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.

Matt has taught in 4 US states and overseas in Japan at the Middle School, Upper School, community college, and university levels. Holding Masters degrees in both English and Communication from Northern Illinois University, he has taught courses in English literature, ESL, Photoshop, Web design, print design, digital video, digital audio, rhetoric and composition, AP English Language and Composition, public speaking, communication theory, and film theory. Matt is interested in Ultimate disc sports, scale modeling, podcasting, and Japanese language study.

Education:

MA English, Northern Illinois University 2001; MA Communication, Northern Illinois University 2004

Favorite Quote:

"If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, then you can only think what everyone else is thinking" —Murakami Haruki

Why Roycemore?

The mission and vision of Roycemore is tempered with my own personal values in balance - academic achievement and social respect and responsibility. I'm excited to participate in and learn from the Roycemore community. I was also eager to return to Illinois after so much time away, and to rediscover the diverse community offered by Chicagoland with my wife and son.

Chris English has over two decades of experience as a creative, solution-oriented, educational leader with a keen focus on effective classroom practice and student-centered learning. He has guided educational philosophy, brought new programs to fruition, developed alternative revenue, overseen expansion, led strategic planning, led accreditation, housed international students, and taught in classrooms, deserts, mountain tops, and rivers.

Chris and his wife, Lori, are parents to twin daughters. Lori and Chris enjoy home-renovation projects, historic houses and architecture, card games, movies, beaches, and discovering local art, music, and cuisine. Chris spends his downtime singing with his guitar or ukulele, or when he needs to be quiet, he settles in with a good book or TV show.

Education

MA in Technical and Professional Communication, East Carolina University

BA in Creative Writing, East Carolina University

Favorite Quote

“What’s another word for Thesaurus?” – Steven Wright

Why Roycemore?

When describing what I was looking for in a school, the person I was talking to leaned forward and said, “It sounds like you’re talking about Roycemore.”

As a career educator with 25 years of experience, I have had the privilege of serving as a classroom teacher, school counselor, and Director of School Counseling. I have worked in a variety of settings, from middle and high school public and independent schools, to juvenile detention centers and group homes for pregnant teens and sex-trafficked individuals though Title 1 Programming. While these institutions are wildly disparate, the commonality is that I'm genuinely interested in, and care for, the student before me.


Education

History BA, Elon College; Counseling MAEd, East Carolina University; designated as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC #4570) in North Carolina; designated as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC #7127339-6004) in Utah; designated as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC #2016013347) in Missouri; designated as a School Counselor by the State Boards of Education in North Carolina, Kansas and Illinois.

Favorite Quote

I collect quotes as I read. A favorite this year was from Lessons in Chemistry: "He followed Elizabeth Zott's simple advice: do what was right."

Why Roycemore?

Roycemore's mission and the educational philosophy of its faculty/staff align perfectly with my value system. Intentionally small learning environments that focus on the individual needs of students is rare in the world of education. I am excited to know, support, and celebrate each student in the Upper School.

Grace Erb works in Roycemore’s Middle School and serves as the sixth through eighth grade Math teacher. Grace has been at Roycemore since 2019. Her mission is to build a genuine connection with her students and give each student a champion for their success. Grace loves the atmosphere she is surrounded by here at Roycemore and the opportunity she gets every day to help form young learners at such a pivotal point in their development. Before coming to Roycemore, Grace taught a variety of subjects, including math, science, social studies, and language arts across multiple grade levels in Skokie. Grace believes that everyone can be successful in the classroom and no one is "bad at math" when given a supportive environment to grow in.

Education

B.A. (Elementary Education) University of Illinois Champaign Urbana

Fun Fact

I have a french bulldog puppy named Ruth, my favorite color is blue, and I love to travel and experience new cultures.

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

I teach so that every student has someone to believe in them.

Why Roycemore?

Roycemore allows me to teach my kids in a collaborative and supportive environment. Roycemore encourages and helps me to be my best so that I can truly do my best to support each student.

Ms. Dawn is an experienced early childhood educator. She loves working with children because it keeps her young. She enjoys watching students grow throughout the school year.

Education

AAS in Early Childhood Education, Level 4 Credentials, Paraprofessional Licensure

Favorite Quote

“Opportunities don't happen, you create them.” — Chris Grosser

Why Roycemore?

Tyler is a graduate of Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. He has been teaching since 2013, including teaching in his hometown of Rantoul, Illinois as well as a couple of Chicago suburbs, Chicago’s Southside, and he also had the pleasure of teaching a variety of subjects in a school 25 miles out of London, England. He believes that his previous experiences set him up for success at Roycemore, and he looks forward to continuing to grow as an educator in Evanston. His hobbies include drumming, football, and TRAVEL!

