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Tamara
Nolte
Director
tamara@bubblesacademy.com
Tamara,
originally from Philadelphia, learned about educational
philosophy from her grandfather. He founded a Montessori
school that gave her early opportunities in a preschool
classrooms. In college, she had the invaluable experience
of developing and coordinating the school's Summer Camp.
Tamara graduated from Boston College with a degree in
philosophy and a minor in early childhood education
and theater. She started at Bubbles Academy in 2003
and was promoted to program director in 2005. Tamara
has drawn from her background in early childhood education,
theater and music to help create Bubbles Academy’s
unique programming and birthday parties. Using her expertise
in video editing and Apple computers, she has also created
most of the multimedia content that Bubbles Academy
features in its classes and events. Tamara is proud
to lead a team of inspired artists and educators! When
she's not at Bubbles Academy, Tamara is an ensemble
member at ComedySportz Chicago and an adjunct faculty
member in the Musical Improv Conservatory at The Second
City. |
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Jessica
Treinish
Teacher,
Art Program Coordinator, Special Events Manager
jessica@bubblesacademy.com
Jessica
Treinish has been involved in education and the fine
arts for almost a decade. In five summers during high
school and college, she served at the Herzl Camp for
Jewish youth as co-director of the art program. Jessica
completed her art education at the School of the Art
Institute of Chicago, with both a bachelor of fine arts
and a teaching certificate in art education for K-12.
Jessica has worked in the Chicago Public Schools and
taught art for Francis W. Parker School’s summer
program. Her love for children and art extends beyond
the classroom, as Jessica continues to evolve in her
own work as a painter. |
Kim
Schiefelbein
Music
Program Coordinator and Parent Programs Manager
kim@bubblesacademy.com
Kim
has been with Bubbles Academy since 2005 and has enjoyed
every moment! She has a bachelor of music in voice performance
from Miami University and is the music coordinator at
Bubbles Academy, where she helps create curriculum and
train teachers. Kim has also taught Chicago-area fitness
programs since 1992 and leads the Bubble Stroller Fitness class. Kim has been certified by the American Council on Exercise and the Aerobics and Fitness Association
of America. She also stays busy as Bubbles Academy’s
speaker series coordinator, the organizer of the Triple
B Moms Group and the Navigating the School Search classes,
and a mom to her beautiful daughter, Laken. |
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Katie
Powell
Communications
Manager
katie@bubblesacademy.com
Katie
is so happy to be part of the Bubbles Academy family!
Originally from Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, Katie moved
to Chicago for a taste of the big city life and to pursue
her career. In 2008, Katie received her bachelor of
arts from Shippensburg University in communications/journalism
with a minor in art and graphic design certification.
Katie also worked as an on-air DJ, local music director
and event coordinator for her college radio station.
She completed a design and writing internship and worked
as office manager at a local dance studio for several
years. She enjoys reading, playing board games and singing
in the car. “Hi Mom!” |
Kayla
Gale
Parent Relations Manager
kayla@bubblesacademy.com
Kayla Gale is so happy to be part of the Bubbles team! She comes to us from Minnesota with extreme enthusiasm and a high SQ (Silly Quotient). Kayla spent five summers during college and high school at the Herzl Camp for Jewish youth as director of its art program. She earned her bachelor of fine arts in design and art history from the University of Kansas and moved to Chicago in 2008 to pursue her dreams of working with children in a creative environment. She loves to fish, paint, spend time with her family and make goofy faces! |
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Christina
Boucher
Operations Manager
christina@bubblesacademy.com
Christina
has a blast singing, dancing and playing every day at
Bubbles Academy! She is a graduate of James Madison University,
where she received her bachelor of arts in theater performance
and costume design. In college, she performed for children
in JMU's renowned Children's Playshop summer theater series.
