Eva Lambert was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, to a family of English teachers. Here, she developed an admiration for children's literature, young adult fiction, and graphic novels. She has extensive experience when it comes to childcare and working with younger learners through her time spent as a Girl Scout leader, a pre-school teacher, and a Montessori guide.

Eva later earned her Master of Arts degree in English, Rhetoric & Composition from Appalachian State University and published her MA thesis on environmental legislation and human rights in South Africa. Eva's teaching career began as adjunct faculty for their alma mater, teaching Introductory Writing to first and second-year college students. Eva's foundation of pedagogy is based around grading for equity, progress-based learning, and student autonomy. She is looking forward to seeing what each student brings to the table and incorporating their thoughts, personalities, and writing into a classroom that recognizes, listens to, and amplifies all voices.

Outside of the classroom, Eva can be found playing Dungeons and Dragons with her 14-year-old sister, listening to Dolly Parton at the highest volume, reading various selections by David Sedaris or crocheting.

Education

MA in English, Rhetoric & Composition, Appalachian State University

Favorite Quotes

"Writing gives you the illusion of control, and then you realize it's just an illusion, that people are going to bring their own stuff into it." - David Sedaris

Why Roycemore?

Roycemore hosts a team of people who I believe truly want to create a student-centered system of learning. Student value is not solely based on grade percentile or extracurricular success, but the growth and passions of the students who come here. I have always wanted to become part of a team that puts student success (no matter how you define this term) before anything else.

Gina joined Roycemore in 2021 with a wide array of skills and experience in teaching students PreK through 6th grade. She has taught in a large public school as well as a small private preschool prior to joining Roycemore. She finds joy in people of all ages and you can often hear her laughter through the hallway as she engages with her colleagues and students.

Prior to teaching, Gina worked in Advertising for many years in Chicago and honed her analytical, organizational, and presentation skills as Account Director for such clients as Quaker Oats, Equal Sweetener, Solo, and Kroger. However, after heeding the call to teach, she has not looked back.

Gina is passionate about sharing art experiences with children to broaden their perspectives and build bridges to understanding the world around us. She is inspired by creativity everywhere.

She is a mother of two grown children and an animal lover to the core. In her spare time, she likes to read, garden and paint.

Education

B.A. in Studio Art

B.S. in Marketing

Illinois License Type 10 plus 40 hours in Art Ed.

Favorite Quote

“The arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution and questions can have more than one answer.” – Elliott Eisner

Why Roycemore?

I have been familiar with Roycemore for several years and have been impressed with the diversity of cultures represented by the students. Art lends itself well to the study of cultures and I look forward to exploring many artistic avenues together with Roycemore students for years to come.

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.

Hilda became Roycemore's librarian in 2019. She had become familiar with our education and community when her daughter, Alanis, attended and graduated in 2018. Hilda has been in the Chicagoland area her whole life, growing up in the Uptown area where she was always visiting her local branch of the city library. It was there that she developed a love for reading and a desire to pursue a degree in literature.

Hilda put herself through school and earned her B.A. in English Literature at Northeastern Illinois University in 2013 and her Master's Degree in Library Science from UW-Milwaukee in 2020. Before joining our staff, Hilda was a library assistant in the children's department at both Oak Park and Evanston Public Library. Hilda is passionate about diversifying the library's collection, reading to the students, bringing authors in, and offering Battle of the Books and other reading programs to both Lower and Middle School students. Hilda's voice and perspective on diversity and mental health have been a welcome contribution to the school community, as she has sponsored our Diversity Club in the Upper School and co-sponsored our Teen Empowerment Group in the Upper School.

"Ms. Hilda" is loved by students young and old for her library skills and her ability to appreciate and validate every student who enters her door. In her free time, Ms. Hilda enjoys finding gems for the library, watching movies, and connecting with friends and family.

Education

MLIS, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

B.A. in English Literature, Northeastern Illinois University

Favorite Quote

“The only thing stronger than fear is hope.”

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

I chose children’s librarianship because I feel it’s the area where I can make the greatest impact on children’s lives. To put the right book, in the right hands, at the right time is, I feel, one of the most important things one can do for a child.

Why Roycemore?