He believes that PE should be the most fun lesson of the day for all of his students. He wants them to look forward to coming to a class where they can express themselves and build relationships every single day. Being fun, having integrity, and using creativity drive his passion for physical education, and these valuable pieces of the puzzle will be his foundation for providing the most well-rounded and engaging curriculum that he can to all of Roycemore’s students.

Education

B.S., Millikin University

Why Roycemore?

My goal is to set roots down in a community and be able to develop strong and trusting relationships with every student that I teach.

Favorite Quote

“Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.” – Anne Sweeney

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

Dori Franck began her career at UTHS in East Moline, Illinois, and subsequently taught at Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook for the bulk of her career. Additionally, she taught for the Glenbrook evening school, helping dropout students earn their high school diplomas. She has been an adjunct professor at Concordia University where she taught education classes and placed student teachers, and was an instructor for the CTD program at Northwestern University. At Roycemore, she currently teaches AP Psychology, U.S. History, and a variety of semester psychology courses. She also served as Roycemore’s Northwestern Coordinator and as a Co-Sponsor of our yearbook.

She has been fortunate to have been the recipient of a variety of awards, such as GBN’s Distinguished Teacher of the Year, Calvin College Excellence in Teaching, AP Psychology Notable Instructor, Golden Apple Nominee, GBN Distinguished Service Award, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, Eastern Illinois University Excellence in Teaching Award, was chosen to be a member of the Teacher Development Board at Augustana College and an AP Advocate for the State of Illinois.

Her dissertation was entitled Teaching Empathy for the Military Experience to High School Students. She is passionate about extending that study into her classrooms. It is her goal not only to teach content to students but also to help them become productive, compassionate, and well-rounded citizens.

Education

Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Organizational Change

M.S. in Counseling

B.A. in Psychology

Favorite Quote

“Teach like the world depends on it.”

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

I LOVE teaching. I cannot think of a more noble profession and the opportunity to work with young minds.

Why Roycemore?

I chose Roycemore since it would be an entirely new experience for me. I have spent over 30 years in the public education sector and usually had classes that were quite large. I thought it would be a nice change of pace to be able to work with students in smaller groups and get to know them better.

Charlotte Freccia is an educator, writer, and artist who was born and brought up in Columbus, Ohio. She graduated from Kenyon College in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English; in her time at Kenyon, she completed an Honors thesis, conducting research on proof, truth, subjectivity, and objectification in postmodern narratives of gendered violence while simultaneously composing the first draft of a debut novel. She began her teaching career at Holderness School in Plymouth, New Hampshire, in the unforgettable 2020-2021 school year. She believes in learning by asking questions, and the phrase you are most likely to hear her use in the classroom is “Interesting, say more.”

Her favorite authors and texts to teach include James Joyce, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, David Foster Wallace, and A Wrinkle in Time. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys brewing kombucha, tending her forty-plus houseplants, cooking, running, poetry, astrology, art museums, the New York Times crossword, and movies starring Lindsay Lohan. She is excited to enjoy all of this and more in Chicago, and even more so to dive into the deep end of the vast pool of literary inquiry with some super-bright kids at Roycemore this year.

Education

B.A. in English, Kenyon College, 2019

Favorite Quote

“I know noble accents

And lucid, inescapable rhythms

But I know, too

That the blackbird is involved

In what I know”

from "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” by Wallace Stevens

Why Roycemore?

Small classes, smart kids, fun faculty, great town.

Liv is originally from North Carolina, where they spent time playing in the rivers and hiking the trails of the Piedmont region. Their love of learning began as a student at the Duke School, a private independent school in Durham, N.C. and they recently graduated with degrees in Theatre Arts and Women’s and Gender Studies from DePaul.

Liv is a director and dramaturg in the Chicagoland area and has a deep passion for Shakespeare, feminist stories, and making the theatrical world more equitable. They come from a family of educators and communicators and are excited to continue down that path.

In their free time, you can probably find Liv reading at a coffee shop or having a picnic by the lake. They also make a killer charcuterie board!

Education

B.F.A. in Theatre Studies, DePaul University

B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies, DePaul University

Favorite Quote

“Art is not living. It is the use of living. The artist has the ability to take the living and use it in a certain way and produce art.” – Audre Lorde

Why Roycemore?

I was blown away by the respect and care that everyone in this community held for each other.