Faculty and Staff Biographies
Katrina Cabrera received a BA from Columbia College in Chicago in 2001, where her focus was in Fine Arts and Graphic Design. During her undergraduate years at Columbia, she worked at Yollo Calli youth center, a department that is associated with the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum. At Yollo Calli Ms. Cabrera ran a summer program with teens that wanted to learn how to create Mosaic Art. Once graduated Ms. Cabrera started working for the Chicago public School system as the art teacher at Carpenter Elementary School. There she developed the Art Department and began her first mural work, which she then later continued at Ogden School. While working as an art teacher Ms. Cabrera enrolled at DePaul Universities MED program, where she then received her Master’s in Education and her teaching certificate.
Ms. Cabrera has been teaching art for nine years and hopes that she will open new doors for her students to see art as an integral part of human activities, which helps us find creative solutions to everyday challenges. In addition her teaching approach highlights career opportunities that are available in the art field.
Teaches Reading and English to 8th grade students as well as Social Science to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in the Pre-International Baccalaureate Program. Mr. Calderon began his educational career at Anderson under the supervision of Mrs. Ishka, Principal, 1994. He continued his career under the direction of Mr. Kenneth M. Staral, Principal, in 1997. Calderon earned his degree in Elementary Education at Northeastern Illinois University with endorsements in Middle School, Language Arts, and Social Science. He is coordinating and incorporating Executive Functioning Skills within Ogden School's Upper grade curriculum. He has also hosted new teachers and facilitated new teachers in The Golden Teacher's Mentor program.
This is Shannon Carter's third year to teach at Ogden after moving here from Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in early childhood education. Upon graduation, she taught kindergarten for one and a half years in Katy, Texas until her husband received a job in Chicago. During her first year at Ogden, she taught 6th and 7th grade and then moved to second grade the following year. She is finally back into kindergarten and thoroughly benefits from coming to work everyday. Shannon hopes to be going back for her graduate degree in early childhood beginning in the Fall of 2005.
Ms. Cerda received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois, Champaign. She also received a Master’s of Education in Reading from Loyola University of Chicago. Ms. Cerda has taken and continues to take courses in addition to her degrees to further her knowledge and understanding of the educational process and to stay current with educational research and techniques. She has worked on the south side of Chicago for the Chicago Board of Education as a reading specialist, at the Latin School of Chicago as a classroom teacher, and at Park wood School in the Elgin U46 school district as a reading specialist. She has been at Ogden School for 18 years teaching third, fourth or fifth grade. For 5 years at Ogden, she taught cross-curricular writing to grades K through 5. Currently, she is teaching third grade.
Chris Chantry was born and raised in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He attended Illinois State University to obtain a Physical Education degree and played all four years on their ice hockey team. After college, he taught Physical Education for five years in Lyons, Illinois District 103. He is in his sixth year here at Ogden school and is also the Chicago Public School's Area 6 Sports Manager.
He currently attends Concordia University to obtain his Type 75 administrative certificate. His hobbies include all sports especially ice hockey, rock climbing, swimming as well as playing guitar and traveling.
I was born in Durango, Mexico and raised in Chicago, IL. I grew up on the Southwest side of Chicago in the Little Village neighborhood. I obtained my Bachelors degree in Psychology from Depaul in 2000 and my Masters in Library and Information Science from Dominican University in 2006. I started off my career with the Chicago Public Schools as a mentor to at-risk youth and then substitute taught for about a year. After surviving substitute teaching, I decided it would only be natural to transition into full time teaching. I taught as a classroom teacher at Farragut Career Academy for 3yrs during which I had the distinct pleasure of implementing their Psychology curriculum. I then decided to return to school to obtain my Masters degree. During my academic career at Dominican I had the opportunity to create a school library from scratch at a private Jesuit high school (i.e. Cristo Rey Jesuit High School) and assisted in planning, producing, publicizing and conducting programs for young adults for the Chicago Public Library.
When Im not teaching, designing libraries, or implementing programs I am raising two very beautiful children. A nine-year-old and a four-year-old.
I am truly blessed to be a part of the Ogden family and look forward to an exciting and fruitful school year.
Maria C. Esparza has several Bachelor degrees in Education, Business and other field. She also has a Master degree in Urban Education from Columbia College of Chicago, a Master's degree in Education Administrate from Governors State University. She holds the Type 75 certificate to be General Administrative in Education. In addition, she has the Teacher of English as a Second Language Approval K-9 and the Bilingual Education Teacher Approval in Spanish K-9. She has numerous graduate hours in other areas. She is working on another superior degree at National - Louis University. She enjoys studying and be well preparing for the benefit of her students.
