Crystal Lake Elementary District 47

Faces of D47: “I was born in New York, started school there, and then we moved to Illinois to be closer to my mom’s family. I actually started college in California for theater, then came back and finished at Elmhurst College with a Bachelor’s in Sociology and Minors in Social Work and Dance." "I definitely thought I wanted to do theater and performing arts, but being far from home really flipped a switch. I wanted something centered more on helping people. During college, I interned at a domestic violence shelter, where I conducted prevention education. After graduating, I worked as a children’s advocate at a local shelter. Then I shifted to being a dance teacher in Crystal Lake. During the pandemic, I started subbing in District 47, long-term subbed at West, and then at Woods Creek. When this job became available, it was the perfect combination of early childhood and community support. My official title is Family Support Professional. We often say parent liaison. I do family outreach, connect families with resources, help with screenings, and support them once they are in PreK." "This is my third year, and I have made so many friends with all the staff. Glacier Ridge as a whole is great. My favorite part of the job is definitely connecting with families and kids. For many families, this is their first time sending a little one to school, and having someone to help them through that transition is really helpful. Seeing where kids start and where they end up is amazing."   "For PreK, our early release days are family engagement events. Sometimes they are educational, and sometimes they are simply time for grownups and preschoolers to be together. We really aim to build community between families, staff, and outside agencies. I have three young children, and my oldest comes here, so I get the perspective as both a staff member and a parent." "One of the biggest things is that we want families to feel welcome at Glacier Ridge. If they ever need something, we want them to know they can reach out. And if we do not have the answer, we will find the person who does.” -Molly Alfonso, Early Childhood Family Support Professional, Glacier Ridge

Together, we’re shaping the future of District 47. Our Strategic Plan reflects how we work collaboratively, grow intentionally, empower learners and leaders, and thrive as one community. Discover how our Strategic Plan is guiding the way: d47.org/strategicplan. #D47GrowEmpowerThrive

Faces of D47: “I was born and raised in Crystal Lake. My husband and I grew up here and we are both graduates of Crystal Lake Central. When I was young, my family moved across town, so I attended both North and South Elementary. We now have two daughters who have attended South Elementary and the whole experience has felt very nostalgic!” “I have my Bachelor’s in Marketing from Butler University. I worked for a Fortune 500 company for 12 years as a leader in sales operations before becoming a stay-at-home mom. When our oldest daughter started Kindergarten at South, I knew I wanted to get involved. I began volunteering in the classroom, working on TAP room projects, and helping on committees. As our girls got older, I became a member of South’s PTO board. I started shadowing my predecessor, Erin Mapes, two years ago. She really laid the groundwork for a successful transition and helped set up our PTO to be as successful as it is today.” “We recently wrapped up our big APEX fundraiser and celebrated with a ‘Glowtacular’ party — a fun glow-in-the-dark dance for the kids! It’s rewarding to see how the funds we raise directly support the students and staff. We use these funds to pay for our all-school field trips, teacher appreciation events, and assemblies. We also provide health office snacks, classroom supplies, and PBIS incentives.” “We have many family events coming up that I’m excited about this year too! South’s Literacy Night, Gingerbread House Competition, Bingo Night, Sledding Event, and Skate Night are already in the works. South is also putting on a school musical this year! It’s just another example of how special this community is. We all come together to create memorable experiences for our kids.” "South’s PTO is truly amazing! There are many different ways to volunteer without a huge time commitment. Whether it’s a TAP room project, helping at an event, or just coming to a PTO meeting, there are countless ways to get involved and make a difference. South is a small, close-knit community and it often feels like family. It’s been wonderful to give back to the place that meant so much to me growing up.” -Ginny Pondel, South PTO Financial Secretary

