Teach in Ten

In this episode of Teach in 10, Steph Sukow and Todd Graba welcome Alena Edwards, the new Special Education Division Leader at Crystal Lake South. Alena shares her unexpected journey from studying psychology and statistics to discovering her passion for empowering students in special education and taking on school leadership. She emphasizes the power of relationships, innovative thinking, and working alongside teachers to help students recognize their potential.

Alena also discusses creating meaningful opportunities for students through participation in the fall play, community experiences, and plans to expand the school’s coffee program. These ideas connect practical skills with collaboration across classrooms. Throughout the conversation, she encourages educators to question established practices and explore new possibilities, guided by her goal of helping every student feel included, valued, and proud of their school community.

In this episode of Teach in Ten, we welcome Christian Sapndiary, a new special education teacher and basketball coach at Cary-Grove High School in District 155. Christian shares his experience joining the district, his goals for building a successful basketball program, and his approach to creating meaningful connections with students.

With nine years of teaching experience, Christian brings energy, enthusiasm, and student-centered practices to his new role. He discusses how building strong relationships helps students feel comfortable participating in class, sharing their ideas, and engaging in learning. He finds joy in building strong relationships with skills while teaching life skills that help students both in and out of the classroom. 

Join us as we explore how relationships, community, and growth shape Christian's approach to teaching, coaching, and supporting student success. His enthusiasm and passion for empowering students are contagious!

In Season 5, Episode 3 of the Teach in Ten Podcast, we continue our focus on fresh voices by welcoming Linnea Dierson, a first-year English teacher at Crystal Lake Central. Linnea’s journey is especially meaningful because she’s already been a part of three of the four main buildings in D155. 

A 2022 D155 graduate, Linnea knew from an early age that she wanted to teach. But it was her freshman English class that helped her discover a passion for helping students engage with complex texts, develop their voices, and become stronger writers. She carried that goal to Wheaton College and eventually returned to D155 to student teach at Cary-Grove before beginning her career at Central.

Now, Linnea is focused on becoming the kind of teacher who helps students feel confident sharing their ideas. She is experimenting with low-stakes participation, journaling, small-group conversations, and other ways to help students recognize that their voices belong in the classroom.

Most importantly, Linnea hopes students leave her classroom more confident in their ability to read, write, and express themselves. Her journey reflects an idea at the heart of D155: enter with promise and leave with purpose. 

Linnea entered D155 as a student, discovered her purpose through the educators who taught her, and has now returned to help the next generation discover theirs. Tune in to hear her amazing story. 

Episode 2 of Season 5 of the Teach in Ten Podcast continues our focus on amplifying new voices and welcoming educators stepping into new roles. In this episode, we sit down with Dan Nicholas, the new principal of Cary-Grove High School, to learn about his journey to D155 and his hopes for the CG community.

Dan shares how his connection to District 155 began years ago at a professional learning conference at Prairie Ridge, an experience that left a lasting impression on him. Now, as both a D155 parent and principal, he is excited to become part of the strong sense of community he has already experienced at Cary-Grove.

Throughout our conversation, Dan emphasizes connection, student voice, and incremental growth. Rather than focusing on one big change, he hopes to build meaningful progress over time while creating a culture where students and staff feel heard, challenged, connected, and supported.

At its heart, this episode is about listening to the voices around us, building connections, and recognizing that small steps can lead to meaningful growth.

As we kick off Season 5 of the Teach in Ten Podcast, we’re turning the spotlight toward new voices and new perspectives across District 155. This season, we’ll connect with educators and leaders who are either new to our district or stepping into new roles, giving them an opportunity to share their journeys, passions, and hopes for the work ahead. Through these conversations, we hope to celebrate the people who continue to shape D155 while highlighting the experiences and ideas they bring to our schools.

Episode 1 features Kim Bromley, District 155’s new Director of Multilingual Services and Family Engagement. Kim reflects on her 12-year journey in D155 and how her family’s immigrant experience, bilingual background, and passion for language learning have shaped her commitment to multilingual students and families.

Throughout our conversation, Kim emphasizes the importance of viewing bilingualism and multilingualism as a superpower rather than a deficit. She hopes to build a culture where students know that all of their languages, identities, and experiences belong in District 155.

