Dear Parents and Friends of Prairie,
Earlier this summer, I introduced you to the faculty and staff members who had been hired to join our team. I talked about how our comprehensive search and interview process yielded what we felt was an exceptionally talented and motivated group of educators.
Today, I can tell you our initial impressions were spot on. Having had the opportunity to work with them individually and watch them prepare for the upcoming year, I can’t overstate how excited I am to have them as part of our community. They are amazing additions to Prairie, and I look forward to watching them impact our students.
Whether you see them in the classroom or walking across campus, please take a moment to say hello.
Sincerely,
Dr. Nat Coffman, Head of School & President
Sarah Berkey – Upper School Social Studies Teacher
Global Studies and AP Teacher at Southland College Prep High School, since 2013
Upper School Social Studies Teacher at Morgan Park Academy 1997 – 2013
Co-creator and Director of the Global Scholars Program K-12 at Morgan Park
B.A. Political Science, Minor: History, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
M.A. in History, DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Erin Housiaux – Upper School English Teacher/Co-Department Chair
9th and 11th Grade Literature Teacher at Ransom Everglades School, Miami, FL., since 2006
School Leadership Experience at Ransom Everglades School -Tenth Grade Academic Dean,2015 – present
Assistant Dean of Students (grades 9-12), 2011-2015
Director of Experiential Programs (grades 9-12), 2010-2013
Director of Curriculum (grades 6-8) and Sixth and Seventh Grade English Teacher/Team Leader at The Willauer School – Boston, MA 2003-2006
Community Leadership:
Co-Chair Culture and Values Committee
Implemented MCCJ’s Student Voice Program
Faculty Leadership Award, University of Miami School of Law, 2014
B.A., Cum Laude, English and Education, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
Masters of Educational Leadership, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Erin is continuing her education, studying for her Masters of English Literature at
Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English, Ripton, Vermont
Valerie Olmstead – Primary School 1st Grade Teacher
Third Grade Teacher at William E. Young School-Homer Glen, IL., since 2012
Differentiation Facilitator-coaching other faculty members to build differential lesson plans, since 2015
Kindergarten Teacher at Westbrook School – Glenview, IL., 2011-2012
ELL Tutor with strategies to support English Language Learners
B.S. in Early and Middle Child Education – Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
M.A. Education-Reading Specialist – Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, IL
Vicki Schmitz – Art Teacher/Department Chair
Visual Arts Instructor, Grade K-8 at The Pegasus School-Huntington Beach, CA., since 2004
Mentoring Program Coordinator for new faculty & staff
Co-developer of Pegasus Dream Lab, maker space initiative
Visual Arts Instructor, Grade K-6 at Price Laboratory School-Cedar Falls, IA., 2003-2004
2014 Orange County Top 25 Teachers awarded by the Orange County Register
B.A. in Art Education & B.F.A. in Printmaking – University of Northern Iowa
Klingenstein Summer Institute, Teachers College Columbia University
Fully funded fellowship, summer institute for early career teachers
M.F.A. in Art Education – University of Northern Iowa
Rudel Simon – World Language Teacher/French
French Teacher at St. Charles County Public Schools – MaryLand, since 2016
French Spanish/French Teacher at MARITIME SCHOOL, and
PINNACLE SCHOOL (One teacher for both Schools), New York 2009-2015
French Teacher at Canisius High School – Buffalo, NY., 2008-2009
B.A. French Education – Fredonia State University of New York
M.A. French Language and Literature – University at Buffalo, New York
Melissa Schroeder – Upper School Social Studies Teacher
World History Teacher at Zion-Benton Township High School – Zion, IL., since 2013
Expert in project based learning and scaffolding units through backward design
Co-taught units: civilizations, Greece and Rome, crusades, industrial revolution, and WWI in conjunction with world studies English Course
Coached freshman boys’ soccer and JV girls’ soccer
B.A. in History and Social Science with a minor in Education – Carthage College, Kenosha, WI
Summa Cum Laude
Departmental Honors in History
Top 10 student G.P.A.
Dena Roncone – Theater Director/Drama Teacher
Teaching Artist – Milwaukee Repertory Theater, since 2015
Drama Teacher/Director – Steele Canyon Charter High School – Spring Valley, CA 2008-2016
Acting Teacher – John Robert Powers & Associates – Milwaukee, WI 2007-2008
M.A. Theater Education – Emerson College, Boston MA
B.A. Theater – University at Buffalo, The State University – Buffalo, NY
CLAD (Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development) Specialist
Hannah Keller – Director of Advancement
Director of Carthage Fund, Carthage College, since 2014
BA, Summa Cum Laude, Carthage, Elementary and Cross-Categorical Special Education
Masters of Education, Carthage, Expected 2017
Melissa Flynn – Upper School Mathematics Teacher
High School Mathematics and Theatre Teacher, Resurrection Catholic High School-Pascagoula, Mississippi 2014-Present
Extended Academic Work: University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame, Indiana 2014-2015
Properties Manager and Stage Manager (Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival)
University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame, Indiana, Summer 2016
Senior Honors Thesis: “Hands-On Learning: Examining the Role of
Experiential Education Through the Eyes of a Stage Manager
M.A. Education: University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame, Indiana
B.S. Mathematics and Theatre: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indian
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