Faces of D47: “I grew up in Palatine and have worn a lot of different hats throughout my life. I’ve been a film critic, a packaging salesman, a special ed teacher in California, and even ran my own online store — which I still do on the side. Teaching was kind of a career change for me, but one I’m really happy I made." "After high school, I received my Bachelor's in Cinema & Photography from Southern Illinois University. I actually worked in the entertainment industry for a while in California. I worked on a show called Your Big Break, which was kind of a precursor to American Idol. The coolest part was being backstage at the studio. I’d see people like Britney Spears or George from Seinfeld walking around. I didn’t have a glamorous job, but it was fun just to be there." "When I came back to Illinois, I tried sales for a few years and didn't feel it was a good fit for me. Eventually, I found my way back to teaching. I went back to school at Northern Illinois University and earned my Master’s in Elementary Education, later getting certified in ELA and social studies. This is my fourth year teaching sixth grade language arts and social studies here, and I love it. This grade is the sweet spot; they’re more independent than elementary kids but not too cool yet." "I love being up in front of my students. I’ve done a lot of community theatre, so I bring that energy into my classroom. I’m not a cubicle person; I need that daily interaction. My favorite part of teaching is the people, hands down. My classroom is a mix of learning and fun. I have a Pac-Man arcade game I use as an incentive — students can earn time to play it. We do creative writing projects like write-arounds, where they trade papers and continue each other’s stories. I also bring in my love of film and incorporate it into my lessons, when applicable." "I feel really comfortable here and love being at Lundahl; it’s a great community of staff and admin! I’m lucky to work with people I genuinely enjoy being around, and to be doing something that feels like the right fit.” - Patrick Naugle, 6th Grade LA/SS Teacher, Lundahl

Faces of D47: “I’m from Pakistan but grew up in Dubai with my family. I moved to America 17 years ago after receiving my Bachelor's and Master's in English. I have two daughters, both in high school, and when they started kindergarten, I wanted to find a job close to them. I began as a lunch supervisor at Indian Prairie, thinking it would just be for a few years, but I loved being in the school so much that I became a paraprofessional. From there, I started exploring how to become a teacher. I earned my Master’s in English Language Learners and now work as an ELL teacher at Indian Prairie.” “Being bilingual and having experienced what it’s like to move to a new country, I understand what many of our multilingual families go through. I know how it feels when everything—from the education system to the language—is unfamiliar. I never went to school here, so I had to learn how everything worked while adapting to a new culture. That experience helps me connect deeply with my students and their families. I know the challenges they face, and I want them to know they’re not alone.” “I speak Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, a bit of Arabic, and English, and I work with students from all over the world. Right now, our school serves nearly 90 multilingual learners who speak about 9 different languages. We pull students out or push into classrooms to help them with vocabulary and cultural understanding. Even simple words can mean different things across cultures, so helping students make those connections is important.” “My favorite part of this job is building relationships. I love working with people, not machines. I’m a very compassionate and empathetic person, and seeing a smile or hearing feedback that I’ve made a difference reminds me why I do this. I never thought I’d be a teacher, but now I know this is where I’m meant to be.” “Outside of teaching, I lead sewing club and hope to start a henna club soon. Henna is something I learned from my mom and carried with me from Dubai—it’s a piece of my culture I love sharing. Every day I feel grateful to do something meaningful and to help families feel at home in a new place.” - Fouzia Rana, ELL Teacher, Indian Prairie

Faces of D47: “I grew up in McHenry and went to Illinois State for elementary education. I was part of a professional development school, so instead of one semester of student teaching, I did a full year. I’m such a visual learner and knew sitting and reading a book wasn’t going to teach me as much as living it out." "I started teaching fourth grade in Palatine for two years, then the doors to Crystal Lake opened. I began at Woods Creek teaching third and fourth grade, then multi-age, and eventually felt this pull toward technology. When the iCoach position came out, I knew I had to go for it. I loved working with teachers and students on integrating technology because it allowed me to learn new programs and see instruction in a new light. During that time, I earned my Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on technology. My final project was on whether technology integration benefited students in the classroom, and that experience really shaped how I teach today." "When the STEM position opened during the pandemic, I took the leap. I’ve been in this role ever since and love it. I always say the door closes, and we create magic in here. We explore, we tinker, we have fun. My biggest thing is giving kids experiences they might never get elsewhere, like using a 3D printer. Seeing their excitement and pride fills my cup. My favorite project is 3D printing. It started as an idea when I was an iCoach, and that spark turned into something incredible. Now, third graders design keychains, and in fourth and fifth grade, we build the City of STEMopolis." "I also lead clubs like Video Game Design and Makerspace Club. I love seeing students dive into creating, coding, or designing. I do bus duty in the morning and afternoon, which is such a nice way to start and end the day. I get to know the bus drivers, who are such an important part of our district, and make sure the kids are getting home safely." "Crystal Lake just feels like home. In my previous district, I felt like a number, but here, I feel part of a family. You see familiar faces everywhere, and that’s something truly special.” - Amy Frank, STEM Teacher, Canterbury

