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Our Faculty and Staff

  • Harper Hoover
  • Barbara McKenzie
  • Deena McCauley
  • Kathryn “Kat” Gates
  • Luo Wang
  • Reyna Smith
  • Laura McCammack
  • Mikael “Miks” Silan
  • 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
  • Amy Alessandri
  • 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.

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.

Deena McCauley

Preschool Teacher

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Kansas State University in Manhattan - M.A. in Teaching in Elementary Education
Lake Forest College - B.A. in Psychology 

I feel particularly grateful to work with our youngest learners, as I aspire to nourish a love of learning that I hope they will take with them throughout their years at NPES and beyond. The preschoolers' natural tendency to explore and question as they make sense of the world around them inspires me to stay curious, too, and to glimpse the world through their eyes.

Barbara McKenzie

Intermediate Learning Services Teacher

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Northeastern Illinois University - Master’s Degree in Learning Disabilities and
Behavior Disorders
Southern Illinois University
- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education

Anna Nardulli

Preschool-2nd Grade Art Teacher

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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – B.F.A. Painting
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – B.F.A. Art Education
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – M.A. in Art Education

I love to work with my students in a variety of art materials as they draw inspiration from nature, works by other artists, and their understanding of the world around them.

John Novick, Jr.

Head of School

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Loyola University – B.A. English, Minor American Politics
Loyola University – M.Ed. Historical Foundations of Education
Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management/ISACS Leadership Academy Certification

Our school’s combination of engaging and rigorous academics–in the context of a supportive, inclusive, and optimistic community committed to the social-emotional wellbeing of all and to equity and justice–is rare, and it’s exactly what children need today.

Vicki Panoutsos

After Care Associate

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I’ve been a member of the NPES community for about 20 years. Both of my sons are graduates. I have been lucky to work in a variety of roles for the school. I enjoy working with the students and the close relationships I’ve developed with our terrific faculty and staff.

Justin Past

Music Teacher and Band Director

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McHenry College and Northeastern Illinois University – B.A. Music Education

I appreciate our school’s commitment to co-curricular courses in developing the hearts, minds, and bodies of our children, and NPES’ active journey of growth in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Melissa Payne

Middle School Language Arts Teacher

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Illinois State University – B.A. English Education
DePaul University – M.A./M.Ed. Language, Literacy, and Specialized Instruction (Reading Specialist)

Two things I appreciate most about NPES are the community and the creative environment.

Liz Prado

After Care Associate

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North Park University – B.A. Psychology (in progress)

Brad Riggs

Director of Instructional Technology

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University of Wisconsin – B.S. English Literature Minor Writing
Boston University – M.A. Teaching

Teaching students to learn new things and use those skills to help others motivates me as an educator.

Lauren Russell

Jr. Kindergarten Lead Teacher & Early Childhood Team Leader

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Miami University (OH) – B.S. Health Studies, Minor Family Relationships
DePaul University – M.Ed. Early Childhood Education

I appreciate the flexibility NPES allows teachers in meeting each child where they are by helping them achieve through building relationships, creating personalized curriculum, and learning through play and creation.

Aimee Schnabel

Preschool-3rd Grade Spanish Language & Cultures Teacher

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Knox College – B.A. Spanish and Sociology
University of Minnesota – M.A. Second Languages and Cultures Education
Concordia University – M.S. Education (School Leadership)

I love opening the world to students, especially hearing students speak Spanish, noticing language and culture, and making connections to their own language and cultures.

Mikael “Miks” Silan

After Care Associate

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Far Eastern College in Silang, Philippines – B.S. in Hospitality Management and B.A in Communications
Wilbur Wright College  - Associates in the Arts, Emphasis in Theater Arts (in progress)