Head of School

Jason Patera has been part of the Academy community for over 20 years, serving as a faculty member, Chair of the Music Department, Assistant Head of School, Principal, and now Head of School.

Assistant Principal

Elizabeth Cunningham is the Dean of Students as well as the Student Services Coordinator. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art and a Master of Education in Special Education at Loyola University.

Elizabeth also serves as the Director of Learning Resources.

Director of Enrollment Management

Amanda LePard joins The Academy with over 10 years of Admissions experience in independent schools. A lifelong dancer, Amanda is classically trained and received a degree in Dance and Communication from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point before moving to Chicago to pursue a professional dance career. 

Chair - Dance

Randy Duncan, a native Chicagoan, has the unique privilege to be a three-time recipient of Chicago’s prestigious Ruth Page Award for Outstanding Choreographer of the year. He teaches worldwide and for the past twenty-two years has been on the Academy faculty.

Chair - Media Arts

Sarah Hiatt is an artist and educator born and raised in the Ozarks. She uses photography to explore the ideas of grief, innocence, and growing up. Her work has been shown in various locations throughout the United States and internationally. Hiatt currently resides in Chicago, IL.

Chair - Music

Rachel Brown is a Chicago-based chamber musician, soloist, orchestral performer, educator, and arts administrator. Formerly with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, she is now Associate Principal Second Violin of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and performs with the Illinois, Rockford, and Fort Wayne Symphony Orchestras, as well as the American Music Festivals Orchestra. Rachel also instructs classical violin, viola, and musicianship.

Chair - Musical Theatre

Andrew Robinson earned his Bachelor of Arts in English and Religion from Rhodes College, his Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University, and his Master of Arts in Educational Theatre from New York University. He has been a creative associate with the Wagon Wheel Theatre for over ten years, directing and performing in dozens of shows.

Chair - Theatre

Ben Dicke holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Education from Sterling College. He has worked as a professional actor for twenty years in regional markets throughout the country.

Chair - Visual Arts

Margy Stover has taught at The Academy since 2003 and has been Visual Arts Department Chair since 2008. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute and Master of Fine Arts from SUNY Buffalo.    

Co-Chair - Humanities

Nicholas Roux teaches philosophy and creative writing. He attended Kenyon College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, with concentrations in Creative Writing and Humane Studies, and served as a student associate for The Kenyon Review.

Co-Chair - Humanities

Anna earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in French Literature from the University of Illinois, Chicago, where she also taught before coming to the Academy. 

College Counselor

Sarah Langford was a high school teacher for fifteen years and is now College Counselor at The Academy. Sarah attended the University of Missouri and holds a Master of Education from The University of Illinois (Chicago).

Tim Tynan has been teaching history at The Academy since fall of 2000. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and English Literature from Loyola University of Chicago, as well as a Master of Arts in English Literature and an Illinois teaching certificate in Secondary Education from Northeastern Illinois University. 

Director of Development

Evan joins us with a lifelong passion for the arts and years of experience in the non-profit world. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from Ferris State University and a Master of Public Administration from Western Michigan University.

Chief of Staff

Emily is a seasoned professional with multiple years of teaching experience at the Denver Center Theatre Academy. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Oklahoma.

Brenda Moore is a Chicago based visual artist represented by Linda Warren Projects.  She has taught at The Academy since 2003.

Director of Strategic Initiatives

Prior to assuming the role of Director of Strategic Initiatives, Joseph (Joe) Hulbert worked as Director of Partnerships at The Academy since the fall of 2014. Joe has over a decade of experience working at the intersection of education and community arts through his work at both The Academy and the Center for Community Arts Partnerships (CCAP), at Columbia College Chicago.

New Music Ensemble Director, Pop/Rock Ensemble Director, Classical Guitar Instructor

Jesse Langen is a guitarist who specializes in new music.  He works with living composers regularly and premieres dozens of pieces every season. Equally comfortable on classical and electric guitar, he seeks to push both the technical boundaries and the conceptual functions of the instrument. He has taught at The Academy since 2002.

Assistant Chair of the Dance Department

Patrick Simoniello began his professional career as a dancer with The Joffrey II Dancers in New York City in 1993. He was soon promoted to the main company of The Joffrey in 1994. 

