INSTRUCTOR BIOS

PAM BOHAN:  (Botany) Pam earned a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University, and completed some education certification classes at George Mason University.  She loves gardening and plants, and is hoping to take Master Gardener classes this fall.  We welcome Pam to her first year of teaching at CHAMPs!

AMY BURNHAM:  (Peacemakers, Hand Sewing Co-op) Amy Burnham has been a follower of Christ since 1978. She attended Trinity International University where she received her B.A. degree in Communications and Psychology. She has worked in numerous different fields, all involving public speaking, such as a Singing Telegram messenger, Tour group leader, Corporate Trainer, and Retail Sales Supervisor.  Amy has been a member of the worldwide organization, Toastmasters International, since 1989 and won top honors in 1991 for Dramatic Reading in the Chicagoland Toastmasters competition.  She married Mike Burnham in 1994 and has 2 children, Margaret and Gabe, who are homeschooled.  She is active in several homeschool groups and in her church.  In the little free time that her busy lifestyle affords, she enjoys sewing, knitting and crocheting. She also practices peacemaking skills on a regular basis.  We welcome Amy to her first year of teaching at CHAMPs!

 

KATIE ENGELHARDT:  (Beginning Dance) Bio forthcoming.

NANCY GILLES:  (Art) Nancy studied at Indiana University and received a BFA in Fine Arts, certified to teach K - 12.  She received a MAR (Masters of Arts and Religion) from Trinity International University.  She taught Art History and Applied Fine Arts at Trinity College for 2 years.  Nancy has taught at CHAMPs since 2002.

ARLENE HARDMAN:  (Spanish) Arlene received a BS in bilingual education/elementary education with a minor in Spanish.  She received her MA in Christian Ed. from Trinity Seminary, and has been working with children since her first experiences as a teacher's aide in a migrant program for Spanish-speaking kids while she was in college.  She has done mission work in Panama, Mexico, Honduras, and Venezuela.  She taught in Waukegan in a bilingual program for 2 years, and was an ESL teacher in Mundelein while in seminary.  Arlene has taught Spanish to kids in an after-school program for public school students, as well as to home-schooled students in another co-op.  Learning Spanish has opened up a whole new world for Arlene, and she looks forward to making Spanish fun for your children.  Arlene has taught at CHAMPs since 2007.

JIM HARDMAN:  (Spanish, Latin) Jim has a Master’s Degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL.  He has lived in two countries outside of the US, is fluent in Spanish and has 6 years of formal Greek studies.  Jim and his wife, Arlene, have four children and are actively involved in Lakeview Presbyterian Church, Vernon Hills, IL.  Jim has taught at CHAMPs since 2004.

NATHANIEL KABAT:  (Physical Science) Nathaniel is a homeschooled student who enjoys and excels at science.  He has completed all his high school science classes using the Apologia curriculum and is attending Oakton Community College part-time.  He plans on majoring in science or math.  This is his first year teaching at CHAMPS and he has been a teacher’s aid for MOPS the past two years.  He also enjoys playing guitar.  We welcome Nathaniel to his first year of teaching at CHAMPs!

BARBARA KATOLL-KOONS:  (Theater) Barbara attended College of DuPage and Iowa State University.  She has participated in almost every level of speech and drama, from performing in many different venues, including King Richard’s Renaissance Faire, to the writing and directing at church and at Wheaton Children’s Summer Theater.  She was a teacher for Christian Youth Theater for six years, as well as a judge for Illinois High School Association forensic team.  She has also written drama for CYT classes and church functions.  She has a background in most aspects of backstage work as well as comedy clowning, story-telling, improvisation, drama, and mime.  Barb has taught at CHAMPs since 2000, with the exception of a one year absence.

FEARGAL KING:  (Guitar, Vocals) Feargal has been playing, performing and teaching guitar for more than 25 years.  A native of Ireland, he studied classical guitar with John Feeley at the Dublin College of Music for five years and completed an honors degree in musicology at University College, Cork, followed by year of study in Liturgy and Worship.  Mr. King plays several instruments and is also a published composer of sacred music and a record producer.  He has two years experience as an elementary school music teacher.  He has lived in the Chicago area since 1998, and has worked all that time as a Director of Worship in a large suburban Catholic church, directing multiple choirs and instrumental ensembles of all ages.  Feargal has taught at CHAMPs since 2005.

Feargal has directed children’s choirs for over 15 years.  He is a current member and past-President of the Southwest Chicago Chapter of Chorister’s Guild, a national ecumenical organization for the advancement and support of children’s choirs.  While "Mr. Feargal" is certainly a major hit with the 5 - 7 year-old set, he also enjoys the different challenges of working with older kids.  With over 100 kids currently enrolled in his church choirs, he enjoys working on a smaller scale with the talented kids in CHAMPs!

