Peg Hayden - Director
Peg is a graduate of Eureka College with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education. She also has a Masters degree in Elementary Education from Georgetown College in Kentucky. Peg joined the Blooming Grove team in 2001. Her previous employment includes teaching 1st grade, Kindergarten, and pre-school. She has also directed education day care programs and worked with the Early Intervention programs serving children ages 0-3 as well as the Head Start program. She has training in
S.T.E.P. (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting), Math Their Way, Peer Coaching/Student Team Learning, and the Garrison Model Behavior Modification.
Jodi Stalsworth - Business/Human Resources Manager
Jodi joined the Blooming Grove team in March of 2005 as the Business Manager.
She has a Bachelors degree from Illinois State University and brings with her
many years of experience in the financial area. She handles all family
accounts, financial records and human resources. Jodi has a great deal of
familiarity with the school and its philosophies, not only as the Business
Manager, but also having been a BGA parent for several years. She has been
instrumental in many roles such as the PT Crew, Fundraising Team, and publisher
of What's Blooming, just to name a few.
Marcia Esparza - Office Administrator
Marcia joined the Blooming Grove team in 2004. She is a graduate of the American College of Technology and has over 30 years of secretarial experience. Prior to working at BGA, Marcia worked for a local public school district as the Administrative Assistant for Title I, Reading & Gifted. Marcia has acquired numerous office administration certificates throughout her years of employment.
Gayle Uphoff - Teacher
Gayle is a graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelors degree in Special Education (EMH). She has been with Blooming Grove since 1993, but has 14 years previous experience teaching at various preschools in the area and Metcalf Laboratory School. Gayle is trained in piano and flute. She also has training in Positive Discipline in the Classroom and the High/Scope Curriculum.
Kay Griepentrog - Teacher
Kay is a graduate of Eureka College with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education. She has been teaching at Blooming Grove since 1990. Prior to her employment with us, she was employed as a licensed home day care provider. She has also worked at Faith Lutheran Day Care Center and as a substitute teacher for public schools. Kay has training in Developing Capable People, Math Their Way, Positive Discipline in the Classroom, the High/Scope Curriculum, and Wright Group Reading Techniques.
Kris Barnett - Teacher
Kris has been a teacher at BGA since 2004. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Elementary Education from the University of Evansville in Indiana. Kris has taught elementary classes and Music at BGA but has 12 years of teaching experience at various grade levels. She has been trained in Positive Discipline in the Classroom and the Four Blocks Reading Program and has previous experience with the Head Start Program.
Melissa Tuman - Teacher
Melissa has been with Blooming Grove since 2005. She is a graduate of Governors State University with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education. Her past experience includes working at a pre-school/day care as a teacher and planner of summer camp themes.
Cristen Susong - Teacher
Cristen is a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso and has 10 years teaching experience ranging from 3 year olds to high school. Cristen's areas of expertise are Language Arts, History, Kumon Math K-3, Speech & Debate, Theatre and Psychology.
Meghan Hillebrandt - Teacher
Meghan joined BGA in 2007, and teaches our middle school students. Her other
teaching experiences include teaching second grade in Lincoln, Illinois and
substituting in both the Bloomington and Normal school districts. She is an
Illinois State University graduate with a bachelor's degree in Elementary
Education
Angelica Cornenjo - Spanish Teacher
Angelica joined Blooming Grove's staff in August of 2006. She is the part time Spanish Teacher. Angelica graduated from the University of Guadalajara with a Dental Degree in 1995 and moved to Illinois later that year. She was a Spanish Teacher at Holy Trinity in Bloomington. In addition, she has taught Spanish to individuals in her home. Her family consists of her husband, Luis, and their two boys, Jared and Noe. When she is not busy with her family she enjoys traveling, working out and bike riding. Angelica is very excited to be a member of the BGA staff, and looks forward to teaching the children lots of Spanish.
Laurie Allen - Teacher Assistant & Extended Day Director
Laurie has been at Blooming Grove since 1999. Prior to coming to BGA, Laurie worked as a nurse's aide and ran an in-home day care business for 20 years. She has taken education classes at Heartland Community College and currently works as an Early Learner Teacher Assistant and is the Extended Day program director. Laurie is trained in Positive Discipline and Multiple Intelligence.
Pushpa Chaudhari - Teacher Assistant
Pushpa has been at Blooming Grove since 1994. She has attended classes at Heartland Community College and Illinois State University. Her past experience includes babysitting for several years, working at BGA's Summer Camp, and Year of the Volunteer work with Balvihar, a Sunday School program for children from India.
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