Ryan Martin
Principal
Birthday: May 30th
Hobbies: Golf
Class Color/Theme: Orange and Blue
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: Cubs, Bears, Bulls, Illini
Favorite Places to Shop: Lake of the Woods Golf Course
Favorite Places to Eat: Fillipos
Favorite Snacks: Anything Gummy
Favorite Drinks: Coffee, Sweet Tea, Lemonade
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Send complimentary e-mails/notes
Tracy Beecher
Assistant Principal
Katelin Schroeder
Dean of Students
Birthday: July 10th
Hobbies: Reading, Running, Baking
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illini and Cardinals
Favorite Places to Shop: TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Target
Favorite Places to Eat: Whisk, Chick-Fil-A, Chipotle, Monicals
Favorite Snacks: Blue Nerd Clusters, Pretzels, Fruit, Vanilla Oreos, Sour Gummy Worms
Favorite Drinks: Diet Coke
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: share the positive impact that MPE has had on their children’s lives.
Support Staff
Stephanie Alves
Interventionist
Birthday: July 28th
Hobbies: Reading; Arts & Crafts
Class Color/Theme: Pastels
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illini!
Favorite Places to Shop: Amazon or HomeGoods
Favorite Places to Eat: Whisk or Monicals
Favorite Snacks: Fruit or Chex Mix
Favorite Drinks: Caramel Macchiato (Starbucks) or Water
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None; less sugar
For my classroom, I’m looking for: a small plant
Thank you, but I don’t need anymore: post-its or markers
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: read with their children
Julie Arnold
EOP
Birthday: October 4th
Hobbies: Walking & reading
Favorite Places to Shop: Target or Hobby Lobby
Favorite Places to Eat: Chilis, Culvers or Monicals
Favorite Snacks: BBQ chips, pretzels, Dove chocolate & Peanut Butter M&M’s
Favorite Drinks: White chocolate mocha (hot/iced) or Dr. Pepper
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Nicci Beard
Paraprofessional
Birthday: May 1st
Hobbies: Camping, reading, baking
Favorite Color: Purple, blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: U of I, St. Louis Cardinals
Favorite Places to Shop: Maurice and Bath & body Works
Favorite Places to Eat: Ribeye, Culver’s
Favorite Snacks: Boom Chicka pop (kettle pop corn), pretzels
Favorite Drinks: Starbucks, coffee, Sprite, and Dr Pepper
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Katy Bolduc
Student Supportive Services
Do you have an Amazon Wish List: Yes, Click Here
Birthday: July 26
Hobbies: Baking, cooking, going to the movies, playing games with my family
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: Chicago White Sox & ILLINI
Favorite Places to Shop: Target, Amazon, Starbucks
Favorite Snacks: Popcorn or pretzels
Favorite Drinks: Diet Coke, Pink Drink (Starbucks), Unsweet Iced Tea
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Keep open communication between home and school, and join in on all the celebrations of progress that their child is making!
Patrick Brewer
Health EOP
Birthday: July 21st
Hobbies: LA Dodgers, my kids, movies, card games
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: LA Dodger
Favorite Places to Shop: Menards
Favorite Snacks: Dark chocolate
Favorite Drinks: medium black coffee
Beth Burdette
Paraprofessional
Birthday: March 31st
Hobbies: Baking, Reading, Houseplants
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite College or Sports Team: U of I
Favorite Places to Shop: Target, Prairie Gardens
Favorite Places to Eat: Filippo’s, Whisk, Chick-fil-A
Favorite Snacks: Popcorn, pretzels, chocolate, caramel
Favorite Drinks: Iced or Hot Vanilla Latte, Dr. Pepper
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
I’m looking for ___ for my classroom: Rug to put under student chairs at my half moon table
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Feel comfortable reaching out and collaborating with me to best support their child
Katie Burrell
Interventionist
Birthday: September 9th
Hobbies: Spending time with family, watching my sons play sports.
