More than 75 dedicated educators and administrators make up Morgan Park Academy’s full-time faculty and staff, a diverse team of professionals who love what they do. Working in close collaboration with each other, they are profoundly committed to discovering the key to each student’s talents and abilities, and to helping each other grow in character, intellect, and confidence.
Heidi Yernberg P’20, ’22, ’28
Chair
Heidi Yernberg has more than 20 years of legal experience practicing information technology and data privacy law. She is a partner in […]
Kishore Paluri P’23, ’26
Vice President
Kishore Paluri is the Chief Procurement Officer at ATW, a trailer manufacturing and distribution company. He previously was a Senior Director […]
Torrence Moore P’18
Treasurer
Torrence Moore has 30 years of banking and finance, nonprofit, government, and consulting experience, including credit analysis, commercial banking, sales and marketing, […]
Andrea Durbin
Secretary
Andrea Durbin is the Chief Executive Officer of Illinois Collaboration on Youth. A passionate and life-long advocate for young people, she leads ICOY’s […]
Marcus Crawford P’27
Trustee
Marcus Crawford is a regional account director with more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He has also spent more than 20 […]
Amy Delaney P’16, ’21
Trustee
Amy Delaney is the founding partner of DDV Law, Ltd, where she concentrates her practice in elder law, probate, guardianships, and trusts with special attention […]
Karin Norington-Reaves
Trustee
Karin M. Norington-Reaves is a lifelong public servant with more than 30 years of experience in education, law, advocacy, community and workforce development. She is […]
Elgie R. Sims Jr. P’23, ’27
Trustee
Sen. Elgie R. Sims Jr. is the State Senator for Illinois’ 17th Senate district, which includes portions of the South Side of […]
Mercedes Z. Sheppard
Head of School
msheppard@morganparkacademy.org
B.S., DePaul University
M.B.A., DePaul University
Mrs. Sheppard is in her seventh year as Morgan Park Academy’s Head of School, taking […]
Vincent Hermosilla
Assistant Head of School
Community Relations
vhermosilla@morganparkacademy.org
B.A., Université Laval
M.A., The George Washington University
Mr. Hermosilla holds a B.A. in […]
Julie Cuadros-Perry
Director of Finance
jcuadros@morganparkacademy.org
B.A., Carleton College
M.S., DePaul University
Ms. Perry, an MPA alumna, holds a B.A. in Economics and Women’s Studies from […]
Heather Kurut
Lower School & Middle School Principal
Upper School Chorus
hkurut@morganparkacademy.org
B.A., Potsdam College
M.F.A., Illinois State University
M.A., State University of New York
Q&A
What do […]
Tom Drahozal
Upper School Principal
tdrahozal@morganparkacademy.org
A.S., St. Gregory’s College
B.A., Coe College
For more than three decades, Tom Drahozal has been a steadying influence and […]
Jennifer Schmidt
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
jschmidt@morganparkacademy.org
Mrs. Schmidt holds a Master’s degree in educational administration from Concordia University, a Master’s in education from […]
Emily Drown
Upper School Science
Upper School Assistant Principal
edrown@morganparkacademy.org
B.S., University of New England
>> READ MORE: DROWN NAMED FINALIST FOR GOLDEN APPLE AWARD
Q&A
What do […]
Kari Misulonas
Kindergarten
Lower School Assistant Principal
Early Childhood Curriculum Leader
kmisulonas@morganparkacademy.org
B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M.A., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Q&A
What do […]
Harriet Arnold
Fourth Grade
harnold@morganparkacademy.org
B.A., Carleton College
M.A.T., Northwestern University
Q&A
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I love spending time with children at our school, from […]
Peggy Bergin
Drama & Theatre
Director of the Arts
Arts Curriculum Leader
pbergin@morganparkacademy.org
B.F.A., New York University
M.Ed., University of Illinois at Chicago
Peggy Bergin teaches […]
Janet Berley
Third Grade
jberley@morganparkacademy.org
B.S. in Education, Illinois State University
Q&A
Why do you choose to work at MPA?
I choose to work at MPA because I enjoy […]
Ewa Bloch
Middle & Upper School Art
ebloch@morganparkacademy.org
instagram @ewablocht
B.F.A., DePaul University
Master of Arts and Art Education, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Q&A
What […]
Nicholas Blankenship
Lower & Middle School P.E. and Athletics
nblankenship@morganparkacademy.org
B.A., Eastern Illinois University
Claire Concannon
Upper School English
B.A., Valparaiso University
M.A., University of Chicago
M.A.T., Dominican University
cconcannon@morganparkacademy.org
Erika Brown
Third Grade
Mrs. Brown completed her undergraduate degree in early childhood education at Kendall College in Chicago. She also holds a Master’s degree in curriculum and […]