Ms. Bernice Lau-Paredes

Title
Faculty – Second Grade, Primary Team Leader, and DEIB Committee Co-Chair

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x407

EDUCATION
Degree(s)
B.S., DePaul University
M.Ed., National Louis University

BIOGRAPHY

Ms. Lau-Paredes loves creating challenging opportunities and developing the growth mindset of “loving a great challenge!” She encourages a literacy-rich environment in her classroom and strives to establish a love for reading in all learners. Before coming to Quest Academy, she worked for three years at an independent early childhood school teaching kindergarten and first grade. She loves working at Quest Academy because of the opportunity to provide a creative, challenging, and nuturing environment for gifted learners. There’s no other place that offers children a more personalized learning experience in the most fun way!

Joined Quest Academy
2008

Ms. Corina Vaccarello

Title
Faculty – Second Grade

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x476

EDUCATION

Degree(s)
B.A., Elementary Education, Type 3 Certificate, Northeastern Illinois University
M.A., School Leadership Illinois Principal Preparation Program, Concordia University Chicago
M.A., Gifted Education, Northeastern Illinois University

Certifications
Kagan Structures Level 1
IMSE Comprehensive Orton-Gillingham Training (30 hours)
Qualified Evaluator PERA certification Growth Through Learning Illinois

Ms. Ashley Alicea

Title
Faculty – Lower School Physical Education

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x473

EDUCATION
Degree(s)

B.Ed in Physical Education with a minor in Health Education, Northern Illinois University

BIOGRAPHY

Ms. Alicea has taught physical education for five years. She has also coached basketball and track and field at the middle school and high school levels. She competed in various sports throughout high school and college and has gone to nationals in college in the heptathlon, 4X100 and 4X400 and javelin. Her physical education class incorporates various aspects such as exercise, developing locomotor and fundamental motor skills, teamwork, and communication. These together make a great starting foundation for building character and friendships inside and outside the classroom.

Mrs. Deanna Armentrout

Title
Faculty – Lower School Performing Arts

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x492

EDUCATION
Degree(s)
B.F.A, Theatre, University of Detroit Mercy
M.F.A., Performance, University of Texas at Austin

BIOGRAPHY
Mrs. Armentrout is passionate about drama and its impact on people’s lives. She remains committed to nurturing people’s gifts and abilities to communicate clearly and creatively. She is dedicated to inspiring others to love the actor’s process and to direct each student toward authenticity through disciplined practice. Mrs. Armentrout performed in the drama ministry at Willow Creek Community Church where she trained and developed student and adult actors and upfront communicators. She has directed and performed for various organizations across the U.S. and the world, with the goal to entertain and demonstrate how the arts can bring clarity to content and engage the listener.

Joined Quest Academy
2013

Mrs. Beth Burger

Title
Faculty – Lower School Music

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x439

EDUCATION
Degree(s)

B.M.E., Music Education, Illinois Wesleyan University
M.A.M.E., Music Education, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN

Certifications
Certified in Orff and Kodály methodologies as well as First Steps in Music.

BIOGRAPHY

Mrs. Burger brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the music classroom, having taught music to children for the past 30 years. She is both a Kodály and Orff certified instructor, as well as having certification for First Steps in Music for preschool and beyond. Mrs. Burger’s teaching experience is also extensive, from six-week old infants in Kindermusik to adults in choir settings. Mrs. Burger hopes to bring the love and joy of music to all students at Quest Academy, inspiring them to become lifelong music makers and supporters of the arts.

Joined Quest Academy
2021

Mrs. Lisa Diones

Title
Faculty – Lower School Science

CONTACT INFORMATION

Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x454

EDUCATION
Degree(s)
B.A., Northeastern Illinois University
M.Ed., National Louis University

BIOGRAPHY

Mrs. Diones believes that her most meaningful work lies within the strong relationships formed with her students. She has remained steadfast in her efforts to provide authentic, challenging, and meaningful learning experiences, which foster gifted students to not only develop a love for science but to recognize their strengths in order to become competent leaders, critical thinkers, and changemakers within our global community. Her commitment to forming tomorrow’s critical thinkers and leaders is evident upon stepping into her lab, where you can observe students actively experimenting, debating ethical implications, or meeting with experts from various scientific fields.