She likes to travel and knows different cultures, traditions, life styles and learns their languages. She speaks some foreign languages. But the most important goal for her, it is to adquire an International education experience, learn about different methods, educative systems, and foreign curriculums to improve her profession in benefit of the students. She likes to work with multicultural and multiracial children.
Maria C. Esparza has been the Bilingual Program Specialist since 1995 and coordinated all English Language Learners ELL activities. She is a member of the Educational Leadership Team, the New C.H.O.I.C.E. Program, and SI committee al Ogden School. She is also a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development ASCD and has participated in a variety of national and international conferences and workshops. She was selected as one of the twelve expertises to develop the CPS SI System team at 2003.
Jessica Farley is a graduate of Illinois State University, where she received her degree in Elementary Education. Currently she is pursuing a Master's Degree in Curriculum Studies at DePaul University. She is now in her sixth year of teaching, and is proud to be a third grade teacher for the 2009-2010 school year. Ms. Farley has thoroughly enjoyed fulfilling her dream of teaching, while implementing what she has learned as a Golden Apple Teaching Scholar. She has valued the time spent getting to know students, parents, and the Ogden staff. In her free time, Ms. Farley enjoys reading, traveling, shopping, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Ms. Feeney grew up in rural town of Manhattan, Illinois. She came to Chicago Public Schools in 2002 from New Lenox School District 122 where she taught at LaSalle Language Academy for three years. This is her sixth year of teaching and her first at Ogden School. She graduated in May 2000 with B.S. in Education from Illinois State University. With experience teaching in all grade levels she enjoys working with middle school students and is happy to be working with the sixth and seventh graders here at Ogden. Ms. Feeney coached girl's volleyball last year as well as boys and girls basketball all six years of her career. As head coach of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade girl's basketball, she hopes to extend her love of the game to the students. In her spare time, Ms. Feeney enjoys reading books, walking, playing volleyball and basketball, and spending time with her friends and family.
A fifth generation Southern California native, Mr. Ferguson studied history & Spanish in San Francisco and moved to Chicago in January, 2005. While completing a graduate degree in Education at DePaul, he was a corporate contract employee in companies all over Chicago. Following graduation, he substitute taught in schools citywide in addition to spending more than a year at Lindblom Math and Science Academy in Englewood. Having experienced Chicago in so many ways, he thinks that it’s such a blessing to live and teach in such an endlessly diverse city.
Inspired by his own middle school student exchange with Japan, and a high school exchange with Germany, traveling is one of his greatest joys. In his mind, travel has a lot to do with meeting new and interesting people. He is very excited to be part of a school that believes that building relationships is the essence of life and that students will have such unique opportunities to do so.
Jeffrey Finelli has been a 7th and 8th grade math teacher for the past six years. His teaching career began in Brooklyn, NY when he left the financial industry to pursue a future in the classroom through the Teaching Fellows program. During that time, he received a Master of Science degree in Middle Childhood Education with a concentration in Mathematics in May 2005 from Brooklyn College. After completing two years of teaching in New York, Jeffrey and his wife, Amanda, picked up and moved to Chicago.
In August 2005, Jeffrey began at Newberry Math and Science Academy where he continued to teach 7th and 8th grade mathematics. He was qualified to teach a freshman Algebra 1 class to all of his 8th graders where they had an opportunity to forgo their freshman math class and begin their high school career in a 10th grade Geometry class.
During his time at Newberry, Jeff took a lead role in the school's professional development team. His staff was exposed to the latest strategies and teaching methods to ensure the best classroom experience for all students. Jeff decided to challenge himself more and was hired to be Ogden International School's Instructional Coordinator. He is responsible for implementing the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program and the Asia Society Graduate Profile System to all students in grades 6 - 9. The main goal objective of both programs is to help create global citizens out of our students and ensure an international curriculum where they will be able to see things from a new perspective. Jeff will also be in the classroom as he is teaching a 7th grade math class.
Lynda Gardner moved to Chicago in 1997 shortly after graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Pace University in New York. After three years of teaching Middle School students in Chicago private schools, Ms. Gardner began working for the Chicago Public Schools at Nettelhorst Elementary in the fall of 2000. Ms. Gardner continued working with Middle School students as a teacher there until she received her Master’s degree in School Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University, which is when she then became the Counselor and Case Manager of that school. Ms. Gardner is excited to continue working in this same capacity at Ogden and collaborate with parents and staff to make school a positive and memorable experience for all of its students.
