S. Speech & Language Pathology, Brooklyn College

B.A. Speech & Language Pathology, Brooklyn College

Kathryn Lamermayer

Social Worker

MSW, LSCSW University of Illinois, Chicago

BS Child Development and Family Studies, Northern Illinois University

Rebecca Lance

Social Worker

M.S. Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago

M.A. Teacher Leadership, Roosevelt University

B.S. Elementary Education,  Indiana University

Dana Long

Teacher

B.S. Elementary Education, Illinois State University

Molly Mac

Speech-Language Pathologist

M.S. Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions

B.A. Linguistics, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

Maureen McCarthy

Director of Development

M.S. Human Services Administration, Spertus Institute

B.S. Music Therapy, Illinois State University

John McGuinness

Teacher

M.A.T. Secondary Education, Northeastern Illinois University

B.A. English, Loyola University Chicago

Carly McKeague

Lemont Principal

M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, Northeastern Illinois University

M.S. in Learning Disabilities, Northwestern University

B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, Northeastern University

Bridget McKenna

Teacher

M.S. School Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha

B.A. Psychology, University of Notre Dame

Karen Meyer

Permanent Substitute Teacher

M.A.T., National Lewis University

B.A. Communication, Illinois State University

Tara Montgomery

Trainer

M.A. Learning Disabilities, Northwestern University

B.S. Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University

Jerimiah Murray

Teacher

M.Ed. in Special Education, University of Illinois at Chicago

B.S. in Education, Eastern Illinois University

Shawnee Newsome

Teacher

M.A. Educational Leadership, National Louis University
M.A. Elementary Education, Concordia University

Advanced Certificate, Child Development, Chicago City Colleges

B.S. History, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Bozena Ornowski

Teacher

M. S. Special Education, Quincy University

B.A. Psychology, Northeastern Illinois University

Maria Pappas

Occupational Therapist

M.S. Occupational Therapy, Rush University

B.A. Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago

Heather Parker

Teacher

M.S. Education, DePaul University

B.S. Journalism, University of Colorado – Boulder

Bobbie Pasquesi

Teacher

M.A. Elementary Education, National-Louis University

B.S. Psychology, Loyola University of Chicago

Jessica Phelan

Admissions Director

M.Ed. in Urban Education, National Louis University

B.A. in Elementary and Special Education, Elon University

Catherine Phelps

Art Teacher

M.A. in Art Therapy, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

B.A. in Fine Arts, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Audrey Resnick

Speech/Language Pathologist

M.S. Communicative Disorders, California State University, Northridge

B.A. Speech & Performing Arts, Northeastern Illinois University

Jenice C. Reyes

Speech-Language Pathologist

M.A. Speech-Language Pathology, Saint Louis University

M.A. Learning Disabilities, Saint Xavier University

B.S. Communication Sciences and Disorders and minor in Psychology, Saint Louis University

Chris Rinchich

Art Teacher

B.S. Art, Illinois State University

Becca Rosenbaum

Teacher

M.Ed. Special Education, University of Illinois

B.S. Psychology, University of Illinois

Joanna Ruzich

Speech-Language Pathologist

M.H.S. Communication Disorders, Governors State University

B.H.S. Communication Disorders, Governors State University

B.A. Public Relations and Advertising, DePaul University

Sarah Scheurich

Chicago Principal

M.A. Educational Leadership, Concordia University Chicago

M.S. Communication Sciences and Disorders , Illinois State University

B.S. Speech Language Pathology, Illinois State University

Ralph Schwartz

Social Worker

M.S.W., Hunter College

B.A. Elementary Special Education, Brooklyn College

Rob Scott

Social Worker

M.S.W. School and Clinical, Aurora University

B.A. Business Management, Hope College

Lisa Skiba

Teacher

M.A.T. Type 03 Certification, Special Education Endorsement (LBS1), National-Louis University

M.B.A. General Management, University of Michigan

M.S.W. Community Organization, University of Michigan

B.A. International Economic Development, University of Michigan

Rachel Slutsky-Kaplowitz

Social Worker

M.S.W. Interpersonal Practice with Children and Families, University of Michigan

B.A. Psychology and Education, Barnard College, Columbia University

Alex Sniegowski

Occupational Therapist

M.S. in Occupational Therapy, Governors State University

B.A. in Psychology, Carthage College

John Stieper

Northfield Principal

Ed.S., Education Specialist, Eastern Illinois University

MLIS in Master of Library and Information Science, DePaul University

M.A. Asian Art, Lake Forest College

B.S. Technology Integration, University of Oxford

Isabel Turner

Teacher

M.Ed. Elementary Education, University of Minnesota Twin Cities

B.S. Elementary Education Foundations, University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Jennifer Viebach

Full-Time Substitute Teacher

B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies, Governors State University

Kathleen Walls

Teacher

M.S. Special Education, Dominican University

Iara Ward

Administrative Assistant, Chicago Campus

Pam Weichselbaum

Transition Specialist

M.S.W. Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago

Graduate Certificate, Teaching Students with ASD, University of Northern Colorado

B.A. Psychology, St. Mary’s University

Aimee Weiss

Teacher

M. Ed. Special Education, National Louis University

B.S. Elementary Education, Bradley University

Hayley Younkin-Wilson

Occupational Therapist

Doctorate of Occupational Therapy, MGH Institute of Health Professions

B.S. from Wheaton College

Matt Zakosek

Teacher

M.Ed. Early Childhood Education, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

M.A.T. Elementary Education, National-Louis University

B.A., Cinema and Media Studies, University of Chicago

Does Hyde Park Day School feel like a great fit for your child?