She also taught and directed middle and high school students
in improv and sketch comedy at schools and theatres around
the Shenandoah Valley. In Chicago, she's an improviser
and may be seen performing in ensembles at ImprovOlympic,
The Playground Theater and Annoyance Theatre. Christina
loves playing dress-up, eating her mama's cornbread and
making people of all ages laugh! |
Briana Brandt
Community Outreach & PR Manager
bri@bubblesacademy.com
Briana Brandt is so excited to be a part of an amazing team! Briana received her B.A. in Public Relations from the University of Dayton in Ohio and is currently pursuing her M.A. in PR and Advertising from DePaul
University. Since graduating with her B.A., she has had the opportunity to gain experience in her field from both Rockit Ranch Productions and lululemon athletica. In her down time, she loves to cook (thanks to her mom), try different exercise classes and spend time with family and friends. |
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BUBBLES
ACADEMY TEACHERS |
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Beth
Allin
Teacher
bigbubble@bubblesacademy.com
Beth Allin is tickled pink to join the Bubbles team! A native of Kansas,
Beth graduated from the University of Kansas in 2003. She worked in the
Kansas City area as an advertising account executive for three years until
moving to Chicago to pursue a life in the performing arts. Beth has worked
with Theatre Building Chicago, the North Lakeside Players, Bare Boned
Theatre and Brain Surgeon Theater. She is thrilled to be able to use her
high SQ (Silly Quotient) with everyone at Bubbles Academy! |
Mikala
Bierma
Teacher,
Imagination Coordinator and Camp Coordinator
bigbubble@bubblesacademy.com
Mikala
loves to use her imagination at Bubbles Academy! She
received her bachelor of fine arts in theater performance
with a concentration in acting and a minor in Asian
studies from the University of Michigan. Mikala taught
high school students in Sikkim, India, and enjoys working
with students of all ages. She is currently performing
improv comedy at ImprovOlympic and The Second City.
Mikala is also a company member with Barrel of Monkeys,
where she serves as an artist in residence in Chicago
Public Schools. She loves her home town of Minneapolis,
her mom and dad, cats, playing pretend, laughing, lotus
flowers, manatees, Tibet, yoga and being silly every
day! |
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Rachael
Crim
Teacher
and Pre-Preschool Program Coordinator
bigbubble@bubblesacademy.com
Rachael
loves singing, working with children and finding opportunities
to combine the two! Rachael received her bachelor of
music with teacher certification from the University
of Michigan, and she earned her master of music from
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Rachael moved to Chicago to perform the role of Gretel
in Opera for the Young’s adaptation of “Hansel
and Gretel.” Other Chicago endeavors include her
role of Catherine in “Pippin” with Elgin
Community Theatre, as well as her spot in the Chicago
Lyric Opera Chorus. Through her teaching at Bubbles
Academy, Rachael has begun to play the ukulele! |
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Becca Drew Emmerich Teacher
bigbubble@bubblesacademy.com
Becca Drew is a graduate of Western Kentucky University with a BFA in Theatre, and is passionate about Theatre for Young Audiences. Before moving to Chicago, Becca Drew spent three years creating, playing, and growing at Lexington Children's Theatre in the Education Department. When she isn't teaching at Bubbles Academy, she keeps herself busy by auditioning, dancing, writing scripts for young audiences, and celebrating made-up holidays! She can't wait to see you at Bubbles Academy! |
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Lauren
Hubert
Teacher
bigbubble@bubblesacademy.com
Lauren
is so excited to have found Bubbles Academy, where she
uses her love of music, yoga and teaching to help kids
be creative and, of course, silly! She is a native of
Chicago, but received her vocal music education degree
at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Since
graduation, Lauren has worked with children as an elementary
school music teacher in Kansas and as a peace educator
at the Children’s Peace Pavilion in Missouri.
