Faculty & Staff

What year did you start working at Baker?
2017

What do you like best about working at Baker?​
The Baker community is filled with so many interesting, committed, passionate students, parents, alumni and friends. I love all of the different people I have the opportunity to work with over the course of any given day.

Where did you earn your degree(s)? ​
I earned my Bachelor of Arts at Cedarville College in Ohio and my Master of Arts at Middlebury College in Vermont.

What is a fun fact about yourself? ​
I am an avid reader; you can catch me reading, listening to Audible, and talking about books when I’m not at Baker. My recent favorites are ​Dutch House​ (Ann Patchett) and ​The Years that Matter Most​ (Adam Grant).

What year did you start working at Baker?
I started working at Baker during the 15-16 school year as Amy Deuble's associate for her 5th grade classroom. I came back during the 19-20 school year to step in for Natasha Itkin during her maternity leave. I have been around in some capacity since and am now the 7th grade science teacher.

What do you like best about working at Baker?
The thing I love best about working at Baker is the community it has developed and fostered over the years. To me, it feels like another home and a place I love coming back to each and every day.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
I earned my teaching degree and science endorsement at the University of Illinois at Chicago, graduating in 2014.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I love all things nerd. I write books and D&D campaigns, read comic books and novels, and enjoy video games with my friends and family! Also, go Cubs!

What year did you start working at Baker?
2016

What do you like best about working at Baker?
It is inspiring to collaborate with so many creative colleagues.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Colorado College; M.A., National-Louis University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
I hope to empower my students to speak up and feel confident about their unique strengths.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
My favorite subject is to both study and teach is the U.S. Supreme Court.

What year did you start working at Baker?
I started working at Baker as a Preschool Associate in the Fall of 2015. I transitioned into my current role at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Middlebury College

What's your favorite thing about working at Baker?
I love being able to work with the entire Baker community. I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to interact with all facets of our community including the teachers, students, parents, and broader community partners!

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I love sports, especially hockey and soccer! I played ice hockey from the age of 5-through college, then went on to coach for a few years. I am also an avid Blackhawks fan.

What year did you start working at Baker?
2014

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., DePaul University; M.A., St. Xavier University

What’s your favorite thing about working at Baker?
Being part of an amazing team that takes tremendous joy and delight in caring for and teaching children!

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I collect vintage lunch boxes.

When did you start at Baker?
2019

What excites you about teaching at Baker?
Teaching in a creative and justice-centered environment with amazing students.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.M., Loyola University – New Orleans; M.M. Philosophy, Loyola University – Chicago; M.A. Music, University of Louisiana – Lafayette; D.M.A. Music Performance, Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
A deeper understanding of their own creativity.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I’m Cajun. My culture is very important to me and shows up in a lot of what I do!

What year did you start working at Baker?
2008

What do you like best about working at Baker?
I love the people I get to work with, the kids, families, and the ability to try new things with students

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.S. Illinois State University; M.S, Northern Illinois University; M.A.T. and T.I.E., National Louis University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
I hope to instill risk-taking, patience and persistence in my students.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I am learning to play the ukulele.

What year did you start working at Baker?
2021

What year did you start working at Baker?
2016

What do you like best about working at Baker?
I love the students’ eagerness to learn and be at school everyday

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; M.A., Middlebury College

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
Lifelong love of learning new languages and cultures.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I love to sing karaoke.

When did you start working at Baker?
2017

What do you like best about working at Baker?
Working at Baker is important to me because each child is viewed as an individual. Every student gathers and processes information in the world differently. Here at Baker we understand and celebrate that! I am encouraged as a teacher each time one of my students is able to grow more confident in who they are, through movement and choreography in my dance class.

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
The greatest gift that I can share with my students is that anyone can dance! Our bodies and souls are meant to move and celebrate in any way that feels joyful to us. For each person that means something very different. Movement is a gift that we can give ourselves and feel good sharing with others.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I am a retired professional dancer and choreographer having toured performing and teaching throughout Europe, New York, Las Vegas, and Chicago. I’m also a sports Mom. I am most often the loudest fan cheering in the stands, supporting my kids! This year we will be cheering for our college QB at the University of Dayton. I also make a MEAN chocolate chip cookie!

