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Denise Lessow, Ed.D.
is Executive Director of Pinnacle School and Learning Services and Chairs the Institute for
Dyslexia Education and Awareness. Dr. Lessow has
a doctorate in Education from Indiana University-Bloomington, and brings
over 25 years of experience as a
professional educator and consultant. Her education
background includes science and math instruction, curriculum
design, gifted & talented, multiple intelligences, cognitive assessment,
and teacher development. She has created exhibits for science
and history museums nationwide, and served as Research Director
with CILS Consulting for over 10 years. Dr. Lessow is president
of LCW and serves on the Board of Bloomington Hospital. She is a past
Board Chair of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce and
earned the 2008 Herb Kiesling Award. Dr. Lessow joined Pinnacle in July 2004.
In addition to her administrative duties, she coaches the Pinnacle Chess
Team. |
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Roger Meridith
serves as the Head of
Pinnacle School. Before joining
Pinnacle, he was the Director of Education for the John Waldron
Arts Center for over 12 years. Mr. Meridith has developed and
supervised academic-year and summer art classes and camps, and
expanded the Bloomington Area Arts Council school jazz and
outreach programs. Prior to that, Mr. Meridith was an arts
educator and multi-sport coach, and then director of athletics
at secondary schools in Cincinnati. He is a member of the
Bloomington Lifelong Learning Coalition and a graduate of
Leadership Bloomington-Monroe County. Mr. Meridith holds a
Master's and Bachelor's degrees from West Texas A&M University. |
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Becky
Eisinger
is Pinnacle's Resource Development
Director. Her responsibilities include donor relations, grants
and fundraising activities. She has a Masters of
Public Affairs degree from IU SPEA with concentrations in
Nonprofit Management and Policy Analysis, and an undergraduate
degree from St. Olaf College. Miss Eisinger was a teaching
assistant at IU and a program intern for the Open Books reading
project in Chicago. |
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Martyna Popik became
Pinnacle's first Recreation Coordinator.
Ms. Popik develops fitness and movement curricula for the K-12 program and
coordinates interns, tutors, and volunteers for extra-curricular
programs. She has a bachelor's degree from Indiana University in
Recreation Sports Management. Ms. Popik was a varsity student-athlete at IU and served as a team
assistant for three seasons. She also led athletic
activities for students from K through high school for three
years. |
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Discovering
30 years ago
that her oldest son had dyslexia prompted Connie Giles
to seek out a program that would meet his needs. At that time, a dePaul Saturday Tutorial Program and Summer School were the only
programs in existence in Bloomington to teach children who learn
with dyslexia. Upon enrolling her son in the program, she became
an active tutor, which led to supervisory positions in both
programs for the next six years. During this time she was also
teaching in a special education program in the local high
school. Mrs. Giles was instrumental in
beginning the Bloomington dePaul School (now Pinnacle), where
she became a teacher in its second year of operation. Mrs. Giles
is a certified Orton-Gillingham instructor, and coordinates
Pinnacle's spelling and linguistics program. |
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Sharon Garsnett
brings 9 years of teaching
experience to Pinnacle. Ms. Garsnett earned a Bachelor's in English
Education at Indiana University-Bloomington with a minor in
Reading. Her most recent position was with KORE Academy in
Lexington, Kentucky, which primarily serves students with
learning differences. She also taught in the Indianapolis
Public Schools. Ms. Garsnett works with Pinnacle's K-1 class and
will teach middle school social studies. |
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Rachel Suekoff
is in her 4th year at
Pinnacle School. Ms. Suekoff earned a Master's in Elementary
Education at Wilmington University in Delaware. She has
experience in a variety of elementary and early childhood
settings. Ms. Suekoff teaches elementary language arts, math,
and social studies. She also tutors in the
after-school program, and coordinates Pinnacle's Student Council
and new leadership skills program. Ms. Suekoff is a member of the National
and Indiana Associations for the Education of Young Children. |
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Sasha
Land
has a
Bachelors of Science in elementary and special education from Indiana University that included
emphases in math and science. He was a member of the Cutters
team that won two consecutive Men's Little 500 races, serving as
team captain and coach during his senior year. Mr. Land bicycled
the Continental Divide in 2000 and again in 2011. At
Pinnacle, he is the STEM Coordinator and teaches elementary
language arts, math, engineering, and
technology. Mr. Land is a member of
Indiana Computer Educators, and is leading the team to develop
Pinnacle's new multimedia and assistive technology lab.
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Bill Osmon has over 11 years
teaching experience, including elementary positions with
Indianapolis and Hendricks County Public Schools. He also taught
overseas in Saipan and Vietnam. Mr. Osmon managed the
environmental science magnet program at IPS School 105, and is
experienced in Reading First. Mr. Osmon has an Indiana University
Bachelor of Science in elementary education, and is working
toward his Master's degree. He is a
member of the National Science Teachers Association. At
Pinnacle, Mr. Osmon teaches upper elementary language arts,
math, and science, and is utilizing his significant outdoor
education experience to continue developing Pinnacle's prairie
and outdoor classroom. |
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Jaimie Dubuque
earned her Secondary Education degree from
Indiana University. Mrs. Dubuque teaches our new
technology-based music program, high school social studies,
middle school math. She is also developing the middle and
high school technology initiative. Mrs. Dubuque is an avid
runner. |
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Kelly
Sage
holds a
Bachelor's degree from Radford University and taught in Virginia
from 2004 to 2007, where she was her school's Advanced Placement
coordinator. She came to
Pinnacle 5 years ago to teach middle school and high school literature,
writing, and
drama. Mrs. Sage has extensive experience
in the instructional uses of technology, including collaborative
environments. Mrs. Sage is the faculty advisor for Pinnacle's creative writing/literary
magazine, Elephantay. She is a member of the National
Council of Teachers of English, and coordinates our Writer's
Workshop and portfolio programs. |
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Tricia Tocco
holds a
Master's Degree in biology from IUPUI. Ms. Tocco is
teaching middle school and high school biology and algebra.
She also coordinates Pinnacle's new Zumba®
classes. |
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Hilary Anderson
has a
degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Master's in Art
Education from Indiana University. Her specializations
include studio art, photography, printmaking, ceramics, and
textiles. Locally, Mrs. Anderson has taught at Grandview
Elementary, Edgewood High School, and with IU's Saturday Art
School. She has taught science camp at WonderLab. At
Pinnacle, Mrs. Anderson teaches K-12 art. |
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Sara Ballard
is Pinnacle's Office Manager and
Executive Assistant. She has a telecommunications degree from
Indiana University, and over six years of customer service,
marketing, and supervisory experience with national and regional
firms. Ms. Ballard manages the school office and coordinates
school functions and special events. |
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Carol
Meredith
assists
with students services, alumni relations, and teacher
appreciation. Mrs. Meredith is developing a library of
college information and application materials for Pinnacle
families. |
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Tom Valkyrie
supervises Pinnacle's facilities on the
Arlington Road campus. Prior to joining Pinnacle, he
managed in the food-service industry. |