Lauren sings and plays guitar, ukulele and piano in
a band that performs all over Chicago. She takes guitar
lessons at the Old Town School of Folk Music and donates
her time and talents to Practice With a Purpose, a program
that brings live music to schools, hospitals and churches. |
Lauren
Maul
Teacher
bigbubble@bubblesacademy.com
Lauren has a lot in common with the children she teaches
at Bubbles -- she loves to sing silly songs, finger-paint
and play with Play-Doh! Lauren can be found playing
her pink guitar all over Chicago and entertaining audiences
with balloon animals and other silly things. Lauren
received her bachelor in theatre arts from the University
of San Diego. She is an active writer and performer
in the improv and comedy community in Chicago, co-hosts
a variety show called Bingo Bango Chicago, and is in
Recess, a children’s outreach improv team.
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Sarah
Parker
Teacher,
Baby Bubbles and Independence Program Coordinator
bigbubble@bubblesacademy.com
Sarah
has been an actress as long as she can remember, acting
academically and professionally since age 12. Sarah
learned to play the guitar when she was 18 and working
in Branson, Missouri, and she earned her bachelor of
fine arts in theater from Southwest Missouri State University.
After moving to Chicago with her theater company in
2002, Sarah worked in both Chicago and New York, but
her favorite “gig” is being a mom to her
amazing daughter, Lyric. Sarah is happy to have found
a special place at Bubbles where fun and frolicking
are abundant, and where singing about any silly thing
you want is the best way to brighten your day.
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Shannon
Conlin
Teacher
bigbubble@bubblesacademy.com
Shannon is a Texas native who moved to Chicago in 2002 with her
husband. She graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor's degree in
early childhood education and earned a master's degree in the same
field from the Erikson Institute. Her passions are running, teaching
and music. Shannon taught kindergarten, second grade and sixth grade
at Ogden School for seven years until she and her husband welcomed
Cassidy into their family in April 2009. She is thrilled to join the
Bubbles team!
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BIRTHDAY
AND PLAYCENTER STAFF |
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Ashley
Nye
Office
Assistant, Event Assistant
bigbubble@bubblesacademy.com
Ashley
is originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, but now resides
in Chicago as she completes her degree in art history
and fine arts at DePaul University. In addition to her
years at Bubbles Academy, Ashley has been a nanny for
numerous families in Michigan and Chicago. Her main
goal in life is to become a great mother like the one
she has been blessed with. Ashley loves dogs, kids,
books, cooking, running, Pilates and, of course, art! |
GUEST
LECTURERS |
Susan
and Rick Rizzo
Baby
Sign Workshop Instructors
bigbubble@bubblesacademy.com
Susan
and Rick Rizzo, Brainy Bubbles baby sign language teachers
since 2005, are so happy to offer Sign With Your Baby
(SWYB) instruction at Bubbles Academy. Susan, a certified
member of the SWYB Presenters Network since 2004, has
a master's degree in deaf education from the National
Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) and teacher
certifications in New York and Illinois. Rick, who learned
to sign at NTID in his native Rochester, New York, now
works at the Art Institute of Chicago. Their son, Toby,
born in September 2007, is one of the Rizzos’
favorite guest lecturers! |
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Cathy
Karnuth
Blossom
Bubbles Yoga Workshop Instructor
bigbubble@bubblesacademy.com
Cathy,
who completed her yoga training at the Temple of Kriya
Yoga in Chicago, has been a yoga instructor at Bubbles
Academy since 2004. She educates students about prenatal
and family yoga, teaches adult and senior yoga, leads
fitness classes for seniors and is a certified personal
trainer. |
Greta
Huizenga
Baby
Massage Workshop Instructor
bigbubble@bubblesacademy.com
Greta
Huizenga completed the Infant Massage USA training program
after discovering its therapeutic benefits in countless
peer-reviewed journals. She seeks to share this empowering
information on nurturing touch and communication with
parents and caregivers. Currently enrolled in the masters
program of pre- and perinatal psychology at the Santa
Barbara Graduate Institute, Greta also has advanced
degrees in secondary education, elementary education,
and English as a second language. She is the mother
of two. |
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