About Us

Faculty & Staff

LFCDS is all about our students. We keep learning and growing so that we can nurture and inspire our students to be their best selves.
Excellent education begins with motivated, caring professionals who display a lifelong love of learning and who embrace community life. By combining experienced, caring teachers with small class sizes, we ensure that each student benefits from personal attention and steady guidance. Students view their teachers as strong role models who set high standards for personal accountability, active involvement, and respect for others.

  • We Encourage...

    our faculty to focus on their favorite disciplines, give them the freedom to develop new programs, support their adoption of best practices, and provide the resources necessary to enhance their craft.

  • Stability & Continuity...

    amongst faculty and staff means sustainability and familiarity for our School and our students. Each year, LFCDS is fortunate to recognize employees celebrating service milestones. 

  • Our Talented Professionals...

    possess a nuanced understanding of how children learn, and work collaboratively to provide a program that develops students of strong character with a passion for learning.

List of 83 items.

  • Lauren Artarian

    Marketing & Communications Manager
    LFCDS 2024

    Northeastern Illinois University BFA

  • Jen Baer

    Assistant to the Head of Lower School
    LFCDS 2014
     
    Bradley University BA
     
     

  • Annie Baird

    Grade 1 Teacher (1AB)
    LFCDS 2021
     
    Denison University BA
    National Louis University MAT
     
     

  • Jennifer Bolek

    Upper School English Teacher (Grade 6)
    LFCDS 2022
     
    Lake Forest College BA
    Lake Forest College MA
     
     

  • Dave Buhrmester

    Director of Facilities
    LFCDS 2018
     
     

  • Kelly Burke

    Grade 1 Teacher
    LFCDS 2024

    Loyola University Chicago BS 

  • Coni Carfagno

    Development Associate
    LFCDS 2009, 2018
     
    Barat College BA
     
     

  • Nan Caldwell

    Chair of World Language
    Spanish Teacher (Grades 4, 5-8)
    US Coordinator of Community Service
    LFCDS 1980
     
    University of Colorado BA
    California State University at Sacramento MA


  • Pat Christensen

    Lower School Assistant 
    LFCDS 2021
     
     

  • Luke Christianson

    Upper School Social Studies Teacher (Grade 5)
    Grade 5 Team Co-Leader
    LFCDS 2020
     
    University of Wisconsin Milwaukee BA
    Cardinal Stritch University Teacher Licensure Program
     
     

  • Emily Church

    Speech-Language Pathologist
    LFCDS 2020
     
    University of Illinois BS
    Northwestern University MS
     
     

  • Katie Cohen

    Preschool Teacher Assistant (PSWC)
    LFCDS 2023
     
     

  • Jeff Cook

    PE Teacher & Coach
    LFCDS 2024

  • Donna Culhane

    School Librarian
    LFCDS 2019
     
    Butler University BA
    University of Illinois MLIS
     
     

  • Mark DeBernardi

    Visual Art Teacher
    LFCDS 2015
     
    Ohio University BFA
    Northeastern Illinois University MA
     
     

  • Roberto De Rose

    Controller
    LFCDS 2018
     
    Illinois State University BS
     
     

  • Marie Dohnke

    Lower School Math Resource Teacher
    LFCDS 2016
     
    Northern Illinois University BA
     
     

  • Megan Dziekan

    Lower School ELA Resource Teacher
    LFCDS 2001
     
    Northern Illinois University BS
     
     

  • Cindy Edwards

    Grade 3 Teacher (3CE)
    LFCDS 1984
     
    Bowling Green State University BS
     
     

  • Andy Estrella

    Facilities Maintenance Staff
    LFCDS 2023
     
     

  • Carmen Estrella

    Facilities Day Porter
    LFCDS 2020

  • Jennifer Farrell

    Junior Kindergarten Teacher (JKFL)
    LFCDS 1999
     
    University of Illinois BS
    Erikson Institute MS
     
     

  • Samantha Fernandez

    Receptionist
    LFCDS 2021
     
    Manchester University BS
     
     

  • Molly Finch

    1st STEP Lead Teacher and Director of Alcott
    Team Leader 1st STEP and Preschool
    LFCDS 2022
     
    Rhodes College BA
    Concordia University MA
     
     

  • Kate Fishbein

    EC & Lower School Counselor
    LFCDS 2024

    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign BS
    Boston University MSW

  • Laura Gabriel

    French Teacher (Grades 2,4, 5-8)
    LFCDS 2016
     
    Indiana University BA
    University of Northern Iowa MA
     
     

  • Cynthia Garcia

    1st STEP Teacher (1st STEP 2-Day and 3-Day)
    Senior Kindergarten Physical Education Teacher
    LFCDS 2018
     
