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Faculty

Our world class faculty is committed to helping Roycemore students succeed in and outside the classroom.

  • Ashley Quire
  • Eva Lambert
  • Nina Rozes
  • George Bravos
  • Matt Steadman
  • Sheila Shadrack
  • Ciat Conlin
  • Emma Milner-Gorvine
  • Margarita Stoimenova
  • Janna Arbuzova
  • Samantha Cossen
  • Tina Southerton
  • Amanda Reinglass
  • Alanis Gonzalez
  • Craig Tutt
  • Marie Cinquemani Thomas
  • Ruth Hecht
  • Ziggy Zapart
  • Shauna Young
  • Liv Garcia
  • Chris English
  • Marge Woodfill
  • Nicole Wise
  • Lizanne Wilson
  • Vicky Pickett
  • Dr. John Trowbridge
  • Kelly Strain
  • Howard Stanley
  • Ceairra Smith
  • Ashley Smith
  • Beth Shutters
  • Sara Keely McGuire
  • Mauricio Robert
  • Marysue Redmann
  • Stefanie Rivera
  • Beth Negronida
  • Susie Massey
  • Andrew Mahlan
  • Gina Lorenz
  • Dr. Brynn Leavitt
  • Katie Hilton
  • Shannon Henry
  • Hilda Gonzalez
  • Erin Kelly Gaines
  • Charlotte Freccia
  • Dr. Theodora Franck
  • Adrienne Floro
  • Tyler Fawbush
  • Grace Erb
  • Dr. Dan Dudek
  • Adeline Courtial
  • Karen Radke Byrnes
  • Dr. Luke Berryman
  • Courtney Barlow
  • Justin Bailey
  • Staci Aronson
  • Marielle St. Amand
  • Darcy Aksamitowski
  • Angela Peters Murphy
  • Morgan Graff
  • Amy Milner-Gorvine

Adeline Courtial

Early Childhood, Lower School & Middle School French Teacher

acourtial@roycemoreschool.org

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Originally from Nîmes in the south of France, Adeline grew up with a love for languages, literature, and fine arts. After studying Literature and American Civilization, she decided to work abroad as a French Assistant – first in London, then in Mexico City. From these experiences, she developed a passion for teaching and decided to make it into a career. In 2016 she returned to France to earn a master's degree in Education and French as a Foreign Language. Following her studies, she worked as a full-time teacher at the French Alliance of Mexicali, Mexico, then at the French Institute of the North Shore in Winnetka, IL.

In class, Adeline loves to incorporate authentic documents from « la francophonie » (French-speaking countries) such as songs, news articles, paintings, etc. When she is not teaching, she enjoys reading literature, learning more about world history, spending time at the ice-rink, and visiting new places with friends and family.


Education

M.S. in Education and French as a Foreign Language

B.A. in Foreign Language and Civilization (English Major, Spanish Minor) - University of Nîmes, France


Favorite Quote

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” - Nelson Mandela


Why Roycemore?

Adeline is excited to be part of the Roycemore family where she can share, learn, and create activities with the staff and students of the school. As a local resident, Adeline is happy to contribute to the community and cultivate personal relationships within the intimate setting that Roycemore offers.

Adrienne Floro

Assistant Head of School for Academics & Middle School Division Head

afloro@roycemoreschool.org

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Adrienne served as the Middle School Principal for Chartiers Valley Middle School in PA until August of 2019. Prior to that, she was the Assistant Middle School Principal and District Assessment Coordinator for Quaker Valley Middle School. Adrienne has been a fifth and sixth-grade teacher, providing instruction in math, English language arts, and social studies. Prior to moving from the classroom to school administration, Adrienne served as the Academic Specialist in the Quaker Valley School District serving the needs of gifted and talented students. Adrienne was a finalist for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year in 2012 and was named the Outstanding Middle-Level Administrator of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Middle-Level Educators in 2018-19.

Adrienne joined Roycemore in July 2020 as the Middle School Division Head. In the spring of 2021, she was recruited to serve in the role of Assistant Head of School for Academics.


Education

M.A. in Public Administration, Carnegie Mellon University

B.S. in Secondary Social Studies, Duquesne University


Publications

ASCD's Educational Leadership magazine "From Apathy to Mastery"


Favorite Quote

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” – John Dewey


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

I believe education to be the most important job on the planet Fortunately for me, education is my vocation and avocation. It’s my passion. I feel very privileged to spend my life fostering a love of learning and personal growth among the students, colleagues, and parents I’m blessed to know and work with on a daily basis.


