The diverse faculty at the Brookview School combines top academic and teaching skills with a love of children and educating. Our teachers come with a wealth of experience to share with their students. For some of our instructors, teaching is a calling entered into after another successful career in science, writing or another field. For all our teachers, working in our independent school offers the opportunity to use innovative and exciting teaching methods that keep students engaged.
Infant & Toddler
Maggie Bischoff, Infant Assistant
Maggie joined Brookview’s Infant Program in 2001. She resides in Benton Harbor with her husband. A native of Southwest Michigan, she enjoys the area’s beaches. When not working or attending school, Maggie is often found walking her dog Samson, reading a novel or sewing. She also enjoys many different types of music and art.
Education
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Lake Michigan College
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 110
e-mail: margaret.m.clark@wmich.ed
Debbie LaVanway, Toddler Assistant
Debbie has been at Brookview School for more than five years, and is the mother of two teenage children, Lance and Leslie. She enjoys camping, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. For over twenty years her life has revolved around children – as a mother, a girls’ youth leader, and an Easter Seals volunteer working with people with disabilities. Today she works hard to encourage, support, and educate Brookview’s youngest learners.
Education
St. Joseph High School
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 111
e-mail: info@brookveiwschool.org
Carol Perrine, Infant Assistant
Carol was born a long time ago in Toledo, Ohio. She opened her own day care program when her son was born in 1982. Carol ran her program for nearly twelve years and loved helping many little friends grow. She still hears from some of them. Carol came to Brookview School when her family relocated to this area, and she has enjoyed these last six great years.
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 110
e-mail: stryker1@comcast.net
Kim Smith, Toddler Teacher
Kim was born and raised in St. Joseph. She enjoys fishing and reading in her spare time. Kim is a graduate of Lake Michigan Catholic High School and Northern Michigan University where she majored in preschool/family life. Kim resides in St. Joseph with her husband and step son.
Education
American Montessori Society (AMS) Infant/Toddler Certification
B.S. Preschool/Family Life, Northern Michigan University
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 111
e-mail: justkim@peoplepc.com
Qun Anita Walker, Toddler Assistant
Qun Anita has been working at Brookview for almost a year. She really enjoys helping to develop the children’s minds and working with them.
Education
Benton Harbor Vo-Tech
Lake Michigan College
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 111
e-mail: info@brookviewschool.org
Cheryl A. Winiecke Vitek, Infant & Toddler Program Director
Cheryl is a life-long resident of Michigan. She has been a Brookview parent since 1996. She joined the School staff in 1999. Cheryl is involved in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at her local church. Her hobbies include quilting, knitting, and reading.
Education
American Montessori Society, Associate Infant & Toddler Credential, MECA-SETON, Hinsdale, Illinois
The Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, 3-6 Formation Credential, St. Michael, Schererville, Indiana.
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 110
e-mail: vitek3@comcast.net
Primary
Lori Douglas, Primary Teacher
Lori is a life-long native of Michigan. She joined Brookview School in 2000 working as a toddler program assistant. She later became a primary teacher. Her hobbies include nature walks and gardening.
Education
American Montessori Society (AMS) Primary Teacher Certification, Indiana University of South Bend
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 115
e-mail: loriad77@yahoo.com
Sue Dubar, Primary Teacher Program Director
Sue is a native of Southwestern Michigan. She has been part of the Brookview School community for nearly twenty years. She enjoys cooking and reading.
Education
American Montessori Society (AMS) Primary Teacher Certification, Midwest Montessori Teacher Center, Evanston, Il.
Western Michigan University
Lake Michigan College
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 113
e-mail: info@brookviewschool.org
Kimberly Getz, Primary Teacher
Kim is a lifelong native of this area. She first discovered Brookview School twenty years ago when she began working as a classroom assistant. Both of her children attend Brookview, and this feels like home to all of them.
Education
American Montessori Society (AMS) Primary Teacher Certification, Indiana University of South Bend
Lake Michigan College, Selected Courses
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 113
e-mail: pp1@brookviewschool.org
Karen Trama, Primary Assistant
Karen has worked in Brookview School’s primary classrooms for five years. She has also been a first grade Catechist teacher for ten years.
Education
Attended University of North Dakota
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 113
e-mail: info@brookviewschool.org
Lower Elementary
Lauren Frangos, Lower Elementary Teacher
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 117
e-mail: lauren@brookviewschool.org
Laurie Moreno, Lower Elementary Teacher
Laurie has served Brookview School in many capacities both administratively and in the classroom. She and her family resided in Leon, Mexico last year when she taught at the Chiaravalle Montessori School, the school with whom Brookview School has its exchange program. Laurie’s interests include architecture, traveling, art, and real estate.