Memberships

Illinois Science Teachers Association
Fermilab Friends For Science Education

Joined Quest Academy
2015

Mrs. Andrea Dotoli

Title
Faculty – Middle School Performing Arts

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x492

EDUCATION

Degree(s)
B.A., University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

BIOGRAPHY

After completing her education, Andrea trained at Act One Studios and Second City in Chicago. She performed in numerous plays, musicals, and theater festivals. She had the opportunity to move to New York City where she continued theater and television work, before moving on to direct children’s theater in New York City and Hoboken, New Jersey. When she moved back to the Midwest, Andrea worked at The Music Room in Palatine teaching private piano and voice lessons. She also taught classes at The Metropolis Theater in Arlington Heights and choreographed for summer camps. She also owned her own business, Peacock Performing Arts Center, while performing with her band all over the Midwest. In 2008, Andrea behan her career at Quest Acadmey, where she remains committed to inspire and teach children how to trust themselves and build confidence in a safe place. Andrea wants her student to flourish in the present, future, and real world, while being proud of who they are and who they will become.

Joined Quest Academy
2008

Mrs. Annabel Hasty

Title
Faculty – Lower School Computer Science/AI

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x471

EDUCATION

Degree(s)
B.S., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
M.M.E., University of Massachusetts – Lowell

Certifications
CodeMonkey Instructor Certified, Google Certified Educator Level 2, Computer Science Endorsement

BIOGRAPHY

Mrs. Hasty has taught computer science and artificial intelligence at Quest Academy for the past eight years. She is the Team Leader for the Specials Team and enjoys helping gifted students reach their potential. She is also the Lead Facilitator for Intel’s AI for Workforce Program at Harper College, where she teaches Foundations of Artificial Intelligence in the Continuing Professional Education program.

Teaching Awards

Illinois Computing Educators Conference Presenter
Robert E. Thomas Music Award
Sycamore Gifted Education Conference Presenter

Joined Quest Academy
2016

MEDIA

Optimizing the future: How Harper’s Innovation Accelerator and BILT councils guide growth

Mrs. Brenda Jurewicz

Title
Faculty – Lower School Teacher

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x421

EDUCATION

Degree(s)

B.S., Northland College
M.A.T., National Louis University

BIOGRAPHY

Mrs. Jurewicz has been teaching at Quest Academy for more than twenty years. She is also the proud mom of three Quest Academy graduates. She loves introducing children to the joy of learning about their world through science. She believes that with our younger learners hands-on is minds-on when building an understanding of their world and what happens there. Mrs. Jurewicz also loves her time in the library helping children become lifelong readers.

Mrs. Lisa Kropp

Title
Faculty – Middle School Spanish, Advisory Coordinator

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x451

EDUCATION
Degree(s)
B.A., Indiana University
M.A., Northern Illinois University

BIOGRAPHY

Mrs. Kropp believes that Spanish class should be a lively community comprised of warm, enthusiastic and humorous interactions between students and teacher. When a student is motivated and inspired, learning is a natural act.
Joined Quest Academy
2003

Mr. Gary Mann

Title
Faculty – Lower School Art

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x417

EDUCATION
Degree(s)
B.F.A., The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
M.F.A., Northwestern University

BIOGRAPHY

Engaging students in the arts has been Mr. Mann’s passion throughout his career. Even before the “maker” movement was popular, his students were building and designing exhibits that led to the creation of a Children’s Museum comprised entirely of student-generated works, which led to the opening of Quest Academy’s My Museum. The projects gave students an interest in the arts and sciences, and they came to understand the importance of mathematics as they measured and built each project. As a pioneer member of the Chicago mural movement, Mr. Mann created murals of cultural and diversity, painting murals throughout the city with kids and adults from different neighborhoods. He always looks for the opportunity to continue to empower young minds and help students express themselves through the different mediums of art.