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illini and Saint Louis Cardinals
Favorite Places to Shop: Prairie Gardens, Target and Amazon
Favorite Places to Eat: Billy Barooz, Seven Saints, Los Zarapes
Favorite Snacks: White cheddar popcorn
Favorite Drinks: Diet Coke or Hot Chocolate
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Share the great things their students are doing outside of school
Whitney Cisna
Library Aide
Birthday: August 7th
Hobbies: Baking (run a cottage bakery!), crafting, exploring nature
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite Places to Shop: Hobby Lobby, Target, Amazon
Favorite Places to Eat: Los Zarapes, Taco Bell
Favorite Snacks: Pink starburst, milky way, smartfood popcorn
Favorite Drinks: Diet Coke
Brittany Fairfield
Paraprofessional
Birthday: April 24th
Hobbies: Reading
Class Color/Theme: Brown Bear
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite College or Sports Team: University of Illinois
Favorite Places to Shop: Target
Favorite Places to Eat: Taco Bell
Favorite Snacks: Fruit
Favorite Drinks: Diet Pepsi
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Angela Fitzsimmons
Kindergarten Paraprofessional
Birthday: October 15th
Hobbies: Gardening and reading
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Place to Shop: Amazon or Prairie Gardens
Favorite Snacks: Anything salty
Favorite Drinks: Coke Zero
Kristi Hart
Paraprofessional
Birthday: July 21
Hobbies: Music, being outside, being in the sun
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite Places to Shop: Amazon
Favorite Places to Eat: Kofusion
Favorite Snacks: Popcorn
Favorite Drinks: Coffee
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Olivia Hyde
Paraprofessional
Birthday: April 19th
Hobbies: Painting, Being Outdoor
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Places to Shop: Target and TJ Maxx
Favorite Places to Eat: DQ and Los Zarapes
Favorite Snacks: Cheez-Its
Favorite Drinks: Dr. Pepper
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Melinda Klaus
Pre-K Paraprofessional
Birthday: September 8th
Hobbies: Reading, travel
Class Color/Theme: Butterfly
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite College or Sports Team: Cubs, Bears, Illini
Favorite Places to Shop: Target, Tj Maxx, Hobby Lobby, and Home goods
Favorite Places to Eat: Monicals and Longondola
Favorite Snacks: popcorn, pretzels, ice cream sandwiches, chips
Favorite Drinks: water, soda- Dr. Pepper
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Allison Kleist
SLP
Birthday: March 14th
Hobbies: reading, exercising, walking dog
Favorite Color: green, orange
Favorite College or Sports Team: Cubs, Illinois
Favorite Places to Shop: Home Goods, TJ, Yellow Co
Favorite Places to Eat: JJ, Poke Shack, Schnuks salad bar
Favorite Snacks: nuts, rye crisps, veggies
Favorite Drinks: water, diet coke
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Jill Lager
Instructional Coach
Birthday: March 5th
Hobbies: Baking, Reading, YOGA, shopping 🙂
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite College or Sports Team: University of Illinois, Chiefs and Cardinals
Favorite Places to Shop: TJ Maxx, Target
Favorite Places to Eat: Black Dog, Maize, Poke Shack
Favorite Snacks: Cashews, pistachios, peanut M&Ms
Favorite Drinks: Strawberry Refresher
Thank you, but I don’t need anymore: Markers and Pens
Alisa Lamb
District Occupational Therapy
Birthday: January 4th
Hobbies: scrapbooking
Favorite Color: blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illini
Favorite Places to Shop: Soy and Lee boutique–Monticello
Favorite Places to Eat: Jimmy John’s, Monical’s, Los
Favorite Snacks: pretzel crisps, hummus
Favorite Drinks: caramel latte (hot), black coffee
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Lori Larson
Social Worker
Birthday: December 1st
Hobbies: Travel, working in my yard, drinking coffee with a good book
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illinois
Favorite Places to Shop: TJ Maxx and Home Goods
Favorite Places to Eat: Chik-fil-a
Favorite Snacks: Peanut M&Ms and popcorn
Favorite Drinks: Diet Coke, unsweetened tea and coffee
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Kim Lenzini
Pre-K Teacher Aide
Birthday: February 10th
Hobbies: reading, walking my dogs
Class Color/Theme: yellow, Duck room
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: U of I Basketball, Cardinals baseball, Dallas Cowboys
Favorite Places to Shop: Yellow and Co., Target
Favorite Places to Eat: Jimmy Johns, DQ
Favorite Snacks: granola, popcorn and chocolate
Favorite Drinks: coffee, Sprite, Dr. Pepper zero
For my classroom, I’m looking for: Mrs. Turek’s amazon wish list.
