Principal
Chrissy Hart
chart@lighthouse-academies.org
Ms. Hart taught math and science for six years in Washington D.C. and in Chicago, including serving as a member of a Teach For America. She served as Director of KIPP to College in Chicago at KIPP Ascend Charter School in Chicago. In 2003, Ms. Hart was awarded Teacher of the Year at KIPP DC: Key Academy. In 2004, she won the Kinder Award for Excellence in Teaching. Ms. Hart holds a BS from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Electrical Engineering and a M.A.T. in Secondary Education from The American University.
Director of Instruction
Kristi Spears
kspears@lighthouse-academies.org
Ms.Spears received her Bachelor’s Degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where she majored in French and minored in Secondary Education. After completing her degree, she migrated to teach middle school in New Jersey through the Teach for America program where she was a 2003 Corps Member. Following that, she moved closer to home and began teaching at charter schools in Chicago, IL. This is her third year at Gary Lighthouse Charter School. Ms. Spears is also the Cross Country and Track Coach.
Upper Academy Chair
Katie Kirley
kkirley@lighthouse-academies.org
Ms. Kirley is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago, where she was Pre-Med, majoring in Psychology and Women’s Studies, and a member of the women’s basketball team. As a senior, Ms. Kirley joined Teach for America and headed to Philadelphia to begin teaching third graders. She then returned to Chicago and is in her third year at GLCS. Ms. Kirley is currently the 7th grade math teacher. In addition to teaching, Ms. Kirley is the Girls Basketball Coach and advisor for National Junior Honor Society.
Director of College Transitions
Krista Holzgraefe
kholzgraefe@lighthouse-academies.org
Ms.Holzgraefe is the College Preparation and Transition Coordinator, Tennis Coach, and Student Government Advisor at Gary Lighthouse Charter School's College Preparatory Academy. She graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in Communication Studies and Leadership Studies. Upon graduation, Miss Holzgraefe moved to Chicago as a part of the Teach For America program, where she taught 6th grade math at GLCS for two years.
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