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For further
information contact: Auxiliary Programs Director, Hayley Ellis 773.384.1434 ext.605 programs@nnms.org

BIOGRAPHIES

Courtney LH Baros - Theater Arts
Courtney Baros received a BA in Theatre and Television Arts from Valparaiso University . She is a founding member of Piccolo Theatre Company of Evanston , with which she has performed, written and designed. She has been working with Janet for 2 years.

Sarah Barton Alexander - Cello
Sarah received her musical training with Christopher Constanza at DePaul University and her pedagogic training with Dr. Tanya Carey, longtime leader of the Suzuki Association fo the Americas . A frequent recitalist, she is also principal cellist of the Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra and a member of several local chamber groups performing classical, baroque, jazz, and klezmer cello and violoncello piccolo. A longtime teacher, she loves sharing the joy of music with her students.

Scott Burns - Clarinet
Scott received his Bachelors of Music from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati . He has made several recordings as well as being a member of the Psychoacoustics Orchestra, a 13 piece big band which features original compositions. Scott has also performed with legendary jazz trumpeter, Clark Terry, for the Swifton Commons Jazz Concert Series in Cincinnati , Ohio .

Christiane Sola Capshaw - Violin
Christie Capshaw has been playing the violin since the age of four. She received her Masters degree in violin performance at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. She was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 2000-2002. Her teachers include Cyrus Forough, Sherban Lupu, as well as David Taylor and Joseph Golan of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Christie has completed ten levels of Suzuki teacher training and currently teachers over thirty students privately. Her students have won several area competitions and college scholarships and have been appointed Concertmaster of the Chicago Youth Symphony Prep Strings and Youth Symphony of DuPage.

Paul A. Blievernicht - Piano
Paul received his Bachelors of Music with Honors from Roosevelt University in 1992 and then attained his Masters of Music in 1997. He has served as the principal organist and pianist for Our Lady of the Snows Parish, as well as, accompanying the weekly worship services at Christ The King Lutheran Church in Chicago. Paul has taught private piano lessons to students of all levels at Sherwood Conservatory of Music and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He is also a student piano accompanist at both the Joseph Holmes Dance Theatre in Chicago and Millikin University in Decatur.

Paulo Carvalho - Piano
Paulo is a graduate of the Academy of Music in Vienna, Austria and holds a Masters in Piano Pedagogy from Arizona State University . Paulo has over fifteen years teaching experience and has taught at the Franz Schubert Conservatory in Vienna , the Brazilian Academy of Music in Sao Paulo and in Iwate Ken , Japan . Paulo has been teaching at NNM for almost 10 years and he currently uses The Virtuoso, a piano book and method written by him, with great success.

Mark Chapin - Guitar
Mark Chapin received a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon in June of 2001. While attending the University of Oregon Mark had the opportunity to perform with Matt Harris and Bob Mintzer as well as under the direction of Maria Schnieder with the award winning Oregon Jazz Ensemble. Mark moved to Chicago in the fall of 2001 and has been focused on teaching and performing music in the Chicagoland area.

Janeen Cohen - Robotics, Science, Keyboarding
Janeen is a summa cum laude graduate of Northeastern University - Mathematics and Computer Science and is currrently working toward a Masters in Science Education at DePaul. In her 19 years at NNM, she has worked at every grade level except 0-3. Currently, she teaches 12-14 Science and Health, as well as 6th and 7th grade math. Janeen has her one grandson at NNM.

Stone Damon -After School Jamm
Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist Winston Damon, was part of the popular Celt-rock group The Drovers and of the band Ulele. Stone writes music, plays trombone, piano, hammond b-3, marimba, electric bass, national guitar, keyboard bass, flute, snare, and fife. He also designed and built the world's first electric cello. He has been at Near North for two years.

Betsy Dynako - Chess
Betsy Dynako is pleased to teach chess again this year. She is a chess professional living in Chicago. She has been active in the world of chess since childhood and is Senior Tournament Director with the United States Chess Federation.

Jeff Fortin - Basketball, Softball, Sports, Flag Football and Volleyball
Jeff holds a Bachelors in Music from the University of Northern Colorado and a Masters of Music (with emphasis on Jazz studies) from DePaul University in Chicago . He is an active freelance musician in Chicago performing with various Jazz, Afro-Cuban and funk groups and has been a member of DePaul's Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos. Apart from his musical career, Jeff is an avid basketball player and has been working with the NNM basketball team for two years.

Dileep Gangolli - Flute
Dileep Gangolli, an accomplished clarinetist and talented flautist, is on the faculty of both VanderCook College and Columbia College and has appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. In addition to teaching clarinet, saxophone and flute professionally,
Gangolli can be heard performing with the Sheridan Chamber Players, the Fulcrum Point New Music Project and the Lake Forest Symphony. He is also a frequent guest on WFMT 98.7's Live From Studio One.

