Darcy’s love of education began in the mountains of Idaho, as a curious student at Community School in Sun Valley. With an emphasis on outdoor learning and leadership, her schooling inspired a genuine interest in the field of education. It was this interest that propelled her to Tulane University in New Orleans where she earned her BA of Psychology and Philosophy before attending Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, and earning a master’s in education. Darcy has been fortunate to work alongside gifted colleagues at some of the finest progressive schools in the country. Having spent time at Brookline Elementary in Massachusetts and Crow Island Elementary in Winnetka, Illinois, she has enjoyed the emphasis on innovative teaching ideas, experiential learning, and witnessing profound growth and excitement among her young learners. Her desire to expand her role in education, led her to obtain a master’s of science in educational leadership, and take her 16 years of teaching experience into an administrative role.

Darcy has been with Roycemore since 2017, where she taught third grade, before moving into her current administrative role as Roycemore’s Early Childhood and Lower School Division Head in 2020. About her appointment in 2020, Darcy says, “I am honored to embrace this new role at Roycemore as the Early Childhood and Lower School Head. Roycemore exudes family, friendship, growth, achievement, leadership, and possibility. It is a community formed through partnerships striving to develop critical thinkers and young leaders. I am excited to continue to work with staff, students, and families to extend the ideals of our core mission and values while respecting Roycmore’s storied history and tradition as a leader in progressive education.”

Darcy’s passions are working alongside a team of strong and devoted educators to uphold the Portrait of a Graduate which seeks to develop students in all areas to embrace and take command as 21st century learners. Her desire to synthesize mindfulness into daily routines led her to become a Mindful Coach (Mindful Education Training with Daniel Rechtschaffen) in 2018. More recently she has been trained as a trauma informed Social Emotional Learning Coach, and became a certified RYT 200 yoga instructor through Breathe for Change. Her hope is to share her learning with all stakeholders in the school community.

Education

MS.Ed. in Educational Leadership, Western Governer's University

M.Ed. in Elementary Education, Lesley College

B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy, Tulane University

Favorite Quote

“Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.” - Meister Eckhart

Why do you teach? What is the impact you hope to make on students?

I teach because I am allowed the opportunity to make an impact on those that will lead us in the future. I hope that the students in my care leave with a growth mindset and an “I can do anything” attitude; that they recognize some things will be challenging, but it is okay and necessary to struggle and make mistakes. I hope students will leave knowing we all have our unique strengths and weaknesses, but together we fit together like a puzzle and can help each other grow. I know that there is not a day of interaction with students where I don’t grow or learn something new from the curious minds around me.

Why Roycemore?

I applied to Roycemore because I was intrigued by the school’s progressive philosophy, and their desire to uphold pragmatic values within a progressive model, which is something I value as an educator. The more I learned about Roycemore during my first year, I realized I was walking back into a school very similar to my own experience in Idaho. I joined a school that values hands-on experiences and encourages students to have ownership of their learning; one where any idea is valid and any way to get to a solution is acceptable. I realized I joined a school where learning can look different depending on the student, where teachers communicate and work together, where seniors may be teaching third graders, or first graders teaching sophomores. I value the relationships formed by interacting with parents daily as they drop children off, or pick them up. Roycemore is a family atmosphere where everyone is working together; it is a place I proudly call home.

Janna Arbuzova has been a member of the Evanston community for over 20 years. She graduated from Northwestern University (NU) with a degree in Psychology and completed a Professional Development Certificate Program in Art Therapy. Before deciding to follow her passion and focus on education, Janna worked in an academic environment for more than a decade.

Prior to joining Roycemore School, Janna enjoyed making a difference in the lives of young students and their families while serving in the field of Early Childhood and Elementary Education in a variety of settings, including community preschools and public schools. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family. She loves traveling, playing board games, gardening, and making DIY projects around the house.

Education

B.S. in Psychology, Northwestern University

Professional Certificate in Art Therapy, Northwestern University

Favorite Quote

"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." Milton Berle

"The greatest mistake a man can ever make is to be afraid of making one." Elbert Hubbard

Why Roycemore?

I am excited to join the Roycemore team. I admire its positive spirit and the sense of support to students and each other.

Staci is a fifth-generation Chicagoan who really enjoys teaching at Roycemore. On the days she is not at Roycemore, Staci provides special education services at Rogers Park Montessori School through CPS, and has many years of teaching experience. Besides teaching, Staci loves spending time with her family and her rescue dog, Perry. Her favorite things to do are travel and go to the theater.

Education

M.A. in Teaching Children with Learning Disabilities, Northwestern University

B.A. in Elementary Education, Stern College

Favorite Quote

“To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan and not quite enough time.” – Leonard Bernstein

Why do you teach? What is the impact you hope to make on students?

Because I am always rooting for the underdog.

Why Roycemore?

Because nothing is better than working in an atmosphere of happiness and joy.

