Meet Our Staff
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Ms. Gavric teaches kindergarten and is a graduate of National Lewis University.
She can be reached at mgavric@galapagoscharter.org
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Mirela Gavric Kindergarten Instructor -
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. 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 -
Ms. Rutledge teaches first grade and is a graduate of Illinois State University.
She can be reached at krutledge@galapagoscharter.org
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Kathryn Rutledge 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. 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. 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 -
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. Sipes teaches 4th grade math and science and is a graduate of Rockford University.
She can be reached at Lsipes@galapagoscharter.org
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Lizanne Sipes Fourth Grade Instructor -
Ms. Bennett teaches K-2 science and social studies and is a graduate of Rockford University.
She can be reached at bbennett@galapagoscharter.org
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Breann Bennett K-4 Science and SS Instructor -
Ms. Jenson teaches k-4thth grade writing and is a graduate of University of Kentucky.
She can be reached at sjenson@galapagoscharter.org
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Samantha Jenson K-4 Writing 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-Lower Academy -
Mr. Wheeler teaches special education at the Lower Academy. He can be reached at fwheeler@galapagoscharter.org.
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Fred Wheeler Special Education Instructor-Lower Academy -
Ms. Pedroza is the office receptionist at the Lower Academy.
She can be reached at mpedroza@galapagoscharter.org
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Marissa Pedroza EOW Receptionist- Lower Academy -
Ms. Kosanke is currently working in second grade as a maternity leave instructor. She is a graduate of Lake Forest College.
She can be reached at nkosanke@galapagoscharter.org
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Nicole Kosanke Scholar Aide- Lower Academy -
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- Lower 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 -
Ms. Kenney oversees all recruitment and alumni activities. She is a graduate of Western Illinois University.
She can be reached at enrollment@galapagoscharter.org
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Erica Kenney Scholar Recruitment & Alumni Affairs Manager -
Ms. Delgado works in the Galapagos Cafe and ensures that all of our scholars eat well.
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Ruth Delgado Cafe Staff- Lower Academy -
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Yecica Estrada Maintenance-Lower Academy -
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Rosa Trejo Cafe Staff- 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 -
Ms. Kettelhut teaches 5th grade ELA/SS and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
She can be reached at mkettelhut@galapagoscharter.org
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Molly Kettelhut Fifth Grade ELA/SS Instructor -
Ms. Jerrick teaches 6th grade ELA and SS and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
She can be reached at jjerrick@galapagoscharter.org.
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Jennifer Jerrick Sixth Grade ELA/SS Instructor -
Mrs. Thomas teaches sixth grade math and science. 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 Grade Math/Science Instructor -
Ms. Johnson teaches 7th grade Math and Science. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
She can be reached at mjohnson@galapagoscharter.org
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Mallory Johnson Seventh Grade Math/Science Instructor -
Ms. Williams teaches 7th grade ELA/SS and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
She can be reached at dwilliams@galapagoscharter.org
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Dominique Williams Seventh Grade ELA/SS Instructor -
Ms. Cerutti teaches 8th grade ELA/SS and is a graduate of Penn State University.
She can be reached at hcerutti@galapagoscharter.org
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Hannah Cerutti Eighth Grade ELA/SS Instructor -
Mr. James teaches seventh and eighth grade science and is a graduate the University of Akron.
He can be reached at njames@galapagoscharter.org
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Naquan James Seventh-Eighth Science 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- Upper Academy -
Ms. Quartetti teaches Special Education at the Upper Academy. She is a graduate of Northeastern Illinois University.
She can be reached at rquartetti@galapagoscharter.org
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Robyn Quartetti Special Education Instructor- Upper Academy -
Mr. Cooper teaches 5th-8th grade Wellness and is a graduate of Rockford University.
She can be reached at zcooper@galapagoscharter.org
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Zachary Cooper Wellness Instructor- Upper Academy -
Mr. Ostrowski teaches Upper Academy writing. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
He can be reached at mostrowksi@galapagoscharter.org
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Michael Ostrowski Writing Instructor- Upper Academy -
Ms. James is the EOW receptionist at the Upper Academy.
She can be reached at mjames@galapagoscharter.org
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Monica James EOW Receptionist- Upper Academy -
Ms. Diaz supports scholars with in class needs based on their IEPs.
She can be reached at sdiaz@galapagoscharter.org
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Selina Diaz Scholar Aide- Upper Academy -
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- Upper Academy -
Ms. Horton-Johnson is our scholar behavior aide at the Upper Academy. She graduated from Ashford University. She can be reached at dhorton-johnson@galapagoscharter.org
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Delores Horton-Johnson Scholar Behavioral Aide- Upper Academy -
Ms. Jurado supports scholars by ensuring they eat healthy every day.
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Luz Jurado Cafe Staff- Upper Academy -
Mr. Jiminez is part of our maintenance staff at the Upper Academy. He ensures that our school is safe and clean every day.
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Luis Jiminez Maintenance- Upper Academy -
Mr. Puckett supports scholars by ensuring we have a safe and clean school.
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Ryan Puckett Maintenance- Upper Academy -
Mrs. Al-Yousuf is the instructional coach 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 Instructional Coach- Upper Academy -
Ms. Carifio is the Dean of School Culture at the Lower Academy. She is a graduate of Wiley College.
She can be reached at acarifio@galapagoscharter.org.
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Alexia Carifio Dean of School Culture- Lower Academy -
Mr. Oliver is the Dean of School Culture at the Upper Academy. He is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University.
He can be reached at joliver@galapagoscharter.org
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John Oliver Dean of School Culture- Upper Academy -
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 -
Ms. Ratani is the Dean of Instruction for the Upper Academy and is a graduate of Georgia State University.
She can be reached at sratani@galapagoscharter.org
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Sabreena Ratani Dean of Instruction-Upper Academy -
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 -
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