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Special Instructional Teachers
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Nicole Capizzi
Farm Educator
Email: ncapizzi@prairiecrossing.com
Nicole Capizzi is the farmer and farm educator for the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm,
which provides hands-on, experimental learning in environmental stewardship through sustainable farming.
Children help with soil preparation, seeding, translplating, weeding and harvesting crops, preparing them for
market, and even making meals. The practical learning spans many classroom subjects.
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Naomi Dietzel-Dulin
Environmental Education Coordinator
Email: ndulin@pccs.ws
Web Page
Biography
I have been the environmental educator at PCCS since 2003. I have loved the wonderful and memorable
experiences I’ve shared with the students here – from owl prowls to campouts, getting sweaty on
sunny days to shivering through winter storms. I am proud to be involved in such an important
educational innovation.
When I’m not working, I enjoy gardening – I always say homeownership is my main hobby because the
yard and house take so much time! I paddle most weekends when it’s warm enough and enjoy sketching,
photographing and writing about the natural world. I also like cooking and – as a guilty pleasure –
taking cat naps with my two cats and a novel.
Before coming to Prairie Crossing, I worked for two years at the Nature Museum in Chicago. I spent
one adventurous year teaching at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, MN – which is
WAY up north and where I attended the University of MN at Duluth and got a Certificate in
Environmental Education. I taught for a year at Driftwood Nature Center in Saint Simon’s Island, GA.
Through my years in high school and at Carleton College, I spent summers working camps at Heller Nature
Center in Highland Park, IL, where I grew up and started my career in environmental education.
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Raphael Martinez
Spanish Teacher
Email: rmartinez@pccs.ws
Class Web Page
Biography
This is my first year (2007-2008) with Prairie Crossing Charter School.
My entire professional career has been in the field of education. I graduated from the University
of Illinois at Chicago (B.A. Secondary Education) and Loyola University of Chicago (M. Ed. Education
Administration and Supervision). I am also certified to teach ESL and Bilingual Education and have
sixty hours of post-graduate credit in administration and supervision beyond my masters, from
Northern Illinois University.
I have been a Spanish, ESL and Bilingual Teacher (elementary, middle school, high school, community
college and adult education levels), also had the opportunity to teach Spanish at the University
of Illinois at the under graduate level (Spanish 101-104), work with student athletes as a head
soccer coach (high school), provide leadership as an administrator (high school and community
college levels) and now, I have returned to my roots, that of a classroom teacher.
I teach fifth through eight grade Spanish and have found PCCS to be a wonderful place to work with
creative and motivated students and I also feel extremely fortunate to have found a group of
dedicated fellow teachers all whom are true dedicated professionals.
I also continue to coach soccer at the club level (GLSA/Eclipse Soccer Club), currently coaching
high school age teams in the fall, winter and spring seasons, while working with all age groups
during the summer.
I am indeed fortunate to be able to continue to work in a field that is truly rewarding and allows
me to learn everyday of my life. As a coach, I also continue to grow and strive to become more
proficient everyday. I currently hold a Brazilian D coach’s license and a U.S. National D license.
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Susan Miedona
Art Teacher
Email: smiedona@pccs.ws
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Erica Nathan
Spanish Teacher
Email: enathan@pccs.ws
Web Page
Biography
Erica Nathan graduated with her undergraduate degree in psychology. She then pursued her master’s
degree in elementary education (MAT), and graduated with a 4.0 GPA! After graduation, Erica worked
as a bilingual fourth grade teacher and then as a middle school Spanish teacher. She also has
experience teaching English as a foreign language to adults.
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Adam Corra
Physical Education Teacher
Email: acorra@pccs.ws
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Ilse Sutchar
Music Teacher
Email: isutchar@pccs.ws
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