Gabe Ginex - Computers
Gabe, a Near North grad, holds a Bachelors degree in anthropology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has been a staff member since 1995. He has extensive experience with Adobe Photoshop, HTML, and several other computer applications. Gabe is also the assistant in the computer lab during the school year.

Paul Guilianelli - Girls Volleyball, Basketball and Lacrosse
Paul graduated from Harvard in 2003 with a B. A. in Psychology, where he played for the Men's Volleyball Team (D1). Besides being an avid basketball and volleyball player, he has also studied improvisational theater at IO (formerly ImprovOlympic), and now plays on one of their house teams, Mr. Nice Guy. He also performs at the Playground Theater with Speed Lemon.

Matthew Handler - Children's Aikido Instructor
Matthew graduated with a Bachelor's in Psychology from Northwestern University, and is currently an chideshi (live-in student) at a martial arts dojo in Lakeview, Chicago.  He is involved with instruction at six children's Aikido programs in the Chicagoland area.  He also assists in operating the Aikido Association of America, a national and international martial arts organization.  Besides Aikido, Matthew's passions include playing the piano and golf.

Pranita Jain - Indian Dance
Pranita is Near North parent who began training in Bharata Natyam dance at the age of twelve. She then received her Masters in dance ethnography from the University of Illinois . Pranita has performed throughout the United States and India and currently runs the Kalapriya Center for Indian performing Arts. She is also a seven-time recipient of the Master Teacher Award from the Illinois Arts Council.

Danyell Jones-Muhammad - Computers
Danyell is a graduate of De Paul University, with a B. A. in Psychology, where she is currently pursuing her Masters in Human Computer Interaction.   She has worked with Chicago Public Schools , American Intercontinental University , Devry University , and Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes with children and adults in math, reading, and comprehension to academic advising.  She also has over 12 years of experience with various software programs and operating systems that are widely used today.

Lucia Herrera Fortin - 6-9 Optional After school Supervisor
Lucia has over 20 years experience in childcare supervision, as a former nanny and employee of the Chicago Park District After school program. Her guidance and rapport with children of all ages is notable. Born and raised in Chicago , Lucia is a self-taught artist, and due to her Mexican heritage, she is fluent in Spanish and English. She also loves to cook. Lucia has been an employee of NNM for 7 years. She has supervised 6-9 Optional After school for 3 years and assisted in the program 2 year prior. Lucia's duties include the training of all new After school employees on safety procedures and protocol.

April Jean-Baptiste - 3-6 After school
B. S. Accounting from Indiana University C.P.A. 20 years corporate experience  in public accounting, financial management and international human resources. Montessori trained at MECA Seton in Clarendon Hills , IL Two years at Near North Montessori in 3-6 classrooms. One year as 3-6 After school supervisor at Near North. Two children at NNM; daughter, age 7, in 6-9 and son, age 9, in 9-12 Native of Indiana Additional language skills include Spanish, Japanese and French

Carol Katsarea - Swimming
Carol received her certification in first aid and water safety from the American Red Cross. Carol has worked with the Chicago Park District as a lifeguard, swim instructor and general swim teacher. This is Carol's second year at NNM.

Jennifer Leatham - Dance and Yoga
Jennifer Leatham has been dancing since the age of 3. Though she has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Character, Indian, Hip-Hop and even Break Dancing, her areas of concentration are Ballet and Tap. She studied Ballet with the Ellis/DuBoulay School of Ballet and began dancing professionally at age 17 making guest appearances with the Joffrey and Zurich Ballet Companies. She studied Tap with Patti Byrnes as a youth and has loved it and been doing it ever since.

Mark Vincent Leatham - Dance, Theatre, Sports and Gymnastics
Mark is a professional classical ballet dancer and actor who has performed in plays, musicals and dance performances. Mark studied ballet at Ellis DuBoulay and jazz at Joel Hall. He has written, directed and choreographed many original productions. Additionally, Marc has been coaching girls and boys, beginning to elite, gymnastics for twenty-five years. He has been the Artistic Director at Athletic Artists of Chicago and a gymnastics club owner. Mark has coached level 4-10 and elite gymnasts who have competed in state, regional and national meets.

Marsha Leonard - Ceramics
Marsha has been teaching ceramics to children and adults for the last 20 years, many of them at Near North. She studied fine arts at the University of Illinois and design at Columbia College . Her teaching experience includes developing and coordinating an arts and ceramics program at a Chicago private school and adult continuing education classes through Chicago City Colleges. Her approach in teaching any level class is to make sure each student achieves a degree of confidence and success, as clay can often be a frustrating medium. With children, she stresses the few "rules" of clay and tries to focus on creativity as a goal.

Bridget Love - Girls Volleyball, Girls Basketball and Girls Lacrosse
Bridget holds a B. A. in religion from Princeton University . She has worked as a camp counselor for the YMCA, a leader trainer in The Outdoor Auction Program, a summer leader in Overland Adventures and as a Project '55 Fellow in the Office of Small Schools for the Chicago Public School system. This marks Bridget's third year at NNM working as a 12-14 assistant.

