Meet Our Team

Pat Reed

patreed@teachersteacher.net

Pat Reed is the Chief Executive Officer of Teacher’s Teacher, LLC. Pat has 25 years’ experience in curriculum development, instructional technology and school administration. She has an MBA and an MS in Curriculum, Technology and Educational Reform. Her current efforts are focused on online courses in educational technology, cyber safety, curriculum and assessment, and social and emotional learning.

Mary Ostrem

maryostrem@teachersteacher.net

Mary Ostrem is a progressive high school Technology/Digital Media Instructor who has creatively developed a variety of instructional technology courses at her school. With the rapidly changing landscapes in education, Mary has broadened her area of expertise into blended learning and project-based learning to demonstrate how to incorporate integrated technologies into the learning modal and embrace the advantages they bring to the classroom.

Jen Pestich

jenpestich@teachersteacher.net

Jen Pestich teaches social studies in the International Baccalaureate Program at a Chicago high school. She has taught internationally and is National Board certified. She works to develop superior reading and writing skills within her social studies curriculum and on preparation for assessments including the IB exams, SAT, and ACT. Her specialty areas are in reading, writing and discussion strategies.

Molly Ward

mollyward@teachersteacher.net

Molly Ward is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who currently works as a Special Education Administrator in the south suburbs of Chicago where she oversees the Emotional Disabilities Program and the Counseling Program. Molly has extensive experience with children and teens in crisis. She presents on social-emotional learning, positive behavior supports, and other important content related to student well-being.

Kyle Leonard

kyleleonard@teachersteacher.net

Kyle Leonard is an educator and entrepreneur whose main goal is to make learning accessible to everyone. Kyle has 10 years of classroom teaching experience along with over 5 years of leading educational technology professional development to teachers in various forms. He holds a Masters Degree of Science in Biology and a Masters Degree of Education in Educational Technology. His current efforts are focused on creating and providing online courses for science curricula, educational video production, G Suite mastery and introducing AI into the classroom for both teacher and student use.

Katie Fadden

katiefadden@teachersteacher.net

Katie Fadden is an experienced Early Childhood educator. She is highly passionate about Early Childhood Education and the powerful role it plays in laying a positive foundation for learning in our youngest students. Katie founded a local network of Preschool educators. She enjoys sharing engaging and developmentally appropriate ideas with primary teachers in our newest course, "Excited About Online Learning."

Carolyn Tovey

carolyntovey@teachersteacher.net

Carolyn Tovey is an educator with 30 years of experience in the classroom. In her career, she has designed and implemented curriculum in the areas of Language Arts, Science, and Math, and led various curriculum committees. She is known for her creative ways of making ordinary content fascinating to students. Her ability to use assessment data to drive instruction has resulted in exceptionally high student achievement. Carolyn is a seasoned instructional designer who has recently developed courses on integrating art into the classroom, current math trends in American education, STEAM and the Next Generation Science Standards.

Peggy Myatt

pegmyatt@teachersteacher.net

Peggy Myatt has been an Adjunct Professor in the Special Education Department at the university level for the past 26 years. She has multiple special education certifications, a master’s degree in counseling and extensive experience with professional development for both special and regular education professionals. Her current and past teaching coursework includes working with families of special needs children, collaboration, including special needs students in the regular education classroom, and human growth and development. She also enjoys serving as a volunteer advocate for families with special needs children within her community.

Stephanie Gates

stephaniegates@teachersteacher.net

Stephanie Gates is an educator, writer and activist. A life-long Chicagoan, Stephanie enjoys spending time with family and friends. Though she has no children of her own, Stephanie has been a surrogate mother to many. Stephanie’s mission is to leave the world better than she found it by being a pebble rippling in the ocean of injustice. She is passionate about eradicating colorism through the creation of Pretty is Me/Handsome I Am Day, an annual school event which celebrates the diversity of beauty. A published writer, Stephanie’s work has been included in a number of anthologies including: Inspiration for Teachers--101 Stories About How You Make A Difference, Shifts—An Anthology of Women’s Growth through Change and Black-Eyed Peas for the Soul—Tales to Strengthen the African American Spirit and Encourage the Heart.

Barbara Butcher

barbarabutcher@teachersteacher.net

Barbara Butcher has 30 years of experience as a School Psychologist in Hammond, Indiana. During this time, she served as the District Coordinator for the Conflict Resolution Program that addressed bullying and taught mediation skills to high school students. Barb also served as a Project Director for the Indiana Department of Education where she was a Compliance Monitor for Special Education. She has taught as an adjunct faculty member at St. Joseph’s College, Purdue Northwest, and Valparaiso University.