Joined Quest Academy
2018

Mr. Jeff Ryder

Title
Faculty – Middle School Physical Education & Athletic Director

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x443

EDUCATION
Degree(s)
B.A., San Diego State University

BIOGRAPHY

Mr. Ryder believes that it takes courage to push yourself to places you have never been before. To test the limits and break through barriers.

Joined Quest Academy
2004

Ms. Mamta Kapadia

Title
Faculty – Assistant Teacher

CONTACT INFORMATION

Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x475

Ms. Karen Dickerson

Title
Director of Development

CONTACT INFORMATION
School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x461

EDUCATION
Degrees(s)
B.M., Music Education, Lawrence University

BIOGRAPHY
Mrs. Dickerson has been a part of Quest Academy since 1998, when her two oldest daughters entered second grade and kindergarten. Two additional daughters later, she is now the proud alumni parent of four Quest Academy alums from the Classes of ’05, ’07, ’13, and ’17. During the time that her children were in the school, she volunteered in many volunteer positions, including PSA, Auction, as a Room Parent, and as a substitute teacher. She joined Quest Academy as the Development Director in 2018 and is thrilled to be able to devote her time to ensuring the continued success of Quest Academy, the school that she loves!

Joined Quest Academy
2018

Mrs. Diane Tovar

Title
Faculty – Kindergarten

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x418

EDUCATION
Degree(s)
B.S. Illinois State University
M.A.T., National Louis University

BIOGRAPHY

Mrs. Tovar’s favorite part of teaching is to watch her students’ faces light up with excitement when learning something new. In her class, students learn how to show kindness to others, work independently, and discover their love of learning. One of her goals is to teach students to explore new ideas while developing their skills and talents. Before coming to Quest Academy, Mrs. Tovar taught kindergarten at Da Vinci Academy for 17 years and Summit School for nine years. Her motto is, “Work hard, dream big, and never give up!”

Joined Quest
2017

Mr. Darrell Maskell

Title
Faculty – Fifth Grade

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x401

EDUCATION

Degree(s)
B.A., Elementary Education, Newport University, United Kingdom

BIOGRAPHY

Mr. Maskell has been teaching third, fourth, and fifth-grade students for twenty years in both the UK and US. This is his eighth year at Quest. He came from Da Vinci Academy where he taught for eight years. Prior to that, he taught at the Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove. He has worked with advanced learners for twelve years and looks forward to continuing being challenged by these kinds of students. Above all, the valuing of children, raising their self-confidence, and enhancing their love of learning are his main objectives.

Teaching Awards

2007 Postive Promotions, Midwest Teacher of the Year
Sam’s Club Teacher of the Year 2007

Joined Quest Academy
2017

MEDIA

“Class project inspires Palatine fifth grader to publish her own book.”

Mrs. Cathy Gruzinsky

Title
Faculty – Third Grade

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x430

EDUCATION

Degree(s)
B.S., Illinois State University

BIOGRAPHY

Quest Academy is Mrs. Gruzinsky’s teaching home, where she creates a caring and challenging environment for her students based on who each person is as an individual. She uses her talents in music, creativity, and ingenuity to use a strong gifted-focused approach toward guiding her students along their learning path.

Joined Quest Academy
1988

Mrs. Kristin Fiore

Title
Faculty – Second Grade

CONTACT INFORMATION

School Email
(Primary)
School Phone
847.202.8035 x463

EDUCATION
Degree(s)
B.S., Merchandising, Eastern Illinois University
M.A., Elementary Education, Roosevelt University

BIOGRAPHY

Mrs. Fiore has been teaching kindergarten, first grade, and second grade gifted students at Quest Academy for the last 20 years. Prior to her teaching career, she was a merchandiser for J.C. Penney. As she proceeded in her different careers, her love of helping others and teaching children took over as she discovered her lifelong dedication to education. She continues to enjoy teaching gifted children the ability to understand themselves as learners, as well as expanding their knowledge in all interests.

