Who's New in 202?

Who’s New in 202?

2018-2019 Meet the new team members in Lisle Community Unit School District 202

Lisle High School

Vicky Gomez Years of experience: 8 What will you be teaching? Spanish Levels 1, 2, 3 What are your goals for your students? I would like my students to learn to love language as much as I do. Not only do I want them to become proficient in the Spanish language, but I want to instill in them an awareness and appreciation for the culture of the Spanish speaking world. I hope to encourage my students to become lifelong language learners.

What would you like the community to know about you? I am very excited to share my passion of teaching language to the students of Lisle High School. I am fluent in both Greek and Spanish and have dedicated a great amount of time to language learning. I studied Spanish at Elmhurst College and the University of Seville in Spain, where I studied and lived with a family for two semesters. I completed my Master’s Degree in Instructional Leadership at the University of Illinois at Chicago and gained great experience teaching at York Community High School, where I had the pleasure of taking students abroad as well. I look forward to sharing my experiences with the students of Lisle High School and helping them gain a deep appreciation for the Spanish language and culture!

What do you enjoy doing outside of school? Outside of school I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends, traveling whenever possible, staying active and immersing myself in new experiences.

Phillip Meyer Years of experience: 2.5 What will you be teaching? Lisle High School Jazz Band, 6th Grade Band at LJHS, 5th Grade Band at Schiesher What are your goals for your students? I hope that through their experiences in band, my students will walk away as better musicians and, most importantly, better people.

What would you like the community to know about you? If I could design my own band teaching position, my new role in the Lisle Band Program is exactly what it would be! Excited 5th grade beginners, energetic 6th graders, and early morning high school jazz students are my people, and I’m thrilled to help our strong tradition continue to thrive.

What do you enjoy doing outside of school? Running, cooking, hiking, and eating ice cream!

Lisle Junior High School

Naomi Copeland Years of experience: 16 What will you be teaching? 6th, 7th, 8th Grade Choir What are your goals for your students? I hope to instill a sense of lifelong learning, personal confidence, and an appreciation of the arts.

What would you like the community to know about you? I am thrilled to be teaching middle school music again! This is my absolute favorite age to work with.

What do you enjoy doing outside of school? I love spending time with my family, and I love to sew.

Schiesher Elementary School

Patrick Graff Years of experience: 3 What will you be teaching? 5th Grade What are your goals for your students? I want students to walk out of my classroom feeling accomplished and proud of all the growth they have made. My hope is that all of my students become passionate about their learning and turn in to life long learners. I would also like every student to grow as a leader and be prepared to move on to junior high.

What would you like the community to know about you? I truly think I have the best job in the world. I am so excited to begin working in Lisle!

What do you enjoy doing outside of school?

Spending time with family and friends, playing basketball, and running.

Annie Magness Years of experience: 8 What will you be teaching? Library Resource Center (LRC) Director What are your goals for your students? At the end of the year, I hope that students have a better understanding of how to navigate the library, how to utilize information in an ethical manner and a love of reading!

What would you like the community to know about you? I have a great passion for libraries and how they can support the learning community! I’d love for our library to be a place where students can demonstrate their knowledge via a wide variety of hands on projects as well as technology. I’m extremely excited to join the Lisle community and for the new opportunities ahead!

What do you enjoy doing outside of school?

Outside of school I enjoy riding my bicycle. I’ve actually ridden it from my home in Chicago to the Morton Arboretum a number of times! I also love traveling, baking, caring for plants and my cats, crafting, and of course reading!

Schiesher Elementary School

Luke Schlessinger Years of experience: 6 What will you be teaching? Physical Education What are your goals for your students? I would like my students to be physically active, be able to work cooperatively and problem solve.

What would you like the community to know about you? I am extremely passionate about health/wellness and am very excited to share that knowledge and experience with our community.

What do you enjoy doing outside of school?

I love reading, being active (especially outdoors), and playing sports.

Brittany Smith Years of experience: 5 What will you be teaching? English as a Second Language What are your goals for your students? At the end of the school year, I want my students to feel valued for who they are! I want my students to grow as an English speaker, but never lose their native language. I want them to know I celebrate their differences and appreciate their culture. My ultimate goal is to provide my students with the type of support that sets them up for success in their futures- whatever route they may take!

What would you like the community to know about you? I am a passionate teacher who loves and celebrates diversity. I love learning about new cultures, celebrating holidays of my students, and spreading acceptance and appreciation for everyone’s differences.

What do you enjoy doing outside of school?

I love to run and train for marathons, spend time with my family, snuggle my dog, and I love reading books over and over again!

Tate Woods Elementary School

Stephanie Brunette Years of experience: 3 What will you be teaching? First Grade What are your goals for your students? At the end of the year, I would like my students to to be confident and passionate learners. My hope is that each student will discover their own interests, and that these will guide them in their future learning endeavors.

What would you like the community to know about you? From a young age, teaching has always been my calling! I graduated from Butler University in 2015 and am currently working on my master’s at North Central College. I started my teaching career at an integrated arts school in Kokomo, Indiana, and had the opportunity to continue implementing project-based learning and arts infused instruction for the past two years in East Aurora. I am so excited to continue my career as an educator at Tate Woods!

What do you enjoy doing outside of school?

Outside of school, I enjoy reading, exercising, and crafting!

Jane Wojcik Years of experience: 20 What will you be teaching? Art What are your goals for your students? I would like my young students to learn about the Elements of Art, famous artists, to read and write about Art, and learn to tap into their creativity.

What would you like the community to know about you? My educational background includes a BA from the University of St. Francis and a MA from National-Louis University. I have been and regular ed teacher before being an Art teacher. I love teaching Art and inspiring my students to be creative.

What do you enjoy doing outside of school?

I enjoy spending time with myhusband and 3 young adult children. I love jewelry making, yoga, walks with my Old English Sheepdog Oliver, and travel.