ALEX LAVERTY:  (Juggling) Alex is a local homeschooled student and eldest of 4.  He has been juggling for 3 years.  He is studying to earn his 2^nd degree black belt in Taekwondo.  He has been on a leadership team at his TKD school where he has been helping to instruct for the last 2 years.  He is proficient at piano and trombone and is teaching himself guitar and drums.  Alex has been a student at CHAMPs since 2007, and a teacher at CHAMPs since 2008.

LISA MODRZEJEWSKI:  (Piano) Lisa was homeschooled from K-12 and graduated from Trinity International University in ’07 with a degree in Music: Piano and Pedagogy.  She also has several years of teaching experience from high school and college.  While growing up, she had several influential piano instructors who not only instilled in her a great love for music, but also helped her to learn the importance of diligence, responsibility, and self-confidence.  She looks forward to passing these lessons along to the next generation.  Lisa has taught at CHAMPs since 2009.

CARRIE PHELPS:  (Writing) Carrie received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in liberal studies from San Francisco State University and became certified to teach grades K-8.  She taught in a Christian School in San Francisco for two years before moving to Chicago with her husband, who graduated from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1990.  Desiring to teach her children and friends to write, Carrie took the Excellence in Writing course from Andrew Pudewa called: "Teaching Writing: Structure and Style." She has facilitated Student Writing Intensive courses for the past few years.  Carrie has taught at CHAMPs since 2005.

SU RAY:  (Woodwinds) Su has always had a passion for music.  She began piano lessons at the age of 8 and flute lessons at the age of 10 and continued those studies through college where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music at Illinois Wesleyan University.  Since the age of 12, Su has been performing on flute, including ensembles, flute choirs, pit orchestra and principal chair in several Symphonic Bands and Orchestras.  Over the past 25 years, she has performed solo, accompanied, and has been a member of several worship bands, using various flutes, recorder, piccolo, piano and synthesizer in church worship services.  From 2006-2007, Su served at Arlington Countryside Church as the Interim Worship Programmer, coordinating and planning the church service music.  She currently remains active in performing flute and piccolo in the Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band and at weddings and accompanying on piano for Solo & Ensemble Contest and choral programs in District 25.

Since 2006, Su has been teaching private piano and flute lessons, writing some of her own curriculum and arrangements.  The best part of teaching for Su is seeing the progress that students make and watching them enjoy the process.  She especially enjoys assisting the students to strengthen their weaknesses while thriving on their strengths.  We welcome Su to her first year of teaching at CHAMPs.

CAROL STOLLEY:  (Strings, Music Theory) Carol has taught in Barrington District 220 for 16 years.  She has taught violin, viola & cello in the District’s elementary schools K- 5, and directed the middle school orchestra 6-8.  She has taught beginners as well as advanced students.  Her primary instrument is the violin and secondarily viola.  She graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music in Instrumental Music Education.  She has taught both traditional & Suzuki violin.  Carol has taught at CHAMPs since 2008.

CAROL TAYLOR:  (Fun with Music, Beginning Band Theory, Teen Choir) Carol is a local homeschool mother of four.  She graduated from Liberty University in 1985 with a BS in Music Education, and taught music/choir classes in the District 59 public school system before having her own children.  For the past 23 years, she has been directing adult and children's choirs, doing solo work, and leading the worship team at her own church.  She also has taught numerous recorder and general music classes for the homeschool group, CHANGE.  She teaches private piano lessons and more recently has begun to serve on several directing teams for Christian Youth Theater as music director.  Carol has taught at CHAMPs since 2008.

PAM WOLSKI:  (Writing) Pam received her B.A. in English from Western Illinois University.  She has had 11 years experience as a Book Editor at Rand McNally, as well as two years as a tutor (grades K-12) at Huntington Learning Center, and 6 years as a substitute teacher (K-8) in public schools.  She has also taught writing to two groups of home-schooled children, outside of CHAMPS.  Pam has taught at CHAMPs since 2007.

DELYNN ZIELINSKI:  (Preschool) DeLynn has been an early childhood teacher for 15 years in a state run at-risk program, one year in which she was put into the Who's Who of Teachers book, and she is currently assisting new teachers in making their classrooms compliant to the state of IL standards.  She has an 04 teaching certificate which means that she is certified to teach children from infancy to 3rd grade.  Her philosophy is that children should have a long period of time to play while the teacher has the state standards in mind with focused play.  We welcome DeLynn to her first year of teaching at CHAMPs!