Brian Horner | Jeff Gerard | Kate Shaw | Adam Schmitt | Kyle Wood | Elida Vandenbergh
Laura Asteff | Nicole Rzepka | Donna Stevens | Lori Jurjovec | Rachel Peck | Ashley Flakus
About the K.I.C. Founder
Brian Horner
Mr. Horner received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Illinois State University and has been a certified classroom teacher in District 203 in Naperville for 14 years. He has taught 7 years in the regular ed 5th grade classroom and 7 more years in the district’s “Project Idea Plus” program for gifted students. Mr. Horner received his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from North Central College and has been a National Board Certified Teacher since 2005. He is a multiple nominee for the “Disney Teaching Award”, a multiple nominee and winner of the “Office Max Teacher Innovator Award”, a multiple nominee for the “Those Who Excel” program, and has been recognized multiple times at the yearly District 203 “Excellence in Education” banquet where the top graduating seniors can invite one teacher who has had the greatest impact on their education since kindergarten. In addition, he has spoken at national conferences and universities on the development of student thinking, the Habits of Mind, and giftedness. Mr. Horner is also recognized as an international ambassador for the Habits of Mind by the Institute for the Habits of Mind.
Mr. Horner’s interests include soccer, piano, poetry, painting, golf, baseball, grilling out, tailgating at White Sox and Notre Dame games with his dad and brothers, and eating Spaghettios and sushi whenever he gets the chance. Mr. Horner lives with his wife, Karen, two sons (Noah and Josiah), daughter Rayah, and a crazy white German Shepard dog, Mary Jane (she eats rocks).
About the K.I.C. Staff
Jeff Gerard
Mr. Gerard graduated from Texas Christian University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and has received his master’s degree in educational administration from Northern University. He has been a teacher in Naperville for 11 years which included 2nd grade for three years, 5th grade for one year, and 1st grade for seven years. Mr. Gerard is a National Board Certified teacher and is currently serving as an assistant principal in the Troy school district in Joliet. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, who is a Naperville 203 teacher, and two beautiful daughters, Annie and Delaney.
Mr. Gerard enjoys running, fishing, gardening, grilling year round, and once ate 100 sausage links for breakfast in college.
Kate Shaw
Mrs. Shaw has been a Naperville teacher in District 203 for the last 5 years teaching 2nd grade at Highlands School. Her enthusiasm for teaching and life make her a favorite among her cherished students. She graduated from North Central College with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and received her master’s degree from National Louis University in curriculum and instruction. In addition, she has been recently nominated for the “Those Who Excel” program in 2009 for Highlands School! Mrs. Shaw has three beautiful children (Lily, Ben, and Tommy) and a Boston Terrier named Simon. In her spare time she enjoys playing cards and training for/running in marathons where she has ran in support of the Cornelia deLange Syndrome Foundation (CdLS). At one point in her life (we won’t say when) Mrs. Shaw had a collection of ceramic pigs. ---and that’s all we’ll say about that…
Adam Schmitt
Adam Schmitt has been a teacher in District 203 for 10 years spending the majority of that time teaching 8th grade American History, Project IDEA Language Arts, and Science. He received his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Southern Illinois University and has two masters degrees from North Central College--the first in curriculum/instruction and the second in education leadership. At Lincoln Junior High he is an 8th grade academic team leader and the Social Science department chair. He sponsors a range of intramurals such as archery and track as well as coaching the lightweight football team. He and his wife have two boys (Aidan and Anderson) who never run out of energy.
Mr. Schmitt has a habit of celebrating the lesser known holidays with his students. Whether it “National Waffle Day” or “Act Like a Ninja Day”, Mr. Schmitt will find a way to celebrate the unsung heroes of the holiday lists.
Kyle Wood
Mr. Wood studied art at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where he received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts with Emphasis in Art Education. Upon acceptance to SAIC, Mr. Wood was awarded the Smith Merit Recognition Scholarship based on the strength of his portfolio. His paintings have been displayed in various galleries, alternative venues and private collections. Since graduating from SAIC in 2007, Mr. Wood has worked as an elementary art teacher. He taught for three years in Plainfield District 202 where he received a CAPE Award for Educator of the Year at Liberty Elementary during the 2008-2009 school year. In June 2010, Mr. Wood earned a Master’s Degree in Education concentrating in Teaching with Technology through Kaplan University. He has been super jazzed to start his first year teaching art and leading the Artrageous Club at Highlands. When not teaching or making art, Mr. Wood enjoys spending his time with his wife, Amanda, and his dog Geoffrey (an entirely too energetic beagle/basset mix sometimes referred to as a “bagel”), and updating his new home, a Chicago style bungalow near the Brookfield Zoo.
