2. Anthony McConnell - Principal
My name is Anthony McConnell and I am
honored to be the new principal of Kipling
Elementary School. I live in Deerfield with my
wife Cayce, son AJ (2), and my daughter
Aurelia (6) who also happens to be entering
first grade at Kipling. I am interested in all
aspects of education, learning, and
leadership. I am passionate about
implementing best practices identified through
research into our schools and classrooms. My
interests include reading, science, and history.
I look forward to getting to know all of you this
year.
3. Svetlana Sutic - Assistant Principal
Hello! My name is Svetlana Sutic. I am very excited to be Kipling's Assistant
Principal! I am a highly collaborative, energetic, and passionate educational
leader dedicated to advocating for academic excellence and social and
emotional well-being for ALL of our students, staff, and parent community. I
put great value in the personal relationships I form and the professional
manner in which we all interact. I have a high regard for education and what
it can afford all of us in bettering who we are for ourselves and how we
contribute to the world. I am committed to the Kipling Family and supporting
our shared vision for who we are and what we want for our kids.
I am a wife of 25 yrs to Mike (Milic), a mother to Darinka (20), Danilo (19),
and Daniela (15), live in Libertyville, love cooking, snow skiing, golfing,
fishing, and coffee! I have degrees in education, reading, and administration.
I am a first born Orthodox Serbian-American and fluent in Serbian.
A quote that fits my belief is; "Not everything that is faced can be changed.
But nothing can be changed until it is faced.”~James Arthur Baldwin
4. Kerry Molway - Kindergarten
Hi, my name is Kerry Molway and I am so excited to be joining
the Kipling family! This will be my fourth year working as a
kindergarten teacher and I couldn’t love this grade more. I grew
up out in the Chicago suburbs, but am originally from the lovely
little state of Connecticut. After high school I went to DePaul
University of Chicago where I earned my degree in Elementary
Education. I love painting, photography, and teaching yoga to
children. I also love watching baseball with my fiancé and our
beautiful golden retriever Marnie!
One of the most important ideas that I hope to pass on to the
students is that learning never ends (even Ms. Molway learns in
our classroom!). I believe education is an open-ended process in
which the educated must force themselves to be risk takers and
unprejudiced to new people and situations. Education is only the
stepping stone to more education and more self-learning. I can’t
wait to be that step in your child’s life!
5. Rebecca Dushman - Kindergarten
I’m Rebecca Dushman,one of the new kindergarten
teachers, and I am very excited to be joining the
Kipling family. This will be my 5th year teaching in
the district and my 10th year teaching kindergarten.
I am passionate about empowering young children
academically, socially and emotionally to achieve
their full potential. I welcome parent participation in
the classroom and look forward to having a great
year with you and your children. My husband and I
have been residents of Deerfield for 15 years and
all four of our children have been educated in the
Deerfield public school system. When I’m not in the
classroom, I enjoy spending time reading, dancing
and going on adventures with my family.
6. Karen Gluskin - 2nd Grade
My name is Karen Gluskin and I’m very excited to be
teaching Second Grade at Kipling Elementary School! I
am from Buffalo Grove, so I feel like I’m returning
“home” after teaching first, second and third grades in
Naperville, Lemont, and Lombard the past 3 years. I
graduated from Syracuse University, where I received a
degree in Inclusive Elementary and Special Education,
and I also had the opportunity to study abroad in
London. I have experience using social media and
technology, so am thrilled to incorporate 1:1 technology
into my instruction. I love teaching because I can
encourage students to learn new things, push their
thinking, discover new passions, and share their ideas
with everyone. Outside of teaching I enjoy running,
doing yoga, watching sports, cooking, and reading. I’m
looking forward to a great year!
7. Amanda Gomberg - 3rd Grade
(Pending Board Approval)
Hi! My name is Amanda Gomberg and I am extremely
excited to join the Kipling Elementary School
community. I grew up in Buffalo Grove with my parents
and my two older sisters, who are also elementary
school teachers. I graduated from The University of
Iowa with degrees in Elementary Education and Special
Education. I was previously a third grade teacher in
Zion, and I am very excited to bring that experience to
Kipling! I have also worked for Keshet for the past six
years over the summer and love it! I enjoy traveling,
reading, and spending time with my family and friends.
I cannot wait for the school year to start and to get to
know all of you!
8. Elizabeth Foran - Art
Hello, my name is Elizabeth Foran and I will be the
new Art teacher here at Kipling Elementary School!
I grew up in Lake Forest and attended The
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a
degree in Art Education and Art History. I started
my teaching career at a private school in River
Forest, IL and am very excited to become part of
the Kipling community. I am passionate about
education! I have always loved learning and I
believe that I bring this passion to the classroom as
a teacher now. Some of my hobbies include
spending time with family and friends, photography,
reading, running, and cheering on the Blackhawks!
I am eager to meet the families of Kipling
Elementary School and cannot wait to start the
school year!
