Meet Our Staff
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Ms. Shockley teaches kindergarten and is a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University.
She can be reached at bshockley@galapagoscharter.org
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Brandi Shockley Kindergarten Instructor -
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 -
Ms. Bennett teaches first grade math/science and is a graduate of Rockford University.
She can be reached at bbennett@galapagoscharter.org
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Breann Bennett First Grade Math/Science Instructor -
Mr. Lozada teaches first grade and is a graduate of Universidad Ana G Mendez.
He can be reached at olozada@galapagoscharter.org
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Orlando Lozada First Grade ELA/SS Instructor -
Mrs. Henke teaches second grade ELA/SS and is a graduate of Rockford University.
She can be reached at jhenke@galapagoscharter.org
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Jamie Henke Second Grade ELA/SS Instructor -
Mrs. Mock teaches second grade math/science and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
She can be reached at emock@galapagoscharter.org
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Elizabeth Mock Second Grade Math/Science Instructor -
Ms. Plaster teaches third grade Math/Science and is a graduateand of Northern Illinois University.
She can be reached at kplaster@galapagoscharter.org
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Kimberly Plaster Third Grade Math/Science Instructor -
Ms. Anderson teaches third grade ELA/SS and is a graduateand of Grand Canyon University.
She can be reached at sanderson@galapagoscharter.org
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Shirin Anderson Third Grade ELA/SS Instructor -
Mrs. Kennedy teaches fourth grade ELA/SS and is a graduate of Aurora University.
She can be reached at kkennedy@galapagoscharter.org
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Katie Kennedy Fourth Grade ELA/SS Instructor -
Mrs. Wilson teaches 4th Grade and is a graduate of National Louis University.
She can be reached at ewilson@galapagoscharter.org
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Elizabeth Wilson Fourth Grade math/science Instructor -
Ms. Jenson is the Lower Academy Interventionist. She is a graduate of University of Kentucky.
She can be reached at sjenson@galapagoscharter.org
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Samantha Jenson Lower Academy Interventionist -
Mr. Bennett teaches wellness at our Lower Academy.
He can be reached at jbennett@galapagoscharter.org
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James Bennett Wellness Instructor- Lower Academy -
Ms. Clark teaches art at our Lower Academy.
She can be reached at tclark@galapagoscharter.org
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Tayanna Clark Art 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. Hull support scholars' social-emotional needs at the Lower Academy. She is a graduate of East Carolina University.
She can be reached at dhull@galapagoscharter.org.
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Deanna Hull Social Worker- Lower Academy -
Ms. McIntosh works with scholars meeting their social and emotional needs.
She can be reached at emcintosh@galapagoscharter.org
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Eboni McIntosh Behavior Aide - Lower Academy -
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- Lower Academy -
Ms. Millan assists instructors in the classroom.
She can be reached at amillan@galapagoscharter.org
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Alexa Millan Teacher Assistant - Lower Academy -
Ms. Bailey-Norman assists instructors in the classroom.
She can be reached at kbailey-norman@galapagoscharter.org
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Keerica Bailey-Norman Teacher Assistant - Lower 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- Lower Academy -
Mr. Hernandez supports scholars with in class needs based on their IEPs.
He can be reached at ahernandez@galapagoscharter.org
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Aldo Hernandez Scholar Aide - Lower Academy -
Ms. Pulido-Sanchez supports scholars with in class needs based on their IEPs.
She can be reached at apulidosanchez@galapagoscharter.org
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Alexia Pulido-Sanchez Scholar Aide - Lower Academy -
Ms. Harden is a building support specialist at the Lower Academy.
She can be reached at nharden@galapagoscharter.org
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Nancy Harden Building Support Specialist- Lower Academy -
Mr. Puckett supports scholars by ensuring we have a safe and clean school.
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Ryan Puckett Lead Maintenance- Lower Academy -
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Anthony Vancura Maintenance- Lower Academy -
Ms. Alarcon-Gaviria is part of our maintenance staff at the Lower Academy. She ensures that our school is safe and clean every day.
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Martha Alarcon-Gaviria Maintenance - Lower Academy -
Mr. Cardona-Vasco is part of our maintenance staff at the Lower Academy. He ensures that our school is safe and clean every day.
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Jairo Cardona-Vasco Maintenance - Lower Academy -
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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Rosa Trejo Cafe Staff- Lower Academy -
Ms. Elliott teaches fifth grade 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. 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/science and 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. Kettelhut teaches 7th 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 Seventh Grade ELA/SS Instructor -
Ms. Johnson teaches 8th grade Math/Science and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
She can be reached at mjohnson@galapagoscharter.org
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Mallory Johnson Eighth Grade Math/Science Instructor -
Learn more Stephanie Wells Eighth Grade ELA/SS Instructor
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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 Magical Math Meastra (Advanced Math Guru) -
Ms. Smith teaches wellness at our Upper Academy.
She can be reached at jsmith@galapagoscharter.org
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Jill Smith Wellness Instructor - Upper Academy -
Mr. Carlin teaches art at our Upper Academy.
He can be reached at acarlin@galapagoscharter.org
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Aaron Carlin Art Instructor - Upper Academy -
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-Upper Academy -
Mr. Brackett is a special education instructor and a graduate of Rockford University.
He can be reached at mbrackett@galapagoscharter.org.
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Michael Brackett Special Education Instructor-Upper Academy -
Mr. Burke is our Building Support Specialist at the Upper Academy.
He can be reached at rburke@galapagoscharter.org
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Ryan Burke Building Support Specialist - 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. Burris support scholars' social-emotional needs at the 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- Upper Academy -
Ms. Tanner supports scholars with in class needs based on their IEPs.
She can be reached at ttanner@galapagoscharter.org
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Tammy Tanner Scholar 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 Lead Maintenance- Upper Academy -
Ms. Torres is part of our maintenance staff at the Upper Academy. She ensures that our school is safe and clean every day.
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Johanna Torres Maintenance - Upper Academy -
Ms. Torres is part of our maintenance staff at the Upper Academy. She ensures that our school is safe and clean every day.
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Maricela Torres Maintenance - Upper Academy -
Ms. Perez is part of our maintenance staff at the Upper Academy. She ensures that our school is safe and clean every day.
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Maria Perez Maintenance - Upper Academy -
Ms. Carifio is the Staff Hiring and Recruitment Manager. She is a graduate of Wiley College.
She can be reached at acarifio@galapagoscharter.org.
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Alexia Carifio Staff Hiring and Recruitment Manager -
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Blake Kennedy Systems and Compliance Coordinator -
Ms. Kenney manages enrichment and alumni activities. She is a graduate of Western Illinois University.
She can be reached at ekenney@galapagoscharter.org
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Erica Kenney Enrichment & Alumni Affairs Manager -
Ms. van Arneman works to enroll scholars at Galapagos. She is a graduate of the University of Essex.
She can be reached at enrollment@galapagoscharter.org
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Jewel van Arneman Scholar Recruitment Manager -
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 -
Mr. Oliver is the Dean of School Culture at the Lower 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 - Lower 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 -
Mr. Stroud leads the instructional staff at our Upper Academy. He is a graduate of Columbia College of Art and Design.
He can be reached at jstroud@galapagoscharter.org
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Jeremy Stroud Dean of Instruction - Upper Academy -
Mr. Cook is the Dean of School Culture at the Upper Academy. He is a graduate of Grand Valley State University.
He can be reached at bcook@galapagoscharter.org
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Billy Cook Dean of School Culture - UpperAcademy -
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