Liz Boland

lizboland@teachersteacher.net

Liz Boland is an experienced high school English teacher in the western suburbs of Chicago. She holds a master's degree in British and American Literature. Whether students enter her room to analyze literature, improve research skills, or study traditional grammar, Liz offers a welcoming environment. Establishing this sense of community allows students to share their voices through writing and discussion to demonstrate deeper learning.

Mike Pestich

mikepestich@teachersteacher.net

Mike Pestich is a National Board Certified English Teacher (NBCT) with over 15 years of teaching experience in a Chicago Public High School. He currently serves as the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program Coordinator where he actively supports students to achieve successful learning outcomes in an advanced academic curriculum. He is proficient in G-Suite and other instructional technologies which allows him to engage in data-based decision making processes as well as enhance the classroom experience of his students in the ever-changing landscape of education.

Audra VanRaden

auravanraden@teachersteacher.net

Audra VanRaden is a Curriculum Director for PE, Health & Driver Ed for a High School district in the suburbs of Chicago. She comes from 10 years teaching experience at the high school level. Audra holds two Masters degrees - one in Physical Education and one in Educational Administration. Audra is truly passionate about professional development and has presented in various settings over the years. Her mission is to foster teachers' ability to help students go from being participants in class to becoming individuals who appreciate and understand how to live a life of health and wellness.

Brian Reed

brianreed@teachersteacher.net

Brian Reed is the Assistant Manager at Teacher’s Teacher. He currently teaches 5th grade at a Chicago elementary school. Brian holds a BA in Media Studies and an MS in Elementary Education. Recently, Brian has broadened his expertise in business management, including finance, marketing, and technical support. Brian assists with administrative duties and day-to-day business operations.

Dr. Shannon Anderson

shannonanderson@teachersteacher.net

Dr. Shannon Anderson considers herself to be a life-long learner dedicated to achieving equity for every student. She started her career in education 25 years ago as an elementary school teacher. Since, she has held positions such as Assistant principal, principal, director of family engagement, and is currently the coordinator of equity and student conduct. She received her doctorate in Educational Policy and Organizational Leadership, with a concentration in Diversity and Equity from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She is dedicated to breaking down systems of oppression for minoritized students and their families.

Dr. Anderson is a wife and mother of two and has co-authored two children’s books with them. She believes in supporting schools in creating transformative educational equity practices, beginning with the practitioners.

Julie McElligott

juliemcelligott@teachersteacher.net

Julie McElligott has been in Early Childhood Education for the past eighteen years. Her career began as a kindergarten teacher. She taught kindergarten for ten years. After receiving her Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist, she had the opportunity to move into her current position, reading specialist for kindergarten and first grade. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction along with a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education and an endorsement for English as a Second Language. Teaching young children is a passion of hers. She firmly believes that the first few years of school truly set the foundation for lifelong learning.

Elizabeth Glenke

elizabethglenke@teachersteacher.net

Elizabeth Glenke is a Reading Specialist with 20 years of teaching experience in the Chicago area suburbs. She has held various positions over her career. Her first five years were in a First Grade, then Third Grade, ESL classroom. In the years following she was a Kindergarten teacher, Fourth Grade teacher, K-5 ESL teacher, and most recently a K-5 Reading Specialist. Her extensive background includes having an ESL Endorsement, as well as a Middle School Endorsement in ESL, Social Studies, English Language Arts and Science. She also holds a Master of Education Reading Specialist degree and a Master of Education Curriculum and Instruction degree.

Julia Skonicki

juliaskonicki@teachersteacher.net

Julia Skonicki is an educator and instructional designer committed to empowering leaders through professional, academic, and personal development. She holds a master’s degree in Montessori Education and a certificate in E-Learning and Instructional Design. Julia has designed and directed educational programs across a variety of public and private sectors. Her 20+ years of experience spans all levels from early childhood, elementary and middle school to her current work teaching, training and evaluating education students at the college level.

Colleen Brannagan-Peisker

colleenbranagan-peisker@teachersteacher.net

Colleen Brannagan-Peisker is currently a high school math teacher and tutor in Chicago with experience in k-8 math resource and middle school math. She has her MS in Curriculum and her BA in Mathematics. Colleen prides herself on forming meaningful relationships with students and showing enthusiasm and compassion daily. She believes there is honor in effort and encourages her students to accept struggle as part of the learning process.

Dana Fredwell

danafredwell@teachersteacher.net

With 17 years in education, Dana Fredwell taught elementary grades 2-5 and as a media center/ library specialist, focused on technology integration to enhance reading and writing skills. Now serving as the Instructional Technology Coach for the Mascoutah School District near St. Louis, she holds a master's degree in Educational Technology. She is passionate about empowering teachers and students to work smarter, not harder, by leveraging technology to streamline lessons and foster engagement.