Roycemore has given my daughter opportunities neither of us could have imagined and welcomed us into their family. I hope to support Roycemore’s mission as a faculty member and help students and families in similar ways that my daughter and I have been supported in the past.

Howard Stanley comes from a family of teachers. His parents both taught for 30+ years including many for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools. Howard was born outside of Tokyo and lived in Seoul, Korea, and West Berlin, Germany before settling in Fort Wayne, Indiana upon the family’s return to the U.S. He graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in International Relations. He later returned to school after a stint living in London to earn his Master’s Degree in Education from DePaul University.

He was drawn to middle school students from the get-go and has over a decade of classroom experience. He loves working with early adolescents and enjoys getting to be a part of the evolution of their critical thinking skills as they make their way through middle school. In his previous teaching experiences, he has found team teaching to be very effective and is grateful that he is able to work so effectively with the Humanities team.

He lives in Chicago with his wife, two children, and bearded dragon, Bobby.

Education

M.A. in Education, DePaul University

B.A. in International Relations, Michigan State University

Favorite Quote

“Be curious, not judgemental” - As quoted by Ted Lasso!

Fun Fact(s)

He was born in Japan (on a US Air Force base as his parents were teachers for the military schools).

After Michigan State won the NCAA tournament in 2000, he was on TV and in the Lansing State Journal (Go Green!)!!!

He is the proud owner of one share of the Green Bay Packers.

He is an avid follower of MSU athletics, The Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Chelsea Football Club.

He fancies himself a guitar player, but he isn’t very good!

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

I teach because my parents taught. I saw the difference they made in students' lives. I hope that when students are done in my classes that they are active members of our civil society!

Why Roycemore?

I appreciate the fact that we know each other really well, students and teachers alike. My parents ended their teaching career at a small school similar to Roycemore, and they loved it. Being a part of that community helped me tremendously as a student, and I relish the opportunity to create community as an adult!

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.

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.

Karen began her work at Roycemore in 1993 as a sub for Upper School Learning Specialist. The following year she took on the position full-time and currently teaches both Modern European History and AP Euro, in addition to serving as the Upper School Learning Specialist. Over the years, Karen has served the school in the classroom by teaching Service Learning, Topics in African-American History, Foundations of English, and served as a faculty advisor to many Independent studies over the years. In addition to her current role as the faculty advisor of the National Honor Society, she has organized Community Service opportunities for the school, sponsored Yearbook, and currently helps coordinate and support Upper School Student Activities.

Karen has always been drawn to teaching. She supported ELL during her high school years before earning an undergraduate degree in History and Secondary Education. In addition, Karen has earned a Master's in Education in Special Education and has pursued additional graduate work in Educational Therapy and Neurodiverse students with ADHD and ASD. Karen has continued her lifelong learning with professional development in Executive Functioning, ADHD, Mental Health and Education, and most recently teaching and assessing Online Learning. These educational opportunities have been in response to students that Karen has worked with and she continues to search out professional development to meet the ever-changing needs of her students. Karen feels very strongly about helping each student reach their potential as a student and person.

In her free time, Karen has always enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and in Europe, volunteering, and crafting. Over the years, Karen has taken her personal passions of service and traveling and has provided students with opportunities to do both. Karen has been married for 10 years, and she and her husband live with their three Schnauzers, Max, Grace, and Bella in Gurnee. When she is not unwinding, she is busy connecting with her former students and colleagues.

Education

M.Ed., National Louis University & Educational Therapy Institute

B.A., Cornell College

Fun Fact

I am a two-Time All-American Shotputter for Division III Athletics.

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

I teach because I love learning and feel that I can share this with students, as well as help them gain knowledge, learn about themselves, and become great human beings.

Why Roycemore?

I chose Roycemore because I feel it is important to get to know students in order to customize my teaching style to maximize their learning and Roycemore with its small classroom and community gives me this opportunity. Students, teachers, and families work closely in partnership to make this happen.