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Brian Grauer has lived in Chicago all his life. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1996 with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in English Literature. Mr. Grauer has been a teacher in Chicago Public Schools for the past 14 years. He began his teaching career at Ella Flagg Young Elementary School on the southwest side of Chicago. He continued his profession at Eugene Field Elementary School, and then worked at Hawthorne Scholastic Academy for seven years. Mr. Grauer is happily celebrating his second year at Ogden International School of Chicago. In addition to teaching Kindergarten, Mr. Grauer also represents the teachers of Ogden as their Chicago Teacher 's Union Delegate. In his personal time Brian enjoys jogging, rollerblading, figure skating, softball, bowling, and spending time with family and friends. He is especially fond of passing the time with his canine children, Baxter and Zeus!
This is Molly Heffinger’s third year teaching Kindergarten at Ogden Elementary School. She is originally from Wheaton, Illinois, but now lives in the city. Molly graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a degree in early childhood education and a minor in special education. Upon graduation, Molly taught at a state funded preschool program for At Risk Students in the suburbs of Chicago. She is excited to be working with Kindergarteners this year and enjoys the fun loving personalities of young children. Molly plans on going back to school soon to begin work on a graduate degree.
Mary Huebner has been teaching for thirty-six years. She began her teaching in Flourisant, Missouri as a self contained sixth grade teacher. One year later she moved to the Chicago area. She taught math at St. Peter Canisius School for several years and then transferred to St. Ladislaus School on the northwest side, where she remained for 10 years. In 1988 she moved from St. Ladislaus to Ogden and has been here ever since. She has a degree in psychology from St. Louis University where she minored in Education. She received her Master’s of Education in the teaching of mathematics and computers from Concordia University. Ms. Huebner has an endorsement in teaching Middle School Mathematics. In addition to her degrees, she continues to take courses to further her knowledge of the educational process. Ms. Huebner has one daughter who also lives here in Chicago.Prior to joining the family of Ogden International School, Mr. Joyce was the Department Chairperson, Literately Coach and Reading Specialist at University of Chicago Charter School. While there he was honored as a nominee for the Gates Foundation Award of Excellence in Education. Kevin also taught at Morgan Park High School and Proviso West High School.
Kevin’s family linage is in education. His mother, Marilyn, is a retired special education teacher. Her brothers, Frank and David Lenti, are teachers and coaches at Mt. Carmel High School. Her sister, Jeanne Lenti-Ponsetto, is the Athletic Director at DePaul University, where her brothers Michael and Eugene also work.
Mr. Joyce currently lives in Roger’s Park with his fiancée and enjoys playing volleyball and soccer, traveling, reading and spending time with his dog, Mandy.
I graduated from the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign with a bachelors degree in Special Education. My previous experiences with children with special needs led me in pursuing a degree within this field. I worked with students in their homes providing personal caretaking skills, academic tutoring, and behavior modification. I became very close to these families and their children, and loved being able to work so closely with the student, and so I knew that I wanted to be a special education teacher. Upon graduating, I worked in an educational life skills program for North Suburban Special Education District. I taught students in grades K-2 with moderate to severe disabilities. The program was based in a self contained classroom within a public school, and I was responsible for providing inclusion experiences, providing both functional and academic curriculum, and providing weekly community experiences. I realized I wanted to teach more in inclusive environments and engage in more co-teaching so I sought out a school which would be a better match for my interests and skills! Ogden is exactly where I want to be. I am currently applying into a masters program to gain my Learning Behavior Specialist II certificate with a concentration in curriculum adaptations.
Ms. Ledesma has been teaching at Ogden since 1997. She received her degree in Elementary Education. Ms. Ledesma has been teaching first grade since 1998. She truly enjoys working with primary students. She uses a variety of teaching styles to meet the needs of diverse learners. Ms. Ledesma loves to challenge her students. She does this by having the students complete "mini-projects." This year the students did their own science project using the Scientific Method, researched Guglielmo Marconi, and wrote a three paragraph essay. She is always looking for new challenges for the students. She firmly believes that the students can achieve anything if they are given the proper tools. In addition to teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading and traveling.
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Amália López joined the Ogden School community in 2006 after previously working in Student Affairs at DePaul University for over eight years. She has several years experience teaching Spanish. Amália has taught various grade levels, working with students from sixth grade to college students. She has often extended her commitment to education beyond the school year, working in the field of tutoring and as a counselor at Chicago’s Paul Simon Job Corps. In addition to being a classroom teacher, Amália is an active faculty member in Ogden’s C.H.O.I.C.E. Program. In conjunction with other C.H.O.I.C.E. faculty, she is responsible for conducting classes during C.H.O.I.C.E. working lunches, coordinating the International Fair and participating in student/faculty field experiences both within Chicago and abroad.
