Specialists
Stephanie Brooks, Reading Specialist
Stephanie has always wanted to be a teacher. She developed her skills as a child, volunteering to help friends understand concepts and explaining things to them whether they wanted to know them or not. She earned a BS in music education from Duquesne University, a Master of Science degree in elementary education at St. Joseph's University and a Pennsylvania Reading Specialist Certification K-12 from East Stroudsburg University, teaching for over 20 years, in no less than 10 schools in 4 states, along the way.
Her husband's job transferred the family around the country a great deal, so Stephanie has been fortunate to live and teach in Philadelphia (her hometown); Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois; Houston, Texas and Greenville, Mississippi. They settled in Bethelehem in 2001, where she promptly started a book club that still meets for monthly discussions of books, ideas and reading, some of her favorite things. She's also a member of the Lehigh Valley Photography Club, loves shooting candids of people, landscapes, nature and flowers, and lists going on safari as high on her "To Do" list. She absolutely loves music and the theatre. Actually, Stephanie would say that she can't keep still; she's always involved in doing something, and maintains active membership in the internationational service sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. (motto: "Service to all mankind"). With all her teaching, moving and doing, her family remains most important to her. She's been married to loving husband Monte for 25 years and they have a beautiful daughter, Kristin, in her early 20s. Stephanie has an older brother, a younger sister, 2 cats, a dog, a grandcat and fish in a tank! Life is full.
Contact Stephanie Brooks at stephanie.brooks@sevengen.org.
What is it like to teach at Seven Generations?
A Chinese proverb states: "Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember, involve me and I'll understand."
Teaching is my joy. It is capturing attention, generating a spark and watching it grow. Teaching is using inquisitiveness as a catalyst to learn. Teaching is excitement, the discovery of who, what, when, where, how and why. Teaching is a reciprocal relationship between the student and the teacher - each learning from one another.
Teaching is a passion.
I look forward to bringing my joy, enthusiasm and passion for teaching and READING to the Seven Generations family!
Scott Eggert, Instrumental Music Instructor
Affectionately known as "Mr. E" to our students, Scott Eggert did undergraduate studies in music composition at Carnegie-Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA) and Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA), and received his BA in music from Thomas Edison State College (Trenton, NJ). This fall he will start working toward a Master of Music degree in music composition from Montclair State University (Montclair, NJ). He's worked as a professional musician for 24 years and has been working in music full time since 2006. He's performed in various bands all over the USA, recorded several albums, and composed for theatre and film. He's also the co-creator of Seven Generations' school song.
Scott has a full schedule: working as a Dance Musician at DeSales University in Center Valley, as the Music Director at Unity of Lehigh Valley here in Emmaus, as a singer/keyboardist in the NYC-based ensemble Nite-Time, and as an Instrumental Instructor here at Seven Gen. He has been teaching privately and doing workshops and lectures at various adult schools and colleges for many years, but Seven Gen is his first regular teaching position.
Seven Generations Charter School began as an idea cooked up in a conversation one day between Rob Aptaker, Scott and Scott's wife Pana Columbus. Given his history as a child who did not fare well in public school and who attended private school from 5th grade on, he is a person who believes very strongly in the need for educational alternatives in our country; he's also a passionate believer in the need for a paradigm shift in our culture’s relationship to the natural environment. The vision of Seven Generations began when Scott had a child of his own and began to think about what he really wanted for her education. He wanted her to be raised as a steward for the planet, to be empowered as a community activist, to be encouraged in artistic pursuits, and to foster in her a love of learning. The hard work and devotion of so many wonderful and gifted people have made all this possible, for Scott's daughter and hundreds of other children. It is still amazing to him, every time he walks down the halls of Seven Gen, that it actually exists. He takes more pride in it than any other accomplishment of his life—though the credit for it belongs to countless others as well.
Scott's hobbies and interests are as varied as you might expect: Music, movies, books, theatre, storytelling, any creative activity, nature, environmental and social justice causes, Native American culture, philosophy and metaphysics, education, camping, hiking, swimming, Middle Eastern & Asian food, architecture, traveling…He'll probably think of some more tomorrow. Contact Scott Eggert at scott.eggert@sevengen.org
What is it like to teach at Seven Generations?