Why Roycemore?

Roycemore’s small, diverse, progressive, innovative culture puts students first as the leaders of their own learning and supports them remarkably well in their academic and social/emotional development. Students at Roycemore are SEEN, KNOWN, and HONORED

Alanis Gonzalez

Middle School & Upper School STEM Teacher

agonzalez@roycemoreschool.org

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Alanis Gonzalez is a proud scientist and humanist who loves learning and believes in the value of a well-rounded education. Alanis completed a double degree in Biological Chemistry and Classics from Grinnell College in 2022 and is a proud Roycemore alumna.

While at Grinnell, Alanis conducted research in both her areas of expertise, which include comparative mythology, classical drama, colonial Mexican history, and computational physical chemistry. She is a proud native of the Northside of Chicago. Alanis’ leisure activities include reading, writing, playing with her cat Mochi, going to the movies with her family, and exploring the city with her friends.

Although she studied science in college, math has been a critical (and yes enjoyable) portion of Alanis’ studies throughout high school and college. She loved the ways in which subjects such as Calculus could give chemistry a complexity that could not be observed with the human eye, and the ways in which math could explain the patterns and priorities of life. She hopes to make math and science a place of exploration for students of all interests and backgrounds.


Education

B.A. in Classics and Biological Chemistry, Grinnell College

Roycemore School Class of 2018


Favorite Quote

“We believe the one who has power. He is the one who gets to write the story. So when you study history, you must ask yourself, Whose story am I missing? Whose voice was suppressed so that this voice could come forth? Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. From there you get a clearer, yet still imperfect, picture.” -Yaa Gyasi, Homegoing


Why Roycemore?

Roycemore has a loving caring environment where I have the autonomy to create my own art Roycemore provided Alanis with an amazing foundation that supported her throughout her college years. She became a good thinker, writer, and problem solver, while also gaining organization and time management skills. Alanis truly believes in the education that Roycemore provides, and is invested in supporting the individualized curriculum that a small school can offer.

Amanda Reinglass

Third Grade Teacher

areinglass@roycemoreschool.org

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Amanda is the third-grade teacher at Roycemore School. She grew up in Highland Park, graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, and now lives in Chicago. In 2017, she obtained her ESL endorsement from National Louis University and is currently pursuing her Masters in Education. With experience teaching multiple grades of elementary school, Amanda understands how to create a curriculum that is both engaging and developmental. She helps ensure her students are inspired and challenged in a supportive classroom environment through individualized guidance. As the daughter of a teacher, Amanda always knew she wanted to take her creativity to elementary education. One of Amanda's passions is art. She uses art to enrich the minds of her students and enable each and every one of them to express themselves in a creative and innovative way. In her free time, Amanda enjoys exercising, exploring the city with her friends and family, and baking.


Education

M.Ed. in ESL and Curriculum & Instruction, National Louis University (In Progress)

B.S. in Elementary Education, Indiana University Bloomington

ESL Endorsement, National Louis University


Favorite Quote

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein

"A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers." -Helen Keller


Why Roycemore?

Roycemore's vision aligns with my teaching philosophy, as I resonate with John Dewey's progressive teaching philosophy. Each student is at the center of their learning and cared for by their teachers. Roycemore is a warm, supportive, and diverse community, that I am excited to be a part of.

Amy Milner-Gorvine

Middle School Humanities Teacher

amilner@roycemoreschool.org

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Amy is a proud Evanston resident. She currently lives at Northwestern University in a Faculty-in-Residence apartment with her psychology professor husband, two daughters, a dog, and two overfed cats.


Education

M.A. in Political Science, Temple University

M.A. in Education and Reading, St. Xavier University

B.A. in Politics, Earlham College

Teachers Certification in Education & History, Eastern Michigan University


Favorite Quote

“To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.” - Theodore Roosevelt

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

I teach because it is in my blood; it is who I am. Teaching invigorates me and fills my soul. It is a career where I make a difference and no day is the same. I hope that my students learn to think for themselves, speak their minds, and be a force of good in the world. These are our future leaders. I believe in them, and I strive to create a learning environment where they believe in themselves.


Why Roycemore?