Amália is also the advisor for the Spanish Club at Ogden. Amália has lived and studied in many different countries – Cuba, México and Spain.Amália received her Master’s Degree in Human Services and Counseling from DePaul University’s School of Education. She completed her undergraduate studies at DePaul University and La Universidad Complutense en Madrid in Madrid, Spain. In her spare time, Amália enjoys doing community service with her sisters and reading books in Spanish.
Julia Lopez graduated from DePaul University with a degree in Elementary Education in 2002. She began her teaching career as a science resource teacher for kindergarten-fifth grades in the Chicago Public Schools. She then joined the Ogden community in 2006 where she has taught second and third grades. Julia also coaches both girls and boys volleyball for fifth-eighth grades at Ogden. In her free time, Julia enjoys playing volleyball, reading, knitting, and spending time with her friends and family.
Ryan Lopez joined the Ogden School community in 2007. He has several years experience within the Chicago Public School system, previously teaching on the southwest side of the city. Ryan has taught various grade levels, working with students from first to eighth grade. He has often extended his commitment to education beyond the school year, working in the field of tutoring and as an instructor in summer school programs. Ryan received his Master’s Degree in Education from DePaul University. He completed his undergraduate studies at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Loyola University Chicago. In his spare time, Ryan is an avid baseball fan, a beach volleyball player, and a passionate reader.
Content 22I was born and grew up in Beijing, China. After graduated from Beijing Normal University with major in Chinese Litterateur, I taught high school Chinese in Beijing. I continued teaching Chinese in the USA in Chinese schools after moved to the United States, and earned a Masters Degree in Computer Science from the Roosevelt University.
I was certified to teach Chinese language to K-12 students. I believe that language and culture can not be separate, and Chinese culture is an important part of my teaching. I came to teach Chinese language at Ogden in 2008, and was proud of becoming a member of this great community.
In my spare time, I enjoy reading, crafting, gardening, tracking, and spending time with family and friends.
Brian Madurzak was born and grew up in Chicago’s Pilsen community. The neighborhood was an ethnic melting pot of Polish, Yugoslavian, Lithuanian, Irish, Bohemian, Mexican and Puerto Rican families. He attended St. Rita High School and received his Bachelors Degree in Liberal Arts at DePaul University.
He worked as a Computer Programmer and then a Project Manager at the Harris Bank in Chicago. There he worked on many interesting projects, and made long lasting friendships with his colleagues. While working at the bank, he began tutoring both children and adults and found satisfaction in teaching. He went to school at night and received his Masters in Elementary Education at DePaul.
He has been at Ogden International since the end of 2007, initially as a substitute teacher and then as a 2nd grade reading teacher. When he is not at school, he likes playing softball, golfing, running, bike riding, reading books, solving puzzles like sudoku, traveling and being with his family.
Inesa Makaras is enjoying her first year as a mathematics teacher at Ogden International High School. Ms. Makaras was born and spent her childhood in Klaipeda, Lithuania, and as a teenager and young adult took advantage of opportunities to travel across much of Europe. She earned the Bachelor of Arts in English Philology at the Pedagogical University of Vilnius and the Bachelor of Science in Civil and Construction Engineering from the Institute of Construction, also in Vilnius. After finishing her undergraduate training she spent a total of 12 years teaching at two secondary schools in Lithuania.
Ms. Makaras moved to Chicagoland with her husband and two daughters in 2003 and taught briefly in Lake County, Indiana. Since then she has taught mathematics at Youth Connections Charter School and Farragut Career Academy in Chicago. Ms. Makaras recently completed the Masters of Arts in Mathematics Education from Western Governors University.
Mr. McCarthy has a Bachelor of fine arts degree in music education with an emphasis in general and vocal music earned from Western Illinois University in 1983. While at Western Mr. McCarthy participated in Marching band, University Singers, University Chorale, "Newcomers" show choir, Summer Music Theatre, and University Dance Theatre ensembles. Mr. McCarthy has been a music teacher for 22 years having taught high school and middle school in Kankakee Illinois for 6 years, Elementary school in Hazel Crest Illinois for 3 years and for the Chicago Public schools for 13 years.
Mr. McCarthy has taught general music and directed vocal ensembles in all the school he has had the pleasure of working in. In addition Mr. McCarthy has been a hired clinician for various University summer show choir camps and adjudicated numerous show choir competitions all over the Midwest.
While living in Chicago Mr. McCarthy has performed with several theatrical production companies and is a seasoned veteran of local musical theatre productions.
