Dodge Academy is privileged to have exceptional teachers as part of our staff. The teaching staff is currently comprised of :
Ms. Heppeler holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from The University of Dayton in Dayton, OH. She joined the Dodge Renaissance Academy in August of 2008, after completing a year of teaching in Ohio. She currently teaches kindergarten. Ms. Heppeler is also continuing her education by working on her masters degree in Special Education. Outside of work she enjoys training for marathons and traveling.
Ms. Varghese holds a B.A. in Legal Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a M.A. in Elementary Education from Loyola University Chicago. She began her teaching career at the Avalon Campus of the Chicago International Charter Schools in 2005. Ms. Varghese currently teaches fifth grade at Dodge. Her outside interests include international travel, playing the guitar, and reading.
Ms. Thompson graduated from Indiana University in 2002 with a B.S in Elementary Education. She began her teaching career on the south side of Chicago at Holmes Elementary School in Englewood, and then joined the staff at Dodge Renaissance Academy in the fall of 2004. She has been a mentor teacher for the AUSL urban residency program while at Dodge. She is currently approaching completion of a Master’s Degree in Curriculum Studies from DePaul University, and completed participation in the National Board Certification process during the 2008-09 school year. Her outside interests include spending time with her family in Michigan, traveling and cooking.
Tracey Pendley came to Dodge in 2009 and currently teaches 3rd grade. She holds a B.A. in Sociology and Religion from Furman University. During her four years of undergraduate work, Ms. Pendley directed an afterschool program for students, K-8, living in Greenville, South Carolina’s inner-city. In 2006, she began her graduate work at the University of Chicago where she studied race and ethnicity and sociology of education. In 2009, Ms. Pendley completed the University of Chicago’s Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP), receiving her Master of Arts in Teaching. Her outside interests include reading, hiking, and spending time with her family in Atlanta, Ga.
Ms. Hay graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington with a B.A. in Political Science in June 2004. She completed the Academy for Urban School Leadership residency program at Dodge Renaissance Academy in 2006 receiving a Masters Degree in Education. Ms. Hay has since been teaching 6th grade Reading, Writing, and Social Studies at Dodge Renaissance Academy. Some of her favorite things to do are reading nonfiction History texts, going to the movies, and visiting with her family in Indiana! She is very passionate, motivated, and committed to educating Chicago’s youth.
Mr. Welch graduated from the University of Chicago in 2007 with a B.A. in English Literature. He completed the Urban Teacher Education Program in 2008, receiving a M.A.T. in teaching. During this program he taught at schools in the Englewood and Hyde Park communities. He currently teaches 4th grade. His outside interests include playing basketball, reading graphic novels, and photography.
Ms. Ryan graduated from Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana with a B.A. in Elementary Education in December 2003. She began her teaching career in the Marquette Park neighborhood then went on to teach 7th grade math in Lyons, Illinois. She most recently worked as a high school counselor and varsity volleyball coach at Mount Carmel High School on Chicago’s south side. Ms. Ryan earned her Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Saint Xavier University in May of 2008. She is very excited to be here at Dodge serving our students and families as the Counselor and Case Manager. Her outside interests include playing sports and spending time with friends and family.
Ms. Casey graduated from Illinois State University in 2001 with a B.S. in Elementary Education and Special Education. She began her career in the Englewood neighborhood and came to Dodge Renaissance Academy in 2004. Since that time, she has taught primary inclusion, a 4th/5th grade split, and is currently teaching the special education instructional class. She has facilitated the Winston and Strawn Mentoring and Tutoring Program for the past 4 years. She completed the National Board Certification process last year.
Mrs. Young holds a B.A. in Spanish, Latin American Studies from Scripps College and a M.A.T. in Teaching from National Louis University. She completed the Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) residency program in 2004 before beginning her teaching career at Dodge Renaissance Academy. She is currently teaching 1st grade. She is a mentor teacher with AUSL. Her outside interests include having fun with her family, traveling, and reading!
Ms. Walter graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in Communications & Culture. She then moved to Chicago and began working for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a School & Youth campaign coordinator. After two years, she pursued a M.A. in Education from DePaul University through a two year teacher residency program in Glenview, IL. She joined Dodge in 2009 and currently teaches 5th and 6th grade. In her free time, Ms. Walter enjoys reading, traveling, running, and volunteering.
Ms. Jackson holds a B.A. degree in elementary education from Western Michigan University in 1973. She completed her first master's degree from Chicago State University, 1993, in special education. She is currently working on her next master's degree anticipated from Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois in Educational Leadership in August, 2009. Ms. Jackson currently is a specialized services teacher at Dodge. Ms. Jackson has taught at CPS schools for more than twenty years and was a parochial school teacher for more than ten years. Current outside interests are travel, taking care of her family and reading.
Ms. Daniels graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2000 with a B.S. in Psychology and Biology. She participated in and completed the Academy for Urban School Leadership residency program in 2004 and received her Masters of Arts in Teaching. In 2006 she then received her M.S. in Disability and Human Development from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Ms. Daniels began her teaching career in Cabrini Green, where she taught Kindergarten for 4 years. Currently she is pursuing her Doctorate in Early Childhood Education Leadership at Concordia University and is a mentor teacher at Dodge Renaissance Academy. Her outside interests include reading and traveling.
Ms. Adams holds a B.A. in communication from the University of Memphis and she is currently pursuing her MA from National Louis University. Brenda joined the Chicago Public Schools after completing the Chicago Teaching Fellows Program in 2006. Since that time she has been a staff member at Dodge Renaissance Academy, where she currently teaches 6th grade Math & Science. She enjoys teaching math and watching her students find that same joy in numbers, systems and the many methods by which they can be used. Her outside interests include: theatre, commerical production and bike riding.
