Anthony G. Vandarakis is a middle school teacher at William B. Ogden Elementary and brings with him five years of teaching experience in the Chicago Public Schools. Mr. Vandarakis is an accredited gifted educator as well as a William B. Ogden Elementary Leadership Team member; additionally he chairs the new Ogden C.H.O.I.C.E. Program and develops differentiated curriculum for the upper grade department. 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 with a focus on "Curriculum and Design" from the University of Illinois at Chicago. The consummate student, Mr. Vandarakis continues his higher education at Loyola University on a Boeing Corporation Scholarship.