Meet the Faculty

Bob Almada
Bob is a veteran educator of over 30 years. He is a former math department chairman at the high school level. Bob has been teaching adult learners for more than 10 years. He is a well liked and much sought after instructor. Look for his courses on math, differentiating instruction, integrating technology, and gifted education.

Boris Bakunas
"Knowledgeable, down-to-earth, and great sense of humor!" That's what students say about Boris, a teacher with over 27 years experience at the jr. high, high-school, and college levels. Boris has Master's degrees in English and Special Education, and a PhD in Educational Psychology from UIC. His courses in classroom management, social/emotional learning, and writing instruction reflect his wide interests and expertise. His research and articles have appeared in Applied Psycholinguistics, Learning, Principal, and Education Digest. Boris is a full member of the American Psychological Association.

Dawn Brennan
Dawn J. Brennan grew up in the Midwest and got her education in painting and other things at the Kansas City Art Institute and the University of Chicago. She exhibits regularly and teaches art in and around Chicago.

Cyndi Castagna
Cyndi Castagna is an international trainer and has been with Pearson for over 20 years. Her areas of expertise are "Social Emotional Learning", "Stress Reduction" and "Children of Alcoholics". She is a co-author of "Star Parents" and an author of a C.D. series titled "Relaxing Moments". She is also a long time Lions-Quest trainer. Cyndi believes in modeling what she teachers. You will find her "hands on" teaching approach creates a fun learning environment for educators.

Jamie Cole
Jamie is a multi-talented and highly respected instructor who has a great deal of training in cognitive research, brain based learning, multiple intelligences and working with special needs. She has worked as a special educator/consultant at all levels and has Master's Degrees in School Administration and Special Education. Jamie is known for her interactive and engaging courses and many students enjoy taking other classes that she teaches. Look for Jamie's courses in learning disabilities, family issues, home-school communication and brain compatible learning.

Connie Cunningham
Connie Cunningham has been a teacher of both general and special education students for 38 years. She has a master's degree in Special Education from Illinois State University. While retired from full time teaching, she continues to work part time with local school districts. She currently teaches classes for Pearson in the areas of inclusion, differentiated instruction, and teambuilding.

Marc Denny
Marc is an extremely well liked veteran educator. A long-time favorite of Saint Xavier graduate class students, his classes fill fast. Marc brings a wealth of experience to his classes. Look for Marc's classes on underachieving students, maintaining sanity in the classroom, positive discipline, and a comprehensive program for classroom management.

David Dreyer
Dave taught High School Science for 30 years, and was the facilitator for Homecourt, a program for at-risk incoming Freshmen in his school. He was part of a team that helped incoming new teachers prepare for their first year of teaching, and was the facilitator for the New Teacher/Mentor meetings in his district. He also taught staff development classes in his district in classroom management and behavior. He has successfully used the "9 Essential Skills" in his high school classrooms and shares his stories of using these skills to help problem students have success. Teachers say that they are able to use the new ideas immediately in class the next day, as well as on their own kids at home! Dave also teaches parenting classes, and does workshops and seminars for schools.

Wanda Evans
Wanda Evans has been an educator in the Chicago Public Schools for the past 17 years. Having earned a B.A. in English Literature from The University of Illinois at Chicago and a M.A. in Urban Education at St. Xavier University in Chicago, she has serviced at-risk youth since 1997. Outside of the classroom, she has a long history of out-reach which started with WINGS (Women In Need Of Graces) and My Man's and Them (Male Mentoring Circle). In 2003, she began to witness an alarming rise in the number of girls abused in the hallways of her high school; which led to her developing a support group for teen girls involved in intimate partner abuse called Purple Rain: Girls Overcoming Abuse. Currently, she is in the final stages of completing a Master's in School Counseling. Besides teaching, writing, and mentoring, you can find Ms. Evans organizing programs that encourage student enrichment, improved self-esteem, and life management skills.

Linda Farruggia
Linda is a highly respected and sought after instructor. With more than 30 years in education, she brings a wealth of experience to her classes. A former president of the Illinois Reading Council, she has worked with the Illinois State Board to train teachers in reading, literacy, and gifted programs. Linda's focus is to support teachers as they learn current research, new skills, and strategies to improve academic achievement and their craft. Look for Linda's classes on reading and gifted education.

Jim Hayward
Jim is a five year veteran for Pearson. As an elementary school educator, he enjoys bringing new ideas to the classroom to meet the needs of his students. He has recently developed several new courses in the area of web design to help teachers, they are Online Resources and Website Creation for Educators and Advanced Online Resoures and Website Creation for Teachers. In these courses, educators will create websites and take typical everyday projects and put them on the web. He also enjoys working with educators in the area of classroom management. Look for his classes in the classroom management and technology sections of the catalog.