Faces of D47: “I grew up in Crystal Lake and went to South and Bernotas. After high school, I attended Illinois State for four years and studied abroad in Prague. I student-taught my senior year—first at South in Aspire, then at Wauconda High School. I got my Bachelor’s in Learning Behavior Sciences and thought high school was where I wanted to be. However, after two years at the high school, I realized I didn’t have the life experiences to effectively help students with their challenges. With encouragement from my mom, who works at Glacier Ridge, and my best friend’s mom, I applied for the position when it became available. Coming to Glacier Ridge, I knew this was the exact population I wanted to teach. I just love it.” "Adjusted Learning is a K-5 program for students with complex medical needs and multiple disabilities. I have students in 2nd through 4th grade and love having them for multiple years. I’ve built strong relationships with their families, and it’s amazing to see the growth over time. The curriculum we’re using this year, Unique Learning System, is completely adaptive while encouraging students to use their communication devices. It’s been fun connecting lessons to general education themes and seeing the benefits for my students." "We cook every Friday, which the kids love! We make simple things like quesadillas or cinnamon toast to build independence and confidence. We’ve taken field trips to practice ordering food and interacting with the community. Our new accessible playground lets students in wheelchairs fully participate alongside their peers, which is really sweet to watch." "I’m also in grad school for early childhood education. It blends well with my work, as many of my students are at that academic level, helping me grow and plan better lessons." "What I look forward to most each day is my students. They’re just so cute! I never know what antics they’ll get into, and even when lessons don’t go as planned, there will still be magical moments that happen. That flexibility and adaptation to each moment—what some might see as chaos—is my favorite part of teaching.” - Jill Larsen, Adjusted Learning Teacher, Glacier Ridge

Faces of D47: “I grew up in Antioch, Illinois, and earned my Bachelor’s in Elementary Education at Western Illinois University. By third grade, I already knew I wanted to be a teacher. I’d set up desks for my teddy bears and dolls, hand out stickers and pens, and play school every day. Teaching was always what I wanted to do." "After college, I began at an elementary school in Fox Lake as a paraprofessional, then taught fifth grade for five years and third grade for seven. During that time, I found my passion for guided reading and literacy, which inspired me to earn my Master’s in Literacy from the University of the Cumberlands. Soon after, I applied in Crystal Lake. Although I didn’t land a Reading Recovery teacher leader role, I became a literacy coach at Woods Creek. Since coming to Crystal Lake, I have worked in many areas. I taught remote multi-age, served as a math coach, and then returned to literacy coaching. Eventually, I stepped into Reading Recovery at Husmann—my dream job. I’ve now been here three years, fully trained, and I absolutely love it." "My day usually starts with a meeting, followed by morning bus duty, which I love. Half my day is spent pulling first graders one-on-one for Reading Recovery; the other half is with small groups. Sometimes I push into classrooms, other times I pull groups into mine. The variety makes the day fly by." "At Husmann, I stay involved in many ways. I started Safety Patrol, serve on PBIS Tier 1, collaborate with our HPTO, and help organize assemblies. This year, I’m also mentoring our new Reading Recovery teacher, which has been so rewarding." "Honestly, the people here in Crystal Lake are some of the nicest I’ve ever met. No matter what role I’ve been in, there has always been a team of teachers ready to rally behind me. My coworkers are incredible, and I love the group of ladies I get to work with every day. I tell everyone that I have the best job in the world. Even when I pull students, I’ll say, ‘I have the best job!’ All the steps along the way led me here, and I couldn’t be happier.” -Stephanie Brual, Reading Specialist/Interventionist, Husmann