Elida Vandenbergh
Mrs. Vandenbergh has been a teacher in District 203 for the past decade. She has split the last ten years evenly teaching both 1st and 3rd grades. She graduated from the University of Illinois and received her masters degree from National Louis University. She is a National Board Certified teacher, just achieving this prestigious honor this year! Mrs. Vandenbergh has coached the Naperville Dance team for the past nine years. She just got married within the last year and has two beautiful dogs, Chloe and Anna Belle. Mrs. V loves to ski, is a great cook (ask anyone who has tried her dishes!) and due to her exceptional organizational skills and habits, makes her husband separate his dirty laundry into 4 different baskets accordingly to distinct shades of color.
Laura Atseff
Ms. Atseff has been a Project Idea and Honors Math teacher in District 203 since 2004. Prior to teaching in Naperville, she taught for ten years in Western Springs District 101 where she grew up. Ms. Atseff received her initial teaching degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, where she played defensive sweeper on the Division I Women’s Soccer Team. She obtained her master’s degree in reading and literacy from Benedictine University later on in her teaching career.
Ms. Atseff loves playing tennis, golf, acoustic guitar, and swimming – just not all at one time! In her spare time she loves chasing around her nine adorable nieces and nephews; reading; knitting; and trying to figure out what her cat, Dusty, is thinking about.
Nicole Rzepka
Ms. Rzepka graduated from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and has received her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from National-Louis University. She has been a fifth grade teacher in Naperville for 10 years, serving on numerous district committees. Ms. Rzepka has been at Beebe Elementary for her whole career, starting with student teaching in fourth grade before moving to the fifth grade classroom.
Ms. Rzepka enjoys spending time with family, reading, movies, running, and loves White Sox baseball. In the summer there is a good chance you can find her at the ball park, a dangerous place to be since she has been hit by not one, but two foul balls!
Donna Stevens
Ms. Stevens graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Benedictine University and received her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University. She has been a certified classroom teacher in District 203 for 11 years in which she taught 3rd grade for 8 years, two of which included teaching Honors Math, and is currently on her third year teaching 5th grade. Ms. Stevens has and a feisty little Westie named Vito. However, his bark is worth more than his bite. In her spare time she enjoys reading, hanging out with her six nephews and one niece, and eating pizza. Lots of pizza!!!!
Lori Jurjovec
Mrs. Jurjovec has worked in District 203 for 5 years. Her first year was spent as the permanent substitute at Beebe and then she taught 5th grade at Beebe from 2003-2006. In 2006, Mrs. Jurjovec resigned to stay home with her two children Jack, 4 and Catharine, 3. During that time she started her own tutoring business, thesuccessfulstudent.com, where she worked with over 50 district 203 students between 2007-2010. Mrs. Jurjovec returned to the district this year and is teaching 5th grade at Elmwood Elementary. She received her bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University, and has a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction which she received from National Louis University. Mrs. Jurjovec enjoys spending time with her family, teaching, learning new technology, and keeping active; however, after an embarrassing wipe out with roller blades in college, she makes sure to steer clear of rollerblading.
Rachel Peck
Bonjour! Miss Peck graduated with a bachelor's degree in elementary education from North Central College and received an endorsement in reading in 2009. She has had the pleasure of working with Highlands students for 3 years: first as a student teacher in 1st grade, then as a special education assistant, and now she couldn't be happier as one of their kindergarten teachers! During the summers, Miss Peck is the Swim Lesson Coordinator at Centennial Beach in Naperville, overseeing the Starfish Swim program. She lives at home with her amazing parents, Gary and Kathy, and her younger sister, Amanda (also amazing), who will be a Naperville North HS grad the spring of 2011! Miss Peck enjoys reading from her Kindle, eating her mother's Italian cooking, shopping, and singing to 90's pop music in her car (she is a Backstreet Boys trivia master)!
Ashley Flakus
Kid Innovation College is excited and proud to have Ashley Flakus back supporting and assisting KIC students in our Poetry class this year. Ashley will team up with Mrs. Shaw to bring additional support and mentorship to a classroom of strong and excited poets! Ashley is currently a sophomore at Naperville Central High School. She is a Highlands graduate and was a student in the Project IDEA Plus (PI+) program her 5th grade year, as well as her years at Kennedy Jr. High. She is a talented and extremely creative writer and has participated and won in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) for the past four years. In addition, she has written novels, screenplays, and a number of exceptional poems. When she isn’t writing, Ashley enjoys spending time with her wonderful family and friends, as well as listening to music. This is her fourth year supporting students in Kid Innovation College, where she has assisted in poetry and journalism, and creative writing classes the last three years.
“Ashley brings a wealth of knowledge and strong writing ability to our program. Not only is she smart, creative, and exceptionally talented, but she is a fantastic person with a great heart who has the ability to nurture and support the talents of others. In any writing class, giving students effective feedback is critical, and Ashley will help provide this in our primary poetry class as she supports Mrs. Shaw’s instruction,” says, Mr. Horner.