David Holm
David is new to our instructor cadre. He is a nationally board certified teacher. He has been an educator for 35 years at the middle school and high school levels. He is a reading specialist with a background in teaching English and social studies. Look for the reading courses in our catalog that Dave teaches. Dave has twice competed in the Lake Placid, New York Ironman Competition.

Kristin Klis
Kristin Klis is dual certified in elementary education and special education, in addition to advanced reading certification from the SLANT System®. Kristin has taught in a variety of school and classroom settings which includes public, private, elementary school, middle school, paraprofessional, substitute teacher, general education teacher, and special education teacher. Kristin brings her passion for teaching and wealth of experiences to life in each course she teaches.

Terry London
A very popular instructor, Terry has been teaching courses for Pearson for years. Terry is a certified trainer in Rational Emotive Behavior Theory (REBT). His classes have helped educators to understand themselves and their students, which has led to more effective teachers and better classroom management. Terry also teaches courses in anger management, stress management, addiction, and combating gang psychology in our schools.

Marie Elena Meagher
A nationally known presenter at social studies conferences, Marie brings a welcome perspective on strategies for teaching social studies. Her classes are full of inventive, interactive social studies strategies. A veteran educator, Marie Elena is completing her first year with Pearson. Look for Marie Elena's classes on social studies.

Mary Jane Muccianti-DeCarlo
Mary Jane has spent 28 years before the dry erase board teaching kindergarten and serving as the district's technology coordinator. She has been teaching adult learners for four years. Recently she designed the computer curriculum for District 89. Mary Jane brings energy and enthusiasm to her classroom, and she teaches positive discipline, responsible behavior, and authentic assessment.

Mary Pawl
Eric Jensen in his book, The Brain with the Arts in Mind, illustrates the connection of the fine arts with the brain and the learning process. With a background in drama, Mary brings drama into the reading and math classroom. A course in movement education is in the works for K–5 teachers. In addition, she is a reading specialist for her district. Mary has been in education for 19 years and is in her fourth year with Pearson.

Katherine Pekler
Katherine has been a special education teacher for the last 10 years. Her area of expertise is teaching students with severe and profound disabilities, including some students with autism and behavior issues. Katherine has a masters' degree from NorthEastern University in Human resource and development. Her classes are fun and yet educational and functional to the students.

Dan Ramsden
Hi my name is Dan Ramsden. For the past fourteen years I have taught grades three through eight, in both self-contained and departmental settings. In the departmental settings I taught both Language Arts and Science. Currently I teach computers for preschool through the eighth grade. I hold a Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, and will have earned a second Masters of Science in Educational Leadership in December 2008.

Edna Smyth
Edna Smyth is a long time educational professional. She has taught and tutored at the Kindergarten through College levels for the past 43 years. Edna has a B.A in English Literature and Education, a M.A in Reading and a C.A.S. in Administration and Supervision. She was an elementary principal for a Kindergarten through 8th grade school for 10 years. Edna is also a Reading Specialist, as well as an elementary K-8 teacher.

Carol Thompson
Carol is a veteran educator who has been with Pearson for the past four years. Among her classes are Exploring Interpersonal Relations, Differentiating Instruction, and Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum. This highly rated instructor can be found teaching French in the Waukegan Public Schools and during the summer she takes a group to France.

Marilyn Twining
Marilyn is a well known Pearson instructor for over ten years. As a retired educator, Marilyn has a private consulting business. This very knowledgeable instructor does an outstanding job teaching Working with the At-Risk Student, Inclusion courses and Brain-Based Learning courses.

Dave Venetucci
A highly respected educator, Dave has been an instructor for 20 years and involved in teaching adult learners at the graduate level for 6 years. Dave has experience in broadcast journalism, television production, speech communication, and language arts. Look for his courses on Effective Public Speaking for Educators and Effective Constructive Criticism.

Anna Weselak
As an educator and a teacher with a Masters Degree in Education, Anna Weselak brings to the training field her experience from education, business, and non-profits. Her love of teaching has offered her the opportunity of teaching the very young, as well as the young at heart. Doing sales and marketing for a small business in a very highly competitive market allowed Anna to become acquainted with the business community. Through leading an active life in community and volunteer organizations for over thirty years, Anna has strengthened her leadership skills and knows the importance of interpersonal relationships, teamwork and effective communication.

Randee Willis
In her second year with Pearson, this 21-year veteran of the classroom brings her expertise in reading to her grad courses. A reading specialist, Randee teaches courses in Reading in the Content Areas, Creative Reading Strategies, and Teaching Grammar: A Multisensory Approach. Because of the emphasis on reading from the NCLB, Randee's courses are in high demand. Take advantage of her knowledge and skills and look for reading courses taught by Randee.