2016-08-16

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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