Roycemore is a place where everyone is respected for who they are. We challenge our students to take risks, go deeper, and push themselves, despite knowing that risk-taking can mean failure. To that end, we take a design thinking approach, where failure is just another step in the process. Roycemore is unique in that we apply the same model to our teachers as we do to our students. As professionals at Roycemore, we are encouraged to grow as educators, with the understanding that failure can sometimes be part of the process. I appreciated that I get to work in a place where I am valued for who I am and encouraged to try new things and become the best that I can be.

Andrew Mahlan

Middle School Science Teacher

amahlan@roycemoreschool.org

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Andrew has been teaching at Roycemore since 2020 and loves being a part of the Middle School team at Roycemore. He grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and studied Biology at Loyola University Chicago. After his graduation from Loyola, he studied at Providence College in Rhode Island, where he earned his Master's Degree in Secondary Education. During that time, he taught Middle and High School Science and Math at a K-12 school in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Science has always been a passion of his and he continually looks for ways to expand his knowledge about the world around us. He enjoys learning about how living things function and interact with each other and he feels so fortunate that he is able to share his passion for science with his students. At Roycemore, he equips his students with scientific thinking skills that help them to be independent problem-solvers while gaining a solid basis of scientific knowledge. Project-based learning and laboratory experiments are an important part of his teaching, as Andrew believes it is vitally important that students are "doing science", as opposed to just hearing about science that has been done. In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring different cultures through food and travel, following local sports teams, playing a variety of sports, singing, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and spending time with his family and friends.


Education

M.Ed. in Secondary Education, Providence College

B.S. in Biology, Loyola University Chicago


Fun Fact

I love to wear fun socks!


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

I always aim to inspire my students to have curiosity for the world around them and to ensure that they care for themselves, others, their community, and the world. Especially in today’s society, all people should consider the impact that they have on the environment and should seek out ways to care for our planet. Our students are our future, so it is essential that they are equipped with the tools that they need to make meaning of the world around them and to be able to intelligently approach and solve the problems of tomorrow.


Why Roycemore?

Roycemore creates an environment where all students are given the tools and support that they need to succeed. This individualized approach to learning allows all students to reach their fullest potential and to know that they are being cared for as individuals. Also, Roycemore’s emphasis on project-based learning, particularly through the Personal Passion Projects and the January Short Term, allows students to show their knowledge in a variety of ways and gives them the agency to explore ideas that most interest them.

Angela Peters Murphy

Director of Admissions & Financial Aid

amurphy@roycemoreschool.org

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Angela is well-versed in educational opportunities in Greater Chicago. Prior to joining the team at Roycemore, Angela worked as an independent educational consultant and advocate in the Chicago area, helping families find the best school fit for their children.

After graduating from law school, she moved to Washington DC and clerked for the Senate Judiciary Committee and served as a Legislative Counsel for a Congressman of the US House of Representatives. After her time on Capitol Hill, she worked as a lobbyist.

In her free time, Angela enjoys spending time with her daughter Alex, her dog Murphy Murphy, reading, and exploring all that Chicago has to offer.


Education:

J.D., J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

B.A., University of Utah


Favorite Quote

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” – Frederick Douglass

Ashley Quire

Assistant Director of Admissions and Retention

aquire@roycemoreschool.org

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Ashley Quire is a Chicago native and Evanston resident. She attended Marquette University where she received a BA in Psychology. Ashley has a strong recruiting background over 10 years including campus recruiting for a Fortune 100 company and college admissions for various colleges including Loyola Marymount University, Otis College of Art and Design, and Northwestern University. She lives with her children, Roycemore students, Selvin III and Melanie, and her husband Selvin. Together they co-run a student success nonprofit.


Education

Marquette University - BA Psychology

Favorite Quote

"Anything you can imagine, you can create." - Oprah Winfrey

Why Roycemore?

Roycemore has been such a wonderful home and community for my daughter (6th grade). After experiencing Roycemore as a parent and volunteer, I'm excited to continue to work with such a great group of professionals and students who are truly masters of their fields and the future innovative leaders of tomorrow.

Ashley Smith

Kindergarten Teacher

asmith@roycemoreschool.org

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Originally from New England, where most of her extended family still lives, Ashley’s family moved to Florida when she was a young teen. She is the second oldest out of five kids and they grew up in a household where academics and athletics were very important. She received a full athletic scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, where she earned a degree in Sociology. Upon graduation, she worked for CBS Radio and Clear Channel Communications as a Sales Executive. She quickly learned that selling airtime to local businesses was not something she was passionate about.