Buck has been working as the Technical Director/Production Manager for The Chicago Academy for the Arts since 2004.  He is a Member of the Illinois Theatre Association and the CAA representative to the USITT.

Director of Marketing and Communications

Gavin Schultz graduated from DePaul University in 2021 with a B.A in Communications. Prior to joining The Academy, Gavin worked in marketing for Do312, Phoenix Theatres, and various restaurants around Chicago.

Stacey Talbert is a Chicago native of diverse cultural background. She has a strong history in administrative and management support along with education. One of her specialties is building a positive rapport with students. Her passion is working with a team of varied backgrounds.

David Sprecher is an artist and educator living in Chicago. He graduated with a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2006 and an MFA from the Art Theory and Practice program at Northwestern University in 2016. He's published writing in The Brooklyn Rail and has exhibited work in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Berlin, and Sapporo.

Facilities Manager

Robert joined The Academy in 2014. Prior to taking the role of Facilities Manager, he worked as a baker at the Archdiocese of Chicago for 27 years.

Facilities Manager

Henry Feliciano has over 30 years of experience in facilities, most notably with Verizon. Henry joined The Academy in 2014.

Jake Hinkson is the author of several books, including the novels Hell On Church Street, The Posthumous Man, and No Tomorrow, the short story collection The Deepening Shade, and the essay collection The Blind Alley: Exploring Film Noir’s Forgotten Corners. He was a a guest lecturer at The Academy in early 2016 and later joined the faculty. 

Christopher Hagenah attended University of California Santa Barbara, where he earned a Doctor of Philosophy in English.

Director of Jazz Combos, Jazz Saxophone Instructor

Saxophonist and composer Gregory Dudzienski, now a key member of Chicago's music community, has seen his original music featured in venues such as The Elastic Arts Foundation, Cafe Mustache, and The Green Mill. His work has also been showcased at the AS200 in Providence, the International Saxophone Symposium in Virginia, and the Salerno Jazz Festival in Italy.

Natalie Staples earned her Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Kenyon College and a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from the University of Oregon, where she also taught Poetry and Composition before coming to the Academy.

Chair - Math, Science, and Technology

Melissa Metelits became a faculty member in 2018 and teaches Algebra II, Precalculus, AP Calculus BC, and AP Computer Science. She has taught and tutored a variety of subjects in Philadelphia, her home town, and in Chicago.

Director of Recording Arts and Commercial Music

For the past six years, Jack has led an impressive career in the audio industry. Before joining the faculty at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, Jack was involved in numerous recording, live sound, and televised productions during which he worked alongside local stars, national touring acts, and seasoned music legends.

Vocal Jazz Ensemble Co-Director, Jazz Voice Instructor

Callandra (Cal) Youngleson is a South African jazz vocalist, composer and educator. She has performed internationally collaborating with some of South Africa and America's greatest jazz musicians.

Classical Harp Instructor

Nichole’s love for the harp and her stellar performances have made her one of the most highly sought-after harpists in Chicago and northern Illinois. She specializes in performing for special celebrations, helping to create a soundscape that enhances the moment, creating a moment in time that will be remembered forever.

Kelli Harrington earned both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Vocal Performance from Northwestern University.

Olga Meyer graduated from Azerbajian State College in Baku and earned her Masters in Music from the State Conservatory. She taught and concertized before coming to the United States in 1981. She has been at The Academy since 1985. 

Lauren earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Latino Studies, and her Master of Arts degree in Secondary Education at the University of Michigan. 

Alex Cassidy joined The Academy in 2018, and earned their Bachelors in Science Education from the University of Florida. Alex comes to The Academy from Wellsprings Friends School in Eugene, OR. 

Mary Kettering joined the Humanities Department in 2018. She holds a degree in political science and history from the University of Montana, where she also earned her teaching certification. She earned her Masters of Philosophy in Women and Gender Studies from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. 

Senior Development Associate

Libby recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she studied Communication Arts and Theatre & Drama. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Libby was eager to move down to Chicago to continue working in the non-profit sector while simultaneously working as an actor. She is thrilled to be joining the wonderful Academy community.