Mr. McCormick, who teaches reading, language arts and history, came to Ogden in early 2005 following a distinguished career as a journalist in Chicago. Most recently Mr. McCormick served as the media and entertainment reporter at Crain's Chicago Business, where his work won awards from the American Society of Business Press Editors. He also worked as a reporter and editor for American Medical News, a national newspaper for the medical profession. His contributions for that publication earned recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists. As a freelance journalist, Mr. McCormick's writing appears regularly in The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, and several other local and national publications. A passionate writing coach, Mr. McCormick believes great writers are made, not born. A wide variety of high-interest writing workshops provide the impetus for much of the writing practice his language arts students receive. These workshops are designed to generate enthusiasm for the writing process, with special attention on the value added through revising and editing. In addition to those workshops, Mr. McCormick's language arts students are concentrating on writing about what they read, honing their writing skills at the same time that they learn how to interact with literature in a deeper, more meaningful way.
Mr. McCormick looks forward to even more intensive coaching opportunities through a school newspaper that will be launched as an after school program later this year. The program's participants will design a publication from the ground up as they learn basic reporting and newspaper writing skills.
Two basic tenets underlie Mr. McCormick's teaching philosophy. First, we need to meet students where they are in terms of their skill levels and competencies. Second, since students learn in a wide variety of ways, we need to employ just as wide an array of strategies as educators to optimize the opportunities for every child to succeed.
Mr. McCormick holds Bachelor's degrees in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Colorado. A highly qualified teacher, Mr. McCormick also completed Northeastern Illinois University's Teacher Certification Program for Post-Baccalaureate Students. He holds endorsements in U.S. History, World History, Political Science, and Language Arts.
Maggie McNamara is starting her 6th year at Ogden and her 8th year as a teacher. She is a graduate of Fairfield University in Connecticut and she received her Master’s Degree from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois. She loves being able to loop with her students from year to year and looks forward to all of the Halloween Happenings and the History Fair. She spends her time at both Ogden Main and Ogden Branch. Mrs. McNamara is married and has two small children.
Laura Mick moved to Chicago in August 2008 from Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from the University of Iowa in 2003 with a degree in speech and hearing science. Laura received her master's degree in communication sciences and disorders from Rockhurst University in 2005. She began working in Kansas City for Turner School Distinct. After three wonderful years at Midland Trail Elementary school, Laura and her husband, Bryan, moved to Chicago where Laura started working at Ogden Elementary school and Bryan began his first year of dental school at University of Illinois- Chicago. Laura enjoys running, traveling and spending time with family & friends. She is anxious to begin her training for the Chicago Marathon in October 2009!
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Steve Noel has been a jack-of-all-trades and a master of some. He received his B.F.A. in photography with a minor in painting from the Portland School of Art in Portland, Maine in 1984. He traveled through Europe and the Middle East in the mid 1980s. In the country of Turkey, he met and later married Marianne from Copenhagen, Denmark. Moving back to the states, Mr. Noel held a variety of jobs. However, the east coast wasn't Copenhagen… and he and his wife set off for a more cosmopolitan experience in Chicago. He worked for almost 12 years at Ann Sather restaurant in a number of capacities trying to pursue a career as an exhibiting painter.
After having two children, and decidedly more responsibilities as a parent, Mr. Noel decided to go back to school to obtain a Master's Degree in Teaching at National-Louis University in Evanston, Illinois. He was asked to join the Ogden faculty soon after his graduation and the birth of his third son in the summer of 2000.
Mr. Noel is the library media specialist for the East Campus on Tuesdays, Thursdays and every second Friday. This is his tenth year here. He has seen the library and its collection grow from near-to-nothing to something to be proud of. He is also the full-time technical coordinator of both campuses. He maintains all the computers, the network of our school, all of the 30+ SmartBoards, and the video-conference center. He grooms the Ogden School website, e-mails parents and guardians on a regular basis keeping them up to date on important school information and spontaneously pontificates on any and all subjects. He is also in the coordinator of the school's NWEA evaluative testing suite as well as the ST Math from the Mind Institute. He is in the process of obtaining his Certificate of Advance Studies in Technology in Education at National-Louis University.
In his off hours, Mr. Noel is the proud parent of three young, yet growing boys, and a three-year old German Shepard/Boxer/Goat mix of a dog named Olive. He is an accomplished clawhammer banjo player and is the banjoist for "This Big String Band", an old-time fiddle music group. He spends time as a home gourmet cook, grilling in any weather and is never without at least one book going. He's not too sure what he wants to be when he grows up… but is happily enjoying the journey getting there.