Mrs. Brown is a proud product of Chicago Public Schools! She attended Lane Technical High School and graduated from Jones College Prep. Mrs. Brown holds a B.A. in Education from Aurora University, Aurora, IL and a Masters Degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Olivet Nazarene University, Kankakee, IL. Mrs. Brown is a 14-year veteran teacher of Chicago Public Schools. In 2006, Mrs. Brown achieved her National Board Certification as a Master Teacher/Early Childhood Generalist. During the past five years, she had been a mentor teacher for the Academy of Urban School Leadership (AUSL). Using cognitive coaching methods, Mrs. Brown currently is a Lead Teacher for the Teacher Advancement Program at the Dodge Renaissance Academy. She now coaches teachers to accurately reflect on the impact of their proactive teaching strategies to increase student achievement. She is an avid reader and enjoys traveling in her free time.
Ms. Morsher graduated from Ohio Northern University located in Ada, Ohio in 2000 with a BFA in Art Education. She began her teaching career substitute teaching for one year and then went on to teach Art to KG-3rd grade students for 2 years at Elida Elementary in Elida, Ohio. After visiting Chicago one time she fell in love with all the possibilities that city life offers and moved to Chicago the summer of 2003. She began teaching Art at Dodge Renaissance Academy the first year it re-opened in 2003. She feels lucky that she gets to show every Dodge student KG-8th grade how creative and talented they are. Her outside interests include trying to travel somewhere new every year, spending time with her boyfriend, going to concerts and enjoying all that Chicago has to offer.
Mrs. Becker holds a B.A. degree in Applied Psychology from UIC, a MAT and an advanced degree as a Reading Specialist from National Louis University. Mrs. Becker also completed her National Boards during the 2006-2007 school year. After teaching several years of preschool and two years of kindergarten, she joined Dodge Academy two years ago and is in her third year teaching Head Start Preschool. Her interests include Yoga and taking long walks.
Mr. Mutschler holds a B.S. in Political Science from Illinois State University and received a teaching certification in early childhood education from North Park University in Chicago. He taught a variety of pre-k age groups in Evanston for five years. Currently he is teaching Pre-K at Dodge. Outside of work he enjoys reading, playing guitar and working out.
Mr. Bruggeman holds a B. A. from Missouri University and a M. Ed. from Loyola University-Chicago. Mr. Bruggeman began teaching at Johns Academy in West Englewood through the Teachers for Chicago teacher induction program, and has also taught at the National Teachers Academy in the South Loop. Mr. Bruggeman achieved National Board Certification for Early Adolescent/English Language Arts in 2000 and earned a Fulbright Memorial Fund fellowship to visit Japan in 2002. Mr. Bruggeman has worked as a mentor at Dodge for three years and has also mentored candidates for National Board Certification since 2001. He currently serves as Dodge’s Mentor Resident Coach and teaches High School Algebra I for 8th Grade students. In his spare time, he enjoys fostering retired racing greyhounds to help them adjust to life outside of the racing circuit.
Kenneth Voorhees graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1992 with a B.A. degree in Elementary Education. He is new to the staff of Dodge but is an 18 year CPS veteran. His experience includes the role as lead teacher in a small school that focused on peace and conflict mediation. He was a first-year recipient of the DRIVE Award and has sat as a member of Arne Duncan’s Teacher Advisory Board. He comes to Dodge after coaching teachers in the AUSL network. He currently teaches 8th grade Reading and Social Studies and assists the Dodge staff as a teacher coach. In his free time, Mr. Voorhees is a world traveler; his travels have taken him to all 50 states, and much of Europe, Asia, and Australia. He is a proud to be a veteran of the United States Air Force.
Ms. Nichols is a first grade teacher in room 105. This is her third year teaching at Dodge Academy and her sixth year in the teaching profession. Before coming to Dodge she taught first grade in Atlanta, Georgia. Ms. Nichols graduated with a B.A. in English/Language Arts with an emphasis in elementary education from Grand Valley State University in Michigan. She also graduated with a master’s degree in early elementary education for Georgia State University. She is Rochelle Lee Fund Grant recipient and also a CFE grant recipient. She is currently a mentor to an up and coming teacher. Her outside interests include rollerblading and spending time with family and friends.
Mrs. Fetters graduated from Northwestern University in 2002 with a B.S. in Psychology. She began her teaching career with the New York City Teaching Fellows, teaching for two years in Brooklyn, NY and receiving a M.S. in Elementary Education from St. John’s University. In fall 2005, Mrs. Fetters began teaching at Dodge where she has taught kindergarten through second grade. She became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2008. Currently, Mrs. Fetters teaches second grade and is a mentor for both TAP and AUSL. Her outside interests include book clubs, sports, spending time with her family, and playing with her dog at the beach.
Constance Turner Burkes has been a Physical Education Teacher at Dodge Academy since 2003. She has been with the Chicago Public School system for 22 years. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University, and a Master's degree in Administration/Supervision from Roosevelt University. She serves as our Sports Coordinator for CPS, and Dodge Academy’s Athletic Director for AUSL. Over the past years Mrs. Turner Burkes has helped her teams to receive numerous awards for Area, Regional, and City Championships in a wide variety of sports. She received the Volunteer of The Year Award from the Chicago Tennis Patrons for her dedication to Youth and her Community. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Alexis Stokes has been teaching at Dodge since the fall of 2007. She currently teaches 3rd grade. She completed the AUSL residency program in 2003, earning a Master of Arts in Teaching. Ms. Stokes did her undergraduate work at Lawrence University, and she holds an M.A. in History from the University of Michigan.
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