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
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