Teach in Ten

In this episode of Teach in 10 , Cori and Steph sit down with retiring Rebecca Saffert to reflect on her career and impact at Cary-Grove High School and District 155. Rebecca shares her path from Cary-Grove student to teacher, dean, vice principal, and principal, including her decision to leave a career in finance to pursue a career in education. Throughout the conversation, she reflects on the im...

Guest: Sean Scotty, Retiring Dean at Crystal Lake South High School In this special retiree episode, Steph sits down with Sean Scotty, longtime dean at Crystal Lake South, to reflect on a career centered on relationships, growth, and helping students navigate some of the most important years of their lives. Sean shares his journey from math teacher to dean, along with stories about the evolving cu...

In this Season 4 episode of Teach in 10 , Steph and Todd sit down with longtime Crystal Lake South teacher and coach Brian Adcock to celebrate his 33 years in District 155. Brian reflects on his path from a small downstate Illinois town to becoming a math teacher, golf coach, Academic Challenge coach, and mentor at Crystal Lake South High School. He shares stories from teaching AP Calculus in the...

In this special retiree episode, Cori and Steph sit down with Vicki Billimack, an English teacher who has spent her career helping students fall in love with stories, writing, and the learning process. Vicki reflects on her journey into teaching, from starting as a technical writer to finding her place in the classroom, and the moments that made it all worth it. She shares how her passion for stor...

In this special episode, Cori and Steph sit down with Sharon Anderson, a Cary-Grove alum and longtime English teacher, as she reflects on her career ahead of retirement. Sharon shares stories from her journey - from being a student in the building to spending decades shaping the lives of others in the very same halls. Throughout the conversation, Sharon returns to one constant: relationships matte...

In this episode, Cori and Steph sit down with Curt Wadlington, a social science teacher at Prairie Ridge who brings history to life through storytelling, curiosity, and real-world connections. Curt shares his journey into education, including the influence of a former teacher at Crystal Lake South who helped shape his approach to teaching and learning. Curt’s classroom is built on a Socratic, disc...

In this episode, Cori and Steph sit down with Sara Markelonis, a special education teacher at Crystal Lake South and a proud Cary-Grove alum. Sara shares how innovation in her classroom may look simple, but its impact is powerful. She focuses on responding to students’ needs, adjusting workload to reduce overwhelm, and creating space for every student to experience success. Sara explains how small...

In this episode of  Teach in Ten , Steph sits down with Kristin Mayes, a social science teacher and literacy coach at Crystal Lake Central High School, to discuss literacy not as an add-on but as a gateway to deeper learning. Kristin reflects on how confronting literacy as a barrier profoundly shaped her instructional approach. Working with her students, she quickly recognized how literacy challen...

Hosts: Cori & Steph  Guest: Kristen Gioe – Teacher, Literacy Coach, and Advocate at Haber Oaks In this episode, Cori and Steph sit down with Kristen Gioe, a passionate educator whose work centers on literacy, access, and meeting students exactly where they are. Kristen shares her journey from special education teacher to literacy specialist and coach, and how those experiences shaped her belie...

Hosts: Cori & Steph  Guest: Hannah Martin, Cary-Grove High School Social Science Teacher & ML Leader In this episode of  Teach in 10 , Cori and Steph sit down with Hannah Martin to explore what innovation looks like when it’s rooted in accessibility, student voice, and belonging. Hannah shares her journey into teaching, the educators who inspired her, and how her work with multilingual lea...

In this episode of Teach in Ten, we sit down with Michelle Roberts, a hearing itinerant and adaptive PE teacher who reminds us that innovation doesn’t always start with a big idea; it often starts with a problem that needs solving. Michelle talks about her work in hearing itinerant services and adaptive physical education, and how those roles pushed her to rethink what access and inclusion really...

Kerri Faraj – Dual Credit Spanish Teacher at Cary-Grove High School In this lighthearted and joyful episode, Steph and Todd sit down with Kerri Faraj, a Dual Credit Spanish teacher whose path to teaching is anything but ordinary. Kerri shares how her love of Gloria Estefan, Spanish soap operas, and music in general pulled her into the world of language and culture and eventually into the classroom...

Hosts: Steph & Todd Guest: Jason Bott – Athletic Director at Crystal Lake South High School In this episode, Steph and Todd sit down with Jason Bott, the athletic director at Crystal Lake South, to talk about what innovation looks like through the lens of leadership, athletics, and community. For Jason, innovation starts with a fresh mindset—approaching every year as a new opportunity to grow,...

