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Faculty

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

  • Lori English
  • Rebecca Bostrom
  • Eliese Ronke
  • Johan Gotera
  • Dawn Farr
  • Mike Fish
  • Anne Cahuzac
  • Matt Duncan
  • Nathan Riggs
  • Moira Havey
  • Hannah Miller
  • Ashley Quire
  • Eva Lambert
  • Nina Rozes
  • Matt Steadman
  • Sheila Shadrack
  • Ciat Conlin
  • Emma Milner-Gorvine
  • Janna Arbuzova
  • Samantha Cossen, LCSW
  • Tina Southerton
  • Amanda Reinglass
  • 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
  • Ashley Smith
  • Beth Shutters
  • Sara Keely McGuire
  • Marysue Redmann
  • Stefanie Rivera
  • Beth Negronida
  • 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
  • Karen Radke Byrnes
  • Courtney Barlow
  • Justin Bailey
  • Staci Aronson
  • Darcy Aksamitowski
  • Angela Peters Murphy
  • Morgan Busbey
  • Amy Milner-Gorvine

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.

Emma Milner-Gorvine

Middle School & Upper School Spanish Teacher

emilnergorvine@roycemoreschool.org

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Emma Milner-Gorvine has been studying Spanish since she was in kindergarten. She attended a dual-language elementary school and continued taking Spanish through middle and high school. While she had not planned on majoring in Spanish, she was drawn to the language, and graduated with a degree in Spanish and Hispanic Studies with minors in education, teaching English as a second language, and Jewish Studies.

Emma had the opportunity to study in Granada, Spain during her college years. During college, Emma worked with students of all ages. During her summers, she directed Arts Immersion Camp for the City of Evanston. In her junior year, she taught a homeschool Spanish class to middle school students, and her senior year she worked with high schoolers as a synagogue youth group advisor. After graduating, Emma moved to Madrid and taught English in an elementary school. She decided to return to Evanston and pursue a Masters in Education.

Emma is a third-generation teacher following in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, eating out, and petting her cats.


Education

Master's in Teaching in Elementary Education and K-12 Bilingual Education and Spanish, Northeastern Illinois University - In Progress

Bachelor of Spanish and Hispanic Studies and Education, Earlham College

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certification


Favorite Quote

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." -Desmond Tutu


Why Roycemore?

I have been part of the Roycemore community for the last several years. My mom teaches in middle school, and I did an internship at Roycemore during college. I have always appreciated that Roycemore is a community where everyone is encouraged to be themselves. Roycemore is committed to meeting the needs of individual students while cultivating a strong sense of community. Having gone to a small liberal arts college, I know how important a tight-knit community is. I am excited to work at Roycemore because I know it is a place where I can have a strong relationship with my students and other faculty and staff while also growing as a teacher myself.

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.

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

Vicky Pickett

Director of Finance & Operations

vpickett@roycemoreschool.org

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Vicky has worked as a finance and operations specialist in the not-for-profit sector for nearly all of her career. After more than 25 years in financial management and business process improvement areas at Northwestern University, she joined Roycemore School in August of 2017. As a born and bred mid-westerner, Vicky is a fan of Big 10 football and national league baseball. Her love of international cuisines takes her to restaurants all over the city. She loves to cook and to read – a perfect pot of chili and a great murder mystery book is her idea of the best way to spend a cold rainy day. Vicky’s office is located in the main administrative suite. Just look for the giant Chewbacca cutout!


Education

Music Education/Theater, Bethel College

Biblical Studies, Chicago Bible Institute


Favorite Quote

“My blood type is Starbucks”


Why Roycemore?

There is magic here – every day and everywhere.

Ashley Quire

College Guidance and Associate Director of DEI Admissions

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.

Karen Radke Byrnes

Upper School Learning Specialist, History Teacher, and Community Service Coordinator

kbyrnes@roycemoreschool.org

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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.

Marysue Redmann

Early Childhood & Lower School Music Teacher

mredmann@roycemoreschool.org

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Marysue Redmann has been a professional musician and teacher all of her adult life and is thrilled to be part of the Roycemore community.

She loves teaching music because it encompasses so many things: Music is a science, music is math, music is history, music is physical coordination, music is a “foreign” language, and most of all, music is art. Marysue is passionate about how studying music opens pathways to creativity and provides so many opportunities to learn how to learn.

Marysue’s hobbies outside of music are travel, learning foreign languages and about foreign cultures, and anything to do with neuroscience, neuroplasticity, and the brain.


Education

M.A. in Harp Performance, Northwestern University

B.A. in Music, Dance & Theater, University of Illinois


Favorite Quote

"This is why I teach music: Not because I expect you to become a musician. Not because you want to play the violin all your life. Not so you can relax or have fun. But so you will recognize beauty. So you will be sensitive. So you will be close to an infinite beyond this world. I want you to learn to never give up when you encounter difficulty and I want you to know the music you produce is one of a kind because you are a very special person. My children, when you are ready, go out into the world and embrace your dreams!" - Yuko Honda

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

I love sharing the gift of music and movement with children and helping them to develop their creativity and a lifelong curiosity for learning and exploring their world.


Why Roycemore?

What I admire most about Roycemore is the sense of community and the personalized approach to education. Roycemore celebrates what makes each student unique and provides a wide variety of creative opportunities and approaches to help each student develop to their fullest potential.

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.

Nathan Riggs

Middle School Humanities Teacher

nriggs@roycemoreschool.org

Stefanie Rivera

Directory of Community Engagement and Belonging

srivera@roycemoreschool.org

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Stefanie Rivera originally hails from Austria but has spent most of her life here in the Chicago area. She has an undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut and a Masters in Teaching from National-Louis University here in Illinois. She has been an educator since 2005 and began her career at Roycemore in 2013. Stefanie spent 10 years as a classroom teacher of English and Performing Arts before stepping into her current role as Upper School Division Head. She still loves her classroom teaching experiences and directing the annual spring performance at Roycemore. Before becoming an educator, Stefanie had a career in theatre and still uses those skills on a daily basis. Stefanie lives with her husband, Dale, her two children, Eva-Rae and Lorenzo, and her adorable Shihtzu, Lucy.


Education

M.A.T., National Louis University

B.A., Wesleyan University


Fun Fact

Stefanie loves llamas, cooking, and camping. “There were a lot of them. They all had different haircuts.”


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

I find it incredibly rewarding to see young people achieve. I hope I am successful in students realizing their self-worth, finding their individual voice, and learning the importance of community, leadership, and resilience.


Why Roycemore?

Roycemore is my second home. I have always felt I can be my true self here.

Eliese Ronke

Gifted and Enrichment Coordinator

eronke@roycemoreschool.org

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For over a decade, Eliese has worked in outdoor, STEM, and environmental education, specializing in training fellow educators and curriculum development. She worked throughout the Southeast US (and one summer in Alaska), leading diverse teams, creating engaging educational activities, and developing training materials. Holding degrees in Wildlife Biology and Ecology, if you have questions about wildlife, conservation, or how to pepper-spray an aggressive moose, she’s got answers.

Eliese writes, crochets, and plans elaborate multi-course meals she and her husband make and enjoy together in her spare time. She also loves exploring diverse cultures and the many museums of the Chicago area.

Education

BS: Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (North Carolina State University) and MS: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (University of Arkansas)

Favorite Quote
"Imagine that every man's mind is an island, surrounded by ocean. Each seems isolated, yet in reality, all are linked by the bedrock from which they spring." ~Arthur C. Clarke

Why Roycemore?

I love Roycemore's focus on the holistic growth of students, not only as scholars but as thoughtful members of our community.

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