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District & Traveling Teachers
Edward Brophy - Dir. of Human Resources
Edward Brophy has been named District 28’s new Director of Human Resources. Mr. Brophy is currently the assistant superintendent of operations at Forest Park District 91, a position he has held for 15 years. Prior to that he served as the Director of Business Services for Winfield District 34. He has a master’s degree from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and most recently received a program certificate from the Harvard Business School Analytics Program.Jenna Garcia – Orchestra
Jenna Garcia will join the district’s orchestra directors after serving as interim orchestra director at James Cooper Middle School in Buffalo Grove since January. Ms. Garcia earned her bachelor’s degree from Elmhurst University. While at Elmhurst, she served as chapter president of the American String Teachers Association and chapter vice president of the National Association for Music Education.Alexandria Hibbard-Brown - Orchestra
Alex Hibbard-Brown has a bachelor’s degree in music education from Illinois State University in May. She completed her first student teaching placement at Vernon Hills High School and is currently in her second placement at NBJH under the guidance of Mike Govert. While at ISU, Alex was the chapter president of the American String Teachers Association and served as a lead teacher for the String Project, teaching lessons to local middle school students.Jamie Zimniok - Band
Jamie Zimniok has spent the past 13 years as a band teacher in District 64 at both Lincoln and Emerson Middle Schools. A District 28 and GBN alumnus, she is happy to return to Northbrook. She earned a master’s degree in music education from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Greenbriar
Betsy Buckley - Asst. Dir. of Student Services, Meadowbrook and Greenbriar
Betsy Buckley was a Special Education Coordinator in Glen Ellyn District 41, a position she has held for four years. Prior to that, she served as a Therapy Coordinator in St.Charles Community Unit School District 303 where she led the district’s speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists across 16 schools, K-12. She has her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Health Science Communication Disorders and her Master of Education in Administration with a Director of Special Education Endorsement. She was selected from a pool of 10 applicants for the position.Jennifer Brueck – Social Worker, Greenbriar & Meadowbrook
Jennifer Brueck is an experienced social worker who is joining us after spending the past two years working in the Special Education District of Lake County. Prior to that, she worked as a long-term substitute, including one semester as the social worker for District 28's Young Explorers program. Ms. Brueck also has experience as a director of adolescent programming at a treatment and recovery facility. She earned a master’s degree in social work from Loyola University and a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University.Julie Arutyunov – 3rd Grade, Greenbriar
Julie Arutyunov began her career in education at Greenbriar School as a 3rd-grade assistant and KidCare coordinator. For the past three years, she has taught 4th grade and 3rd grade in a dual-language classroom in District 112. Ms. Arutyuno holds a bachelor's degree from Illinois State University and is currently pursuing a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from National Louis University.Erin Lovitto – Kindergarten, Greenbriar
Erin Lovitto has spent the past six years as the kindergarten teacher at the New Church School in Glenview. Prior to that, she taught kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade and ESL at Lycee Francais de Chicago, a French international school. Erin is originally from Quebec, Canada and received a bachelor's degree from Concordia University in Montreal.Meadowbrook
Betsy Buckley - Asst. Dir. of Student Services, Meadowbrook and Greenbriar
Betsy Buckley was a Special Education Coordinator in Glen Ellyn District 41, a position she has held for four years. Prior to that, she served as a Therapy Coordinator in St.Charles Community Unit School District 303 where she led the district’s speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists across 16 schools, K-12. She has her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Health Science Communication Disorders and her Master of Education in Administration with a Director of Special Education Endorsement. She was selected from a pool of 10 applicants for the position.Jennifer Brueck – Social Worker, Greenbriar & Meadowbrook
Jennifer Brueck is an experienced social worker who is joining us after spending the past two years working in the Special Education District of Lake County. Prior to that, she worked as a long-term substitute, including one semester as the social worker for District 28's Young Explorers program. Ms. Brueck also has experience as a director of adolescent programming at a treatment and recovery facility. She earned a master’s degree in social work from Loyola University and a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University.Elizabeth Cummins – Kindergarten, Meadowbrook
Elizabeth Cummins was an early childhood and kindergarten teacher at The Frances Xavier Warde School in Chicago from 2007-2022. She earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education in 2002 from the College of Mt. St. Joseph and her master’s degree in early childhood education from the Erikson Institute.
Ericka Garza - Meadowbrook Principal
Ericka Garza was principal of Mark Twain School in Kankakee District 202, completing her fifth year in 2021-22. Previous to that, she was the English Learner program coordinator at Marquette School of Excellence in Chicago. She began her career as an EL Teacher for grades 4-8. She has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from National Louis University and is working on her doctoral degree from the University of St. Francis.Caroline McElvain – 4th grade, Meadowbrook
Caroline McElvain began her career teaching English in Taiwan. After a year, Ms. McElvain returned to the United States and took a job in the business sector. She was drawn back into education during the pandemic and enrolled at National Louis University where she received a master’s degree in education. Ms. McElvain was a 3rd-grade assistant at Meadowbrook during the pandemic and also did her student teaching at Meadowbrook with Alli Tampier. Ms. McElvain earned a bachelor’s degree in English writing from DePauw University.Carrie O’Connell – Reading Specialist, Meadowbrook
Carrie O’Connell brings 19 years of experience as an educator to the reading specialist position at Meadowbrook, serving students in all grades. Ms. O’Connell has worked in a similar position at Evanston/Skokie District 65 since 2008. She was a first-grade teacher for five years prior to that. Ms. O’Connell is a Glenbrook North alum, who received her bachelor’s degree from Ball State University and a master’s degree from National Louis University.Emily Petway – Part-time Music Teacher, Meadowbrook
Emily Petway will be teaching music in a 20% position to accommodate increased enrollment. Ms. Petway began her teaching career in 2002 as the assistant band director and a general music teacher for 10 years in Powder Spring, GA. Emily was the choral director at Fremont Middle School in Mundelein from 2012-17. Most recently, Ms. Petway has served as the Education Programs Manager for the Illinois Music Education Association. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in music education from the University of Michigan.
