Kyle-Di Pietropaolo
Maryanne Kyle-Di Pietropaolo is a homeschool mom of three & a member of GIFT. She's been an avid sewer for the last 37 years. She's since studied
many different sewing facets, including quilting, machine embroidery, working with specialty fabrics, the art of serging, &
home decorating techniques. Maryanne has previously taught sewing at GIFT.
Lewis
Mrs. Lewis will be teaching
Jewelry & Robotics this year. She has worked as a professional bench jeweler for several years, studied jewelry through
college, & has taken classes with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). She has also made & sold jewelry
through local shops, art shows & Ebay. She's also the Leader & Mentor for Bucket of Bolts Robotics
4-H group/FIRST Robotics Competition team. This past year they ranked 16th in the
Midwest Regional Competition. She currently homeschools her 4 children. She enjoys
teaching childrens' Sunday School classes, & with the Challengers 4-H club.
Michaels
Mrs. Michaels has been teaching
art classes with GIFT since 2001. She's passionate about both teaching & art, & has a drive to encourage
children & to help them realize their creative potential. She has a strong focus on teaching drawing & painting
skills. She also is an accomplished freelance artist, & has been creating murals and decorative art for commercial and residential clients for over 15 years. Samples of her artwork can be
seen on her website at www.lesliemichaels.com . She's
a committed Christian, and considers her teaching to be a spiritual call on her life.
Onnezi
Mrs. Onnezi's been knitting & crocheting over the last 11 years and has been teaching classes
for 6 yrs. She enjoys teaching children and adults her most favorite pastime hobby. She currently homeschools her children.
Renaissance Knights
Renaissance Knights Foundation is a nonprofit ed. organization
dedicated to improving academic performance, building self-esteem, and developing life skills in Chicagoland’s youth
by utilizing the many educational benefits of chess.
Schreiber
Mr. Schreiber has been involved with juggling/magic &
speech/debate since his early teens. His interests in juggling & magic,
which started around six years ago, led him to attend a Christian leadership camp called the Boys JIM Club of America, which
teaches young men to use their skills (such as juggling & magic) to glorify God. He's
been involved in various speech and debate clubs including Toastmasters & Eveready. He
has competed in multiple state and out-of-state tournaments, & received multiple speaking awards. He has been teaching in various homeschool co-ops in the NW Suburbs including CHAMPS, Heritage, and GIFT
for the past 4 yrs. He taught juggling and speech classes at GIFT in the school year
of 07-08. He is very excited to teach your children and thankful to God for this
wonderful opportunity!
Szalonek
Mrs. Szalonek has taught for the past 30 years. She's taught music, voice, piano, choir, acting, dancing, speech, English, & more. Her favorites have included creative development of characters & Readers Theater. She has been performing for Opera and Stage for 40 years. She has taught homeschool, Huntley Junior High,
Westminster Academy, Highland Christian Academy, St. Laurence and St. Joseph Catholic School.
Her education is from Marquette, Bob Jones Univ., Chicago Conservatory of Music, IL Benedictine Univ., & continued
studies through the IL Assoc. of Music Educators, Mrs. Szalonek loves teaching & shaping others into the God honoring
actors who use their storytelling abilities to bring others to HIM!
Walbridge
Mrs. Walbridge has been playing the flute since fourth grade & has really enjoyed teaching
with GIFT for the last 2 yrs. For the upcoming year, she would also like to offer saxophone and trombone lessons in addition
to the flute. Other musical experience includes guitar, piano, voice, choral music, marching band, and musical theater. She founded & currently directs the flute ensemble at her church and sings in
the adult choir. She looks forward to another year of sharing the gift of music
with your children.