Halle Borree
Teacher Associate
My name is Halle Borree and I am a 2023 Carthage College graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice with a minor in Spanish. I grew up in Appleton, WI before moving to Kenosha, and I have always had a passion for teaching and helping others. Ever since completing my psychology thesis with an internship at Open Wings, I have been drawn to the mission and teaching philosophy of the school which emphasizes the uniqueness of each child’s learning experience. This is my first year as a part of the Open Wings family and I am looking forward to supporting students in their learning and passions through the meaningful connections and opportunities Open Wings provides students.
Heidi Brant
Teacher
I graduated from Trinity Bible School with a BA in Elementary Education. I taught at Christian Life School for 12 years and then took some time off to focus on being a mom. I started teaching at Open Wings in February of 2021. I love teaching at Open Wings because this school focuses on the child as an individual, not a label they have been given. Each child has an opportunity to succeed on their level.
Brandie Calabrese
Teacher
This is my third year being a part of the Open Wings family. I have had the pleasure of working with both our upper and lower school learners. I am truly enjoying teaching SEL and Service Learning in the upper school this year. My goal is to partner with families as I help our learners grow and develop from the inside out, so they can use their gifts and talents to better themselves, others, the Open Wings community, and ultimately the “world” outside of our school. I bring my experience working for a large non-profit in Illinois that serves complex learners of all ages and stages in life along with several years teaching and training traditional learners, as well as complex learners in the home, school, and community. What I admire most about Open Wings is the all-inclusive culture that it provides. This community is built on unity created by staff and students who genuinely care about one another and helping each other be the best version of themselves possible, and I am privileged to be a part of it!
Lynel Castro
Custodian and Teacher Associate
Amy Charbonneau
Teacher
My name is Amy Charbonneau, and I’ve joined the staff this year as the Upper School Social Studies teacher and co-teacher of our STEM times. I received a BA in Sociology from The College of William & Mary in 1997. Since then, I’ve parented and homeschooled my four children at various ages and stages. I’ve worked with students who struggle with learning to read, struggle with attention, and are learning the English language. I briefly worked in student support at a community college in NC, and more recently worked with K-8 students at KTEC. I’ve been an Open Wings parent since February of 2019, when our daughter started attending Open Wings in the lower school. It’s been great to see her come into her own and discover her interests and her voice by being in this smaller, more custom environment. I enjoy helping kids understand the world around them, make connections, understand cause and effect, and realize history isn’t so boring!
Angela Corn
Teacher
I hold a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Psychology.
This is my first year in a Teacher role at Open Wings. I previously worked as an Associate in the upper school and learned so much from the students. I've traveled the world with my family while my husband was in the U.S. Navy. Therefore, I worked in many childhood education facets over the last 20+ years. Some of these include owning an Early Childhood Education Center, teaching 1st grade through 5th grade writing, Preschool Teacher on the Bahrain Naval Base, and a Preschool Teacher at CLS.
It is always the children that I learn the most from and who inspire me the most in life. This is why the following quote by an unknown author is one of my favorite ways to describe how I feel while teaching at Open Wings.
"Every child is gifted. They just unwrap their packages at different times."
Steve Drake
Teacher
I joined Open Wings because I visited the school and met the most delightful and eager group of learners I have ever encountered. These young people are a joy to spend time with. Our job together is upper school math and science. Every day we work together on new problems relevant to our learners’ lives and imagination.
Anthony Garza
Teacher
Amy Gordon
Teacher Associate
My name is Amy Gordon and I am so excited to have joined the Open Wings family this school year as a social work associate. I couldn’t be more happy to be part of this amazing community that truly focuses on the whole child and celebrates every milestone. I am so honored to have the opportunity to link arms with our parents to be a team and to do life together with all of our families.
Jennifer Hendrick
Office
Jen worked overseas on a cross-cultural team helping children with special needs for 6 years before she and her family returned to the US in 2018. Since then she has enjoyed using her background and degree in business administration supporting Open Wings as the office manager.
Hayley Henschel-Jensen
Teacher
I am a Carthage College graduate and received my BA in Elementary Education. I have been teaching at Open Wings for 5 years now. Prior to coming to Open Wings I was the Preschool Director at St. Mary's Lutheran Church. The greatest joy for me as a teacher is seeing that lightbulb moment when a student understands and learns a new concept. What a celebration that is for all of us.
Dr. Kim Hufferd-Ackles
Founder and Educational Advisor
Kimberly Hufferd-Ackles had the dream of opening a school where smiling students would enter the doors in the mornings for many years. This dream became a reality in 2012 when the first group of students came in the doors at Open Wings. She has devoted the past decade to the most rewarding and most challenging work of her professional career supporting students, teachers, and families at Open Wings. Kim received her PhD from Northwestern University in 1999. In addition to being the mother to four children, she thrives in her ongoing support of many aspects of Open Wings Learning Community and in knowing the amazing students that call this school home.