As she begins this new chapter, Kim is excited to work across classrooms, buildings, and departments while supporting students, teachers, and families. Ultimately, she hopes to help every student discover their unique purpose and determine their next step beyond high school.

At its heart, this episode is about belonging, celebrating the strengths students already bring with them, and championing every student as they find their purpose.

In this episode of Teach in 10, Cori and Steph sit down with retiring Rebecca Saffert to reflect on her career and impact at Cary-Grove High School and District 155.

Rebecca shares her path from Cary-Grove student to teacher, dean, vice principal, and principal, including her decision to leave a career in finance to pursue a career in education. Throughout the conversation, she reflects on the importance of relationships, student belonging, and creating a school culture where every student feels supported and safe.

The episode highlights Rebecca’s work helping struggling math students, mentoring staff, leading major projects like the new theater and manufacturing lab, and building a culture centered on “doing what’s best for kids.” She also discusses how education has changed over the years, especially through technology and student-centered learning.

As she prepares for retirement, Rebecca shares advice for new teachers: build relationships, stay consistent, take risks, and don’t be afraid to fail and grow.

Guest: Sean Scotty, Retiring Dean at Crystal Lake South High School

In this special retiree episode, Steph sits down with Sean Scotty, longtime dean at Crystal Lake South, to reflect on a career centered on relationships, growth, and helping students navigate some of the most important years of their lives.

Sean shares his journey from math teacher to dean, along with stories about the evolving culture of Crystal Lake South, including the history of “The Pit." Throughout the conversation, Sean emphasizes the importance of building relationships first. As a dean, he saw discipline not simply as consequences, but as opportunities to teach life lessons, hold students accountable, and help them grow. Some of his most meaningful moments came years later, when former students returned to thank him for the support and guidance he had given them, which they hadn’t fully appreciated at the time.

Sean also reflects on how education has changed throughout his career, especially with the rise of technology and shifting classroom dynamics, while reminding listeners that the foundation of great schools still comes down to human connection.

In this Season 4 episode of Teach in 10, Steph and Todd sit down with longtime Crystal Lake South teacher and coach Brian Adcock to celebrate his 33 years in District 155.

Brian reflects on his path from a small downstate Illinois town to becoming a math teacher, golf coach, Academic Challenge coach, and mentor at Crystal Lake South High School. He shares stories from teaching AP Calculus in the district’s smallest classroom, coaching state-level teams, and building strong relationships with students and colleagues along the way.

The conversation centers on Brian’s belief that classrooms should feel like family, as well as the importance of rigor, relevance, and relationships in education. He also discusses how teaching has changed over the years with technology, from early graphing calculators to tools like Canvas, Desmos, and online learning platforms.

Join us as we celebrate Brian and learn a little about what he has planned next!

In this special retiree episode, Cori and Steph sit down with Vicki Billimack, an English teacher who has spent her career helping students fall in love with stories, writing, and the learning process.

Vicki reflects on her journey into teaching, from starting as a technical writer to finding her place in the classroom, and the moments that made it all worth it. She shares how her passion for storytelling shaped her teaching, whether she was bringing The Odyssey to life, guiding students through Romeo and Juliet, or sitting beside a student during a writing conference and helping them find their voice.

Throughout the conversation, Vicki emphasizes the importance of giving students time, space, and ownership in their learning. Her work with blended learning opened new opportunities for deeper feedback and more meaningful one-on-one conversations, something she sees as essential to growth in writing.

As she looks ahead to retirement, Vicki leaves behind a legacy grounded in curiosity, creativity, and connection,

In this special episode, Cori and Steph sit down with Sharon Anderson, a Cary-Grove alum and longtime English teacher, as she reflects on her career ahead of retirement. Sharon shares stories from her journey - from being a student in the building to spending decades shaping the lives of others in the very same halls.

Throughout the conversation, Sharon returns to one constant: relationships matter most. She speaks candidly about the moments that defined her career, including navigating tragedy, supporting students through loss, and learning how to care for both others and herself along the way.

Sharon also reflects on the evolving landscape of education, including how to balance the benefits of technology with the importance of deep thinking, authentic communication, and the learning process itself. Her message is a powerful reminder that teaching is not about quick answers or finished products, but about growth, persistence, and connection.

As she looks ahead to retirement, Sharon leaves behind a legacy rooted in empathy, resilience, and the quiet, lasting impact teachers have on their students—often long after they leave the classroom.