Lisa Russell – 2nd Grade, Meadowbrook
Lisa Russell has served as a first-grade assistant since 2016 in first grade at Meadowbrook. Prior to working at Meadowbrook, Ms. Russell taught 3rd grade for 15 years at Vintage Hills Elementary School in Pleasanton, CA. She received her bachelor’s degree from California State University-Los Angeles before relocating to Illinois with her family.Kalina Vnoucek – Kindergarten, Meadowbrook
Kalina Vnoucek graduated from Illinois State University a bachelor’s degree in education and earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration from DePaul University. For the past 16 years Ms. Vnoucek has worked at John T. McCutcheon Elementary School in Chicago where she has served as teacher, Dean of Primary Grades Pre K-2, and Dean of Operations and Community Partnerships. She has also served as a coach and mentor teacher.Marieli Urquiza-Trujillo -Spanish, Meadowbrook
Marieli Urquiza-Trujillo earned a bachelor’s degree in world languages from Elmhurst College before launching her career as an instructional assistant. She was a student teacher at Marquardt Middle School and was a Golden Apple Scholar in the Class of 2020. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Elmhurst College in world languages.Westmoor
Brooklyn Cohen – 5th Grade, Westmoor
Brooklyn Cohen comes to Westmoor from Arlington Heights where she has worked as a 4th-grade teacher at Our Lady of the Wayside School for the past three years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Butler University, where she graduated with departmental honors and cum laude.
Michelle Guada – Psychologist, Westmoor
Michelle Guada has teaching degrees in elementary education and special education. She will be relocating back to the Chicagoland area from Florida, where she has served as a school psychologist with Miami-Dade County Public Schools.Trina Newman - Gifted & Talented Coordinator, Westmoor
Trina Newman is joining Westmoor after spending 22 years at Stephen K. Hayt Elementary School in Chicago Public Schools. She has taught 5th grade for many years and has experience with both departmental and self-contained teaching with an emphasis on gifted and talented education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with additional endorsements in English Language teaching and Gifted.
Joanna Wsol – 4th grade, Westmoor
Joanna Wsol brings seven years of experience as a 4th-grade teacher to her new position at Westmoor School. As a 4th-grade teacher in Wheaton School District 200, she used co-teaching models in both math and English as a Second Language (ESL). Ms. Wsol received the Distinguished Teacher Award during her time in District 200. She earned a master’s degree in education with course work in ESL and curriculum and instruction and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from National-Louis University.Young Explorers Early Childhood Program
Jennifer Andersen - Classroom Teacher, Young Explorers Program
Jennifer Andersen will be joining the Young Explorers Program at Westmoor School as an early childhood teacher. She has worked as a preschool teacher at Frances Xavier Warde School for the past two years and was previously a Master Preschool Teacher at Chicago Commons. She earned a master’s degree in early childhood and special education from National-Louis University. Lisa Chapon – Speech Language Pathologist, Young Explorers Program
Lisa Chapon comes to District 28 from Speech in the City in Chicago, where she has worked for the last ten years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota and a master’s degree in communication disorders from the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma.
Emily Kalfen – Speech Language Pathologist, Young Explorers (part-time)
Emily Kalfen has worked as a speech-language pathologist for 10 years, most recently at Montessori Academy of Chicago. She has a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Sophia Nudelman – Social Worker, Young Explorers Program
Sophia Nudelman worked in the private sector for five years and then worked as an intern in District 21. She earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois-Chicago. Ms. Nudelman received a bachelor’s degree in criminal law and justice at the University of Illinois-Chicago.
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Kelly Randall – Occupational Therapist, Young Explorers Program
Kelly Randall began her career working in private practice and joined Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization in January. She earned her doctorate of occupational therapy from the University of Indianapolis. Kelly also holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Health.
Northbrook Junior High
Sophia Halkias - NBJH Literacy Instructional Specialist
Sophia Halkias has spent the past 14 years with the Distinctive Schools network in Chicago as a middle school history and reading teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal and regional director of literacy. She will provide literacy instruction support to the core subject teachers at NBJH. She has a master’s degree in school leadership from Concordia University and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Mary Pehar – 8th Grade Math, NBJH
Mary Pehar joins District 28 with eight years of experience as a middle school math teacher at a Chicago charter school. Most recently, she served as a long-term sub at Avoca District 37. She earned a master of business administration degree from Loyola University and a bachelor’s degree in math from the University of Illinois.
Doris Portugal – Spanish, Meadowbrook & Math Interventionist, NBJH
Doris Portugal comes to District 28 with 22 years of experience. Ms. Portugal spent her career thus far at George B. Armstrong School of International Studies in Chicago Public Schools. She earned two master’s degrees, one from Northeastern Illinois University and one from Concordia University. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Chicago.
Frederick Yoon – Science, NBJH
Frederick Yoon will join the Northbrook Junior High science team after spending the previous six months as an instructional aide at Glenbrook North High School where he supported students in Physics, Intro Chemistry and Earth Science. Mr. Yoon has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in education and neuroscience from Lake Forest College. Mr. Yoon also coaches girls and boys high school gymnastics.