Paige Hussin
Teacher Associate
Petr Jaros
Drama and Music Teacher
I believe exposure paired with tactile skills is crucial for the development of children. We learn how to communicate effectively by making informed opinions about all art forms. Art is not simply limited to paint on a canvas, clay in one's hands, or performing onstage. We learn through persuasive speech, creative storytelling, and proactive observation. Making art accessible to students means meeting them where they are at and helping them tell their story.
I am currently studying Theatre Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. In my free time I like spending time with my cat or with my friends.
Alicia Johnson
School Director
Alicia holds a Bachelors degree in Special Education with an emphasis in behavioral disorders from University of Wisconsin Whitewater. She taught at an alternative high school for two years before taking time off to raise a family. Alicia taught at Open Wings for three years before moving into the position of Executive Director. She loves that at Open Wings we have the ability to provide hands on, individualized instruction to our students and to work closely with families.
Delaina Kuzelka
Teacher Associate
I’m proud of the work I do at Open Wings. Supporting classrooms and being a positive role model for the student community is something that I am passionate about and the environment that Open Wings provides allows for that. With my background in the theatre arts, I bring my knowledge about empathy, relationships, and teamwork to the students and team.
Delaney Leber
SEL Coordinator
My name is Delaney Leber and I am a graduate from Carthage College in 2017 with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences with an emphasis in Psychology as well as Education and Spanish. This will be my 5th year as a part of the Open Wings community. I am very honored to be at a place that really focuses on students learning in a way that best supports them and makes sure they know that they are always welcome at school. What I truly enjoy the most is the overall atmosphere of the school; the kindness, caring, and understanding nature of not only the educators, but the students and their families as well.
Naomi Petravich
Teaching Associate
Naomi worked for OW on and off starting 2014…this school year marks the start of her 5th year. Received bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies from UW Stout with concentration/special certificate in autism spectrum disorders. Mrs. Petrovich is mother to 4 biological and adopted children. Prior to being a Wisconsin native, she was born and raised in California
(snow = 
).
Kristi Rademaker
Teacher Associate
Hi, I'm Kristi Rademacher. I've worked in special education and alternative schools for ten years in the Twin Cities. When I moved to Kenosha and found Open Wings, I knew I had found the right place. I love Open Wings because it truly celebrates each student in their creativity, individuality, and empowers them to have their own voice. I've been here for three years now and I love unicorns, narwhals, and a stuffed cat toy named Hedgie (it's a hedgehog) and his many outfits which reside in my classroom.
Rachel Robinson
Teacher Associate
My name is Rachel Robinson, and I am excited and honored to have joined the Open Wings family as a teacher associate this fall. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin Parkside in the spring of 2023 majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology, with a focus on Child Life and child development. I have worked with both neurotypical and neurodivergent children in many different settings over the last seven years. I am excited to give back to this incredible school because it provided such an amazing opportunity for my brother who was a student here at Open Wings. I love working with children, and I especially love providing a safe place for children, who might otherwise be left behind. I want them to be seen, heard, and encouraged to discover the beauty that they themselves bring to this world.
Anthony Rowe
Teacher
I was a public school teacher for 27 years. I spent most of those years in Winnetka, Illinois, where Dr. Kim Hufferd-Ackles was once my assistant principal. After I retired, I knew I wanted to continue teaching, but I didn't know where until Kim invited me to visit Open Wings. After a couple of visits, it became clear that Open Wings' mission closely aligned with my own beliefs about teaching children, and the Open Wings community drew me in. After teaching virtually at Open Wings Online for the previous three years, this is my first year back in person.
Mikah Steitz
Teacher
My name is Mikah Steitz, and this is my second year teaching at Open Wings. I grew up in Michigan and graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Elementary Education in 2019. I moved to Kenosha to attend the Living Light School of Worship in 2019-2020, and began working at Open Wings the following school year. As a new teacher, I consider it such a privilege to learn from the amazing students and staff at this school!
Rebecca Towle
Teaching Associate
Kayla Uhwat-Vicicondi
Teacher
Hello! People in the building know me as Ms. Uhwat. I have been with Open Wings for 8 years now. I teach both online and in the building (Kinetic Wellness). Open Wings has a special place in my heart for many reasons, one of them being the relationships we build in the building and within our community. Our kids know that when they walk in our doors they will be heard, respected, cared for, and safe. A lot of us take those feelings for granted in our everyday lives and that is one of the many reasons why OW is such a special place for so many.
