Mrs. Baker is a Golden Apple Scholar through which she received excellent training in teaching from mentor teachers throughout her college years. She received a B.A. is Secondary Education with a middle school endorsement from Concordia University Chicago and a M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Illinois at Chicago. She taught for four years in the Chicago Public Schools, where she gained valuable classroom management skills and data driven teaching practices to ensure success for all students in her classroom. Mrs. Baker paused her teaching career to be home, raising her four children. Currently, Mrs. Baker is teaching 5th grade at Christian Heritage Academy in Northfield, Il and attends Winnetka Bible Church. She has a heart for teaching children through a Biblical worldview with God’s word as her foundation.

Peter Worrall is Associate Professor of Education at The Moody Bible Institute. He teaches Elementary Education and also does a lot of work with worldview. He works with camps and churches in the Chicago area helping children and adults to follow Jesus more closely. He has written two books, 20 Things We’d Tell Our Twentysomething Selves and The Bible Teacher’s Companion. He lives in McHenry with His wife, Kelli and two children.

Marc Popovici is the Head of School at Schaumburg Christian School, where he has served for the past three years following a decade in public education. He’s passionate about building environments where people thrive academically, spiritually, and socially. Marc has coached water polo and soccer, and he was honored this year with induction into Marquis Who’s Who for his contributions to Christian education and leadership. He desires to impact each person's heart through the truth of the gospel, pointing them toward a life rooted in Christ.

Kevin Jones holds two master's degrees: a Master of Science in Restorative Practices from the International Institute for Restorative Practices and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership focusing on Organizational Policy, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the University of Illinois. With over 40 years of experience in residential treatment programs, group homes, mental health organizations, and alternative schools, he now supports restorative leadership development in Illinois and beyond. His work includes training law enforcement, school resource officers, and community leaders nationally and internationally, specializing in behavior management strategies.

In addition to consulting with universities and presenting at international conferences on restorative practices, Kevin serves as a lecturer, trainer, coach, and faculty member at the IIRP Graduate School. He also leads his company, Pathways 2 Restorative Leadership. Outside of his professional pursuits, Kevin is devoted to his family, especially enjoying time with his grandson. When not traveling, he loves to garden and relax at home with his wife, two dogs, and two cats. His commitment to lifelong learning and professional development is fueled by his belief in education’s power to transform communities, promote equity, and enhance lives.

I have been teaching for 32 years. I spent 21 years teaching for the Chicago Public Schools in the South Austin community, and the last 11 years for Christian Heritage Academy. I have been a National Board Certified Teacher since 2008.

My wife and I live in the Jefferson Park community in Chicago. We attend the Bridge Community Church and serve in the children’s ministry. We enjoy following baseball and spending time with family and friends.

Sue Funk is in her fifth year of teaching third grade at Westlake Christian Academy. Prior to that, Sue taught for 14 years in public schools. She loves her new role at a Christian school, where she can shephard students spiritually and socially as well as academically. Sue was an early adopter of Teaching for Transformation at Westlake and enjoys teaching thematic cross-curricular units that invite, nurture, and empower her students to solve real world problems. Her deep hope is for her students to work together to discover each of their unique gifts to serve God. Sue works hard to build a classroom community centered around this deep hope and her classroom storyline “Be a Pineapple: Stand Tall, Wear a Crown, and Be Sweet on the Inside.”

Outside of school, Sue is active in her church’s women’s ministry and loves to spend time reading Christian non-fiction books and journaling. She also loves to enjoy God’s creation through outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, biking, and travel. Sue is always up for adventure and family time. She is mom to twins, Brittany and Ryan, who are both Sophomores at Wheaton College. Her husband, Todd, is a psychotherapist.

I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home where I learned at a very young age my need for a Savior. Throughout my faith journey, I have been actively involved in Bible studies; teaching Sunday school, children’s church, VBS, and Awana; and serving as a children’s ministry director. I felt God’s calling into education as a teenager. It is my desire to inspire students to develop a deeper relationship with God as they grow academically and socialemotionally. I began my career in teaching over 40 years ago and have taught preschool-aged children through eighth grade in Christian schools in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Illinois. I am currently teaching third grade at Christian Heritage Academy. I met my husband in college, and we have been married for 43 wonderful years. Randy and I have two grown children and two precious grandchildren.

My name is Rosalie Solak, and I began my teaching career at Rocketship Southside Community Prep in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where I taught second and third grade, specifically English Language Arts. Because I love sharing my passion for education while supporting new teachers, I was given the opportunity to recruit and coach new teachers through the Center for Urban Teaching. After giving birth to our first baby, Lannon, I planned to take a step back from my career, but God provided a blessing of part-time work coaching at a few HOPE Christian Schools and building a teacher recruitment pipeline for St. Marcus Lutheran Schools, both in Milwaukee. We now have two boys: Lannon is almost 3 and Paxton just turned 1 at the end of August and I love spending all day every day with them. I have also started supporting with lesson content writing and creating recorded lessons for HOPE Schools. I've been able to prioritize being a mom while furthering the mission of Christian urban education, and that is what has brought me here today!

Melissa Moehring serves as the Principal for 4th–12th grade at Schaumburg Christian School, having recently been promoted to this expanded leadership role. She brings over 15 years of experience in Christian education, with a teaching background that spans from kindergarten through tenth grade. Melissa holds a Bachelor's degree in Education with a minor in English, a Middle School endorsement, and a Master of Arts in Mathematics. She is deeply passionate about math education and is committed to making it meaningful, engaging, and Christ-centered. She believes that mathematics not only develops critical thinking but also reflects the order and beauty of God’s design.

Melissa is dedicated to creating a nurturing and spiritually rich environment where students grow both academically and in their walk with Christ. Her leadership emphasizes community, service, and helping each student embrace the unique path God has for them. Outside of school, Melissa has been happily married for 22 years and is a proud mother of three. She enjoys traveling with her family and has visited 43 states, making lasting memories and drawing inspiration from their adventures together.