Drum Set Instructor

Jonah Lazarus, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator from Oak Park, IL, grew up improvising music with his brothers in a family of Jewish artists and educators. At Macalester College, he studied Ghanaian and African music under Sowah Mensah. In Salvador, Brazil, he collaborated with Iuri Passos, Bira Santos, Letieres Leite, and Beto Martins. Now in Chicago, Jonah teaches and creates music with his family band, Family Junket.

Classical Vocal Workshop Director, Classical Voice Instructor

Alyssa Bennett is the Classical Vocal Workshop Director and a Classical Voice Instructor at The Academy.

Vocal Jazz Ensemble Co-Director, Jazz Piano Instructor

Chicago-based pianist & educator Nicholas Olynciw is a rising voice in jazz music. Winner of the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition and the American Jazz Piano Competition Bösendorfer Prize, Nicholas earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Texas where he was a member of the Grammy-nominated One O'clock Lab Band.

Jazz Bass Instructor

A Decatur, IL native, Christopher Nolte received degrees in music from Millikin University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied with Jeff Grubbs, Larry Gray, Chip Stephens, Chip McNeil, and Jim Pugh.

Classical Saxophone Instructor

An acclaimed saxophonist, he has played with numerous ensembles, including the Milwaukee Symphony, Madison Symphony, Fulcrum Point New Music Ensemble, Camerata Chicago, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and others.

Marketing and Communications Associate

August graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2022 with a B.A. in Computer Animation. He comes to The Academy with previous experience working in design and community engagement at Columbia College and Snow City Arts. A longtime advocate for breaking down educational barriers, August is excited for the unique opportunity to continue his work in both arts education as well as the non-profit sector at The Academy.

Grant and Event Associate

Carly graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a B.A. in Acting. She has worked and acted in non-profit theatre in Chicago since 2016 and has experience in grant writing and event planning through her previous position as Managing Director of Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble. She is excited to be an advocate for arts education funding at The Academy.

Sarah Grant has been a faculty member at the Academy since 2019, where she directs and teaches in the Theatre and Musical Theatre Departments. She holds a master’s degree in the Humanities from the University of Chicago.

Collaborative Pianist, Classical Piano Instructor

Marianne Parker’s playing has been described as, “a cut above...her sympathetic fingers offering well-sculpted phrases and impassioned pealing” (Chicago Classical Review). Her work can be heard on three albums, Pages intimes (2019), Pyano Sa (2020), and Currents in Time (2020, PARMA/Navona Records). Marianne is curator for the Anthology of 21st century works for solo piano through NewMusicShelf Publishing.

Senior Admissions Associate

Ali Kane is proud to join the stellar admissions team at The Chicago Academy for the Arts. As an Academy alum, Ali was a member of the Theatre department and graduated in 2018. During her time at The Academy, she was featured in over twelve theatre productions while taking a full course load and participating in a few clubs as well.

Dance Faculty

Ethan Kirschbaum graduated summa cum laude with Departmental Honors in Dance from The Ailey School/Fordham University.

He has danced professionally with Hubbard Street 2, Saarländisches Staatstheater, River North Dance Chicago, Lucky Plush Productions, Santa Fe Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Mira graduated from Brandeis University with a Bachelors in Mathematics and a Masters in Secondary Education. She joined the Academy in 2022 when she moved to Chicago from Bethesda, MD.

Dance Faculty

Robyn Mineko Williams is a director and artist from Chicago, IL. She is drawn to embodiments of memory, time, lineage and our relationships with the traces left in us of the people we encounter. Robyn is the founder and director of Robyn Mineko Williams and Artists (RMW&A), which houses and shares a body of interdisciplinary performance created in collaboration with an evolving roster of dynamic artists and designers.

Admissions Associate

Ari graduated from Fiorello H. Laguardia High School of Performing Arts in New York City in 2020. Subsequently, Ari moved to Chicago to pursue a Music Business degree at Columbia College Chicago. She is a passionate songwriter and music producer with a background in Classical Vocal Performance. She has worked for major entertainment companies across Chicago such as the Madison Square Garden Corporation, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Live Nation Entertainment. Ari is excited to continue her work in arts administration and helping passionate young artists achieve their dreams.

Jeremy Marder is a Chicago-based filmmaker, video editor, and film programmer. He was an Associate Producer on the web series Seeds for OTV, and continues to edit a variety of professional projects.