What year did you start working at Baker?
2007

What do you like best about working at Baker?
It’s a place where it feels like family, each and every day.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Michigan State University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
A joy for learning, experiencing the world head on and the joys of living a lifetime of wellness.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I met my fiancé while assistant teaching a section of the cadaver lab anatomy course at Michigan State University.

What year did you start working at Baker?
2016

What do you like best about working at Baker?
My amazing team members.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Illinois State University; M.A., DePaul University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
The knowledge that math is a universal language that opens the door to understanding and interpreting the world around us.

What is a fun fact about you?
I love animals, open bodies of water, Venn diagrams, and Oxford commas.

What year did you start working at Baker?
2021

What do you like best about working at Baker?
I am proud of the school's progressive tradition which today is reflected in our unquestioned commitment to equity and anti-racist practice. I am grateful for the talent and creativity of our students and the freedom to adapt and adjust the curriculum to meet their needs and interests.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
I received my B.A. in political science and economics from Kenyon. I received my master's in political science from the University of Chicago.

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
The power to communicate clearly, persuasively, and with a strong understanding of their own voice.

What year did you start working at Baker?
2010

What do you like best about working at Baker?
The best thing about working at Baker is that Baker believes in children. For early childhood, the importance of play (and the realization that play is the work of children) is central to everything we do. I can provide an individualized curriculum that is responsive to the needs of children and their development, not one that is prescribed and forced on them.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.S., Colorado State University; M.Ed, Erikson Institute

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
As students and learners, I want preschool to be the place where they begin to develop the Habits of Mind: Persisting, Managing Impulsivity, Listening with Understanding and Empathy … the list of these 16 habits sets the stage for lifelong learning. As people, I want preschool to support identity exploration and formation, to be a place that helps them understand who they are… as individuals, as family members, as community members, as citizens.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I love old houses, abandoned buildings and have an innate curiosity about their stories. I am planning a road trip to southwest Michigan in the fall to take a driving tour of homes and locations that were once part of the Underground Railroad. Another example is the Uptown Theater in Chicago, which opened in 1925 and closed in 1981. Though it has been sitting empty for decades, a restoration plan is in the works and I can’t wait to be able to get inside and see it!

What year did you start working at Baker?
I started working at Baker Demonstration school in August 2019.

What do you like best about working at Baker?
The absolute best part about Baker is the holistic approach that teachers use in their pedagogy, centering the whole child and how to better serve them. Differentiated instruction becomes the cynosure of teaching. This allows every student to thrive.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing, but after teaching students at a non-for-profit organization, my passions changed. I’m currently enrolled in a Master’s in Teaching Program to teach 5th-8th graders in Literature, with a specific focus on communication.

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow on your students?
My greatest gift for students is to channel high levels of self-efficacy. Believing you can do anything is half the battle. The second step is forming a plan and having discipline to follow it. Once that is achieved, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
A fun fact would be that I was on the Dance Team at my college, and that I’m a professional singer (only in the shower because of the acoustics).

What year did you start working at Baker?
2010

What do you like best about working at Baker?
Our students. On any given day, Baker students showcase creativity, civility, an inquisitive nature, and the desire to do things better than they have ever been done before.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Hamilton College

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
The desire to think critically and the confidence to become agents of positive change.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
My current favorite hobby is playing in the sandbox with my two sons (both Baker students).

What year did you start working at Baker?
I started at Baker in 2015

What do you like best about working at Baker?
I love working at Baker because I get to see all of the dynamic learning that happens every day. Each teacher brings their own talents and interests into their classrooms. Baker teachers encourage students to be curious thinkers and to be confident in themselves.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., The University of Iowa; M.A., National Louis University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
My goal is to help my students feel comfortable and confident in their academic abilities. Getting to know a wide age-range of students, including their interests and learning styles, is one of the best parts of my job!

What is a fun fact about yourself?
A fun fact that people may not know is that I used to be a runner and have completed 7 half marathons.

What year did you start working at Baker?
December 2006

What do you like best about working at Baker?
I love working at Baker because it is a school that places the child first and respects each student as an individual. This approach allows for a dynamic curriculum that is immersive, creative, and highly motivating for students and teachers alike.

Where did you get your degree(s)?
B.A., San Francisco State University, M.A., Pepperdine University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
My greatest hope as a teacher is to preserve the spirit of each child. I endeavor to make our classroom a joyful and safe place where all are welcome. I hope students leave first grade feeling confident in themselves, curious about the world, and acting compassionately toward others.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Baldwin-Wallace University; and, I am in the first year of my Master’s program in Elementary Education at National Louis University.

