Staff stats: Meet the new Willowbrook staff members for the 2014-15 school year
Each week, District 88 will feature a new Willowbrook staff member to introduce you to the school’s newest members.
Meet Sherry Anderson
Title:
Spanish teacher at Willowbrook
Education background:
I graduated from Collinsville High School, received my Bachelor of Science degree in education from Indiana University and received my Master of Science degree in curriculum and instruction from Northern Illinois University.
Career background:
I taught in Naperville Community Unit School District 203 for 14 years, working at Naperville North and Naperville Central high schools.
What are you looking forward to as a new member of the District 88 family?
I'm looking forward to joining such a positive, encouraging group!
What made you choose this profession and district?
I love being a part of the lives of high school students and encouraging them to enjoy and take advantage of opportunities in high school.
What do you hope to accomplish during your first year with District 88?
I hope to develop positive relationships with students and relay my enthusiasm and excitement for learning Spanish.
Meet Chrissie Palumbo
Title:
School psychologist intern at Willowbrook
Education background:
I received my Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in psychology from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am pursuing my Educational Specialist degree from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Career background:
I completed a practicum experience at Jackson Middle School in District 45, and the year before that, I completed a service learning experience at Alexander Graham Bell School in Chicago.
What are you looking forward to as a new member of the District 88 family?
I am most looking forward to being back at Willowbrook. I graduated in 2007, and I am excited to come back as a staff member! I enjoyed my time as a student at Willowbrook and learned so much from the faculty. I am looking forward to now taking on that role myself.
What made you choose this profession and district?
I chose the profession of school psychologist because I know the importance and benefits of a good education. I want to help all students be able to succeed in their educational environments and gain the most from school. Go, Warriors!
What do you hope to accomplish during your first year with District 88?
I hope to soak in everything like a sponge! I know I have so much to learn from District 88. And I cannot wait to practice what I learn during my internship year! I know with the help of my colleagues, I can hopefully become a better school psychologist and have the accomplishment of helping students not only do well in school, but like being there, too!
Meet Brian Chelmecki
Title:
Math Department Chair at Willowbrook
Education background:
I received my undergraduate degree in math from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I then went on to earn my master’s degree in teaching from National Louis University and another master’s degree in educational policy and organizational leadership from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Career background:
After earning my teaching credential, I moved to San Jose, Calif., and taught in Gilroy, Calif., for two years. My wife and I then moved back to Chicago, where I began working for Chicago Math and Science Academy. After teaching there for four years, I moved into leadership roles with UNO Charter Schools. I was a full-time teacher mentor and evaluator for two years, and I then moved into the role of principal at Major Hector P. Garcia MD High School.
What are you looking forward to as a new member of the District 88 family?
I'm looking forward to working with a strong Math Department, tackling the new Common Core State Standards and making math fun, exciting and relevant for students.
What made you choose this profession and district?
I love learning, working with students, making and achieving goals and constantly growing. I chose District 88 for its strong leadership, unified mission and vision, strong community connection and diverse student body.
What do you hope to accomplish during your first year with District 88?
I hope to strengthen our vertical alignment in math, while developing a deeper alignment with the new Common Core State Standards. I want to continue to grow and develop an already-strong Math Department. Finally, I hope for a successful return to the classroom.
Meet Julie Rana
Title:
Math teacher at Willowbrook
Education background:
I received my bachelor’s degree in finance from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and I earned my teacher certification through The University of Texas at Austin.
Career background:
Before my career in education, I worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Chicago as a litigation consultant. Before coming to Willowbrook, I taught for eight years at Addison Trail.
What are you looking forward to as a new member of the District 88 family?
I'm looking forward to establishing new relationships with my District 88 colleagues and maintaining old relationships as well. I'm excited to be back in the district and look forward to working with fellow teachers and parents to ensure my students are successful.
What made you choose this profession and district?
I enjoy making a real impact on the lives of students. District 88 employs highly skilled and professional teachers, who share this passion with me.
What do you hope to accomplish during your first year with District 88?
My main focus during my first year back in District 88 will be to continue my work with the literacy coaches to incorporate writing within the math classroom.
Meet Anthony Pennella
Title:
Special education teacher at Willowbrook
Education background:
I graduated from York Community High School. I received my bachelor’s degree in special education from Concordia University Chicago, where I was a three-time All-Conference selection in football and also competed in track.
Career background:
I student taught at Willowbrook. After college, I taught at Auburn High School.
What are you looking forward to as a new member of the District 88 family?
I am really excited to be back working at Willowbrook. I am excited to work with such an esteemed and exceptional faculty. I also am looking forward to helping our young people become better learners.
What made you choose this profession and district?
I joined this profession so I could help young people. I feel teaching gives me the best platform to help young people in their education and other important aspects of their lives.
What do you hope to accomplish during your first year with District 88?
I hope I can positively impact our students to better their lives.
Meet Amanda Nickless
Title:
Science teacher at Willowbrook
Education background:
I received my bachelor’s degree in biology from Illinois State University. I then earned my teaching certificate and Master of Arts in Teaching degree from National Louis University.
Career background:
I spent one year working in a microbiology lab, three years at the University of Chicago in the Pathology Department, and I have taught the last six years at Warren Township High School District 121.
What are you looking forward to as a new member of the District 88 family?