9. Lori Avdoian - School Psychologist
I was born and raised in the greater Detroit area, and attended Albion college in
Michigan. I decided to merge my love for working with kids, psychology, and
school systems at the University of Cincinnati, where I received my Specialist
Degree in School Psychology. I have worked in both Ohio and Illinois with
children from Pre-K to 12th grade, but have always felt a special connection
with Elementary-aged students. My primary professional goals include helping
all students achieve in both academic and social/emotional areas and providing
thorough and effective consultation with staff and family members.
My husband Greg and I recently bought our first place, a condo in the Lincoln
Square neighborhood of Chicago. We are excited but in definite need of
decorating advice, so please feel free to share any of your expertise in this
area. I was very fortunate to live in Australia for a semester during my Junior
year of college, and to more recently to travel to Armenia on a service trip.
Greg and I are looking forward to discovering several countries in Europe next
summer. I love cooking and baking, and have been known to watch way to
much of the Food Network. I also enjoy playing tennis and basketball, and
even knitting a scarf or two to help family members brave the Midwest winters.
I am very much looking forward to being your School Psychologist at Kipling
this year, and hope to meet many of you soon!
10. Ali Paster - Resource Teacher
Greetings! My name is Ali Paster and I am thrilled to be joining the
Kipling family as a special education resource teacher. I am a native
Minnesotan and former Badger, graduating from the University of
Wisconsin: Madison with a degree in Special Education. After moving to
Chicago, I worked in the Chicago Public Schools for 7 years as a special
education teacher and later after receiving my Masters in Elementary
Education, a 2nd and 3rd grade classroom teacher. While taking time off
to raise my three children, I kept busy working at the Chicago Children’s
Museum and National Louis University as a student teacher supervisor.
During these years, I missed teaching and longed to return to a school
community. I joined the DPS staff last year working at South Park and
Shepard in long term substitute positions. I was immediately impressed
by the commitment of the staff and warmth of the community and felt I had
found a special place. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my
friends and family, exercising, reading, and traveling. I live in Glencoe
with my husband, children, and adorable 13 year old beagle named
Madison. I am beyond excited to be joining the Kipling staff and look
forward to meeting many of you throughout the school year.
11. Elaine Olbur - Resource Teacher
I am happy to be joining the staff at Kipling
Elementary for the 2014-15 school year. This will
be my 8th year teaching in DPS 109 including four
years at South Park elementary and three years at
Caruso Middle School. Prior to teaching in
Deerfield I spent three years teaching in the
Chicago Public Schools. Teaching is not only my
career, but it is my passion. In my spare time I
enjoy spending time with my husband, two-year-old
son, and dog. My hobbies are reading,
scrapbooking, and watching sports. I went to the
University of Iowa (Go Hawkeyes!) for my
bachelors’ degree and received my Masters from
National Louis University. I grew up in Glenview
and currently live in Chicago. I love to travel and
two of my favorite places are Hawaii and London. I
am looking forward to another great year in DPS
109.
12. Claudia Steinbrecher - Social Worker
I grew up in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. I attended Michigan
State University (Bachelor's) and the University of Michigan
(Master's). This is my 27th year as a school social worker, my
16th year in District 109. I've also worked for the Special
Education District of McHenry County, and I was the social work
supervisor at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire for three
years.
My husband, Richard, and I have been married for 22 years, and
I have seven step-grandchildren! My hobbies include reading,
and spending time at the cabin we built on Washington Island in
Door County, Wisconsin. The coolest place I've ever been? The
Taj Majal in Jaipur, India.
I love helping struggling children learn new strategies to help
them to be more happy and successful at school!
13. Taylor Meredith - Instructional
Coach
Hi, I am Taylor Meredith, one of the new instructional
coaches at Kipling. I am a graduate of Syracuse
University and received my Master’s Degree from Hunter
College in New York City. I have experience as a Special
Education teacher in NYC public schools and as a 5th
grade teacher in Glenview, IL. My husband, Frank and I
live in Lincoln Park. I love to explore new places, practice
yoga and watch NCAA basketball. Working with students
to help foster an authentic love for reading and writing is
one of the reasons why I love teaching. In addition, I am
passionate about developing strong student ownership,
engagement, life-long learning and brain research. I am
thrilled to joining the Deerfield and Kipling community!
14. Michelle Primack - Instructional
Coach Hello Kipling Families! My name is Michelle Primack and I
am one of the new iCoaches at Kipling Elementary School.
Prior to this year, I was a differentiation coach at Walden
and I began my career in education several years ago,
when I taught fourth and fifth grade in Arlington Heights.
One of the things that I love about my job is that it is
different everyday and provides me unique opportunities to
work with teachers. I am specifically looking forward to all
of the innovative things that I will help support in
classrooms as we move to a 1:1 learning environment!
When I am not busy at school, I like to spend time with my
family. My husband, Stuart, my children, Maya (10 years
old), Mason (8 years old), and I live in Northbrook. My
husband and I are very excited to run the Chicago Half
Marathon together this fall. I have spent quite a bit of time
training over the summer.
I am looking forward to a great year at Kipling!