Like I said above, it feels like
a miracle every time I am there. And I have come to enjoy the kids so much. I’d
like to remind everyone to really support our classroom teacher and
specialists—because these people work incredibly hard at what they do, and they
do it out of real love for all our students. Get involved and give of your time
to make our school even better!
Edit Ginsberg, Physical Education Teacher
Edit Ginsberg grew up in suburban Hungary, in a town where most families grow their own produce and raise their own farm animals. During her teenage years, she traveled and lived in many European countries to learn about other cultures, becoming fluent in Hungarian, German, English and some Spanish. She moved to the U.S. seven years ago; attended colleges in New Jersey and California; became a registered yoga instructor, and, in 2008, earned a BS in education from East Stroudsburg University. When she joined Seven Generations’ staff as a third grade teacher in 2009, she was able to combine her passion for learning with an engaging, playful teaching style that often has her down on the ground doing hands-on projects with her students. This year, she'll be playing full-time, incorporating fun physical activities and mindfulness into our physical education program.
Edit travels every chance she gets and has a wide variety of passions that range from reading, drawing, singing and running to cooking, gardening, practicing and teaching yoga. She aspires to live in the moment and to inspire others to see the beauty in everyday occurrences. Contact Edit Ginsberg at edit.ginsberg@sevengen.org.
What is it like to teach at Seven Generations?
It is the ideal place for someone with a free spirit and creative mind. Teaching with the best practices I know, and applying them in ways that allow children to be themselves and grow, is exhilarating.
Linda Mayger, Math Specialist
Linda Mayger is the Math Specialist at Seven Generations. She supports students and teachers in an excellent and comprehensive math program that dovetails with our integrated environmental focus.
Born and raised in southeastern Wisconsin, she earned her BS in elementary education from Carroll College and a Master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix. Her Pennsylvania credentials include certification in K-6, middle level math and middle level science. She has worked in many capacities in preschool through middle school education for the last twenty years. Just prior to joining Seven Generations in 2009, she taught grades 6-8 math and science with International Baccalaureate methodology at St. Timothy's Preparatory School in Apple Valley, California. She has published in Educational Leadership magazine and written grants, including one for a magnetic levitation project funded by the Toshiba America Foundation and one to help fund the creation of a Habitat Garden here at Seven Generations.
Linda claims to have been raised in the "geekiest" family ever, so she loves science fiction, fantasy books, technology, and (despite having four brothers) is not sporty in any way. One of her favorite quotations comes from Arthur Weasley of the Harry Potter series: "Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain." When she's not finding pithy quotations or solving logic problems, she also enjoys oil painting and seriously rocking music that she shares with her two sons, Andrew (17) and Matthew (11), and her wonderful husband of 20 years, Doug, a mining engineer. Contact Linda Mayger at linda.mayger@sevengen.org.
What is it like to teach at Seven Gen?
It's exciting to teach somewhere that allows me the freedom to individualize instruction, step away from the textbook and bring learning alive for kids.
Jennifer Miller, IDEA (Art) Teacher
After graduating with a BFA from Rochester Institute of Technology, Jennifer Miller worked for over ten years in the design industry producing advertising/billboard design, print media/graphic design, illustration, book design and ribbon and pottery design. She received her Art Education Certification K-12 from Moravian College then worked for six years in the Allentown School District as a K-5 Art Educator. She joined Seven Generations' staff in the 2010-2011 school year, bringing with her all kinds of plans, project ideas and creative flair.
Jennifer's artistic endeavors also include tiered cake decoration, although transporting her creations is an adventure. She loves organizing spaces and transforming them into something functional and beautiful. When she heads outdoors she loves winter sports best of all; she skis, sleds, skates and has been known to start a snowball fight or two. Or she's off on travels with her husband of 16 years and her two children, ages 6 and 3. They've traveled to Europe, Asia and throughout the USA, to Niagara Falls and Canada. Her favorite places so far are Paris, northern California, Portugal and home. Contact Jennifer Miller at jen.miller@sevengen.org.
