Meet Our Staff
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Mrs. Wilson teaches kindergarten and is a graduate of National Louis University.
She can be reached at ewilson@galapagoscharter.org
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Elizabeth Wilson Kindergarten Instructor -
Ms. Castrey teaches Kindergarten and is a graduate of the University of Phoenix.
She can be reached at scastrey@galapagoscharter.org.
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Summer Castrey Kindergarten Instructor -
Ms. Hanrahan teaches first grade and is a graduate of Illinois State University.
She can be reached at khanrahan@galapagoscharter.org
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Kathryn Hanrahan First Grade Instructor -
Ms. Heidenreich teaches first grade and is a graduate of Illinois State University.
She can be reached at cheidenreich@galapagoscharter.org.
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Caitlin Heidenreich First Grade Instructor -
Mrs. Henke teaches second grade and is a graduate of Rockford University.
She can be reached at jhenke@galapagoscharter.org
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Jamie Henke Second Grade Instructor -
Mrs. Mock teaches second grade and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
She can be reached at emock@galapagoscharter.org
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Elizabeth Mock Second Grade Instructor -
Ms. Plaster teaches 3rd Grade and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
She can be reached at kplaster@galapagoscharter.org
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Kimberly Plaster Third Grade Instructor -
Ms. King teaches 3rd Grade and is a graduate of Illinois State University.
She can be reached at jking@galapagoscharter.org
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Jayleen King Third Grade Instructor -
Ms. Bennett teaches fourth grade and is a graduate of Rockford University.
She can be reached at bbennett@galapagoscharter.org
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Breann Bennett Fourth Grade Instructor -
Mrs. Kennedy teaches fourth grade and is a graduate of Aurora University.
She can be reached at kkennedy@galapagoscharter.org
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Katie Kennedy Fourth Grade Instructor -
Ms. Dunham teaches science to scholars in grades K-4 and is a graduate of the University of South Florida.
She can be reached at ldunham@galapagoscharter.org
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Lora Dunham Kindergarten-Fourth Grade Science Instructor -
Mrs. Smith teaches art to scholars in grades K-4 and is a graduate of Youngstown State University.
She can be reached at asmith@galapagoscharter.org
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Allison Smith Kindergarten-Fourth Grade Art Instructor -
Mr. O'Bryan teaches K-4 wellness and is a graduate of Rockford University.
He can be reached at jobryan@galapagoscharter.org.
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John O'Bryan Kindergarten-Fourth Grade Wellness Instructor -
Ms. Theissing is a special education instructor and a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
She can be reached at mtheissing@galapagoscharter.org.
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Mary Theissing Special Education Instructor -
Ms. Bowar-Litten is a special education instructor and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
She can be reached at abowarlitten@galapagoscharter.org.
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Amy Bowar-Litten Special Education Instructor -
Ms. Stephens supports scholars with in class needs based on their IEPs.
She can be reached at kstephens@galapagoscharter.org
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Khayla Stephens Scholar Aide -
Ms. Pettit supports scholars with in class needs based on their IEPs. She is a graduate of Rockford University.
She can be reached at cpettit@galapagoscharter.org
Learn more Casey Pettit Scholar Aide -
Ms. Pedroza manages the office and building at the Lower Academy.
She can be reached at mpedroza@galapagoscharter.org
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Marissa Pedroza Campus Manager, Lower Academy -
Ms. Elliott teaches 5th grade math and science and is a graduate of Judson University.
She can be reached at telliott@galapagoscharter.org
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Tationa Elliott Fifth Grade Math & Science Instructor -
Mr. Kennedy teaches 7th & 8th grade math and is a graduate of Aurora University.
He can be reached at bkennedy@galapagoscharter.org.
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Blake Kennedy Fifth Grade English Language Arts & Social Studies Instructor -
Mrs. Thomas teaches sixth & seventh grade math. She is a graduate of California State University- East Bay.
She can be reached at ethomas@galapagoscharter.org
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Eve Thomas Sixth & Seventh Grade Math Instructor -
Ms. Kosanke teaches 7th & 8th grade ELA and is a graduate of Lake Forest College.
