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Our Faculty and Staff

  • Harper Hoover
  • Barbara McKenzie
  • Deena McCauley
  • Kathryn “Kat” Gates
  • Luo Wang
  • Reyna Smith
  • Laura McCammack
  • Fyona Young
  • Sarah Woltmann
  • Mary Wells
  • Morgan Tate Pippin
  • Charlise "Charli" Hurley
  • Aimee Schnabel
  • Lauren Russell
  • Liz Prado
  • Jami Allen
  • Melissa Payne
  • Justin Past
  • Vicki Panoutsos
  • Anna Nardulli
  • FrankO Mansilla
  • Cynthia "Cindy" Do
  • Catherine "Kat" Behling
  • Nikki Lawrence
  • Shelby Klingberg
  • Sheri Klepper
  • Rhodi Hotaling
  • Rob Hirsch
  • David Hemak
  • Tessa Forte
  • Connor Dillon
  • Rebecca Butler
  • Kristen Howe
  • Talia Blivaiss
  • Alejandro "Alex" Duran
  • Zoe Ardito
  • Wendy Andrews
  • Nicole Allen
  • Anne Zagotta
  • Marshall Warren
  • Kim Smith
  • Brad Riggs
  • Emily Friend
  • Kerry Maman
  • Erin Leyden
  • John Novick, Jr.

David Hemak

4th/5th Grade Associate Teacher

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St. John’s University – B.A. Studio Art

I love working in a school because every day is different and there is always laughter.

Rob Hirsch

K-8th Grade Physical Education Teacher

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North Park University – B.S. K-12 Physical Education
North Park University – M.Ed. ESL and Special Education certification

I have been the PE teacher at NPES since 2014. During the winter, I coach middle school basketball, and during the fall I coach varsity boys golf for Lane Tech High School. Thanks to my New England upbringing, I am an avid Boston sports fan.

Harper Hoover

3rd Grade Associate Teacher

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Washington University - B.A. in Environmental
Analysis (with minors in Writing and Political Science)

Rhodi Hotaling

Middle School Math Teacher

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DePauw University – B.A. Education
National Louis University – M.A. Teaching

One of my favorite units to teach is a unit in 6th grade where the students learn about algebra tiles. This unit really makes variables come alive and become more tangible. Also, it allows 6th grade students to interact with quadratic equations they will use in 8th grade in an hands-on way.

Kristen Howe

1st Grade Associate Teacher

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Seton Hill University (PA) – B.A.
DePaul University (IL) – M.F.A.

Charlise "Charli" Hurley

Preschool Associate Teacher

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University of California-Santa Barbara – B.A. in Comparative Literature
Concordia University
- pursuing a Master’s Degree in Teaching (MAT)


Sheri Klepper

After Care Associate

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NPES is a great school and a great community. I love supervising lunch and recess when I get to hang out with the students. I also enjoy covering the front desk and getting to see so many people.

Shelby Klingberg

Kindergarten Associate Teacher

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DePaul University – B.A. Peace, Justice & Conflict Studies

I teach because the classroom is a radical space of possibility.

Nikki Lawrence

1st Grade Teacher & Primary Team Leader

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Northeastern Illinois University – B.A. Early Childhood Education
North Park University – M.Ed. Education/Teacher Leadership

I appreciate our strong sense of community. The relationships between parents, teachers, students, and faculty make North Park special. I am lucky to be a part of it.

Erin Leyden

Director of Development & Marketing

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Northern Illinois University - B.S. Communications and Media Studies
Keller Graduate School
- M.I.S. Information Systems

As I visit or peek my head into classrooms I love to see the curiosity, excitement and engagement as well as the respect the students have for one another and our teachers. But what I enjoy most about my day is hearing the laughter throughout our school. Happy children and a sense of belonging is so important these days and NPES is the place to be!

Kerry Maman

Office Manager and Coordinator of Extracurricular Activities

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Indiana University – B.S. Early Childhood/Primary Education
Northeastern Illinois University – M.Ed. Special Education (Learning Behavior Specialist)

Being in the office, I most appreciate that I get to work with all NPES students. I love seeing their smiling faces enter the building each day.

FrankO Mansilla

4th-8th Grade Spanish Language & Cultures Teacher

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Instituto Guatemalteco Americano Guatemala – B.S. Bilingual/Bicultural Elementary Education

I love teaching folklore. Among my favorites is “Day of the Dead” taught from different cultural points of view.

Laura McCammack

School Librarian & Co-Curricular Team Leader

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Butler University – B.S. Elementary Education, Minor Technology in Education
Lesley University – M.Ed. Elementary Curriculum & Instruction
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – M.S. Library & Information Sciences

I appreciate the dedicated teachers at NPES, and the hands-on, inquiry-based activities in which our students engage. I also love that each student is honored and respected as an individual.