Faculty & Staff

Every student deserves a teacher who sees something in them before they see it in themselves. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to knowing each child deeply, fostering meaningful relationships, and helping students become the fullest version of themselves.

  • Lauren Artarian

    Associate Director of Marketing & Communications
    LFCDS 2024

    Northeastern Illinois University BFA

  • Jen Baer

    Assistant to the Head of Lower School
    LFCD 2014

    Bradley University BA

  • Annie Baird

    Grade 1 Teacher
    LFCDS 2021

    Denison University BA
    National Louis University MAT

  • Rachel Bennett

    Associate Director of Community Engagement
    LFCDS 2026

    University of Wisconsin-Whitewater BA

  • 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

  • Pat Christensen

    Lower School Assistant
    LFCDS 2021

  • Luke Christianson

    Upper School Social Studies Teacher (Grade 5)
    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

  • Cassandra Clark

    Grade 1 Associate Teacher
    LFCDS 2026

    Lake Forest College BA

  • Katie Cohen

    Preschool Teacher Assistant (PSWC)
    LFCDS 2023

    University of Colorado BA
    DePaul University M.Ed.

  • Jeff Cook

    PE Teacher & Coach
    LFCDS 2024

    Grace College BS
    Eastern Michigan University MS

  • 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

  • Leah Dernis

    Main Office Receptionist & Administrative Assistant
    LFCDS 2025

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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
    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
    LFCDS 1999

    University of Illinois BS
    Erikson Institute MS

  • Samantha Fernandez

    Business Office Coordinator
    LFCDS 2021

    Manchester University BS
    North Central College MBA

  • Molly Finch

    1st STEP Lead Teacher and Director of Alcott
    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, Senior Kindergarten Physical Education Teacher
    LFCDS 2018

    College of Lake County AA

  • Jessica George

    Grade 2 Teacher
    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

  • 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
    LFCDS 2019

    Bucknell University BA
    DePaul University MA

  • Paul Hedlund

    Grade 4 Teacher, 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
    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

  • Sara Hunter

    Preschool Associate Teacher
    LFCDS 2026

  • Amanda Jacobsen

    School Nurse
    LFCDS 2025

    DePaul University BA
    DePaul University MSN

  • Stacy Janda

    Senior Kindergarten Teacher
    LFCDS 2014

    Northern Illinois University BS
    National Louis University MA

  • Abbie Kelly '88

    Human Resources Manager
    LFCDS 2022

    Ohio University BS

  • Kimberly Kohl

    Senior Kindergarten Teacher, 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
    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

    University of Wisconsin - Stout BS
    Depaul University M.Ed.

  • Jasmine Moreno

    Grade 3 Student Teacher

  • Jessica Murphy

    Preschool Teacher (PSWC) Alcott 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 Illinois 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 Nazare University BA
    Notre Dame de Namur University MM

  • Ginny Noble

    Lower School Assistant
    LFCDS 2022

    St. Lawrence University BA
    National Louis University MAT

  • Rachel O'Shaughnessy

    Grade 1 Assistant Teacher
    LFCDS 2024

    Northwestern University BA

  • Mike Panagos

    IT Systems Manager
    LFCDS 2007

    Nicolet College CIS

  • Mark Patton

    Upper School English Teacher (Grade 7)
    LFCDS 2023

    Lakehead University BA / B Ed

  • Marcia Peterson

    Senior Kindergarten Teacher
    LFCDS 2015

    Purdue University BA

  • Ami Polonsky

    Chair of the English Department
    LFCDS 2015

    University of Michigan BA
    Brandeis Univeristy MA
    Northwestern University MS

  • Ann Rabjohns

    Grade 3 Teacher
    LFCDS 2021

    Yale University BA
    University of Phoenix MAEd

  • 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
    LFCDS 2013

    Northern Illiniois 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
    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
    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

  • Hillary St. John

    Associate Director of Community Philanthropy
    LFCDS 2026

    Illinois State BS
    University of North Texas MS

  • 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
    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

  • Jessica Zaleski

    Upper School English Teacher (Grade 5) Grade 5 Team Co-Leader
    LFCDS 2008

    Cornell University BA
    Johns Hopkins University MAT

  • Kate Zubrod

    Upper School Science Teacher (Grade 6)
    LFCDS 2022

    Loyola University Chicago B.Ed

Next

Leadership Team