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Denise Lessow, Ed.D.
is Executive Director of Pinnacle School and Learning Services
and leads the Pinnacle Testing Center. 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 served on the Board of IU Health
Bloomington. 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 leads the Pinnacle
Robot Club. |
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Kari Ponto
is Pinnacle School's Program Director and
coordinates the tutoring program. Mrs. Ponto is completing her second year at Pinnacle.
She has a Bachelor's degree in Education and is a literacy
specialist with experience ranging from Pre-K to high school.
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Jaclyn Hedrick
is Pinnacle's School
Counselor. Ms. Hedrick has a Bachelor's from Hanover
College and a Master's degree from Indiana University. She
spent a year counseling in a small independent school in
Australia as a Rotary Scholar. Ms. Hedrick coaches
Pinnacle's Running Club. |
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Sara Ballard
is Pinnacle's Office Manager
and Executive Assistant. She has a telecommunications degree
from Indiana University, and over seven 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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Emily Bays
teaches Kindergarten and 1st grade.
She holds a Bachelor's degree from IU with
specialization in early childhood and primary education with an
emphasis on reading development. Miss Bays also teaches classes
in cooking and crafting. This is her second year at
Pinnacle. |
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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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Rachel Suekoff
is in her 5th 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. Ms. Suekoff is a member of the National and
Indiana Associations for the Education of Young Children. |
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Kei Sato
has a Bachelors of Science from Purdue
University. Mr. Sato has extensive experience in business,
technology, math, and science. He teaches middle school
and high school math and science. He is leading the team to develop
Pinnacle's new Innovation Center.
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Bill Osmon has over 12 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 outdoor classroom and new
aquaponics program. |
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Tyler Wheeler
earned her Bachelor's degree from the
University of Virginia and has over four years of teaching
experience with elementary students. Mrs. Wheeler is a
certified Wilson instructor. |
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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 6 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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Josh Hoering
has a degree
from IUFW and a Master's in Art Education
from Indiana University. He brings his experience studying
various art forms in Italy and teaching at the Fort Wayne Art
Museum. Mr. Hoering's specializations include studio
art, graphic arts, photography, printmaking, ceramics, and 3D
metalworking. At Pinnacle, Mr. Hoering teaches
K-12 art. |
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Nicole Brehm teaches
middle school and high school social
studies, math, and entrepreneurship. She has a bachelor's degree
in secondary English and literature for Indiana University. Miss
Brehm also coordinates Pinnacle's after- school program. While
at IU, Miss Brehm was a member of the IU Varsity Diving Team. |
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Troy McIntyre
is
Pinnacle's Recreation Coordinator and
teaches elementary language arts and math.
Mr. McIntyre is certified in Elementary Education and lettered
in four sports during high school. He and Ms. Hedrick coach
Pinnacle's Running Club. |
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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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Jon Ponto
is Pinnacle's Facilities
Engineer. He is responsible for the development and improvement
of Pinnacle's 7-acre campus, including our three program
buildings. |
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Tom Valkyrie
maintains Pinnacle's
facilities on the Industrial Park Drive campus. Prior to joining
Pinnacle, he managed in the food-service industry. |