Thank you, but I don’t need anymore: coffee cups
Rachel Marlar
Paraprofessional
Birthday: July 30
Hobbies: Scrapbooking, card making, gardening, reading
Favorite Color: Yellow
Favorite Places to Shop: Target, Tj Maxx, Hobby Lobby, and Home goods
Favorite Places to Eat: Monicals and Longondola
Favorite Snacks: popcorn, pretzels, ice cream sandwiches, chips
Favorite Drinks: water, soda- Dr. Pepper
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: see how much the students have grown through the year.
Karen McHale
Interventionist
Birthday: June 28th
Hobbies: spending time with my family and especially my grandkids, reading, going for walks, baking
Class Color/Theme: bright colors (purple walls)
Favorite Color: Yellow
Favorite Places to Shop: Amazon, Target, Aldi
Favorite Places to Eat: Filippos, Los, Jimmy Johns, Whisk
Favorite Snacks: fruits, crackers and cheese, nuts, swedish fish
Favorite Drinks: coffee, water and diet coke
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: simply send a note or an email with good and positive messages
Jessie Messe
Social Work
Birthday: January 18
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, seeing musical theater performances, going on walks/being outside, traveling, and exploring ice cream shops!
Class Color/Theme: Pastel & Feelings-based
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: U of I
Favorite Places to Shop: Target, Amazon, Old Navy, Barnes & Noble
Favorite Places to Eat: Whisk, Seven Saints, Maize
Favorite Snacks: White Cheddar Popcorners, chocolate, fresh fruit
Favorite Drinks: Hint water, lemonade, smoothies
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: Guava
Kelly Nowak
Pre-K Paraprofessional
Birthday: April 26th
Hobbies: I love being outdoors, baking, arts and crafts, and being with my family.
Class Color/Theme: Elephants
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite College or Sports Team: Dodgers
Favorite Places to Shop: Amazon, Temu, Target.
Favorite Places to Eat: Jimmy Johns, Monicals Pizza
Favorite Snacks: Skinny Pop Kettle Corn, Unreal Coconut Bars, Fritos.
Favorite Drinks: Coffee Frappuccinos, Diet Pepsi, Hint Water.
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: Gluten/Lactose/Fructan intolerance
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: understand that growth takes time and celebrating small victories encourages both your child and the educators guiding them.