She went back to school and received her Early Childhood Teaching License from Kendall College. While in school, she started working at Roycemore as the Pre-K Teaching Assistant. This is where she began to fall in love with teaching and working with little kids. After she received her license, she became the Pre-K teacher at Roycemore. She taught Pre-K for three years and is now the Kindergarten teacher.

She currently lives in Skokie with her husband, daughter, and two four-legged friends – Madison and Mr. Boots. She and her husband Jeff have been married for six years. She enjoys spending time with her family, going on long bike rides, cooking and trying new recipes, online shopping, and binge-watching her favorite TV shows.


Education

B.A. in Sociology, University of Wisconsin

Professional Educator Licensure in Early Childhood Education, Kendall College


Favorite Quote

“Be the reason someone smiles today.”


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

Teaching is a personally rewarding profession. It is a great pleasure and privilege to watch my students' personalities grow day by day and see how they develop in their learning. I get to experience things with them for the first time and see the excitement in their eyes. There is never a dull moment and no day is ever the same. It also doesn’t hurt to have summers off!


Why Roycemore?

When I began my teaching career, it began at Roycemore. I knew from day one that something special was happening here. Almost six years later, it still feels that way!

Beth Negronida

Upper School Math Teacher

bnegronida@roycemoreschool.org

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Beth was born and raised in Evanston. She went to Dartmouth College and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology before earning a Master's in Teaching from National Louis University in 1990.

She taught in Roycemore’s Middle School from 1990 thru 2004 before taking off a few years to stay at home with her kids. She returned to Roycemore in 2012 as an Upper School math teacher. It may make her a geek, but she thinks that math is fun. She loves the linear step-by-step process of algebra AND the out-of-the-box thinking that is sometimes necessary to solve less traditional problems. She also thinks that the practical applications of math are just as important as the traditional high school curriculum, which is why she has students do projects on topics that may include using piecewise functions to develop a better federal tax system, and creating/solving linear equations to estimate profits and losses when building a business.

When she is not teaching, she loves to read, hike, and hang out with the animals at the Evanston Animal Shelter.


Education

MAT, National Louis University

B.A., Dartmouth College


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

I teach because I really like high school kids, and I want to help give them the tools they need to succeed in higher-level math classes and in life.


Why Roycemore?

Roycemore is a safe place to learn and to be yourself. There is no cookie-cutter philosophy — every student is an individual and is treated that way. And with an average of 10-12 high schoolers in my classes, I can really get to know and support all of my students.

Beth Shutters

Director of Curriculum & Innovation

eshutters@roycemoreschool.org

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Beth has worked at Roycemore School since 2006, when she joined the faculty as a Technology Coordinator and math teacher. She has taken on several different roles at Roycemore before arriving at the role of Director of Curriculum and Innovation. Previously, she was a high school math teacher in Chicago. Though her title has changed, her commitment to supporting the school’s innovation efforts, helping teachers be the best they can be, and inspiring lifelong learning for all has remained strong. She loves helping teachers learn new things and frequently presents at local, regional, and national conferences. Recent presentation topics include effective professional development, design thinking, and using Google tools in the classroom. She is a Google for Education Certified Trainer and Educator. She lives in Evanston with her daughter. In her spare time, she loves reading, spending time with her family, playing the clarinet, and baking cookies!


Education

M.Ed in Technology in Education, National Louis University

B.S. in Mathematics, University of Illinois


Publications

My website, including my presentations, can be found here: http://lordshutters.weebly.com/.


Favorite Quote

“Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” - Shel Silverstein


Why Roycemore?

I did not know much about the independent school world when I was job searching in 2006. I came across Roycemore’s website and saw that they had a job opening for a Technology Coordinator. I had been teaching math, and knew I would miss that, so during my interview we worked out that I could serve as Tech Coordinator as well as teach a math class: a great fit for me. I quickly realized that this is what Roycemore is all about. We are an amazing team that works hard to make sure we are a great fit for all our students. Roycemore has gone through many changes since I began there, and I am very excited about what the future holds.

Ceairra Smith

Teaching Assistant

csmith@roycemoreschool.org

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Ceairra began at Roycemore in 2021 and is currently enrolled in a university, pursuing her Associate’s in Education. Her background includes excellent experience in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children ranging in age from newborn through ten years. Additionally, she has key experience working as an ABA therapist helping young children through separation anxiety situations, using distraction and refocussing techniques to help kids implement their social and emotional skills.


Education

A.A. in Education


Why Roycemore?

Roycemore to me is not only just a job but an opportunity to gain a second family!

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