What excites you about teaching at Baker?
The amount of time I get to engage each student and the freedom to try challenging my students in creative ways to joyfully explore the arts, their own talents, and friendships with each other.

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
Confidence in finding their own voice.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I love nothing more than a night of good karaoke.

What year did you start working at Baker?
2019

What do you like most about working at Baker?
That the individual child is at the center of everything we do.

Where did you earn your degrees?
B.A., St. Mary’s College, M.A., National Louis University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
A love of learning! The confidence to freely explore & take risks.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I did pre-clinical work in a second grade classroom at Baker in ‘03 while getting my masters in elementary education (when NLU & Baker were still physically connected).

What year did you start working at Baker?
2019

What do you like best about working at Baker?
I have really enjoyed how Baker fosters a culture of creativity for students and teachers.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.S., University of Montana, M.A., National Louis University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
A sense of community and pride in our classroom and the learning.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I was born and raised in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada!

What year did you start working at Baker?
2013

What do you like best about working at Baker?
My favorite part about working at Baker is the community. The welcoming sense of acceptance and love you receive when walking in the doors here, from parents, staff and the students is unlike anywhere else I’ve been. It’s allowed me as a teacher and a person to pursue my personal passions outside of the classroom to help enrich the entire learning community here.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Western Illinois University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
My strong sense of self. I like to think I’m a pretty interesting and unique guy. The Baker community has always recognized that and encouraged me to be that person. I believe that my ability to express myself, be silly, be serious, but always be me, encourages kids to do the same. When a student can be themselves and feel comfortable in their environment, that is when the real learning can happen.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I minored in Scuba Diving in college. I see 30 concerts a year (at least).

What year did you start working at Baker?
2019

What do you like best about working at Baker?
I love that the sky is the limit for students and teachers alike. The freedom to think and dream outside of the box invites in experiences, dialogue, and opportunities that are just waiting to be discovered. Also the energy and support systems that are at the root of the Baker community and our progressive education philosophy enable everyone to feel welcomed and valued.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A. Illinois State University, M.A. Hult International Business School in London; M.Ed, Framingham State University in Guatemala

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
Empathy. I think the ability to put ourselves in the shoes of others, to see things in a new light, and from a different perspective is the most powerful tool we have in becoming effective and compassionate agents of change.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
If I could, I would eat nachos everyday.

What year did you start working at Baker?
2016

What do you like best about working at Baker?
I love so much about Baker, it is hard to pick just one thing. I love the freedom I am given and the support I receive that together enable me to dive deeply into the curriculum in ways that stimulate creativity, link knowledge, and foster curiosity.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Dartmouth College; M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara; Teaching Credential from California State University, Los Angeles

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
I want to give all my students the power of their voice as confident, unique learners who are unafraid of trying and able to advocate for themselves as they embrace the process of learning.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I played water polo in college. My family has 2 turtles, 2 cats, and a dog. I love to paint, especially Chinese brush painting.

What year did you start working at Baker?
2013

What degrees have you earned?
B.A. and M.B.A.

What is a favorite college class/hobby/club/memory?
A Women’s Studies Class! It was very empowering.

What’s your favorite thing about working at Baker?
Working with amazing and talented colleagues.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I love baking and hosting memorable parties.

When did you start at Baker?
2013

What do you like best about working at Baker?
I love the Baker community for so many reasons. There is warmth and care, and a real enjoyment of children and childhood. I also love that at Baker I have the ability to do what I know is best for kids on a daily basis.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.S., University of Wisconsin, M.Ed, National Louis University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
I hope to give my students a true love for learning, school, and adventure. I want them to know that they are capable of changing the world, of taking the lead, of making small changes that have big impacts. I want them to know that they are loved and valued.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
In college I played on University of Wisconsin's women's Ultimate Frisbee team, traveling all over the United States.

What year did you start working at Baker?
2009

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Macalester College, B.S.N., Loyola University

What’s your favorite thing about working at Baker?
Watching the confidence of our students grow.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I am on a master’s swim team and enjoy it even more than I did when I was younger.

