Bella R.
Isabella, or Bella, is a 5th grade teacher at St. Pius x School. She is currently completing her Masters in English Language Learning and her Credential in Elementary Education. She is a San Diego Mesa College and SDSU grad and will soon be a National University grad.
Bella has a passion for being in the classroom and particularly loves teaching math. She believes that math instills confidence, resilience, and a passion for problem solving. She is dedicated, open-minded, patient, and creative. With all of her experience, she has gained many teaching strategies that she keeps in her toolbox. She is great at adapting her teaching style at any moment and can recognize when modifications need to be made.
In her free time, Bella enjoys walks with her dog Nala, watching movies, and going to Disneyland.
Vannessa H.
Born and raised in the vibrant state of Florida, Vannessa is a driven educator who has dedicated her life to shaping the minds of young learners. With a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, she embarked on her journey into the realm of teaching with a passion for nurturing young minds. Armed with a plethora of certifications including preschool education and pre-K/primary education and reading, ESOL, and pre-k disability endorsements, she stands as a beacon of excellence in the field of education. Vannessa’s passion for working with children traces back to her high school years, where she first discovered her calling through early childhood classes. Since then, she has dedicated herself wholeheartedly to the field of education, continuously seeking out opportunities for professional growth and development.
Vannessa’s teaching career began in a private school as a teacher’s aide. As a teacher’s aide, she gained more experience with young learners from kindergarten through fifth grade. Soon enough, she became a kindergarten teacher, where she fostered a love for learning and laid the foundation for academic success in her students. Shortly after, through Miami Dade College’s School of Education program, she became a resident teacher gaining more insight in a public school setting. As a lifelong learner and advocate for children’s education, Vannessa remains committed to making a positive diMerence in the lives of her students and shaping the future generation.
Outside the classroom, Vannessa leads a vibrant and fulfilling life, indulging in many interests and hobbies. From devouring the pages of a captivating book to exploring new foods and traveling to new destinations. Whether she’s hitting the gym for a workout, indulging in the occasional well deserved nap (or two), basking in the sun on the beach, or spending quality time with loved ones, Vanessa she finds joy in the simple pleasures of life.
Tina S.
Tina S. brings over 20 years of elementary education experience. With a background in teaching 2nd through 6th grades across all subjects, including in inclusive classrooms, Tina has honed her ability to meet students where they are and tailor her instruction to their needs and interests. Holding a degree in elementary education and a minor in psychology from Northeastern Illinois University, along with an ESL endorsement, Tina believes in lifelong learning and fosters a supportive environment for her students to thrive. Outside of teaching, Tina enjoys spending time with her two children and two dogs, indulging in her love for animals, cooking, exercise, and cherished moments with family and friends.
Lisa M.
Lisa is an experienced educator with over 15 years of teaching experience. Her favorite ages to teach are students in early elementary, as they have such a desire to learn. Lisa has a Masters Degree in Special Education and has years of experience working with students that have OT and sensory needs, attention disorders and other special education factors. Her favorite part of teaching is making those special bonds with students. She loves to see how much students grow and gain confidence in their early childhood years. She enjoys travel, cooking, spending time with her husband and three kids and diving into a good novel!
Ashley C.
Ashley is a certified teacher and currently works as a substitute at an elementary school in Wheaton. This school year she has had the opportunity to sub in all classes at her school grades K-5. She also gained experience subbing for the special education, PE, and Music teachers. Before taking her current job, she taught 4th grade for two years. She graduated from North Central College with her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in 2020. Ashley completed her student teaching in a 3rd grade classroom in Carol Stream. Since starting college Ashley has worked at a summer camp leading the preschool aged camp. Ashley has always loved school and decided she wanted to be a teacher when she was in second grade. She is so glad that she is able to pursue that dream. One way she helps her students learn and grow is by being another positive adult in their life who is there to cheer them on during their successes and help them through their struggles. In her free time she likes to spend time outside walking and kayaking. She enjoys all things arts and crafts and she loves to read.
Rachel B.
Rachel is a former teacher and nanny with a passion for helping students succeed. With a master’s degree from DePaul University, and a 4.0 GPA, Rachel loves to learn and share her knowledge. She gets to know her students’ background and interests before starting her lessons, as to make the information at hand pertinent to each child. With kindness and enthusiasm, Rachel strives to make learning a fun and comfortable experience for both the student and their families. Communication is her strong suit, as she enjoys sharing milestones and challenges with parents to ensure student success. In her spare time, Rachel travels the world with her husband, Cole. The pair resides in the Northwest suburbs with their two cats, and in her spare time, Rachel runs a successful photography studio out of her home office. Get in touch with Rachel today – she cannot wait to get to know you!
Beverly Y.
Beverly graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Harvey Mudd College and a Master’s of Education from Boston University. She is a Certified Teacher who has worked with elementary and middle school students in Taiwan, Japan, and the United States. Beverly’s diverse teaching experience has shown her that building relationships with students is the most important step in meeting their educational needs. She believes every student is a “math person” and prioritizes developing number sense and critical thinking during her sessions. Beverly is excited to help students find learning strategies that work for them and encourage their curiosity about math.
In her spare time, Beverly enjoys hiking through autumn landscapes, solving jigsaw puzzles, and pondering why students have contentious arguments over whether a hotdog is a sandwich. (She’s inclined to say, “Yes,” per the Merriam-Webster definition.)
Emmanuel P.
Emmanuel has been teaching since 2007 in a diverse range of places, from Los Angeles to Japan, Miami, and San Diego. He has taught students from 2nd to 12th grade, and has a special enthusiasm for phonics at the early grade levels and US history at the upper grades, although he is similarly enthusiastic for mathematics from lower elementary all the way through high school . He also has a keen interest in languages, and is bilingual in French and English, as well as having studied Spanish, Hebrew, and Japanese. Emmanuel believes that every subject is inherently fascinating and that every student is capable of excelling, even in a subject that they never imagined themselves to be experts in. He loves helping students to embrace struggle and feel the satisfaction that comes with pushing themselves to more than they thought possible.
Leanne R.
Leanne R. works as an Early Literacy Interventionist. She has years of professional experience working one on one with young students, using science backed methods like phonics, to help them not only learn to read, but excel in reading. She has a degree in History, which is mostly useful when she plays trivia. Besides being a trivia nerd, she spends her free time hitting the gym with her daughter. She loves to go hiking, but only if it’s between 56-65°F with a low relative humidity.
Kate L.
Kate L. is a certified teacher with 20+ years of experience in the elementary classroom. She holds a Masters of Curriculum and Assessment: Trauma and Resilience. She has been an integral part of the development of curriculum design and mapping in her school district. Kate’s recent focus has been helping to implement her schools SEL program, focusing on teaching the whole child academically, socially, and emotionally. She prides herself on the meaningful and long lasting relationships she has made with her students. Kate has five years of experience in private in home tutoring. In Kate’s free time, you can find her gardening, hiking, or watching any sport in person or on TV.