Adolescent Program
Email: adolfaculty@mslf.org
Bev Adamczyk: Bev started in business doing Inventory Control and Production Planning for a fast-paced high-tech company, U.S. Robotics. After several years she returned to school to earn a BA in Classical Studies (with a minor in Business) and a MA in Ancient Greek from Loyola University Chicago, as well as a MA in Theater History from the University of Illinois. While a young mother Bev entered community service (La Leche League, the League of Women Voters), ultimately leading her to help out at her daughter’s school, MSLF. “Helping out” led Bev to join the MSLF Adolescent Program faculty in 2004, to teach Latin and History. She also completed her Montessori Elementary training at the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee in 2007. Bev’s daughter, Rania, graduated from the Adolescent Program in 2011 and now attends Chicago Academy of the Arts.
Eric Carlberg: Eric became the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm’s Farm Manager, and the Adolescent Program’s Farm Teacher, in March, 2009. Before that, he worked on farms in various parts of the country and served as crew leader for Sandhill Organics, the certified organic farm that sits on 40 acres of Prairie Crossing land. Eric received an MA in Religious Studies at Chicago Theological Seminary, in Hyde Park, in May 2011 and plans to eventually help churches grow food for their surrounding communities. Eric came to farming through working with homeless people and witnessing their lack of access to healthy food. At Prairie Crossing, Eric works with young people to help them understand how communities and individuals can become more resilient. As Farm Teacher, his role is to teach both the attitudes that make farmers good citizens, and to teach students basic ways of participating in our economy.
Jan Emery: Jan joined the Adolescent Program teaching staff in 2012, and teaches Language and Literature. She holds a BA in Psychology and a BS in Decision Sciences from Indiana University. She worked for 20 years at Hewitt Associates in Lincolnshire, IL, in a variety of roles. She is currently pursuing a MS in Library and Information Sciences at the University of Illinois. Jan and her husband, Geoffrey Walters, were members of the MSLF community from the time their son, Evan, began as a Toddler through his 8th year at the Adolescent Program. Jan was a room parent for both Primary and Elementary classes. She also served two terms on the Board of Directors, including chairing the committee responsible for redrafting MSLF’s current Mission, Vision, and Values statements and writing the current Strategic Plan. After a year’s hiatus, she is happy to be back.
Ann Jordahl: Ann holds a BA in English and Theatre/Dance from Smith College, and an MS in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Wisconsin. She also completed her Assistants to Infancy (Birth-3) training at The Montessori Institute in Denver, CO. Her daughters, Brianna and Hille, both attended MSLF. On the faculty since 1998, originally as a Toddler teacher, Ann then joined the Adolescent Program in 2002, becoming Adolescent Program Director in 2010. She also teaches the Parent Infant class. This year Ann has assumed the role of MSLF’s Interim Executive Director.
Celina Montoya: Celina joined the Adolescent Program teaching staff in 2010, and teaches the Math and Science classes. She has studied architecture and design at the University of Illinois at Chicago and also at the Art Institute of Chicago. After working briefly for a local architectural firm, her family took center stage. She homeschooled her three children for six years, then shifted her academic focus, returning to school to study chemistry and mathematics. Celina received her AS in Chemistry, then transferred to Northwestern University, where she completed her BS in Mathematics in 2012, studying vector fields that relate to fluid flow, electricity, and magnetism. She has worked as a math tutor for College of Lake County, tutoring Algebra 1, Geometry, College Algebra, Trigonometry, Statistics, and Single-Variable Calculus. In addition to teaching Math and Science in the Adolescent Program, Celina also volunteers for Chicago Hope, a tutoring program for homeless children in the Chicago Public School system.
Colin Palombi: Colin Palombi, who teaches Art as well as Culture and Expression, joined the Adolescent faculty at MSLF as a video specialist in 2003. He holds a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and completed his Assistants to Infancy (Birth-3) training at the Montessori Institute in Denver, CO in 2007. In 2008 he completed a MEd in Montessori Education from Loyola College in Baltimore, MD. In addition to teaching at the Adolescent Program, Colin maintains the MSLF website and has produced a number of videos for promotion. Outside of MSLF, Colin teaches printmaking at Spudnik Press, a community printing studio in Chicago, and serves as a project coordinator for Homeroom Chicago, a non-profit arts organization.