Hosts: Steph & Todd Guest: Cara Neff – Math Teacher and Head Flag Football Coach at Cary-Grove High School. In this episode, Steph and Todd talk with Cara Neff, a math teacher and coach who brings creativity and purpose to everything she builds, whether it’s a new geometry lesson, a construction project, or a first-year athletic program. Cara shares how innovation shows up in her teaching as a...

Guest: Anne Santucci – Social Science teacher at Crystal Lake South and Cary-Grove High School, Dual Credit U.S. History instructor at MCC, and head girls’ soccer coach at Cary-Grove In this episode, Steph and Todd chat with Anne Santucci, a teacher who knows that innovation doesn’t always mean doing something brand new; it can also mean looking at what’s already working and finding fresh ways to...

In this episode, Steph and Todd sit down with Ross Ryan to explore what innovation looks like in the classroom and on the mat. Ross shares how he intentionally builds an environment where it’s not only okay to fail, but it’s expected. He reminds listeners that “fail” stands for First Attempt In Learning, and discusses how embracing mistakes fosters growth and creativity. Ross discusses moments of...

In this episode of  Teach in Ten , hosts Steph and Todd sit down with Craig Kingston, an English and Drama teacher at Crystal Lake Central High School, to discuss what innovation looks like in the classroom and on the stage. Craig shares how he empowers his students to become co-creators of the curriculum, giving them meaningful opportunities to shape what and how they learn. By honoring the quest...

In the first episode of Season 4, hosts Steph and Todd sit down with Dan Mitchell, a special education teacher at Crystal Lake South and theater director at Crystal Lake Central. Dan works with students in the functional living skills program and shares how innovation comes alive in his classroom. The conversation explores the essential components of true innovation - trust, collaboration, and str...

Guest: Todd Graba (STEM Division Lead, Crystal Lake South) Contact Information:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddgraba/ Email:  tgraba@d155.org Summary:  Meet season 4’s guest host, Todd Graba! Todd is the Division Leader of STEM at Crystal Lake South, and he’s bringing a fresh perspective to the podcast. In this kickoff episode, Todd joins Steph to explore how innovation mirrors the work of a sci...

In the final episode of Season 3, hosts Cori and Steph sit down with Troy Buley, STEM Division Lead at Cary-Grove High School, for an insightful conversation that goes beyond the daily duties of a division leader. With 33 years in education, Troy reflects on how the role of leadership has evolved, the challenges and rewards of supporting a diverse team, and the importance of staying student-focuse...

Guest: Stephanie Hatfield (School Librarian, Crystal Lake South High School) Contact Information:   CLS Library Website    Instagram:  @cls_library_ Summary: In this episode of  Teach in 10 , we welcome Stephanie Hatfield, school librarian at Crystal Lake South High School, for a behind-the-scenes look at the dynamic and multifaceted role of a teacher librarian. Stephanie shares her journey from E...

In this episode of  Teach in 10 , we sit down with Bob Chikos, a veteran special education teacher at Central High School in District 155. With 17 years in the district and a rich background working with adults with disabilities, Bob brings a unique blend of compassion, advocacy, and innovation to his role. Bob walks us through a typical week — and spoiler alert, there's nothing "typical" about it...

Guest: Matt Timmerman (Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services)Contact Information:Email:  mtimmerman@d155.org X: @timms40Episode Summary: In this episode of  Teach in 10 , Cori Schwarzrock and Stephanie Sukow welcome Matt Timmerman, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services in District 155. Matt shares his unique journey from teacher and coach to his current administrative role, h...

In this episode of  Teach in 10 , hosts Cori Schwarzrock and Stephanie Sukow welcome Matt Koll, Assistant Principal of Student Services at Prairie Ridge High School. Matt shares his journey from teaching choir, AVID, and computer science at Crystal Lake South for 18 years to becoming an AP at Prairie Ridge. He reflects on his experiences as a theater manager, activities director, and yearbook advi...

In this episode of  Teach in 10 , Cori and Steph sit down with Katy Kline to explore the dynamic and ever-changing role of a high school counselor. Katy shares insights into her journey from English teacher to counselor, the relationships she builds with students and families, and the wide range of responsibilities she juggles throughout the school year. From college and career planning to social-...