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Dear Baker families,
Since fall 2023, I have had the opportunity and privilege to engage with the dynamic people that make up the Baker community. I have worked closely with Mason and the administrative team to understand the systems that support Baker operations, the teachers and deans that help bring the program to life, and observed the students in their daily life at school. I have also met with families, including members of the Baker Parent Organization, and the numerous family volunteers. It has been a journey, and I have learned so much. There is much to learn ahead, and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you to understand your Baker experience and your hopes for how we can grow and flourish. And, I look forward to sharing with you a broad vision for Baker and how we can all participate in our growing community at the State of the School in the fall.
Ahead is summer, filled with opportunity and adventures, big and small. I think Mary Oliver put it best in her poem:
The Summer Day
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean —
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down —
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
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Every word of this Mary Oliver’s summer day resonates with traits of a Baker student. Exploration, attention to the details, hands in the literal and figurative dirt. Listening to the graduates weeks back was a truly profound experience. Each presentation, an exploration of self as citizen, as learner, as friend. Each word, an amazing send off to the summer, and closure to time spent as Baker students. The graduation answers the question, “Why Baker?”
Our work now is to build on Baker’s rich history and dynamic present and expand our community to include more students and families. My work this summer is to deepen my understanding of how best to do this. To that end, we have filled our Integrated Advancement team with education professionals who share Baker’s mission and values. You can take a look at their bios below.
And so, off to summer we all go. I’ll look forward to hearing from you about what you did with your wild and precious summer.
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Kate Cicchelli
She/Her/Hers
Head of School-Elect Summer 2024
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Welcome to the New Integrated Advancement Team | |
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Shuchi Sharma, Director of Integrated Advancement
Shuchi Sharma is an experienced executive and entrepreneur with over 20 years experience helping early- and growth-stage organizations unlock their strategic, operational, and financial growth and potential. She has spent most of her career in education and healthcare, working alongside CEO’s to help actualize, test, and execute their visions, and realize meaningful mission-driven impact and growth.
At the heart of Shuchi’s work is a desire to help create a meaningful, positive, and lasting change in the world. Shuchi co-founded ADI Health in 2003 to help children, adolescents, and adults struggling with mental health issues live their healthiest, happiest, and most successful lives. Prior to returning to ADI Health in 2019, she served as a Strategy and Growth Consultant with Solidarity Lab, Digital Adventures, WellBeings, and Minimal Design, as well as the SVP of Strategy and Head of Growth at Codeverse, where she was in charge of establishing, leading, and scaling the after-school program’s multi-unit studio business. Before Codeverse, she led the strategy, operations, finance, facilities, fundraising, and marketing teams to successfully turn around an all-girls Catholic high school, co-founded Bennett Day School, a preK to 12 Reggio-inspired independent day school, and served as Bennett’s Chief Operating Officer.
As Baker’s new Director of Integrated Advancement, she looks forward to learning from, listening to, and working with all stakeholders to help grow its world-class, innovative, and life-changing progressive education program in a sustainable and meaningful way.
During her free time, Shuchi loves to hang out with her 10 year old daughter, Sofie, run, do yoga, skate, play, garden, paint, read, cook, learn new languages and skills, travel, bake, steak, take evening walks, watch old school cinema, listen to jazz, and spend quality time with her family and friends. She does not enjoy being stuck in traffic, standing in lines, or shopping (unless it’s for food).
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Sarah Skvara, Associate Director of Integrated Advancement
Sarah Skvara graduated from Marquette University (MU) with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Public Relations. She moved to Chicago shortly after graduation and has lived in this amazing city for over 20 years. Early in her career, Sarah participated in classes and shows at Second City and started a production company with her fellow MU alumni. In 2008, she decided to return to school and received her Master of Arts in Teaching from National-Louis University. Sarah has spent the past thirteen years in education, seven as a K-2 teacher and six, and currently, in administration. She truly enjoys working with students and families and thrives on creating a solid school community.
In her spare time, Sarah enjoys reading, spending quality time with friends and going to the park with her husband and two-year old daughter.