Nate Lyons - Basketball, Softball and Flag Football
For the past seven years, Nate Lyons has taught art, physical education and directed Near North Montessori's athletic programs. He has coached both girls and boys sports, including basketball, flag football, softball and volleyball. Before teaching at Near North Montessori, Nate received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Columbia College . During his undergraduate experiences , he also competed as an amateur and professional skateboarder. Nate's experiences as a professional athlete have helped him teach students how to create a culture of encouragement that helps them to grow as individuals and as a team.

Jennifer Peters - Swimming
Jennifer received her certification in first aid and water safety from the American Red Cross and has been a life guard for the Chicago Park District. This is Jennifer's eighth year at NNM. Besides coaching and teaching swimming, Jennifer is also a part-time library assistant.

Janice MacDonald - Flute
Janice received a B. M. from DePaul University and a M.F.A. from California Institute of the Arts. She's a member of the Chicago Sinfonietta, Lake Forest Symphony, is principal flutist of the Illinois Chamber Symphony, and has performed with the Grant Park Symphony, Concertante di Chicago, the Joffrey Ballet Orchestra, Chicago Contemporary Players, CUBE and Mostly Music. She is also a member of "Pinotage", a quartet specializing in the music of the 20th and 21st centuries. Janice has performed in Italy , Greece , Great Britain , Germany and Switzerland .

Dayna Malow - Voice
Dayna Malow is a professionally trained singer, songwriter and vocal instructor, living and working in Chicago , IL and Nashville , TN. She received a Bachelors Degree in jazz vocal performance and studio recording from the University of Miami . She performs over 100 shows yearly throughout the country, and is an in-demand session vocalist. Her original compositions can be heard on radio & television, as well as on the albums of various independent artists, including Albita Rodriguez's Grammy award-winning CD Albita Llego. Malow has taught vocal instruction for over 6 years, with a focus on children and young adults.

Sylvia Myintoo - Violin
Sylvia received her musical training at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston , studying with James Buswell. Since coming to Chicago , she has played with the Civic and Rockford symphonies, and often substitutes with many others in the greater Chicago area. She maintains an active freelance career as well as a private teaching studio at the Merit Music Program at Northeastern Illinois University .

Dan Nicholson - Saxophone
Dan received a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Florida . He has studied with Bunky Green, Jack Wilkins and Bill Prince. He has also played with several Chicago and New York based bands including the Speak Easy Swing Band, The Roy Dunlap Group and The Jeff Sandler Orchestra. Dan has experience teaching music theory, and woodwind to 8th grade and up.

Dan O'Connell - French Horn
Daniel received a Bachelors in Music from the New England Conservatory and Masters in Music from DePaul University . Daniel has impressive professional experience playing with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Grant Park Symphony, and the Chicago Philharmonic. He has also taught at various institutions across Illinois and now has a private studio in Chicago .

Vance Okraszewski - Percussion
Vance received his bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University in Percussion Performance in 1998 and his master's degree from Depaul University in Jazz Studies Performance in 2001. He has studied with Joel Spencer, Ed Harrison, Judy Moonert and Billy Hart and currently makes a living as a freelance musician in the Chicago area, performing with groups such as the Chicago Chamber Musicians, CUBE , the Marques Carroll Quartet and the Daniel James Band.

Andrea Pakieser - Italian
Andrea is an Italian translator and teacher.  A Chicago-native, she has lived, worked, studied, and traveled extensively in Italy.  She enjoys teaching the Italian language to children and adults and is very excited to be a part of the Montessori community.

Janet Roderick - Theater Arts
Janet Roderick studied theater and music at Columbia College Chicago under the direction of Sheldon Patinkin. She has performed in various Chicago theaters and night clubs. She has taught Theater Arts at NNM since 1989.

Susan Rodwan - Art
Sue received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Michigan State University and an Art Education Training certificate from the University of Michigan . She is the artist/proprietor of the Rodwan Gallery where her work is also on display. Her artwork has appeared on a popular television sitcom.

Natalie Salim - Girls on the Run, Girls on Track

Dan Stark - Band Director and Brass Teacher
Dan received his B.A. in Music Performance from Northern Illinois University . He is currently involved with the Latin Music scene in Chicago and is also a member of the music group Ulele.

Chun-yen "Spring" Stillman - Chinese
A graduate of National Taiwan University in Taipei , Spring taught Mandarin Chinese to children from English-speaking and Chinese-speaking backgrounds for many years. She has also lectured at Lake Forest College and tutored professionals.

Clifford Wilson, III - Rocket Club
A Near North Parent of one child in 12 - 14 and one 2006 graduate, Clifford has been teaching biology at Chicago State University for 13 years. He has over 25 years of experience in Rocketry and is currently a member of the National Association of Rocketry and Tripoli Rocketry Association.