Justin helps teach the Pre Kindergarten class at Roycemore, and considers himself a Jack of All Trades at Roycemore, as he started out working as a camp counselor (which he still does during the summer) before transitioning into a teacher’s assistant. He runs the EDP program and, once upon a time, he was the school bus driver (more like van driver). He originally started in the Junior Kindergarten class but now is with the youngest of the school bunch, which has been such a pleasure working with the little ones who are as crazy as they can get, as it keeps him on his toes.

He was originally born in Evanston, IL, but he loves to see new places. He lived in Evanston, went to school in Carbondale, and then moved to Orlando, FL. After living in Florida, he came back for a while and then moved to San Diego, CA where things couldn’t be more beautiful. But after a while of traveling back and forth between Evanston and California, he was offered a position during the school year. And it’s been safe to say that it’s never been the same since.

Why do you teach? What is the impact you hope to make on students?

One of my favorite things to think about is the idea that we are all teachers and students because we are always interchangeably teaching people as well as learning about life. I think it’s also rewarding being able to provide a diverse outlook from what the kids are used to.

Why Roycemore?

I am so happy I decided to stay and be a Griffin to be able to see so many kids grow and meet so many wonderful teachers and kind human beings. I have never been to a place where everyone genuinely cares about everyone. From the first day I started, everyone has been so sweet and kind to me. I never want to leave.

Courtney Barlow is Roycemore’s Physical Education Teacher. Courtney is originally from California, where she received her B.S. in Kinesiology and Teaching Certification in Physical Education from San Diego Christian College. Courtney was a dual-sport athlete in high school and college playing both volleyball and basketball. After college, she taught middle school and high school P.E. in San Diego as well as coached high school volleyball and basketball.

She studied Spanish at Centro Linguistico Maya in Antigua Guatemala and lived in the Dominican Republic for three years while she designed and taught the Adaptive Physical Education curriculum at Genesis Special Education School. She also served as the Assistant Head of Schools and developed the Work Ability program, where students were able to gain new skills and obtain jobs in the community while earning their high school diplomas. Additionally, Courtney coached high school girls soccer and created an aquatics program for Doulos Discovery School, an English immersion and college preparatory school in the Dominican Republic.

Courtney moved to Chicago in 2019 and served as the high school girls volleyball and basketball coach at Francis W. Parker for two years. Recently, Courtney worked as a Therapy Aide at Misericordia assisting adults with developmental disabilities.

In addition to coaching and teaching, Courtney enjoys cooking, gardening, camping, and spending time at the lake with her wife, Meredith, and Dominican rescue dog, Cake.

Courtney is looking forward to being a part of the Athletic Department at Roycemore and contributing to the development of holistic student-athletes. She is excited for the opportunity to teach Spanish and coach athletics. Go Griffins!

Education

NFHS National Coaching Certification (in the process of completing)

Physical Education Teaching Credential, San Diego Christian College

Level 1 Spanish Certification, Centro Linguistico Maya

B.S. in Kinesiology, San Diego Christian College

Favorite Quote

“If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” - Maya Angelou

Why Roycemore?

I was drawn to the idea that Roycemore is not just a school, but a family. I knew that I wanted to be a part of a community that affirmed who I am, as well as the unique individuality of others. I see Roycemore as a way to be a part of and contribute to an exciting, forward-thinking, and diverse community, by teaching lifelong health-related fitness, collaborative team thinking, and individual success through Physical Education and sports. I’m also very excited about teaching Spanish and sharing my experiences from the Dominican Republic.

Dr. Berryman’s career in education began in 2011 at The University of Cambridge, where he was a College Lecturer and a Director of Studies. He went on to teach in a British secondary school. In 2015, he joined Oxbridge Academic Programs, a New York-based company that runs study-abroad programs for middle- and high-school students. His work with Oxbridge took him everywhere from the Canadian Northwestern Territories to the urban jungle of Metro Manila! He moved to Illinois with his wife (who comes from Chicago) in 2020.

At Roycemore, he collaborates with students, faculty, and parents to provide gifted support across the community. He is also the founder and manager of The Ninth Candle, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending antisemitism by sharing knowledge. Outside work, he loves classical music and soccer. He can often be found tuning into obscure cable channels at odd times of day to watch games being played in his native England!

Education

Ph.D. in Music History, King's College London

M.M. in Music History, Boston University

B.A. Hons in Music, University of Oxford

Publications

http://www.theninthcandle.com

Favorite Quote

“Awareness of ignorance is the beginning of wisdom” – attributed to Socrates

Why do you teach? What is the impact you hope to make on students?

The simple answer is that I teach because I love teaching! I consider myself a lifelong learner, and the students have a huge impact on me. Their inquisitiveness fires my thinking and changes the way I see the world every day. I hope to be able to reflect some of their own enthusiasm back at them as we go on our journey together.

Why Roycemore?

I appreciate Roycemore’s small, close-knit community, and its ethos of individuality. This ethos informs not just daily life within the school, but the structure and nature of our learning. The possibilities for pursuing individual strengths and passions is really unique and, I believe, extremely valuable.

