Jim Borman
Resource Teacher
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Jim is a product of the public schools. He studied religion at Indiana University at Bloomington and Urban Planning & Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago prior to pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching at National-Louis University in Evanston. He spent most of his career in non-profit organization where he specialized in organizing and advocacy. He had the special opportunity to work with President-Elect Barack Obama while he was advocating for consumer rights issues in Springfield. He spent his first two years of teaching in a self-contained class with students who have behavioral challenges in a middle school in North Chicago. He is excited about the opportunities afforded him to work with all staff, students, and parents at Perspectives/IIT Math & Science Academy.
Dean of Students
Jeremy Burnham has been a member of the Perspectives family for 4 years. He was a founding teacher at Perspectives Calumet High School and Perspectives Calumet School of Technology. Mr. Burnham received is Bachelor's in Speech Communication from The University of Georgia. He followed his dream of being an educator when he attended Seattle University for his Masters in Teaching and later getting his Post Baccalaureate in Teaching English to Second Language Learners. Last year, Mr. Burnham finished his Type 75 Administration Certification and was accepted into Loyola Universities Doctor of Education program for Administration and Leadership. When he is not at MSA or Loyola he is spending time with his wife and infant son.
Humanities Instructional Leader
Laura is honored to have been one of MSA's founding teachers and is excited to watch our campus grow this year. She completed her Master's Degree in Teaching and Learning from DePaul University in 2006 after studying psychology and Spanish for her undergraduate degree at Illinois Wesleyan University. Laura is passionate about incorporating culture and the arts into her teaching and draws from her experience working with organizations like Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Spertus Institute, Chicago Opera Theatre, and Infamous Commonwealth Theatre.
Resource Teacher
Elizabeth Cagney-Kledzinski was born and raised in Chicago. Teaching became her career plan after she spent several summers working as a camp counselor. She attended Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois where she studied History and Education. In December 2007 she graduated with honors at Saint Xavier University. After graduating Miss Cagney-Kledzinski as a substitute teacher, tutor, and for a suburban park district. She strongly supports life-long learning and hopes that by continuing her education she can be an example to her students. She is very excited to be working with students at the Perspectives/IIT Math and Science Academy and she looks forward to a successful school year.
Resource Teacher
Alyse M. Cerone joined our special education department this year at Perspectives Charter School IIT/Math & Science Academy. She received her Bachelor's degree in communication from St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin. Two years after she graduated from college, she decided that she wanted to go back to school to study education. She received a Master of Arts degree in special education from National Louis University in 2005. Since graduating, Ms. Cerone taught in suburban elementary schools before joining IIT/MSA. She is extremely excited to be here helping our students to be successful at Perspectives IIT/Math & Science Academy.
Alissa CatiisSchool Social Worker
Alissa grew up in Lincolnwood, Illinois and studied psychology and Spanish at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After finishing college in three years, Alissa completed one year of service with AmeriCorps Project YES! by working at Peabody Elementary School in conjunction with the Northwestern University Settlement House in Chicago. Alissa decided to continue her education by pursing a masters degree at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration where she completed internships at the Center on Halsted and the University of Chicago North Kenwood/Oakland Charter School. Alissa looks forward to getting to know the students and families at the new Perspectives campus where she hopes to incorporate her clinical skills and love for the arts, writing, and dancing into her work.
Neil CosmanOffice Manager
Neil comes to Perspectives with over 15 years of management experience in the Hotel and Industrial Plant Management sectors in both his native Canada and Chicagoland. Mr. Cosman is tremendously excited about working with Perspectives students - tomorrow’s leaders - as well as working with such passionate educators.
Mary CummanePrincipal
For the past ten years, Mary Cummane has been a part of the Perspectives staff, first as a founding Science teacher, then as an Instructional Leader, Assistant Principal, and now Principal of our newest campus, the Perspectives/IIT Math & Science Academy. Prior to coming to Perspectives, Ms. Cummane earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Missouri State University and a Master of Arts degree in Education from St. Xavier University. For eighteen years, Mary taught High School Science as well as science and education courses at the college level. Most recently, she earned a Master of Science Education degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology. In 2004, she began moderating the Sci-Tech Explorers Program, a new after-school program to promote awareness and provide motivation for students to pursue careers in science, math, engineering, and technology. Ms. Cummane was the recipient of a Toshiba grant to support a student research curriculum centered on testing the effects of population and industry on the water quality of Lake Michigan. She has also received a WISE Neighborhood grant to support the Sci-Tech Explorers. Mary co-designed the Second Semester Senior Seminar (S4 Project), an interdisciplinary seminar, research, and independent study project that introduced and prepared students for the college experience. She has presented at numerous professional developments and science teacher meetings on topics ranging from Alternative Assessments to Hands-On Science Learning. Mary is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Science Education at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Resource Teacher
Brendan Detzner is a 10th grade resource teacher grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago. He earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy at Beloit College, and had a number of jobs inside and outside of education before his experience serving as an Americorps volunteer at the Illinois Youth Center in Warrenville inspired him to seek further education and become a special education teacher. This is his first year as a teacher and he is very excited to be working with such a wonderful group of students.
8th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Melissa Graves grew up in a very small town in northern Wisconsin. She then attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and earned her B.S. and M.Ed. in Elementary Education. After moving to Chicago, she taught for five years prior to joining the Perspectives team. She is excited to be teaching American History, which is something she enjoys reading about in her spare time. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and 10 month old son, Nathan.
Program Manager
Originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Joe attend Boston College and received his undergraduate degree in English. He moved to Chicago and began teaching in the Chicago Public Schools through Teach For America. There he taught high school English and helped coach the debate team. After working at Umoja Student Development Corporation for a year, he joined the staff of Perspectives/IIT Math and Science Academy as Program Manager. He is excited about working with the students and families of Perspectives to give them an excellent educational experience.
