 Sheri Fisher
Science |
Mrs. Fisher has been teaching
at Middle School North since 1988. She loves the outdoors, gardening,
and animals. In her science room, these passions are reflected as she
works to bring the outdoors inside. Survivor is her favorite
television show. She is passionate about
animal rescue, especially Boxers. Daphne, a rescued boxer, is the newest
addition to her family. Her other passion is music, especially the
Beatles. Mrs. Fisher remembers being a skinny dork in middle school, so
she understands awkward middle school moments.
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 Jennifer Lippert
Literature/Language Arts |
Mrs. Lippert has been teaching at Middle School
North since 2000 but has been teaching since 1999. She spent most of her
life in Ohio, but attended the same college as David Letterman in
Indiana. She jokes that she is a poisonous nut because she is from the
Buckeye State. She had to childproof her house because of her dogs and
has many stories to share about their escapades. She writes
with her students and shares the study skills she has learned along the
way. Teachers and students swear that she sleeps overnight because
she always seems to be there. Mrs. Lippert remembers having the most
problem with study skills and organization in middle school. She was
always losing papers, so she tries to teach students all the skills that
she learned the “hard way.”
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 Capri Paluch
Math |
Mrs. Paluch is the baby of the
group; she is often teased about her youth. She started teaching at
Middle School North in 2001. Her baby is Bart, her dog. She says that he
is just like Bart Simpson. He makes her laugh with his antics. She likes
to garden and to do outdoor activities like boating. She’s learned a lot
about cars from her husband who restores classic cars. She even helps him to restore their 1969
Mustang. She also loves to travel. She has visited most of Western
Europe. She remembers students being mean in middle school, so she
understands the challenges middle schoolers face trying to fit in.
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 Alba Pollak
Literature/Language Arts |
Mrs. Pollak has been teaching at Middle School
North since 1999 but has been teaching since 1997. Her pride and joy is
her son. Don’t be surprised if she glows when she talks about him. Like
any good Italian, she likes to cook and eat and be with her family. She
shares an interest in plants with her husband who is a botanist at the
Chicago Botanical Gardens. She jokes that her house looks like a jungle.
Mrs. Pollak was involved in a lot of activities in middle school from
music to journalism to sports. She remembers her teacher helping her
with her poetry book and memorizing Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold
Can Stay.” She can still recite it. A lot of embarrassing moments
happened to her in middle school, so she can understand how difficult it
can be for students.
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 Dean Starr
Social Studies
 |
Mr. Starr is the most experienced teacher on our
team. He has been teaching at this school since 1977. This makes him old
enough to have had all of the other Star’s block teachers in class! He
says that he has is too old to remember middle school. During the
summer, you can find him at US Cellular Field watching his favorite
baseball team the White Sox. Or he may be on a road trip with his wife
and son visiting historic sites throughout the country. He also gardens,
but he hates it.
Mrs. Garel-Frantzen is excited
to be a new teacher on the seventh grade Stars Team. She taught seven
years at Middle School North as an 8th grade teacher and at a
school in Barrington. She especially loves reading and discussing books.
She also loves Chicago sports, especially the Cubs and Bulls, warm
weather, and dogs. Garel-Frantzen lives in the area with her husband,
sixteen-year-old son, and her two dogs: a golden retriever and a Shi
Tzu. Garel-Frantzen also has a grown daughter and son who have finished
college and live in the Chicago area.Her best memories are of being with
her friends and participating in gymnastics. Her worst memory was when
someone threw a chewed piece of gum in her long hair. Yuk! She survived
and thrived, and she believes that her students can too, despite the
challenges they face.
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Helene Garel-Frantzen
Literature/Language Arts
Resource/Special Education
Julie Pollack
Special Education
Stacie Noisey
Literature/Language Arts
Reading Specialist
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Miss Pollack is the youngest member of the team, and this is her first
year at MSN. She is really excited to be a part of such a great team.
Miss Pollack teaches 7th grade special education. She
graduated from DePaul University in 2005 then worked for The Special
Education District of Lake County. She taught 7th and 8th
grade at a therapeutic day school. When she is not teaching, she likes
movies, books, ceramics, camping, and anything else that involves the
outdoors. Miss Pollak's advice to middle school students is "Always
have high expectations for yourself. When you are stressed out and there
is too much thrown at you, never quit. Just work harder and believe in
yourself."
Mrs. Noisey has been teaching at Middle School North since 1999. She
loves to read, spend time with her family, and sew. She works as the
reading specialist for MSN and teaches literature and language arts
across all three grades. She coaches the MSN speech and drama team, and
directs the spring musical. Her favorite middle school memories are of
playing in the band and spending countless hours in the library.
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Mrs. Brickman
Math |
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