She can be reached at nkosanke@galapagoscharter.org
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Nicole Kosanke Seventh & Eighth Grade English Language Arts Instructor -
Mrs. Nagel teaches middle school social studies and is a graduate of McKendree University.
She can be reached at jnagel@galapagoscharter.org
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Jacqulyn Nagel Sixth- Eighth Grade Social Studies Instructor -
Ms. Jerrick teaches 6th-8th grade science and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
She can be reached at jjerrick@galapagoscharter.org.
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Jennifer Jerrick Sixth-Eighth Grade Science Instructor -
Ms. Carifio teaches 5-8 Music. She is a graduate of Wiley College.
She can be reached at acarifio@galapagoscharter.org.
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Alexia Carifio Fifth-Eighth Grade Music Instructor -
Mr. Bennett teaches K-4 Wellness and is a graduate of the University of Phoenix.
He can be reached at jbennett@galapagoscharter.org
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James Bennett Fifth-Eighth Grade Wellness Instructor -
Mr. Arteaga is an Associate Instructor and a graduate of Rockford University.
He can be reached at jarteaga@galapagoscharter.org.
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Jose Arteaga Associate Instructor -
Mr. Arteaga is an Associate Instructor and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater.
He can be reached at jheffner@galapagoscharter.org.
Learn more Jacob Heffner Associate Instructor -
Mr. Gravitt is a special education instructor and is a graduate of Eureka College.
He can be reached at cgravitt@galapagoscharter.org
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Christopher Gravitt Special Education Instructor -
Ms. Gardner supports scholars with in class needs based on their IEPs.
She can be reached at sgardner@galapagoscharter.org
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Sheba Gardner Scholar Aide -
Ms. Diaz supports scholars with in class needs based on their IEPs.
She can be reached at sdiaz@galapagoscharter.org
Learn more Selina Diaz Scholar Aide -
Ms. Bates welcomes guests and works in the front office of the Upper Academy.
She can be reached at tbates@galapagoscharter.org.
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Ms. Schnorr manages the office and building at the Upper Academy and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
She can be reached at aschnorr@galapagoscharter.org
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Aurora Schnorr Campus Manager, Upper Academy -
Ms. Burris support scholars' social-emotional needs at both the Lower and Upper Academy. She is a graduate of Lewis University.
She can be reached at lburris@galapagoscharter.org.
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Lilly Burris Social Worker -
Ms. Goers is the finance manager. She is a graduate of Illinois State University.
She can be reached at RockfordAP@galapagoscharter.org.
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Cindy Goers Finance Manager -
Mrs. Puckett leads the instructional staff at our Lower Academy. She is a graduate of Valparaiso University.
She can be reached at spuckett@galapagoscharter.org
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Stacey Puckett Dean of Instruction, Lower Academy -
Mr. Smith oversees culture and discipline at the Lower Academy. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
He can be reached at tsmith@galapagoscharter.org.
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Tyler Smith Dean of School Culture, Lower Academy -
Mrs. Al-Yousuf leads the instructional staff at our Upper Academy. She is a graduate of North Carolina State University.
She can be reached at malyousuf@galapagoscharter.org
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Mariam Al-Yousuf Dean of Instruction, Upper Academy -
Mr. Sharma oversees culture and discipline at the Upper Academy. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
He can be reached at rsharma@galapagoscharter.org.
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Rajan Sharma Dean of School Culture, Upper Academy -
Mr. Lane is the CEO and Co-Founder of GRCS. He oversees the strategic growth, operations, finance, legal and media relations of the school. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois. He can be reached at mlane@galapagoscharter.org
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Michael Lane Chief Executive Officer -
Mrs. Boeddeker is the CAO and Co-Founder of GRCS. She oversees curriculum & assessment, staff recruitment & hiring, and professional development. She is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago. Contact her at sboeddeker@galapagoscharter.org.
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Stephanie Boeddeker Chief Academic Officer