Philisha Paragi
K Support Services Teacher
Do you have an Amazon Wish List Link? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/WQZTHXFLRR3A?ref_=wl_share
Birthday: January 8th
Hobbies: reading, scrapbooking, travel, time with family
Favorite Color: pink
Favorite College or Sports Team: Indiana University
Favorite Places to Shop: Target, Michael’s
Favorite Places to Eat: Breaking Taco, Project 47
Favorite Snacks: pistachios and Reese’s cups
Favorite Drinks: diet coke, iced tea
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
For my classroom, I’m looking for: snacks for students, velcro, card stock
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: reach out
Denise Reese
EOP
Birthday: November 17th
Hobbies: Reading, baking, gardening
Favorite Color: Yellow
Favorite Places to Eat: Los Zarapes, YoYo’s
Favorite Snacks: Trail mix, Gardetto’s
Favorite Drinks: tea, Diet Coke
Amy Roehrig
District Math Instructional Coach
Birthday: September 13th
Hobbies: Gardening
Favorite Snacks: Swedish Fish
Favorite Drinks: Cold Brew, Coke Zero
Carly Senefeld
Physical Therapist
Birthday: December 27th
Hobbies: hiking, yoga, shopping, reading
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: Marquette University, US Women’s soccer
Favorite Places to Shop: Yellow & Co, Target
Favorite Places to Eat: Culver’s, Briks, Jimmy John’s
Favorite Snacks: pretzels, dark chocolate
Favorite Drinks: vanilla latte, Bubbl’r
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: share sweet stories, show pictures of them working on PT skills at home
Mandy Shanks
School Psychologist
Birthday: December 7th
Hobbies: Hiking, Travel, Disney
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: Bears and Cubs
Favorite Places to Shop: Target
Favorite Places to Eat: Los Zarapes
Favorite Snacks: 1000 grand, chex mix, brownies
Favorite Drinks: Dr. Pepper or Water
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Tara Sieben
SLP
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Birthday: April 13th
Hobbies: reading, listening to music, pickleball, spending time with family and friends
Class Color/Theme: blue and Taylor Swift 🙂
Favorite Color: blue and green
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illini/Cubs
Favorite Places to Shop: Target, Amazon, Yellow & Co., Art Mart
Favorite Places to Eat: Sunsinger, Los Zarapes, Biaggi’s
Favorite Snacks: Cheez-Its, Skinny Pop, sour gummy bears, Wild Berry Skittles, Reese’s PB cups
Favorite Drinks: Diet Coke (especially from McDonald’s!)
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
For my classroom, I’m looking for: books, games and therapy materials, iTunes giftcards for speech apps
Thank you, but I don’t need anymore: coffee, candles, lotion
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: write notes/emails and work as a team to support their child
Emily Tira
Compass Teacher
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Birthday: January 17th
Hobbies: working out, Netflix, Audible
Class Color/Theme: Eric Carle
Favorite Color: rose pink
Favorite College or Sports Team: U of I
Favorite Places to Shop: Antique and Junk Stores! Also Target
Favorite Places to Eat: Chic Fil A
Favorite Snacks: Cheese and Crackers
Favorite Drinks: Diet Coke
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
For my classroom, I’m looking for: switch activated toys
Thank you, but I don’t need anymore: markers, crayons, scissors, pencils, erasers
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: just say thank you!
Katie Walk
Interventionist
Birthday: August 5th
Hobbies: Running, cooking, outdoors, watching Bulldog and Illinois sports, spending time with family
Class Color/Theme: Orange and Blue
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: University of Illinois
Favorite Places to Shop: HomeGoods & Target
Favorite Places to Eat: Sunsinger & Whisk
Favorite Snacks: Skinny Pop
Favorite Drinks: Iced Americano with Sweet Cream, La Croix
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Support and encourage their kiddos!
Anna Webb
Pre-K Classroom Aide
Birthday: February 5th
Hobbies: Music, scrapbooking, reading
Class Color/Theme: Turtles
Favorite Color: Yellow
Favorite College or Sports Team: Fighting Illini
Favorite Places to Shop: Target and Amazon
Favorite Places to Eat: Jimmy John’s and Los Zarappes
Favorite Snacks: Chex mix and gummies
Favorite Drinks: Diet Coke
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Thank you, but I don’t need anymore: Coffee mugs (I don’t drink coffee)
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Share special things going on at home and incorporate what we are doing in the classroom in their home life!
Damaris Zayas
Multilingual Learner Teacher
Birthday: September 14th
Hobbies: Reading
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: Any Philadelphia team-Go Sports 🙂
Favorite Places to Shop: Halara
Favorite Places to Eat: Cheesecake Factory
Favorite Snacks: Dark chocolate trail mix
Favorite Drinks: Ice-tea with honey
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: No Mangos or Avocados
It means the most to me when the parents of my students:: Feel supported and that we are here to help!