West Gary Lighthouse College Preparatory Academy

Mr. Juan Gardner has over 22 years of experience with Chicago Public Schools as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal and principal. In 2006, Mr. Gardner was appointed to serve as principal at John Marshall High School by Arne Duncan, then CEO of Chicago Public Schools and current U.S. Secretary of Education. Mr. Gardner has a B.A. in Liberal Arts & Sciences Labor Economics from University of Illinois-Urbana, a M.S. in Education School Guidance and Counseling and a M.A. in School Guidance Counseling and Educational Leadership in Curriculum, Administration and Foundations from Chicago State University. Mr. Gardner joined Lighthouse Academies January 2010. He has zeal to create a scholarly, family environment where are all students can self-actualize in the new College Preparatory Academy. His ultimate goal is for stakeholders to take ownership, inspiring CPA students to be prepared for college, vocational, and graduate school. He believes that students should aim for graduate school! He has a vision that someday CPA students will become global learners, touring other continents and cultures.

Ms. McDade has been with the West Gary Family for over three years as Student Assistance Coordinator, and she is very excited for her new position as the Director of College Transitioning for the College Prep Academy. Ms McDade feels that her work experience prior to coming into education has prepared her to be the best advocate for the students at West Gary. Born and raised in the city of Gary, Ms. McDade has always worked on the behalf of children and families. She received her B.S. in Public Relations from the University of Evansville. After college, she served as a community organizer in the Baltimore/Washington, DC as well as travelled on behalf of labor unions throughout the Midwest and South. Ms. McDade returned to her home area working with foster youth with the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), while also pursuing her Masters in Social Work from Indiana University. Because education is so important to her, she is currently pursuing her Masters in Education at Purdue University. She has a strong interest in research, leadership development, and child advocacy.