Joined Quest Academy
2003

2nd Grade

Home 9 K-2 9 2nd Grade

The Quest Approach to Second Grade

Second Grade students at Quest Academy enthusiastically come into the classroom eager to see what choices are presented to them for the day. Students are highly engaged in their learning whether engrossed in a morning choice STEAM activity or writing in their personally decorated journals. Gifted learners are hands on learners. Experiences are what captivate and make learning meaningful for our students. In math you may find a student creating their dream home while applying concepts such as perimeter and area. In Language Arts Social Studies, simulations occur as students build their own longhouses out of large blocks, harpoon their own seals, or dig for shells to experience what it was like to live as the Northwest Coast Native Americans.

Meet Your Child’s Teachers

Bernice Lau-Paredes

Corina Vaccarello

Homeroom

The Schedule

An integrated and collaborative school experience is present as students also create their own Native American Villages in our Maker Space studio. We celebrate our learning through numerous events such as a Potlatch ceremony when students perform a play from Drama class, songs and dance from Music, and group projects using a green screen and iMovie from Technology.

Balloons fill the classroom as we celebrate and share with families stories written in Writer’s Workshop during our Book Release Parties. A growth mindset is the core of how our students feel towards learning. Our students are appropriately challenged in every subject area and leave every day feeling and reiterating the words “I love a great challenge!”

We understand the uniqueness of each gifted individual and know they are actively learning in every aspect of their school day.

Quest Academy

Special subjects are taught by Subject Matter Experts

Ashley Alicea

Physical Education

Lower School (K-5)

Deanna Armentrout

Drama Teacher

Lower School (K-5)

Beth Burger

Music Teacher

Lower School (K-5)

Dr. Justin Bankert

CSAI Teacher

Middle School

Lisa Diones

Science Teacher

Lower School (K-5)

Andrea Dotoli

Perfoming Arts Teacher

Middle School

Annabel Hasty

CSAI Teacher

Lower School (K-5)

Hether Hoffman

Art Teacher

Grades 4-8

Brenda Jurewicz

Library

Lower School (K-5)

Lisa Kropp

Spanish Teacher

Middle School

Gary Mann

Art Teacher

Lower School (K-5)

Maria Fuentes

Spanish Teacher

Lower School (K-5)

Alaina Gibbons

Music Teacher

Middle School

Ms. Bernice Lau-Paredes

Ms. Corina Vaccarello

Ms. Ashley Alicea

Mrs. Deanna Armentrout

Mrs. Beth Burger

Mrs. Lisa Diones

Mrs. Andrea Dotoli

Mrs. Annabel Hasty

Mrs. Brenda Jurewicz

Mrs. Lisa Kropp

Mr. Gary Mann

Mr. Jeff Ryder

Ms. Mamta Kapadia

Ms. Karen Dickerson

Mrs. Diane Tovar

Mr. Darrell Maskell

Mrs. Cathy Gruzinsky

Mrs. Kristin Fiore

2nd Grade

The Quest Approach to Second Grade

Meet Your Child’s Teachers

Bernice Lau-Paredes

Corina Vaccarello

Homeroom

The Schedule

Quest Academy

Special subjects are taught by Subject Matter Experts

Ashley Alicea

Physical Education

Deanna Armentrout

Drama Teacher

Beth Burger

Music Teacher

Dr. Justin Bankert

CSAI Teacher

Lisa Diones

Science Teacher

Andrea Dotoli

Perfoming Arts Teacher

Annabel Hasty

CSAI Teacher

Hether Hoffman

Art Teacher

Brenda Jurewicz

Library

Lisa Kropp

Spanish Teacher

Gary Mann

Art Teacher

Maria Fuentes

Spanish Teacher

Alaina Gibbons

Music Teacher

Jeff Ryder

Physical Education Teacher

The quest approach

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