Our Faculty and Staff
- Kathryn “Kat” Gates
- Luo Wang
- Reyna Smith
- Laura McCammack
- Fyona Young
- Sarah Woltmann
- Mary Wells
- Nya Young
- Russell Hatch
- Morgan Tate Pippin
- Daniel Swanson-Nystrom, '08
- Nicole Smart
- Aimee Schnabel
- Lauren Russell
- Liz Prado
- Melissa Payne
- Justin Past
- Vicki Panoutsos
- FrankO Mansilla
- Anna Nardulli
- Cynthia "Cindy" Do
- Adam Litt
- Nikki Lawrence
- Shelby Klingberg
- Sheri Klepper
- Rhodi Hotaling
- Rob Hirsch
- David Hemak
- Tessa Forte
- Connor Dillon
- Rebecca Butler
- Paul Bulgajewski
- Talia Blivaiss
- Greg Basil
- Wendy Andrews
- Zoe Ardito
- Nicole Allen
- Marshall Warren
- Anne Zagotta
- Kim Smith
- Brad Riggs
- Emily Friend
- Kerry Maman
- Erin Leyden
- John Novick, Jr.
Nicole Allen
4th/5th Grade STEM Teacher
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Northland College – B.A. Elementary Education, Minor Environmental Education
I appreciate teaching at NPES because of our caring, curious students and the supportive community of staff and families.
Wendy Andrews
Creative Drama Teacher
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Bennington College and Northwestern University – B.S. Speech Education
I am grateful for our sense of community and how we build our community with students and families as they progress from preschool to eighth grade.
Zoe Ardito
Kindergarten Teacher
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North Park University – B.A. Early Childhood Education, Spanish Concentration
Teaching children to read is one of the greatest joys in my life. Opening up the world of literacy, broadening perspective, and inspiring kids in their own abilities is an incredible endeavor!
Greg Basil
Facility Maintenance
Talia Blivaiss
3rd Grade Teacher
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University of Michigan – B.A. Elementary Education with Distinction
Bank Street College of Education – M.S. Education, Literacy Specialization
I love teaching third graders because their curiosity and creativity are blossoming. They have acquired the skills to think on a deep level, make connections to their own lives and the world around them, and have big ideas about how to make positive change. My favorite unit to teach is about immigration because I love watching the children make connections between the past and present. They begin to realize how their learning connects to and shapes their lives, as well.
Paul Bulgajewski
1st Grade Associate Teacher
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University of Illinois at Chicago – B.S. Finance
Keller Graduate School of Management – M.B.A. in Accounting
National Louis University – M.A.T. Early Childhood Education (expected winter 2022)
Rebecca Butler
Student Services Coordinator
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Kansas State University – B.A. Theatre
Kansas State University – M.A. Theatre
I am constantly impressed by the dedication, enthusiasm, and creativity of the teachers and staff at NPES.
Connor Dillon
4th/5th Grade Humanities Teacher
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Knox College – B.A. Elementary Education, Minor Art
Cynthia "Cindy" Do
Preschool 4 Associate Teacher
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Wellesley College - B.A. in Cognitive Science (with an Education minor)
Teachers’ College at Columbia University - M.A. in Communication, Computing, and Technology in
Education
Rider University - M.A. in Educational Administration
Tessa Forte
K-3rd Grade Learning Services Teacher
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Northwestern University – B.S. Speech, Learning Disabilities Concentration
Northwestern University – M.A. in Learning Disabilities
Interacting with children and watching their personalities develop are reasons why I love teaching.
Emily Friend
Director of Teaching & Learning
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University of Colorado – B.S. Geography & Biology
University of Illinois-Chicago – M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction
It brings me great joy to help people be creative, intentional, and innovative in their teaching. I am particularly passionate about fostering global citizenship in students through service learning and in creating equitable and affirming school spaces for all learners.
Kathryn “Kat” Gates
Middle School Learning Services Teacher
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Eastern Michigan University - B.S. in Elementary Education and Language Arts
Russell Hatch
Middle School Science Teacher
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University of Chicago – B.A. English
Indiana University – B.A. Chemistry
New York University – M.S. Chemistry