Faces of D47: "I grew up helping out in my mom’s at-home daycare in Antioch. I was the babysitter and the helper, and I loved being around little kids. I went to Bradley University planning to teach early childhood, but I realized younger kids didn’t always relate to my sarcasm. When I switched to elementary education and started my methods classes, I discovered how much I enjoyed teaching math. I earned my Bachelor's in elementary education with a focus in middle school math. I remember classmates turning to me for help and my professor asking me to explain problems. Math wasn’t always my strongest subject, but I realized how fun it was to teach it, and I never looked back. If you had told me I’d be teaching middle school math and loving it, I would have laughed—but here I am." "I got my first job teaching middle school in Lake County for 3 years. Then one day, I walked into Hannah Beardsley because I saw they had a math opening, introduced myself to the secretary, and ended up interviewing for an eighth-grade math position. I’ve been here for 17 years, and from the moment I stepped into the building, it felt welcoming. My favorite part of coming here each day is the people, both the students and the staff. I’ve made close friends who were at my wedding and were the first to know about my four kids. Living in the Hannah Beardsley community makes it even more special. I enjoy our new math curriculum and how it challenges both my thinking and my students’ thinking." "I serve as co-advisor for NJHS, which gives students opportunities to lead. Last year, our eighth graders organized a student-led fund run that raised about $7,423 for end-of-year activities. NJHS has also adopted Crystal Lake Avenue, and we take groups out several times a year for road cleanups. Seeing students take ownership, plan events, and give back to the community is one of my favorite parts of the position." "Seventeen years later, I can honestly say I’ve never wanted to leave. Hannah Beardsley has become my home, and being part of this community means so much to me. I love what I do, and I feel lucky everyday to be here." -Jennifer Rutishauser, 8th Grade Math/Social Studies Teacher, HBMS

Faces of D47: "I grew up in Algonquin, but now live in Cary with my wife and our pets. My wife’s family is from Crystal Lake, and I have family here too, so I have deep ties to the area. I got my Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering at Valparaiso University and worked as an engineer for about 10 years before deciding to go back to school to become a teacher. I earned my Master’s in Education from St. Xavier University in 2021. This is my fifth year teaching, but my second year in District 47." “I always loved my teachers growing up and had amazing ones in just about every grade, including high school. In 2020, I had a lot of time to think, and I decided it was the right time to make the switch. A big moment for me was volunteering with Junior Achievement, where I taught a half-day lesson to 5th graders on entrepreneurship and economics. It was just a snapshot, but it set me on the path of realizing teaching wasn’t a 'what if' anymore." "I’ve taught 2nd, 3rd, and now 5th grade. I love 5th grade because it gives me the best of both worlds—you can be goofy and have those deeper discussions. My sense of humor is kind of sarcastic, and 5th graders really get that and can give it back respectfully." "My engineering background definitely comes into play in the classroom. I tell students all the time, every subject matters. In engineering, I did mechanical design, material testing, reports, presentations, and constant communication. Math and science were obvious, but reading and writing were just as important for papers, reports, and presentations. Even social studies tied in when looking at business history and trends. I don’t like the idea of 'I’m just a math person' or 'I’m just a reading person.' We all have to use all of it, and my real-world experience helps me show students why that matters." "I feel very lucky to be at Coventry. Last year, four out of the five teachers on our team were new in some way, and that gave us a strong sense of camaraderie. We learned together, made mistakes together, and supported each other. I think I’ve got one of the best teams, and that’s made this whole experience even better for me." -Zach Johnson, 5th Grade Teacher, Coventry