Musically, Mr. Nott has most recently worked as Music Director/Soloist in local churches and as the General Manager/Singer with the Chicago Chamber Choir. He has also had many appearances as a soloist in the Chicagoland area. Some of these include...with The Chicago Chamber Choir, Bach and Beyond, North Park University, St. Clement Church and the "Fine Arts at First" in Kenosha, WI. Before moving back to the mid-west, Elliott was a featured soloist at New England College in Henniker, NH, Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, Belmont University in Nashville, TN and St. Mary’s University in Winona, MN. He also has enjoyed singing Oratorio Soli with the Concord Choral in Concord, NH, Middle TN Choral Society in Murfreesboro, TN, Winona Choral Society in Winona, MN. Elliott received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL, where he studied voice with his father Dr. David Nott.
Mr. Nott is also seen in the Ogden World as one the of 5-8 grade Cross Country Coaches. His involvement in athletics and coaching has extended for over 20 years of his life. Elliott began running at age 10 and hasn't stopped since. He has coached at all levels (from Middle School to NCAA Division I athletes) and still enjoys running when there is time. Most notable accomplishments would include coaching several City Champs in Track & Field while coaching at Lane Tech High School in 2008 & 2009. Running the Chicago Marathon under 3 hours (just barely). And it may be worth mentioning that Elliott was an IHSA State Champion in the Mile in High School & still holds several High School & College Team Records.
Betsy Owen has been teaching at Ogden Elementary School since 2002. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1999 with a degree in elementary education. She has taught first, second, and third grades at Ogden. Betsy received her Master's in Reading degree from Northeastern Illinois University in the fall of 2006. In her free time, Betsy loves to read, travel, run, and spend time with family and friends.In the summer of 1991, he set off to Darmstadt, Germany to work as a teacher for the Department of Defense Dependents School (DoDDS). After two years in Germany, Brian was transferred to Iwakuni, Japan and completed two school years in the Far East-- teaching for the Department of Defense Dependents School. Returning to the Show-Me State in the summer of 1995, Brian spent the next year in graduate school at the University of Missouri-Columbia and was graduated in 1996 with a Master's Degree in Special Education. He taught special education in Columbia, Missouri for one school year before moving to Chicago in the summer of 1997. During school year 2003-2004, Brian was a recipient of a Fulbright Teacher Exchange Award and spent the year teaching special education in Scotland. Brian's hobbies are traveling, reading, learning the German language and exploring the brilliant city of Chicago.
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Mr. Nicholas D. Ribaudo, L.P.C. began his career in 1997 as a 7th Grade teacher at William P. Gray Elementary School on the Northwest side of Chicago, the neighborhood where he grew up. He joined the Ogden School faculty in 1999 as a 5th Grade teacher followed by two years as an upper grade Science and Language Arts teacher. In 2002 Mr. Ribaudo became Ogden School's Counselor and Case Manager, a job he continues to perform at Ogden. In addition to an elementary education teaching certificate, he has a Masters Degree in School Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University and is a Nationally Certified Counselor.In addition to his administrative duties at Ogden, Mr. Ribaudo assists the Fine Arts Department by offering his talent as a musician. Throughout his musical life as a bassist and drummer, he a been a member of several bands and ensembles covering the genres of classical, pop, rock, heavy metal, old time, blues, and jazz. He has directed and performed in the pit band for Ogden School's recent spring musicals which include "The Wiz", "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown", "Little Shop of Horrors", "Honk", "Working", "Joseph, and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", and "Schoolhouse Rock". He is currently the bass player for a popular Neil Diamond tribute band, and for Boots In Transit, a improvisational rock band comprised of several other Ogden School teachers.
Mr. Ribaudo is dedicated to the growth of Ogden School students and encourages their self-expression through exploration of art, music, or by any medium necessary.
Mr. Russo grew up in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, and was a product of the public schools through high school. It was there that he realized that his station in life was going to be in the field of education. Following high school, Mr. Russo pursued a degree in History Education at Illinois State University. After college, he was employed in a suburban high school district working with high risk teens who struggled in school, both behaviorally and academically. This school provided him with invaluable experience that has served him well throughout his professional career thus far. Mr. Russo is his first year at the Ogden International High School, and looks forward to not only viewing the growth of his students, but his professional and personal growth as well.
Mrs. Scafide was born and raised in Chicago. She and her husband have three children and a dog. She received her Bachelor’s degree in education from Northeastern Illinois University and went on to get her Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Concordia University. She is endorsed in science, social science, language arts, and Spanish. She has taught in the Catholic School system and in a number of Chicago Public Schools. She joined the Ogden faculty seven years ago.