Jennifer HartmannHistory Teacher
Originally from Chicago, Illinois Jennifer received her bachelor’s degree in History and Secondary Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 2002. She then began teaching at Rickover Junior High School in Sauk Village, Illinois. While teaching full time, she began and completed her Masters Degree from the University of Chicago, graduating in 2005. Her Master’s Thesis was titled “The Brains Behind The Veils: The Political Influence of Women in the Ottoman Empire in the 15th & 16th Centuries”. She comes to Perspectives with 7 years of teaching experience teaching 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grade History. Miss Hartmann enjoys using films, multimedia materials, and projects to teach a multicultural History class. She is excited to bring her passion for education and life-long learning to the Perspectives Math & Science Academy.
Steve Iammartino9th Grade English
Mr. Iammartino was born and raised in the Chicago-land area. He went to Marquette University for his Bachelor’s Degree in English and Concordia University for his Master’s Degree in Education. He started his professional life in marketing and has found his transition to teaching to be fun and rewarding. He enjoys working with students as they find their own educational values. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two children as well as cycling, reading, and working around the house.
10th Grade English Teacher
Mr. Loeb was born and raised in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Upon graduating high school, Mr. Loeb went on to study English and Textual Studies at Syracuse University in upstate New York. Upon graduating college, Mr. Loeb returned to Chicago, where he earned his Masters in English and education from DePaul University. Mr. Loeb is excited to join the Perspectives MSA family, and is thrilled to begin working with his 10th graders to develop their skills in persuasive writing, and to help develop their appreciation for literature. When he is not teaching or lesson planning, Mr. Loeb enjoys playing 12" softball, camping, creative writing, performance/slam poetry, enjoying live music, theater, film, and spending time with his wife and family.
Middle School English Teacher
A native of the Chicagoland area, Joanna received her Bachelor's degree in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago. She went on to earn a Master's in Teaching from the University's Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP), during which she spent two years researching and working in South Side schools. After a year of interning at Sawyer Elementary in Gage Park and Reed Elementary in Englewood, Joanna joined the Perspectives family. She is excited to help prepare 7th and 8th graders for high school and beyond!
ADL Advisor
Raised on the Southside of Chicago, she has five sisters and seven brothers. She attended to Ravis elementary school, Dusable and Simeon High, and Olive Harvey College. She came to Perspectives in 1993 to help build a library (which was suppose to take 1year) and liked and believed in the vision that Kim and Diana had for kids. And here it is ten years later and she still believes in A Disciplined Life.
Joseph MichaelisScience Teacher
Joe Michaelis received his B.S. in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin in 2003. He completed his Teacher Education in Dallas, TX, and taught 10th grade Physics and Chemistry in nearby Lancaster, TX. Joe has since returned close to home to teach in his favorite city. He is thrilled to be part of the Perspectives family, and looks forward to working in an exciting student centered classroom.
Math Instructional Leader
Julie Puzon graduated with a degree in Middle School Education with endorsements in math, language arts, social sciences, and physical education from Illinois State University. She started her teaching career in Lansing, Illinois teaching 7th grade math. At this time she earned her first Master’s Degree from Olivet Nazarene University in Curriculum and Instruction. Julie then came to Perspectives Charter Schools to teach 7th grade math. She was a founding teacher of Perspectives Calumet Middle School. Julie’s true passions are in giving students the best education they can get. This is why she chose to become and Instructional Leader with Perspectives. Julie now focuses on classroom instruction and leadership within the Perspectives/IIT Math and Science Academy. She also now holds another Master’s Degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Math Education and Leadership. Julie strives to help make each classroom into the best learning environment through the use of A Disciplined Life© and high expectations of learning.
Anthony Suarez7th Grade History Teacher
Originally from Detroit, MI, Anthony graduated from Michigan State University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in history. Upon graduating, he student taught at a high school in Detroit for a year and when finished, accepted his first teaching position at a middle school in Romulus, MI. After making the decision to move to Chicago after a couple years, Anthony accepted a position with Perspectives Charter Schools and made the move to the city. Anthony is extremely excited to be living in a new city and working at such a great school.
Synergy Teacher
After earning a degree in music theory and music history from the University of Chicago, Stephen Todd came to Perspectives/IIT Math & Science Academy as an English teacher. This year, he is excited to teach Synergy-which will include an exploration of the relationships among math, music, and science-to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. In addition to teaching at Perspectives MSA, Stephen has worked at Teach For America's Chicago Institute, where he managed school logistics and presented professional development to new teachers. When he is not teaching, Stephen plays flute in area orchestras and chamber ensembles, including the University of Chicago New Music Ensemble.
9th Grade Social Studies
Beth Wright grew up in Stevens Point, Wisconsin where she spent much of her childhood reading and playing sports. After high school, she moved to Minnesota to complete her bachelor’s degree. She attended St. Olaf College, a small liberal arts school, where she majored in Sociology and Anthropology. Following her undergraduate work, she spent a year volunteering in rural Colorado before attending graduate school at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. While at Northwestern, she completed a master’s degree in Secondary Education, focusing on History and Sociology. Ms. Wright is thrilled to be working with the awesome ninth graders of the Math and Science Academy.
William Yadron JrResource Teacher
Originally from south suburbs of Chicago, William received his bachelor’s degree in Spe cial Education from the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1999. He spent the next 8 years teaching in various schools in Minnesota and Chicagoland area, which helped refine his teaching skills with students of all ages and various disabilities. William is one of the founding teachers of IIT/Math and Science Academy, and is excited to create a culture of academic rigor and inquiry.