What year did you start working at Baker?
2018

What do you like best about working at Baker?
The feeling of joy that the preschool class gives me each day. To be greeted by smiles, hugs and love each day by the most special students is such a wonderful experience.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
Priestley College, England; B.A., National Louis University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
To help them to feel safe, cared for and loved each day.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I am a registered Child and Adults Yoga Teacher and I utilize this yoga instruction in class. Some examples are taking a mindful minute before rest time at school, listening to our breath silently together in a circle, moving through vinyasa or yin yoga sequences or quietly reading yoga stories to a small class of little yogis. Each time it brings me so much joy to share the gift of yoga with my students in and out of the classroom.

When did you start at Baker?
2019

What do you like best about working at Baker?
I have been welcomed to Baker with open arms and I could not be more grateful. I love the unique perspectives and the drive to make our classrooms as authentic as possible.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Grand Valley State University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
I plan to gift each of my students with the love of movement and with curiosity of the world around them. I would love my students to take complete ownership of their learning and take it in a new direction. Each student is different and they will have different interests. PE is about finding love in movement, so that each individual can continue moving through the rest of their lives, in a self-selected way.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I love, love, love ice cream!

What year did you start working at Baker?
2012, Associate Teacher; 2015, Lead Teacher

What do you like best about working at Baker?
There are many things I cherish about Baker. Our school is a wonderful and caring community with children at its center. I also cherish amazing dedicated colleagues as well as the opportunity to be creative in my practice.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A. Barat College; JD Loyola of Chicago Law School; M.A.T., National Louis University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
To always stay curious.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I'm the mom of two grown children ages 30 and 26, one of whom is now a teacher.

What year did you start working at Baker?
2009

What do you like best about working at Baker?
My amazing students and colleagues!

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Northwestern University; M.A.T., National-Louis University

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
I hope to empower students as creative agents of change, empathic advocates for justice, and joyful and collaborative learners.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I am the proud mom of a Baker “lifer."

What year did you start working at Baker?
2019

What do you like most about working at Baker?
The inclusivity! Baker is a great model for kids and adults in all areas.

Where did you earn your degree (s)?
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away,” I attended undergrad at Columbia College and later attended Loyola University to get my Masters Degree in Social Work.

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
To create a life-long positive narrative around asking for and receiving emotional support from caring professionals.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
Right out of undergrad, I was a professional stage actress and toured around the United States doing Musical Theater.

What is your teaching/support services super power?
I LOVE talking to kids and am genuinely interested in everything they have to say! I believe every student has their own superpowers and I hope to help them discover it and use it

What year did you start working at Baker?
2013

What do you like best about working at Baker?
I value working in a school where I am trusted as a professional to do what is best for kids and that has equity and justice work deeply embedded into all we do. Baker is a place where you can grow as an educator and are supported to take risks and innovate. I love being on a team with other arts specialists and being surrounded by so many creative teachers.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Ball State University; M.A. Columbia College

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
I hope that my artists develop creative confidence, an appreciation for all types of art and a love for making and creating. I hope that they harness the power of their art to enact change, express who they are and bring beauty into the world.

What year did you start working at Baker?
2006

What’s your favorite thing about working at Baker?
I get to talk to teachers and be there to serve the teacher and make sure the kids are safe. I feel comfortable being and I enjoy the people at Baker.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I don’t have one but, unless raising six kids counts – though challenging at times. Or, I got one; I like my job!

What year did you start working at Baker?
2018

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Hope College, M.A., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

What’s your favorite thing about working at Baker?
I love working at Baker because of the people here! I feel grateful to be wearing many hats here – staff member, colleague, and parent. It is a true joy to be working in such an incredible school where children are at the center and I love interacting with our students!

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I ran an online stationery company called Paper Girl for about ten years – I have loved paper and school supplies my entire life!

What year did you start working at Baker?
2013, Baker Summer Discovery Camp; 2017, Spanish teacher

What do you like best about working at Baker?
What I like most about Baker is the teacher commitment that is among the entire faculty. Baker is a place in which every teacher focuses on the students first. The students are able to learn through a fun and meaningful experience.

Where did you earn your degree(s)?
B.A., Lake Forest College

What is the greatest gift you hope to bestow upon your students?
I hope my students are able to bring their best selves into every situation. To see their true potential and follow what they are passionate about.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I love comfortable shoes!