Education
American Montessori Society (AMS) Primary Teacher Certification, Indiana University of South Bend
M.A. Architecture, The University of Texas at Arlington
B.S. Architecture, The University of Texas at Arlington
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 118
e-mail: lmoreno@brookviewschool.org
Upper Elementary
Marilú Garcia de Norena, Upper Elementary and Spanish Teacher
Marilú was born and raised in Mexico City. She completed her B.A. in Hospitality Management. She and her husband married in 1998, and moved to the United States in 1999. While Marilú’s husband was finishing up his MBA at Purdue University, she decided to enroll as well. She studied child psychology and early childhood teaching methods. In 2002 she started her Montessori training, joining Brookview School to complete her internship in the Infant & Toddler program. In 2005 she completed her Montessori certification and her training in the Rassias Method of language instruction. Since this time Marilú has been teaching Spanish in the Upper Elementary program and will continue to do so. She is currently training to teach math using Banaubi materials in the Upper Elementary program. Marilú has three children who attend Brookview School.
Education
American Montessori Society (AMS) Infant-Toddler Teacher Certification, MECA-Seton
Hospitality Management, Mexico City
Phone: 269.925.3544
e-mail: info@brookviewschool.org
Middle School
Lynne Clayton, Middle School Teacher
Lynne is from Benton Harbor, Michigan and has traveled throughout the United States, Mexico, and Italy. Formerly a licensed General Contractor with a decorative painting company, she fell in love with Montessori when her now fifteen year old daughter was an infant at Brookview School. She taught six – fourteen year olds Integrated Art prior to becoming a trained Montessori guide for the Upper Elementary classroom. She began teaching in the 9-12 yr. old classroom in August 2002. Her hobbies include making jewelry at her studio in Benton Harbor, reading, art quilting, building, and gardening.
Education
Montessori Express Records (MRX) Beta Tester
American Montessori Society (AMS) Upper Elementary Teacher Certification, CMTE, NY
Associates Degree, Business Administration/Multidisciplinary Studies, Lake Michigan College
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 120
e-mail: info@brookviewschool.org
Todo el día
Specialists
Angela Caldwell, Art Teacher
Angela has been focused on her jewelry business for the last seven years. She has been teaching art at Brookview School over the last eight years and has enjoyed bringing her love of art to the students. Her goal in the class room is to allow each student to realize that they have creative potential and to better understand the importance of art in our culture.
Education
B.A. Fine Arts, Indiana University, 1986
Indiana University Art Museum, Archives
Indiana University Fine Arts Library, Records and Support Technician
Richard Gray Gallery, Chicago,IL, Specializing in 20th Century Art and Modern Masters
Phone: 269.925.3544
e-mail: info@brookviewschool.org
Marilú Garcia de Norena, Upper Elementary and Spanish Teacher
Marilú was born and raised in Mexico City. She completed her B.A. in Hospitality Management. She and her husband married in 1998, and moved to the United States in 1999. While Marilú’s husband was finishing up his MBA at Purdue University, she decided to enroll as well. She studied child psychology and early childhood teaching methods. In 2002 she started her Montessori training, joining Brookview School to complete her internship in the Infant & Toddler program. In 2005 she completed her Montessori certification and her training in the Rassias Method of language instruction. Since this time Marilú has been teaching Spanish in the Upper Elementary program and will continue to do so. She is currently training to teach math using Banaubi materials in the Upper Elementary program. Marilú has three children who attend Brookview School.
Education
American Montessori Society (AMS) Infant-Toddler Teacher Certification, MECA-Seton
Hospitality Management, Mexico City
Phone: 269.925.3544
e-mail: info@brookviewschool.org
Larry Schanker, Ph.D., Middle School and Music Teacher
Larry has been teaching music at Brookview since August, 1997, and joined the Middle School faculty in May, 2004. He is an accomplished pianist, and he has been writing music for theaters in Chicago and throughout the country for the past 25 years. Larry’s passion lies in illuminating creative talent in young people, and he serves as music consultant to the Citadel Dance Center in Benton Harbor.
Education
NAMTA Orientation to Adolescent Studies Certificate
Ph.D. Music Composition, The University of Chicago
M.M. Music Composition, Northwestern University
B.M. Popular Music, Northwestern University
Phone: 269.925.3544
e-mail: larry@brookviewschool.org
Jennifer Spikner, Director of Diversity
Jennifer hails from Evanston, Illinois. Her many roles at Brookview School include parent, Montessori and Spanish teacher, farmer, and diversity director. Both her children attend the School. Jennifer enjoys reading, gardening, travel, and leisurely conversations with friends over good meals.
Education
American Montessori Society (AMS) Lower Elementary Certification, Midwest Montessori Teacher Center, Evanston, Il.
M.Ed. Bilingual Education, University of Illinois at Chicago
B.A. Spanish and International Development, Washington University, St. Louis
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 103
e-mail: jspikner@brookviewschool.org
Administration
Jennifer Spikner, Director of Education
Jennifer hails from Evanston, Illinois. Her many roles at Brookview School include parent, Montessori and Spanish teacher, farmer, and diversity director. Both her children attend the School. Jennifer enjoys reading, gardening, travel, and leisurely conversations with friends over good meals.
Education
American Montessori Society (AMS) Lower Elementary Certification, Midwest Montessori Teacher Center, Evanston, Il.
M.Ed. Bilingual Education, University of Illinois at Chicago
B.A. Spanish and International Development, Washington University, St. Louis
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 103
e-mail: jspikner@brookviewschool.org
Christina Martin, Finance Coordinator
Phone: 269.925.3544 Ext. 104
e-mail: cmartin@brookviewschool.org