I am looking forward to building new relationships with my colleagues and other staff members.
What made you choose this profession and district?
I have always had a passion for education and learning new things (my students teach me new things on a daily basis). I have heard great things about District 88.
What do you hope to accomplish during your first year with District 88?
I hope to build a rapport with the students, parents and faculty.
Meet Diana Forsberg
Title:
English teacher at Willowbrook
Education background:
I received my degree in English and secondary education from Elmhurst College. I also attended University of Oxford for a term, and I received an associate degree in music for jazz vocals from College of DuPage.
Career background:
I student taught at Oak Park and River Forest High School. I worked at Willowbrook last year, where I got to know some of the wonderful staff and students within the school. This past summer, I worked for a company whose focus is to help students of all ages develop their reading abilities. This year is my first teaching job in a high school setting!
What are you looking forward to as a new member of the District 88 family?
I am looking forward to becoming an involved member of the community.
What made you choose this profession and district?
I have wanted to teach since I was a kid. I am passionate about learning, and I want to help my students have as many meaningful learning experiences as possible – not only in English class, but throughout their life. I went to Glenbard East High School and grew up in Addison, so I am familiar with the area and district. I love the diversity of the school, how many activities are available for students and how great the teachers are.
What do you hope to accomplish during your first year with District 88?
I hope to learn as much as I possibly can and grow from my first experiences as a full-time teacher.
Meet Lindsay Poole
Title:
School psychologist intern at Willowbrook
Education background:
I received my bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Michigan and my master’s degree in educational psychology from Loyola University Chicago.
Career background:
After college, I served two years with AmeriCorps, where I worked at an afterschool program in Houston. The purpose of that program is to promote academic achievement, college readiness and 21st-century skills among middle school students.
What are you looking forward to as a new member of the District 88 family?
So far, I have really appreciated the warm embrace District 88 has shown me since starting my internship this year. I have definitely felt welcomed into the school community as we continue to work together in various avenues for the benefit and overall well-being of students.
What made you choose this profession and district?
I chose school psychology because I believe for students to function at their highest potential, their psychological, social and academic needs all have to be met. This position allows me the opportunity to address the many challenges faced by students in and out of school. I chose this district because of the student diversity and the resources available to students. District 88 is unique from other high school districts.
What do you hope to accomplish during your first year with District 88?
I hope to gain the necessary skills to become a certified school psychologist who exemplifies best practices. I also hope to have a positive impact on every student I work with and hope to learn from my experiences working with them. Lastly, I plan to get involved as much as possible to contribute to the school community, as I truly admire the culture at Willowbrook. It is a culture I will be sad to leave when my internship is over.
Meet Daniel Fernandez
Title:
Academic Resource Center (ARC) science tutor at Willowbrook
Education background:
I attended University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (U of I), where I received my Bachelor of Science degree in integrative biology. After graduating from U of I, I attended Illinois Institute of Technology, where I completed their Post-Baccalaureate Secondary Teaching Licensure Program.
Career background:
After graduating from U of I, I spent a summer working as a zookeeper in one of Latin America’s largest zoos, Zoológico Guadalajara in Mexico, where I handled and cared for their large constrictors, lizards, turtles and tarantulas. I later did an internship with the Oak Brook Medical & Surgical Centre and joined the Shedd Aquarium as a volunteer. While volunteering at the Shedd, I provided husbandry care, assisted with offsite educational workshops, helped collect fish survey data and water samples and participated in conservation and restoration trips throughout the Chicago area.
What are you looking forward to as a new member of the District 88 family?
I am looking forward to not only working with a broad range of students, but also working with some of my old high school teachers! I am a 2008 Willowbrook graduate. Go, Warriors!
What made you choose this profession and district?
I decided to pursue education because I want to share my science knowledge with students and teach them how awesome the sciences can be.
What do you hope to accomplish during your first year with District 88?
Along with helping students gain a better understanding of science concepts, I hope to grow as an educator by building and developing my current skills.
Meet Janet Hurtado
Title:
Social work intern
Education background:
I received my bachelor’s degree in sociology from Elmhurst College. I am in the second year of my Master of Social Work program at Aurora University.
Career background:
I worked for the Henry Hyde Resource Center in Addison for a couple of years. While there, I had the opportunity to work with a diverse group of kids, many of whom were from low-income families. I went on to work at the District Office for Congressman Peter Roskam for about two and a half years as a constituent advocate. I interned at Guardian Angel Community Services for about a year, which is a domestic violence and sexual assault program. I’m currently working part time at an afterschool program at Indian Trail Junior High School called the Student Participation Center.
What are you looking forward to as a new member of the District 88 family?
I’m looking forward to learning as much as possible and working with the diverse group of students at Willowbrook. I hope I am able to give to the students as much as I will gain from this internship.
What made you choose this profession and district?
I chose this profession because of my desire to work on a more personal level with students and help impact their lives in a positive way. I graduated from Addison Trail, so District 88 is close to my heart, but it also is an amazing district to work for because of the diversity in programs and interventions already in place.
What do you hope to accomplish during your first year with District 88?
During my year with District 88, I hope to be an effective resource for students and parents, as well as teachers. I hope to learn from and gain much experience from working with different groups of students, while still being able to impact their lives in a positive way and allowing them to learn from me as well.