Growing up in a family of educators and school professionals, Morgan learned the value of education from a young age. As she pursued her own education and discovered her love for communication, a career in school communications became a dream that combined both her passion and skills.

Morgan went on to study Public Relations, while also taking classes in Education and Spanish. She previously served as a Communications Specialist at a school district in Iowa before moving to Chicago.

In her free time, Morgan enjoys staying active on the Lakeshore Trail, exploring local restaurants and events, working on DIY projects, and spending time with friends and family.

It is Morgan’s goal to share the unique and high-quality opportunities that Roycemore has to offer, in order to make a lasting impact on the students we serve.

Education

B.A. in Public Relations with minors in Youth Studies and Spanish, Drake University

Favorite Quote

“Education is the point at which we decide whether we love the world enough to assume responsibility for it and by the same token save it from that ruin which, except for renewal, except for the coming of the new and young, would be inevitable… And education, too, is where we decide whether we love our children enough not to expel them from our world and leave them to their own devices, nor to strike from their hands their chance of undertaking something new, something unforeseen by us, but to prepare them in advance for the task of renewing the common world.” - Hannah Arendt

Marie Cinquemani Thomas has taught music in the Chicagoland area for over 20 years at both the Middle School and Upper School levels. Her teaching is focused on exposing students to a wide variety of music genres and experiences. She will be working with grades 7-12 both in the classroom and on stage.

Education

B.M. in Jazz Studies, De Paul University

Favorite Quote

“Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.” – Leonard Bernstein

Why Roycemore?

I am excited to join a community that is focused on helping students to grow. This growth mindset is important to me as a teacher and a lifelong learner.

Cait was born in Utah and grew up across the US before attending college in France. After graduating, he returned to the US and worked as an Americorps volunteer at a Chicago school before studying for his MA at UIC.

Education

M.A. in French and Francophone Studies, University of Illinois Chicago

B.A. in Comparative Literature, The American University of Paris

Favorite Quote

“Anyone who still wants to experience fairytales these days can’t afford to dither when it comes to using their brains.” - Robert Musil

Why Roycemore?

It's an amazing community!

Sam is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She attended The University of Colorado at Boulder (Sko Buffs!) for her Bachelors of Sociology and Psychology. Sam moved to the Chicago area in 2018 to pursue her Masters of Social Work with a sub-specialization in group work from Loyola University Chicago.

Sam's passion for social work stems from growing up with her four uncles who were adopted out of foster care at a young age. Sam's experiences working with children and adolescents include working at a juvenile detention facility in Boulder County, a residential and day treatment school in Denver, as well as public and charter schools around the Chicago-land area.

Sam believes that a strong education is the most important gift you can give and loves helping children and adolescents with their social and emotional well-being in the academic setting. Sam approaches her work with students through a student-driven lens and enjoys utilizing both directive and non-directive therapeutic approaches. Sam is passionate about mindfulness and neuroscience and frequently incorporates these focuses into her work. Lastly, Sam values fun and learning in all things she does and enjoys taking creative and out-of-the-box interventions with her students.

Sam grew up in the Denver metro area but has strong ties to the San Francisco Bay Area as well. In her free time, Sam enjoys reading, trying new restaurants around Chicagoland, and walking/biking the lakeshore.

Education

B.A. in Psychology and Sociology, University of Colorado at Boulder

M.S.W with a sub-specialization in Group Work, Loyola University Chicago

Favorite Quote

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

Why Roycemore?

When looking for an educational institution, I wanted somewhere that values social and emotional learning and whole student growth as much as they value academics. When reading Roycemore's mission statement and portrait of a graduate, I knew I had found a golden ticket and somewhere to call home. I am extremely excited to be part of a community of teachers, parents, and students who value and promote individuality, social justice, and equity in the way that Roycemore does!

Dan teaches Science and STEM classes for the Upper School at Roycemore. Dan has conducted research in biomechanics around the world including as a professor at Virginia Tech. Prior to teaching at Roycemore, he taught Physics at North Cross School in Roanoke, Virginia. When not at school, Dan enjoys spending time with his family, walking his greyhounds, and playing cello.

Education

Ph.D. in Biology, University of California, Berkeley

B.A. in Biology, University of Chicago

Favorite Quote

“We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out — and we have only just begun.”-Neil deGrasse Tyson

Why do you teach? What is the impact you hope to make on students?

The world is a mysterious and awe-inspiring place. The fact that we can understand and predict so much of what happens around us is remarkable when you stop to think about it. As Douglas Adams wrote in The Salmon of Doubt, “I’d take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.” I hope that students who leave my classroom have the awe of understanding, understand where they are ignorant and are hungry to fill in the gaps.

Why Roycemore?

Roycemore fosters a community where students (and faculty) can grow their knowledge while being themselves. Our small size allows me to get to know the students and individualize my teaching to help them develop as critical thinkers.