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FACULTY & STAFF AT NEW ENTERPRISE ACADEMY

New Enterprise Academy offers highly motivated faculty and staff who possess a strong commitment to nurturing the achievement of all students in a private, college preparatory setting.

Our instructors, selected for their experience, dedication and commitment to the NEA philosophy offer solid academic credentials, creative teaching strategies and excellent interpersonal and communication skills necessary to teach NEA's student-centered, academically challenging curriculum in a differentiated learning environment.

Meet the Faculty

Administrator 
Email Lanette Nowak

Lanette grew up in Decatur Il. and graduated from Maroa- Forsyth High School. She attended Olivet Nazarene University and earned her Bachelor of Science Degrees in Psychology and Social Justice from ONU in 1989. She worked in the field of social work for about 11 years as Resident Director for group home facilities and Director of Vocational Services for adults and youth with developmental disabilities in Illinois and Oklahoma. She has also been a contracted consultant and service coordinator for the State of Illinois for individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities. She has many years experience in the field of education. She was an assistant teacher for several years with the At-Risk Pre-K program in Belleville, IL. and then for a school in O’Fallon as a kindergarten aide. She student taught in Early Childhood and Elementary classrooms in St. Clair County. Upon meeting requirements for an Illinois teaching certificate in 2004, she became lead teacher for the At-Risk Pre-K programs with O’Fallon Dist. 90. In December 2007, she graduated from SIUE with a Masters Degree in Elementary Education. She taught the Explorer level students at New Enterprise Academy during the 2007-08 school year. She and her husband John, who is a firefighter and EMT, reside in Trenton with their son Blaise who is 6 and attends NEA, and Lanette’s son Cody who is a Freshman at Kaskaskia College. Lanette’s oldest son, Kyle, resides in O’Fallon and is a Senior at SIUE. She enjoys moon and star gazing, listening to music, photography, crafting with vintage jewelry, collecting Santas and vacationing to the gulf coast of Alabama.


Discoverers
Email Karen Hale

Karen came to New Enterprise Academy in August 2009 with many years teaching experience in the public and private sector. She received her certification and Montessori degree in 2004. She is currently continuing her education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education. She worked as a lead teacher for 5 years in a Montessori classroom and is devoted to having each child under her care become successful. She is excited about working with the Early Childhood program at NEA and integrating creative and exciting activities into the daily curriculum. She believes that education is a lifelong process. Karen also has worked as lead PSR teacher for St. Pancratius church in Fayetteville, Illinois since 2001. Karen moved to the area from South Carolina in 1995. She and her husband Jay live in a small town in the country where they enjoy being outside and working in their home. Karen has one daughter, Sabrina, who lives in Belleville, Illinois. Jay has a son who lives in Venedy, Illinois and two sons that live in Ohio. They share their time with Sabrina and devote quite a bit of time to their grandchildren, helping them grow into positive contributors in their community. 

Adventurers
Email Marla Hartsell

Marla graduated Magna Cum Laude from McKendree College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Psychology. She holds a Type 3 Illinois State Certificate. She has twelve years experience working with children from birth to sixth grade in various settings such as Junior Achievement, teacher assistant positions and student teaching. Marla is entering her fourth year at New Enterprise Academy. She is excited to instruct the Adventurers classroom this school year. As a facilitator in the classroom, she poses open-ended questions, suggests alternatives, encourages autonomy, promotes higher order thinking, engages in active dialogue, and provides positive learning experiences. She actively engages the children in the learning process to develop problem-solvers, effective communicators, and responsible citizens. Marla resides in Dupo, Illinois. She has a 7 year old son, Gage. She spends her spare time enjoying scrapbooking, photography, hiking, camping, live music, Cardinal games, and being active in her church.

Navigators
Email Jennifer Kozan

Jennifer graduated Cum Laude from SIUE with a Bachelor of Science Degree in both Psychology and Elementary Education, with a minor in English. She holds a teaching certificate in both Illinois and Missouri, qualifying her to teach children from infancy to grade nine. She has consistently worked with children in various capacities for over 15 years. This will be her second year with NEA. She taught the Discoverer level last year and will instruct the Navigators during the 2009-2010 school year. Jennifer sees herself as a facilitator in the classroom, promoting critical thinking and higher order thinking skills. She has a strong conviction to educate the whole child; helping each child grow cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically to become life-long learners and contributing members of society. She believes every child can learn and is dedicated to identifying and nurturing each child’s natural pathways to learning, resulting in instruction that is differentiated to meet individual needs. Jennifer resides with her husband, Michael, in Nashville. They recently started a family, welcoming their first child, Iris, in May of 2009. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hiking, camping, painting, and collecting children’s literature.

Explorers
Email Fiona Abbott

Fiona is originally from Windsor, England, and has lived in numerous European countries. She has resided in Mascoutah for the past 14 years. She has a Business Degree from Thames Valley University in England and graduated summa cum laude from McKendree University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Language Arts and Social Studies. In her senior year, Fiona was awarded “Outstanding Teacher Candidate of the Year” and was an active member of the Educational Honor Society Kappa Delta Pi. Last year, Fiona had the pleasure of teaching the Investigator class, and she now eagerly looks forward to teaching the Explorer class. She strongly believes in creative student-centered learning environments that challenge children to reach their full potential. In order to reach a higher level of critical thinking, Fiona encourages her students to be risk-takers and problem solvers by engaging them in active dialogue and creative projects. She follows the school’s philosophy of developing citizens of good character and life-long learners. In her spare time, Fiona restoring her 80 year old house to its original beauty and pottering around in her flower gardens. Between her teenage son Johnathan’s hectic schedules she enjoys reading and also volunteers for the “Reach for Recovery” program.

Spanish
Email Mercedes Mark

Senora Mark is originally from Madrid, Spain. She attended college at San Pablo CEU and Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UNED). Her experience in teaching is extensive and diverse. She has taught K-12th in private schools in Washington State and 9th-12th grades in Colorado public schools. She has also taught in an experimental program for home-schooling with a multi-age/multi-level classroom. After relocating to O'Fallon in 2003, she has served as an interpreter and translator for the Early Head Start program in Breese and an interpreter in multiple surrounding counties. For the last 22 years, Mercedes has traveled and lived in several European countries and many states in the United States, which has given her a true taste and understanding of the meaning "citizen of the world." She lives with her husband, Jim, and two children, Lesley and Nicholas. Mercedes enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and volunteering with Scouts and other organizations.

Tae Kwon Do - Song's Martial Arts
Email Physical Education 

Employment Opportunities

Applicants interested in joining NEA should submit a cover letter, transcripts, resume', and two letters of recommendation to New Enterprise Academy, PO Box 1323, O'Fallon, IL 62269. or email submission to employment@NewEnterpriseAcademy.org

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NEW ENTERPRISE ACADEMY
206 West Adams St  ·  O'Fallon Illinois 62269
(618) 632-1505
www.NewEnterpriseAcademy.org  ·  info@NewEnterpriseAcademy.org