Below is an alphabetized list of GCE faculty and staff.  To learn more about each of them, or to visit their GCE Staff Portfolios, please click on their hyperlinked names.   Thank you.

Kenny Bae, Integrated Math/Science Instructor: Kenny was born in Chicago but grew up in a traditional Korean family. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Radiation, Applied Physics and Math minor from Eastern Illinois University. In 2010, he acquired a Master’s degree in Atmospheric Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He defended his research on the ‘Measurements of Small Ice Crystals in Arctic Cirrus’. He later co-authored and published his results for the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Kenny has taught and tutored college courses in environmental studies, earth science, biology, physics and math. In addition, he has professional laboratory experience as a battery engineer and alternative energy researcher. He is currently pursuing his dream in teaching math/science from an environmental and cross-cultural perspective. He is passionate about the issues of climate change, global energy, resources and the environment. Also, Kenny is an avid chess wizard. Email: kenny.bae@gcechicago.com

Cecilia Clavijo, Spanish Instructor: Cecilia was born and raised in Argentina. After completing her BA in Foreign Language (English) and taking 3 years of French at the Alianza Francesa in Argentina, she spent a semester at the ”Southbourn School of English” in Bournemouth, UK. Cecilia has traveled around England, Spain, France, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. She taught EFL and has  been providing foreign language instruction and integrating cross-cultural training to a wide audience in the Chicago metropolitan area. She also worked as a translator/interpreter.  Cecilia became co-director of The Spanish Studio where she enjoyed working with a diverse community. She has a passion for foreign languages, romance languages in particular. She believes that learning new languages and cultures opens doors to the world and  gives a broader view of things; it helps students see that there is an endless list of options for them to choose and decide how they would like to lead their own lives in this world. Cecilia is very enthusiastic about participating in building an integrated model of learning at GCE. Email: cecilia.clavijo@gcechicago.com

Eric Davis, Founder and Director:  Eric has founded, served as Executive Director, and consulted for several organizations ranging from start-up non-profits to multi-million dollar institutions. After several years teaching and coaching in charter and private high schools, Eric founded Educational Endeavors (2001) and Camp of Dreams (2003).  Roughly ten years later, these organizations continue to serve the community and Eric has subsequently held the positions of Interim Executive Director with Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund and Executive Director of the Illinois Education Foundation.  He studied abroad in Cuenca, Ecuador and in Paris, France; he has traveled to numerous countries and traversed the U.S. six times by car or train.  Eric serves on the Development Committee of Imerman Angels and is inspired every day by the students, families, educators, and partners invested in creating the Global Citizenship Experience, which pulls together 15 years of educational practice and theory. Email: eric.davis@gcechicago.com

Ed Kress, Martial Arts and Self-Defense Instructor. Ed Kress received his 6th Degree Black Belt from The Degerberg Academy in Chicago, named the “Best overall school of the year” by Black Belt Magazine. He has been teaching and studying a wide range of martial arts and self-defense techniques there for over 30 years. He has been the recipient of a number of awards including: Blend Instructor of the Year, Specialty Class Instructor of the Year, Presidents Award and Visionary Award. Ed is the Head Freshmen Wrestling Coach at Loyola Academy, where he also leads Personal Safety Workshops for seniors before they head off to college. He is a speaker and writer on the subject of personal safety and self-defense, educating teens, and adults how to stay safe at school, work, home, and on the streets. For more information, please visit Ed’s blog: http://actinselfdefense.com/blog/.

Carlos Pittella Leite, Global Connections Coordinator: Carlos was born in Brazil and loves learning and all kinds of poetry. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, a Master’s degree in Literature and is presently working on his PhD, studying the sonnets of the poet Fernando Pessoa. In 2006, he cofounded One to Trees (123s), a Brazilian-based nonprofit that aims to empower ecological education teachers. Through 123s, he has taught ECOpoetry in two favelas of Rio de Janeiro. In his free time, Carlos reads, bikes, practices yoga, writes poetry, plants a garden – and cultivates ideas for the cross-curricular environment of GCE. Email: carlos.leite@gcechicago.com.

Jessica Miller, School Counselor: Jessica was born and raised in San Diego, California. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and went on to receive her Master’s Degree from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Jessica has experience working with children and adolescence as a tutor, coach, teacher, and counselor. Jessica has worked with a diverse range of children and adolescents in a variety of capacities which include; as a Counselor for Bremen Youth Services where she conducted individual, family, and group counseling; as a Treatment Counselor for Youth Outreach Services where she provided counseling in residential, clinical, and school settings for adolescents with substance abuse and mental health challenges; and as a Home Based Educator for CEDA, providing a wide range of services for low income families. Jessica is a very passionate and driven counselor who enjoys finding creative and positive alternatives for working with adolescents. Jessica is extremely excited to be joining the GCE team and looks forward to meeting the students and families. Please email her any questions at jessica.miller@gcechicago.com

Robyn T. Moreth, College Counseling Consultant: Robyn has fifteen years of  experience in education. A former Spanish teacher, Ms. Moreth entered the field of counseling with the specific goal of helping students and their families with their post-high school plans. She holds a Masters Degree in School Counseling and Guidance and has worked as both a generalist and college/career counselor in two Illinois high schools in Township High School District 214. She has professional membership in the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA).  For more about Robyn and the college counseling process, please visit her website.