What is it like to teach at Seven Generations?
I can't wait to find out!
Katie Pulizzano, Music Teacher
Katie Pulizzano has so much creativity, energy and imagination that she filled two roles at Seven Generations in 2009: Music Teacher and Play Teacher, our version of physical education. This year, she will be focusing solely on our music program. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Moravian College then moved to California for a year where she taught music and worked closely with the P.E. teacher at North Hillsborough Elementary School. Even though she loved California, she missed the Lehigh Valley where she grew up, her family and friends. So she returned to work at Seven Gen, as well as serving as camp musician at The Painted Turtle and providing private music lessons to local students.
In the music room, she teaches students about the six elements of music (melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, expression and form) through games, use of instruments, and our environment in and around school. She continues to work with students to devise ways to involve the community in our music programs. During our first year, she arranged several concerts, provided instrumental instruction and produced our first student band concert and "Open Mic" night.
Katie spends much of her spare time teaching music, playing instruments and singing. She even has a kitten named Mozart. She loves being with her family and friends, and also enjoys going outdoors to run, bike, hike and swim. One of her favorite sayings about the power of music is, "After silence, music comes closest to expressing the inexpressible." Contact Katie Pulizzano at katie.pulizzano@sevengen.org.
What is it like to teach at Seven Gen?
It's great! It is always fun and exciting, and I get to do what I love: play all day. I believe that children learn the most through activities and discovery. I try to make every lesson fun and exciting so the kids will get the most information.
Niki Rothdeutsch, ESL and Spanish Teacher
A lifelong Lehigh Township resident, Niki Rothdeutsch has turned her love of travel and other cultures into a career. She spent her undergraduate years at Kutztown University then went on to earn her M.Ed.in teaching English as a second language from the University of Turabo, in Puerto Rico. Her certifications include: Program Specialist: English as a Second Language Certificate from Penn State University; Elementary Education K-6; Early Childhood Education N-3 and Spanish K-12. Before joining the Seven Generations staff, she taught Spanish to students in grades K-3 following the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, which integrates Spanish with Science and Social Studies curricula. She also taught Spanish and English to young children in Costa Rica as part of an Early Childhood Education internship.
Her travels have taken her to Costa Rica, Ecuador, and most recently Guatemala, where she lived with local families, worked and took intensive Spanish courses so she could be totally immersed in the different cultures. She also visited Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and had a fantastic time snowboarding in Chile. Back home, Nikki lives in south Allentown (to be closer to the school), likes to kayak down the Lehigh River when it's warm and spend time outdoors mountain biking, camping, hiking and skiing. Contact Niki Rothdeutsch at niki.rothdeutsch@sevengen.org.
What is it like to teach at Seven Gen?
I love teaching in such a positive, creative atmosphere, and I feel very fortunate to be a part of the growing Seven Generations community!
Jill Summerill-Fretz, Reading Specialist
Jill Summerill-Fretz, who grew up as a South Jersey farm girl, has been teaching for 30 years. She earned her BS degree from Rowan University with dual certification in special and elementary education; her Master's degree with Reading Specialist Certification from East Stroudsburg University; completed a Literacy Apprenticeship under Linda Dorn, and is a certified Reading Recovery specialist and a National Writing Project Fellow. She developed and wrote Emergent Literacy Curriculum for kindergarten, taught kindergarten and spent many years as a K-4 Reading Specialist and Literacy Coach.
Growing up on a farm in an old farmhouse has had a major impact on Jill's life. She and her husband live in an 1827 stone house with two acres of vegetable and flower gardens, along with their Jack Russell terrier Scooter and pet cat, Rocket. As expected, Jill loves to read, but she also enjoys tending her garden, spending time with family and friends and hiking. Contact Jill Summerill-Fretz at jill.summerill@sevengen.org.
What is it like to teach at Seven Gen?
When I first visited Seven Gen I was in awe at the amount of work, energy and dreams evident in the people putting up walls, painting, talking and laughing. I have always enjoyed adventures, and consider myself lucky to be part of a dream becoming reality.
Photos: Olaf Starorypinski
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