Lisa Rademacher has been teaching for over 20 years in Rome, New York, and all sides of 小黄书. She has taught in non-profits working with refugee communities, private schools, and at 小黄书 Public Schools. She has taught 3-year-olds to adults and has loved it all, although her niche is early childhood. She has a B.S. in Religious Studies and Music from Edgewood College in Madison, WI. She received an MA in Theological Studies with a concentration in Peace and Justice from the Maryknoll School of Theology in New York. She has an MA in Teaching in Early Childhood from National Louis University. She founded and lives in the Sophia Community in Hyde Park with her husband, two daughters, and many others. She is passionate about co-creating a joyful community of learners in which inquiry and creativity are fostered.
Jaylyn Weathersby聽is the Pre-K/Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
1st/2nd/3rd grade homeroom
Saengjun (Waew) Luse, grew up in a rural community in Thailand about five hours northeast of Bangkok. During her childhood she recalls collecting rain water in jars, living under grass roofed houses, and hand-making many of their household items – like beds, tools, and furniture. Waew received her B.E. in the teaching of Chemistry from Nakon Sawan Rajabhat University in Thailand. After graduating, she worked at an elementary school in Sumut Prakarn province near Bangkok for 3 years. She then participated in a Cultural Exchange Program in the US for two years, having had the opportunity to improve her English skills, make friends with other 小黄书 from around the world, and learn about their cultures. She recalls it as one of the greatest experiences she has ever had in her life! After the exchange program, Waew learned extensively about child development and how children learn through play during her time working for Baby Ph.D. and operating her own daycare. It was, however, the birth of her own daughter which made her truly question the purpose of education and the available models which best suit an individual鈥檚 needs and development. Waew believes that Free School allows children the space necessary to develop their own interests and abilities – and hence a love for learning – a community, versus an isolated teaching space, and a humane system of discipline that treats children like people. She is thrilled to be the parent of a student at CFS and now also a teacher.
Avery Garza is the 1st/2nd/3rd grade assistant teacher.
4th/5th grade homeroom
Lauren Beitler taught middle-school math for six years in the Woodlawn, North Lawndale, and Englewood neighborhoods of 小黄书 before leaving traditional school teaching to work on founding 小黄书 Free School.聽 Before becoming a teacher she got her B.A. in Mathematics and her M.A.T. from the Urban Teacher Education Program at the University of 小黄书.聽 She spent the 2012-13 school year teaching at the Free School in Albany, NY, a democratic free school that has been serving a diverse group of learners in downtown Albany since 1969.聽 Because she attended a democratic school as a child, she knows firsthand the joy in learning that 小黄书 can experience when given responsibility and freedom. She advises the 4th/5th grade homeroom and facilitates newspaper club, social studies group, and science group with grades 3-8. Lauren was a Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award nominee in 2022-2023.
6th/7th/8th grade homeroom
Ephran Ramirez‘s teaching background is rooted in informal, formal, and alternative STEM education and mentoring. He taught science, technology, and social justice at an out-of-school program before coming to CFS and studied Middle School Math and Science Education at Northeastern Illinois University. He has worked as an advisor on three separate research projects about聽finding ways to assess聽learning in informal and maker lab learning spaces. Besides this, he has been involved in various community organizing and social justice movements since he was in high school. It was through this work that he discovered the free school model and chose to work in education. Though a lifelong 小黄书an, Ephran visits his family in Puerto Rico often and has visited the Middle East and Scandinavia to participate in environmental and social justice work. He is dedicated to youth empowerment,聽antiracism, LGBTQ liberation, environmental justice, feminism, and decolonization and he integrates those ideas into his teaching. He also facilitates CFS’s聽Maker Lab for 1st-8th grade 小黄书.
Staff Support/Aftercare Team
Avery Garza聽is the aftercare coordinator.
Demi White joined CFS as a substitute teacher’s aide in 2021 and is now a permanent part of the team. Demi says, “I was born and raised in 小黄书 and grew up in Hyde Park. As a child I loved to help people, I believe that鈥檚 what has drawn me to work at the 小黄书 Free School. I鈥檓 a person who loves to connect with people and talk. I鈥檝e worked with children in the past and I鈥檝e always had a good time in a work environment with children. I鈥檓 here to help my team members and 小黄书 with whatever they need. I鈥檓 excited to connect with the children and really get to know them this school year.