Kimberly Neill, Admissions Advisor & Instructor: Kimberly has experience teaching high school Spanish in Indiana and at Concordia Language Villages in Minnesota. She has tutored in math, reading, writing, study skills, ACT/SAT prep, and high school entrance examination preparation through Educational Endeavors and Sylvan Learning Center. Kimberly has traveled extensively throughout the Midwest as a Campus Relations Advisor for American InterContinental University – London Study Abroad Programs. In addition, she held the position of Assistant Director of Study Abroad Programs with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Kimberly earned her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Clemson University in South Carolina and her B.A. in Spanish/Secondary Education from Northern Michigan University. She has lived in Spain, performed an internship at the University of Plymouth in England, U.K, and visited Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Mexico, and Jamaica. Email: kimberly.neill@gcechicago.com

Warren Thomas Rocco, GCE Institute Director & English-History Instructor: Warren possesses a B.A. in English, a M.A. in Teaching, a Certificate in Secondary Education, and is working toward an advanced degree in Urban Education Leadership. He coordinates research, development, and partnerships that clarify and strengthen GCE as a professional learning community. Warren is an experienced curriculum designer, program coordinator, academic dean, and humanities instructor with more than a decade of service to students in elite and emerging, independent, religious, public and charter schools throughout Chicago. Working with diverse learners from different backgrounds provides Warren a broad context in which to help every student achieve his/her academic goals. Consequently, Warren is effective at preparing students for success at selective institutions of higher learning, while also ensuring that young adults who struggle with literacy achieve essential life-skills and confidence. Warren is passionate about the study of Chicago literature and culture, and he encourages students to connect local-to-global texts for the purpose of writing, saying, and doing things that matter in their neighborhoods, and in the world. Warren believes that this scaffolding greatly contributes to learners Asking Questions and Living Into the Answers. Email: warren.rocco@gcechicago.com

Leslie A. Speicher, Integrated Visual & Performing Arts Instructor: Leslie’s greatest passions are teaching and making mixed media artwork.  The materials and processes she is drawn to include glass, metal, mixed media sculpture and installation, photography, painting and drawing. After receiving her BFA from Alfred University in 1992, she settled in Seattle, WA. Her teaching practice was based at Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle but it also took her across the country and into Canada to teach at Pilchuck Glass School, Red Deer College and Urban Glass.  Leslie earned her MFA from University of Illinois in 2004.  She taught courses as a Lecturer in 3D Design at the University of Miami and at the Cleveland Institute of Art in the Glass Department before moving to Chicago, IL in 2006. Leslie is currently the Head of the Glass Department at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago, IL where she also teaches and makes her work.  In the spring of 2011 Leslie was introduced to GCE HS as an Art Curriculum Consultant for the final term installation project.  Now, she is thrilled to have been hired as part of the GCE team as an Integrated Visual & Performing Arts Instructor.  She is looking forward to continuing her work with the CGE students and community.  Email leslie.speicher@gcechicago.com.

Hiu To, Integrated Visual & Performing Arts Instructor: Hiu is a self-taught artist with a passion for inspiring young people to use Art as a tool for learning. She fell in love with Arts Education in high school when taking classes at Yollocalli, a non-profit youth center based around Art in Pilsen. The instructors believed in teaching Art from a social and cultural perspective; integrating current world issues, debating about gender roles, and introducing terms like urban planning and gentrification. Hiu went on to become an intern at Yollocalli and had the opportunity to co-teach several classes. She took a break from Art after high school to pursue a degree in Environmental Engineering at the University of Vermont in Burlington.  However, teaching and creating Art was tugging at her heart, so Hiu moved back to Chicago and joined City Year for a ten-month Americorps program based around leadership development and civic engagement. Hiu’s role in City Year included conducting literacy tutoring, running an afterschool program in an inner-city public school, and planning service projects around the city.  Networking through City Year linked Hiu with Camp of Dreams, where she grew into her own as a teacher.  There Hiu honed her Art lessons which were integrated with science, culture, history, self-discovery, and social issues effecting youth.  Email: hiu.to@gcechicago.com

James Young, Architect and Curriculum Consultant: James has been an architect in Chicago for 15 years. Driven by social and environmental sensitivity, his experience with building design and planning gives him a broad understanding of both the technical and cultural implications of the built environment. He has worked on projects that have won awards both in Illinois and Michigan and range from 400 square foot cottages in the woods to 75 story high-rises in the city. He believes that thinking more critically about architecture, students will better understand its civic relevance and its link to all the social processes that define it.  Email: james@gcechicago.com

GCE Mascot: Stella Woof Dog.  The loveliest and gentlest of the GCE community, Stella’s smiling eyes and quietly thumping tail may greet you at the top of the coach house stairs where she sometimes naps in her favorite sun spot.