Kara Bickhem May is an educator with over twenty years experience, and a deep passion for the hearts and development of young people. Mrs. May knew from in her youth that she would be an educator. She earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in French and a dual minor in Music and English at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO, where she began her career as a French Teacher in Kirksville.
Mrs. May continued her education at Truman, earning her Masters of Arts in Education with an English and French concentration, while working with students in grades K-12. During this period in her life, her passion for teaching the whole child bloomed; she developed an appreciation for seeing students develop over time. Mrs. May moved back to the southern suburbs of Chicagoland to become a French and English teacher, where she had the opportunity to mentor girls, provide professional development, and eventually move to a department chair, district administrator and Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Specialist. May earned a second Masters in Educational Leadership from Governors State University in University Park, IL. This opportunity gave her a deeper appreciation for the processes of prudent and efficient school planning, curriculum development, student programming, and the importance of well-developed adult decisions.
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Amanda Rychel, a founding member of the Distinctive Schools team, has deep experience across all levels of leadership within Distinctive Schools. Her impact within Distinctive Schools spans from the classroom as a special education teacher, to the district level as a School Principal, Director of Instructional Design, Executive Director of Strategy and Network Chief of Staff.
In collaboration with the Distinctive Schools leadership team, Amanda developed and scaled the innovative student centered learning experience Distinctive Schools is nationally recognized for. Amanda utilizes her unique blend of operations and academic skills to ensure both a strong initial start, and continued sustainability of reimagined traditional school models. Amanda managed the renovation of a 100 year old school building into a modern blended learning environment, pioneered the implementation of 1:1 technology, and led growth and expansion of the Distinctive Schools Network. |
DISTINCTIVE SCHOOLS | CHICAGO:
Art in Motion CICS Bucktown CICS Irving Park CICS Prairie CICS West Belden DISTINCTIVE SCHOOLS | MICHIGAN: Distinctive College Prep: Harper Woods Distinctive College Prep: Redford Plymouth Educational Center River Heights Academy |