Who we are
Polaris Charter Academy is run by a team of energetic, experienced educators. If you’d like to learn more about our current staff as individuals, see the biographical profiles below. If you are interested in applying, please email your resume and cover letter to: tkwock at pcachicago dot org (note: use symbols and no spaces in the email address).
Administration:
Ms. Michelle Navarre, Director of Academics
Ms. Tracy Kwock, Director of Partnerships
Mr. Roel Vivit, Dean of Curriculum and Instruction
Mr. Uday Khedkar, Operations Manager
Ms. Robin Landing-Alexander, Office Manager
Second/third Grade Teachers:
Ms. Melissa Rose-Authement
Ms. Jenny Sime
Kindergarten-First Grade (K-1) Teachers:
Ms. Anne Hedger
Ms. Ann Selzer
Ms. Francesca Verdecchia
Social worker:
Ms. Meghan Princehorn
Teaching Assistants:
Mr. Ruben Escobar
Ms. LaShandra Bell
Ms. Junita Monte-Valdez
Ms. Roberta Sanders
Ms. Tracie Luckett
Americorp Educators:
Mr. Ted Marino
Ms. Amanda Meeks
Ms. Emily Powell
Staff profiles (in alphabetical order; more to come!):
Ms. Anne Hedger received her Bachelor of Arts in English and Sociology from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. Upon graduating from college, she joined Teach for America, which brought her to Houston, Texas. While teaching in Houston, Ms. Hedger earned her Master’s in Education from the University of St. Thomas. She taught second grade for three years in Houston and third grade in Chicago for an additional three years. In 2007, Ms. Hedger earned her National Board Certification as a middle childhood educator. Ms. Hedger has led professional development for teachers and mentored pre-service teachers through the University of Chicago. Some of her hobbies include reading, hiking, skiing, and doing anything outdoors, particularly when she goes to visit her hometown of Denver, Colorado.
Ms. Tracy Kwock graduated from Rutgers University with her bachelors degree in Theater Arts and then went on to earn her Masters degree in Educational Leadership from National Louis. She began her teaching career in 1993 through the Teach For America program in south Louisiana. In 2001 Ms. Kwock took a break from the classroom to run the teacher and student programs at The Field Museum of Natural History where she learned a lot about dinosaurs, mummies, and chocolate. In 1993 Ms. Kwock joined the founding staff of KIPP Ascend Charter School where she was teaching reading when she received the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. When Ms. Kwock is not off starting schools, she keeps busy running after her two children. She enjoys children’s literature, furry creatures, and chocolate cupcakes with sprinkles. When Ms. Kwock grows up she hopes to star on Broadway in the revival of Wicked with Ms. Navarre and Mr. Vivit.
Ms. Melissa Rose-Authement comes to Polaris with seven years of teaching experience and a strong passion to inspire learning. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois and is finishing up a graduate program at Northeastern Illinois University. During her teaching career, she has been awarded grants from Donors Choose, Aquademics, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. She has been responsible for creating an integrated curriculum that involves hands-on investigations and field experiences for her students. Her interests (aside from teaching) include camping, gardening, reading, cooking, yoga, animals, and languages.
Ms. Ann Selzer has been teaching in Chicago and Dallas for eight years. She’s spent most of that time teaching first grade and loves teaching students to read and write. Her goal as a teacher is to make students love school and learning. Ms. Selzer received her undergraduate degree from Boston College in Elementary Education and her Masters from Northwestern University, however she feels the most valuable education she’s ever received has been from her students. She has no doubt that she will learn a lot from her students at PCA as well! When not teaching Ms. Selzer loves to read books, do yoga, or spend time with her family and friends. Her family and friends live all over the country, so she often finds herself traveling to visit them.
Ms. Jenny Sime is excited about the opportunity to teach at Polaris Charter Academy! Ever since graduating from Boston College, she has been teaching 3rd grade at Our Lady of the Gardens in the Altgeld Gardens neighborhood on the Far South Side of the city. While there she's helped implement a Health and Nutrition Policy, create a school library, and coached soccer and softball teams. Last year Ms. SIme was the recipient of the 2006 Golden Apple Award of Excellence in Teaching. During the summer Ms. Sime is the director of a summer day camp for kids in Massachusetts. Since she grew up near Boston, she is a born-and-bred Red Sox fan. Therefore, her lifelong goal is to convert all of her students to being Red Sox fans, which she plans to continue at Polaris.
Ms. Francesca Verdecchia graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. She comes to Polaris with 7 years of teaching experience, ranging from primary grades to sixth grade. Through a partnership with the University of Chicago’s Urban School Improvement network she served as a Balanced Literacy demonstration teacher and has provided multiple professional development workshops for educators. Some of her favorite hobbies include reading, cooking, and spending time with friends and family. She is looking forward to an exciting event in her life- her summer 2008 wedding and honeymoon.
Mr. Roel Vivit, Dean of Curriculum and Instruction for Polaris Charter Academy, has been an elementary school teacher for nine years in the Chicago Catholic Schools. He taught for three years at Children of Peace School as part of the Inner-City Teaching Corps and taught 4th grade for six years at Frances Xavier Warde School. Currently a teacher consultant with the Chicago Area Writing Project (CAWP), Mr. Vivit presents reading and writing workshops for teachers at Chicago Public and Catholic Schools and coordinates teacher inquiry groups that examine student work to help guide instruction and promote teacher reflection and collaboration. He received both his Bachelors and his Masters from Northwestern University.