For three years Mrs. Scafide collaborated with Bill Curtis and other Illinois teachers to write middle school curriculum based on Curtis’ New Explorers videos. She also, under an NSF grant, worked for five years with Learning Technologies in Urban Schools at Northwestern University, where she wrote middle school science curriculum units in collaboration with Northwestern, Detroit University, and other teachers from CPS and the Detroit Public Schools. At Northwestern she taught classes for teachers interested in implementing the curricula in their CPS classrooms. She is a multiple year Golden Apple nominee and has been in Who’s Who in American Teachers in three different years
Ms. Slavens began her career in education in 1990 at Wilmette Jr. High School and Mckenzie Elementary School where she acted as a paraprofessional in a self contained special needs classroom and a classroom for learning disabled. She received extensive training on augmentative devices as a tool for communication. Two years later, she began teaching at St.Gertrude Elementary School in Chicago. Her responsibilities included teaching eighth grade Social Studies, Language Arts, Religion and Art. Summer employment included private tutoring, working for Habitat for Humanity and for the Mayor Daley Green and Clean Program.
Ms. Slavens accepted the offer to teach upper grades Science at William B. Ogden Elementary School in 1993 and has remained loyal to this wonderful school ever since. She considers the student diversity and enthusiastic learning community to be very rewarding. Over the years, Ms. Slavens has taken advantage of numerous professional development opportunities which have assisted her in keeping up with the ever changing world of Science, technology and teaching methodologies. Partnerships over the years have included the Terra Museum, the Chicago Academy of Sciences, the Anti Cruelty Society, Northlight Theater, the Chicago Moving Company and the Shedd Aquarium.
She is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Concordia University.
Kenneth M. Staral has been principal at Ogden Elementary School since August 1996. As a new principal, he felt like an artist facing a blank canvas ready to create a beautiful piece of art. Ogden Elementary School has a sense of history and has been an integral part of the near north side community for over 140 years. Living and working in the Ogden community, he has learned firsthand about its rich heritage, diversity, and successful programs. He associated (and coined the phrase) "a community school with a worldly spirit." From this, he has been able to develop a vision for the school and establish expectations and objectives necessary to excel as a leader and academically advance the school's instructional program to improve student achievement. As a school community, he has had the opportunity to synthesize the school's aspirations and create one vision for the school and its children. With parent and community input, he developed and established expectations and objectives necessary to excel as an instructional leader, thus embarking upon a renaissance in teaching, learning, and community outreach. As principal, he views his role as a resource provider, instructional leader, and communicator. Under his leadership, the school has refined and aligned the overall instructional program, updated the library and science laboratory, promoted quality professional development for all staff members, identified the school as a viable choice for neighborhood children, recruited community and parent volunteers to assist with school activities, and strengthened and established partnerships between the school and the surrounding community, thus providing support for the school and its educational initiatives.
Mr. Staral realizes the importance of working together to provide the best education to our students. He collectively established a vision and mission and believes that the role of a school is to provide a sound education ensuring academic success and becoming a beacon for community based activities that focus on the development of the child, family, and neighborhood. The Ogden School community believes that students must be provided a sense of education, community, and character.
Ogden has become a beacon for learning, extending its walls throughout the greater community and enabling students to acquire the intelligence they need. This will ensure they can establish values, gain insight of self and others, internalize a sense of responsibility to their community, and understand the importance of behavior as it relates to the advancement of society. Ogden students must sense a burning desire and a firm commitment to produce the resilience to face their challenges and realize their dreams, nurturing the gifts of hope and promise. It is critical for the students to find the necessary passion to attain their desires, mindful that passion is the vital difference between mediocrity and success. Ogden has provided Mr. Staral with the opportunity to create a most wonderful work of art, a work that is in constant motion and revision. As principal, it is his responsibility to keep this work ever changing and ever challenging to provide the necessary leadership to the student body and the community as a whole.
Before becoming principal at Ogden School, Mr. Staral was the Region Two Administrator assisting in managing the day to day operations of eighty-three elementary schools and ten high schools. Additionally, he was the District Five Funded Programs Coordinator, Instructional Coordinator and upper grades teacher at the Nathan Davis Elementary School, teacher of pre-school autistic children at the John V. LeMoyne School, and teacher of the Emotionally and Behaviorally Disturbed at Carl Schurz High School.
Mr. Staral obtained his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees, in addition to post-graduate work, from Loyola University. Mr. Staral graduated from Thomas Kelly High School and Frank G. Gunsaulus Elementary School, both Chicago Public Schools. He is a native of Chicago and has a true passion for the city and its rich culture and diversity.