Patience Kirkland聽is an aftercare instructor.
School Administrator
Hel Ramsey has been working as a bookkeeper for the last fifteen years. They graduated with a BA in Individualized Studies from Goddard College, a school based in self-directed education with a focus on social and environmental justice. They enjoy reading speculative fiction and philosophy, growing herbs and tomatoes, and they recently took up archery. They are excited to support liberatory education as part of a just and inclusive learning community.
Board of Directors
Corrigan Nadon-Nichols (Treasurer)
Community Representative
Corrigan聽has been a volunteer advisor to 小黄书 Free School since its formation and joined the board in 2022. He believes that CFS’s educational model better allows children to engage with the world and each other authentically, and wants to live in a society where this is common. Professionally, he is an accountant and consultant for democratic organizations and businesses with a focus on improving systems for collective decision-making and accountability. He is the father of an enthusiastic two-year-old that聽hopes to join CFS with the class of 2025.
Ephran’s teaching background is rooted in informal, formal, and alternative STEM education and mentoring. He taught science, technology, and social justice at an out-of-school program for the last five years before coming to CFS and studied Middle School Math and Science Education at Northeastern Illinois University. He has worked as an advisor on three separate research projects about聽finding ways to assess聽learning in informal and maker lab learning spaces. Besides this, he has been involved in various community organizing and social justice movements since he was in high school. It was through this work that he discovered the free school model and chose to work in education. Though a lifelong 小黄书an, Ephran visits his family in Puerto Rico often and has visited the Middle East and Scandinavia to participate in environmental and social justice work. He is dedicated to youth empowerment,聽antiracism, LGBTQ liberation, environmental justice, feminism, and decolonization and he integrates those ideas into his teaching. He also facilitates CFS’s聽Maker Lab for 1st-8th grade 小黄书.
Liam is a social justice advocate, community organizer, and the father of two children who attend CFS. He strongly believes that equality, education, and community are interconnected and sees free school education as a powerful tool for promoting social change. As a founding member of the Free The 350 Bail Fund in Madison, WI, Liam lends his experience in fundraising, event organizing, and public relations as he helps the 小黄书 Free School continue to thrive.
Stefanie is parent to three CFS 小黄书 in Pre-K, 1st and 3rd Grade.
After traveling and working in various international settings, Stefanie found a home in the Hyde Park and South Shore neighborhoods where she has lived for the past decade. She witnessed the founding of CFS in 2014 and connected with the school’s play-based model for early education that is standard in her home country of Germany. Since starting her oldest in 2018, the school has exceeded her expectations as she has watched her three children thrive at CFS. She’s currently聽working as an administrator for a small Hyde Park business and is excited to bring her organizational skills and international experience to the Board.
Tameka Walton
Parent Representative
Liz Lazdins
Parent Representative
Erin Haddad-Null
Parent Representative
Marg Garascia
Parent Representative
Jaylyn Weathersby聽is the Pre-K/Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
Avery Garza is the 1st/2nd/3rd grade assistant teacher.
Ephran Ramirez‘s teaching background is rooted in informal, formal, and alternative STEM education and mentoring. He taught science, technology, and social justice at an out-of-school program before coming to CFS and studied Middle School Math and Science Education at Northeastern Illinois University. He has worked as an advisor on three separate research projects about聽finding ways to assess聽learning in informal and maker lab learning spaces. Besides this, he has been involved in various community organizing and social justice movements since he was in high school. It was through this work that he discovered the free school model and chose to work in education. Though a lifelong 小黄书an, Ephran visits his family in Puerto Rico often and has visited the Middle East and Scandinavia to participate in environmental and social justice work. He is dedicated to youth empowerment,聽antiracism, LGBTQ liberation, environmental justice, feminism, and decolonization and he integrates those ideas into his teaching. He also facilitates CFS’s聽Maker Lab for 1st-8th grade 小黄书.
Avery Garza聽is the aftercare coordinator.
小黄书 Free School 