    College of Lake County AA
     
     

  • Jessica George

    Grade 2 Teacher (2JG)
    LFCDS 2022
     
    Montclaire State University BA
    Caldwell University-Elementary Education Teaching Certificate
     
     

  • Karen Glassberg

    ESP Teacher
    LFCDS 2023
     
    State University of New York at Potsdam BA
     
     

  • Jason Gronkiewicz-Doran

    Upper School Social Studies Teacher (Grade 6)
    LFCDS 2015, 2021
     
    North Central College BA
    DePaul University MAEd
     
     

  • Ben Haight '88

    Chair of the Social Studies Department
    Social Studies Teacher (Grade 8)
    Grade 8 Team Leader
    LFCDS 2014
     
    Barat College BA
     
     

  • Kendall Haight

    Senior Kindergarten Teacher (SKKH)
    LFCDS 2019
     
    Bucknell University BA
    DePaul University MA
     
     

  • Paul Hedlund

    Grade 4 Teacher (4PH)
    Team Leader Grades 3 and 4
    LFCDS 2011
     
    Western Michigan University BA
    National Louis University MAT
     
     

  • Maria Hempen

    Early Childhood and Lower School Music Teacher
    Early Childhood Spanish Teacher
    LFCDS 2000, 2010
     
    DePaul University BM
     
     

  • Cailey Hiam

    Grade 4 Teacher
    LFCDS 2024
     
    University of Iowa BA


  • Amy Hintzman

    Upper School Science Teacher (Grade 8)
    LFCDS 2016
     
    St. Olaf College BA
    University of Wisconsin–River Falls MA
     
     
     

  • Lisa Horstmann

    Director of Financial Aid and Associate Director of Enrollment 
    LFCDS 2010
     
    Northeastern Illinois University BS
    Northwestern University MS
     
     

  • Amanda Jacobsen

    School Nurse
    LFCDS 2025

    DePaul University BA
    DePaul University MSN

  • Stacy Janda

    Senior Kindergarten Teacher (SKJP)
    LFCDS 2014
     
    Northern Illinois University BS
    National Louis University MA
     
     

  • Abbie Kelly '88

    Accounts & Human Resources Manager
    LFCDS 2022
     
    Ohio University BS
     
     

  • Egan Kim

    Upper School Mathematics Teacher
    LFCDS 2014
     
    University of Illinois BA
    Northwestern University MS
     
     

  • Kimberly Kohl

    Senior Kindergarten Teacher (SKKH)
    Team Leader Junior and Senior Kindergarten
    LFCDS 2004
     
    University of Illinois BS
    Erikson Institute MS
     
     

  • Panagiotis Koutsouris

    Early Childhood and Lower School Science Teacher
    LFCDS 2022
     
    University of Ioannina (Greece) BA
    University of Chicago MA
     
     

  • Marlo LaCorte

    Junior Kindergarten Teacher (JKFL)
    LFCDS 2011
     
    Colgate University BA
     
     

  • Zhaoyi Liu

    Mandarin Chinese Teacher (Grades 1, 4, 5-8)
    LFCDS 2020 
     
    Nanjing University BA
     
     

  • Jasmine Madrid

    Preschool Teacher
    LFCDS 2024

    National Louis University MS 

  • Caroline Masterson

    Upper School Mathematics Teacher
    LFCDS 2020
     
    Kenyon College BA
    Columbia University Teachers College MA
     
     

  • Sarah McCauley

    Upper School Mathematics Teacher
    Grade 7 Team Leader
    LFCDS 1994
     
    Westminster College, Oxford BA
    Ball State University MA
     
     

  • Greg McDonough

    Innovation Space Director 
    Grade 7 and 8 Design and Innovation Teacher
    LFCDS 2017
     
    Northeastern Illinois University BA
    National Louis University MA
     
     

  • Maureen McNicholl

    Upper School Social Studies Teacher
    (Grade 7)
    LFCDS 2025


    Boston College BA
    Northwestern University MS
    Harvard Graduate School of Education Ed.M
    Gettysburg College MA

  • Amanda Miller

    Lower School Reading Specialist
    LFCDS 2024

     

  • Jasmine Moreno

    ESP Teacher

  • Jessica Murphy

    Preschool Teacher (PSWC)
    Alctott Teacher
    LFCDS 2022
     
    Tulane University BA
    National Louis University MA
     
     

  • Susan Murphy

    Assistant to the Head of Upper School
    LFCDS 2000
     
     

  • Kevin Nicholson

    Upper School Science Teacher (Grade 5)
    LFCDS 2014
     
    Harper College AAS
    Northeastern University BA
    Northern Illinois University MS Ed
    National-Louis University MAT
    Type 75 Administration Certificate
     