Jamie Streit graduated from Bradley University in 2002 with a degree in Elementary Education. She then taught 4th grade in Western Springs for 2 years. In 2004 Jamie came to Ogden School where she spent her first year as a substitute teacher for 2 consecutive maternity leaves. The first was for a 2nd grade class and the next was a 3rd grade class. After a year of substituting at Ogden Jamie has taught a ¾ split class, 5th grade, and currently she is teaching 1st grade. She is very happy teaching the 1st graders how to read and write!
My journey to Ogden School has been a very interesting one. I was originally born just outside the Twin Cities of Minnesota, but mainly grew up in Lemont, Illinois where I attended grade school and high school. After high school I went to college at Eastern Illinois University where I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree with a major in History. Along the way and during the summers, I worked on and received an Associates Degree from the College of Dupage. After college, not knowing what I wanted to do, I started working for an insurance agency. There I was offered a job teaching new hires how to pass their insurance exams and also how to sell insurance. This is where and how I finally realized my calling. So I quit my job and starting teaching Kindergarten at a private school and attending graduate school at Benedictine University.
In 2006, I started at Ogden School working in the office as an Administrative Assistant. I have since been fortunate to achieve a teaching position at Ogden School, while still maintaining some of my office tasks and responsibilities. I also coach football, basketball, and softball and am an active member of the C.H.O.I.C.E program. As of now I am still working on my Masters in Education and my endorsement in Special Education at Benedictine University. I am enthusiastic and energetic at the possibilities at Ogden School, especially with expansion of The Ogden International High School.
Michael Tavill has been a teacher here at Ogden School since 1993/1994. Traditionally he has taught 4th and 5th grade. He sat on the LSC for three years. Michael graduated from Loyola University in Chicago Cum Laude. He's been a member of the Ogden School Social Committee for the past 6 years. Michael has a deep conviction in public education and feels it's a very rewarding position.
Michael has a lovely daughter, Shanah, and two wicked-smart grandsons, Elijah and Asa. Michael enjoys sailing, hiking, and traveling.
Lynn Thompson has been teaching in the Chicago Public Schools system since 1993. She joined the Ogden community at the start of the 2004-2005 school year. She has enjoyed getting to know the students, parents, and faculty. She loves teaching the intermediate grades, especially 4th grade. Over the years she has served on many school committees. She is currently a member of the Educational Leadership Team at Ogden. She also enjoys mentoring and being a cooperating teacher for student teachers. She received her bachelors in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is certified to teach kindergarten through ninth grade, as well as being endorsed to teach social studies. She is also certified to teach gifted education. She achieved and was awarded National Board Certification in 2003. She furthers her education by taking a variety of classes and workshops.
She is a native New Englander and spent much of her life in a small seaside town in Connecticut, although she now considers Chicago her home. She lives with her husband Michael and their two cats, Stella and LuLu. She is an avid reader and enjoys nothing more than relaxing with an interesting book. In her spare time she loves to walk, bike, and bake. She has been a lifelong Red Sox fan, and more currently a Cubs fan. Since the Red Sox have finally won the series, she is now hoping that this season the Cubs can do the same.
Anthony G. Vandarakis is an Assistant Principal at The Ogden International School of Chicago-West Campus. Mr. Vandarakis brings with him over a decade of teaching/administrative experience in the Chicago Public Schools. Mr. Vandarakis is an accredited gifted educator, an I.B. trained MYP Head of School, and chair of the Ogden C.H.O.I.C.E. International Program. Mr. Vandarakis completed his undergraduate degree at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. In 2001 he was recognized by the Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching and awarded a scholarship for graduate school. He received his master's degree in education (Educational Leadership) from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2003.
Currently Mr. Vandarakis resides in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood and pursues his two passions, travel and woodworking as time permits.
Mr. Vaughan began working at Ogden School in 2002 as a special education classroom assistant while pursuing a Masters degree in education at DePaul University. Upon the completion of the program at DePaul in 2004, Mr. Vaughan was awarded a M.Ed. in special education with a Learning Behavior Specialist Level I endorsement and certification in elementary education with middle school endorsements in art and social science. In September of 2004 Mr. Vaughan began teaching first grade at Ogden. Mr. Vaughan enjoys the diverse background of students in his classroom and strives to provide a nurturing and challenging atmosphere for all students. In addition to teaching Mr. Vaughan enjoys reading, attending museum exhibits, spending time with family and friends, and visiting Starbucks.
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