Katie was born and raised in Evanston, IL. She currently lives in Skokie with her husband, Alex, and their dog, Toad. She spends most of her free time going on walks, gardening, or chatting with her family, who live nearby. She has two wonderful nephews who are a big part of her life. She has found something magical in watching a child grow and develop. This passion is not isolated to her family, but instead, she finds a sense of beauty in each young mind she works with and is continuously in awe of their unique understanding of the world around them. She has been working with young children for over ten years in a variety of settings and thinks teaching is by far the most exciting. Some settings included working in a therapeutic preschool as a developmental therapist, and an infant room, toddler, and preschool teacher. She has worked with families in all settings and has made this a priority to inform teaching practices.

Teaching allows her to see children engage in play, engage with one another, and dive deep into subjects that encourage inquisitive learners. Teaching is powerful because you must find balance between supporting the classroom as one entity and also by paying close attention to the individual child who has needs that are not always so obvious. It is a job that keeps her mind working constantly and she is forever learning from her peers, the children, and supervisors. She finds herself lucky to be a teacher and is forever thankful that she found her passion.

Education

M.S. in Child Development with a concentration in Infancy, Erikson Institute

PEL with Early Childhood Endorsement, Erikson Institute

Certifications

Professional Educator License (LBS1), Special Education Letter of Approval, and English as a Second Language Endorsement

Favorite Quote

Something I like to repeat in my classrooms: “You can’t say, you can’t play” a quote from children in veteran Chicago teacher Vivian Gussin Paley

“In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.” - Fred Rogers

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

I teach because I cherish children and their minds. I hope to impact them in positive ways to help them become reflective, caring, thoughtful, investigators of the world. I hope to share with them great literature with powerful illustrations and interesting words. I hope to encourage them to see patterns and understand math with a strong foundation in number sense. I hope to instill an excitement for the academic environment. I hope to support them in meaningful ways and provide them with a calming, caring learning environment.

Why Roycemore?

I am absolutely thrilled to be teaching at Roycemore. Here, I see all the best practices I have recently learned in action! It is incredible to watch the community come together to solve problems, to think thoroughly about kids, and provide each student with a stellar education. The first graders blow me away with their inventiveness, their question asking, their investigating, and their overall thoughtfulness. I am grateful for every moment I get to spend with these amazing children, families, and staff.

Kelly is the second-grade teacher at Roycemore. She graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Elementary Education and received endorsements in reading and social science. She has always wanted to be a teacher, growing up in the western suburbs playing school in her basement by writing lesson plans and giving spelling tests to her younger sister and neighborhood friends. They still talk about those days and how everyone knew she would someday be a “real” teacher!

Prior to teaching second grade at Roycemore, she was the lead Pre-Kindergarten teacher for three years and also spent one year as a substitute teacher. She remembers after her first day substituting, she left the school thinking how she would love to be a full-time teacher here and was eager to return. Now, over five years later, she is still excited to return to school each day!

Besides teaching, another passion of hers is traveling. During college, she had the opportunity to spend a semester in Eastbourne, England teaching Year 5 students. They were a loving, bright and inquisitive young class! (While there, she got to celebrate, in a crowd of about a million people, the marriage of Prince William and Kate!) More recently, she traveled to Iceland and saw the Northern Lights – a sight she will never forget. She is not sure where her next trip will take her, but she knows it will be an adventure!

Currently, she lives in Chicago and loves all the city has to offer. She enjoys cooking, running, listening to country music, and watching the Cubs – especially when they win!

Education

B.S. in Elementary Education, Illinois State University

Favorite Quote

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go!” - Dr. Seuss

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

Teaching has always been a passion of mine. Every day I walk into a room full of smiling children that are eager to learn and play. I have the power to inspire and ignite curious minds each and every day and this means the world to me. Together we ask questions, calculate, paint, dream, laugh, tell stories, read and make our classroom come to life. I enjoy watching the children discover their passions and develop a love of learning, which I hope will last a lifetime. I serve many roles as a coach, comforter, role model, actor, nurse, and confidant. My goal as a teacher is for my students to know that I genuinely care about their successes and failures, and will always encourage them to be the best that they can be!

Why Roycemore?

The minute I walked through the doors of Roycemore, I was welcomed with open arms and felt an immediate sense of belonging, and this feeling has never diminished. Roycemore is a community that values a love of learning, acceptance, leadership, and respect for others, and I have cherished my 5 years here. The administration is supportive and encourages us to be the best.

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.