     

  • Justin Nixon

    General Music Teacher
    Upper School Choral Director
    LFCDS 2023
     
    Olivet Nazarene University BA
    Notre Dame de Namur University MM
     
     

  • Ginny Noble

    Lower School Assistant
    LFCDS 2022
     
    St. Lawrence University BA
    National Louis University MAT
     
     

  • Mari O'Connell

    Upper School English Teacher (Grade 8)
    LFCDS 2017
     
    Davidson College BA
    Middlebury College MA
     
     

  • Rachel O'Shaughnessy

    Grade 1 Assistant Teacher
    LFCDS 2024

    Northwestern University BA

  • Mike Panagos

    IT Systems Manager
    LFCDS 2007
     
    Nicolet College CIS
     
     

  • Kristina Parker

    Learning Specialist
    LFCDS 2022
     
    Miami University BA
    DePaul University MA
     
     

  • Mark Patton

    Upper School English Teacher (Grade 7)
    LFCDS 2023
     
    Lakehead University BA
     
     

  • Marcia Peterson

    Senior Kindergarten Teacher (SKJP)
    LFCDS 2015
     
    Purdue University BA
     
     

  • Ami Polonsky

    Chair of the English Department
    Co-Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee
    LFCDS 2015
     
    University of Michigan BA
    Brandeis University MA
    Northwestern University MS
     
     

  • Ann Rabjohns

    Grade 3 Teacher (3AR)
    LFCDS 2021
     
    Yale University BA
    University of Phoenix MAEd
     
     

  • Elsbeth Redfield '90

    Auction and Alumni Relations Associate
    LFCDS 2018
     
    University of Pennsylvania BA
    Notre Dame de Namur University MA
     
     

  • Josh Rosenberg

    Grade 1 Assistant Teacher
    LFCDS 2025

    Indiana University BA

  • Christina Rouches

    Spanish Teacher
    LFCDS 2025

    Boston College BA
    Columbia University MA

  • Bill Scroggins

    Physical Education/Athletics Teacher
    LFCDS 1992
     
     

  • Bobbie Serafini

    Junior Kindergarten Teacher (JKSS)
    LFCDS 2013
     
    Northern Illinois University BFA
    National Louis University MAT
     
     

  • Analiese Siwik

    Learning Specialist
    LFCDS 2025

    University of Dayton BA
    DePaul University MA

  • Danette Soukup

    Director of ESP
    Preschool Teacher (PSR-JS)
    LFCDS 2016
     
    National Louis University BA 
     
     

  • Suzanne Stanczak

    Physical Education/Athletics Teacher
    LFCDS 2012
     
    Carthage College BA
    DePaul University MA
     
     

  • Kelly Stell

    Junior Kindergarten Teacher (JKSS)
    LFCDS 2022
     
    Denison University BA
    National Louis University MAT
     
     

  • Ty Stuckslager

    Upper School Mathematics Teacher
    Chair of the Math Department
    LFCDS 1995
     
    Western Michigan University BS
    National-Louis University MEd
     
     

  • Tracie Tatz

    Music Teacher
    Band Director
    Grade 6 Team Leader
    LFCDS 2019
     
    University of Illinois BS
    Vandercook School of Music MA
     
     

  • Chelsea Taylor

    Drama Teacher
    LFCDS 2022
     
    Northwestern University BA
    New York University MA
     
     

  • Devin Truax

    Technical Support Specialist
    LFCDS 2018
     
    Lake Forest College BA
     

  • Rhonda Venard-Darin

    Visual Art Teacher
    Chair of the Fine Arts Department
    LFCDS 2001, 2012
     
    University of Illinois BFA
    University of Illinois at Chicago MA
     
     

  • Ann Vivirito

    Grade 2 Teacher (2AV)
    LFCDS 2021
     
    Lake Forest College BA
    Lake Forest College MA
     
     

  • Lindsay Williams

    School Counselor
    LFCDS 2021
     
    University of Kansas BA
    Northwestern University MA
    Licensed Professional Counselor
     
     

  • Kate Zubrod

    Upper School Science Teacher (Grade 6)
    LFCDS 2022
     
    Loyola University Chicago B.Ed
     
     

  • Jessica Zaleski

    Upper School English Teacher (Grade 5)
    Grade 5 Team Co-Leader
    LFCDS 2008
     
    Cornell University BA
    Johns Hopkins University MAT
     
     
A co-educational independent private school for students age 2 through Grade 8.
Graduating students of strong character with a passion for learning since 1888.

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Lake Forest Country Day School

145 South Green Bay Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045

P: 847-234-2350
F: 847-234-2352