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Igho Oraka, Director of Admissions
Igho Oraka, an accomplished education professional, is joining the Integrated Advancement team as Director of Admissions. She has spent the last five years in college counseling offices in Public, Catholic and Independent schools in the Midwest. Prior to that, Igho worked in admissions at Georgetown Day School in Washington, DC. With over a decade of experience in advocating for student equity and inclusion, Igho is a seasoned education professional working for the holistic development of students.
Igho brings a strong background in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as evident in her robust professional memberships, volunteer commitments, and accomplishments. Her tenure at Fenwick High School and Hawken School highlights her leadership in diversity initiatives, college counseling, and curriculum development. Igho's strong educational background in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Miami and her dedication to creating inclusive educational environments make her the ideal addition to the Baker team to lead admissions and foster a welcoming, diverse student community.
In her spare time, Igho enjoys visiting museums and taking in a musical with her daughter.
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Starrin Kinser-Petersen, Associate Director of Marketing and Events
Starrin is thrilled to be working in the educational space, especially in a progressive school environment. She has a robust professional background including marketing, start-up experience and a long tenure coaching girls youth basketball. She most recently served as Programs Manager at local non-profit, NPN, assisting in building community and creating programs for families looking to understand the school landscape. Starrin was a long time Board Member and Board President at her children’s progressive preschool where she helped oversee events, fundraising, parent education and admissions while fully immersing herself in the understanding of progressive education. Starrin values creating engaged and welcoming communities and looks forward to bringing this passion to Baker Demonstration School. She and her husband have three active kiddos, a friendly cat, and a joyful dog. They can often be found bouncing around from a sporting event, to a park meet up and on to a choir performance all in one day.
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We have an amazing team of new faculty joining us in the coming year. Anthony Sobun will be our next Music Teacher, and will be teaching PK- 8th grade. Anthony joins us with extensive experience teaching a wide variety of instruments and band ensembles at School of Rock and recently student-teaching in the Skokie public schools. Anthony earned his Bachelor in Music Education from Northeastern Illinois and also plays music professionally.
I’m also excited to announce that we will have a second Kindergarten class next year! Joining Aimee Martin in Kindergarten we welcome Sara Angres back to Baker! Sara is an extremely experienced and versatile teacher that has been currently filling in for Rachael Ross’ maternity leave as the MS PE & Wellness teacher. Sara has also taught many years at Baker previously including 13 years as a PK teacher and 4 years as a Kindergarten teacher. Sara has her Masters in Early Childhood Education from NLU and a Bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College. We are delighted to welcome Anthony and Sara to our faculty!
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Baker Staff with New Roles | |
Gracie Hepworth will be shifting from PK to 4th grade next year. Gracie has taught PK at Baker here for the last two years, but previously taught 4th grade at Bennett Day School. We are excited for her transition upstairs! In the Middle School our math department will be held down by the dynamic duo of Owen Ellis and Rebecca DeSalvo. Owen has been teaching a MS math class this year as well as being a Data Support Specialist in Admissions and Advancement. He’ll be shifting out of administration and will be teaching more MS math classes and be a MS advisor. Rebecca will shift from a part-time MS teacher and advisor to a full-time MS teacher and advisor, while also teaching 5th grade math. Finally, Shannon Webber will be shifting out of her 5th grade associate duties to become a MS advisor as well as the school Drama teacher, which she also held this year. | |
Goodbyes are always bittersweet, as we see people move on and wish them well in their next chapters. In our administration team Mason Rocca, Denise Boswell, Kate Alpert, and Hannah Biewalski won’t be returning. Hannah and Denise have been at Baker for 9 and 10 years, respectively, and they, together with Kate and Mason, have made a lasting imprint on our community. Meanwhile, we are also saying goodbye to the following faculty members: Mark McClennan, Shane Courville, Rachael Ross, Curry Berg, Sam O’Connor Divelbiss, Carmen Garcia, Irma Martinez and Nick Rojo. Each one of these people made an impact on our school and we are grateful for their passion and commitment. We wave them goodbye with full hearts and hope they keep in touch. | |
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This year is the 25th Annual Race Against Hate
Sunday, June 16, 2024
7:30 a.m. | Floyd Long Field | Evanston IL
Baker is sponsoring a booth!
Please email communications@bakerdemschool.org if you plan to attend and wish to meet up.
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