Our Team

Michael Fitzgerald (Principal)

Michael is an experienced educator with an M.S. in Brain-Based Education. After a decade teaching in a variety of school models, he is using his knowledge of classical education to lead Northern Schoolhouse, all while pursuing his doctorate in education.

A dabbler in logic, philosophy, hiking, archery, chess, music, and handiwork, he brings his deep interest in the great minds of history to our Schoolhouse culture.

Katherine Fitzgerald (Instructional Coordinator & Music Teacher)

 

Katie has nearly two decades’ experience with children in education and humanitarian work. Her studies in educational history, methodology, curriculum, and child psychology form the basis of the programs developed for Northern Schoolhouse.

Music, math, baking, knitting, drawing, and gardening are among her many interests, and she shares her passion for doing and making with our Schoolhouse community.

Rylee Prach (Lead Teacher)

Rylee is excited to be part of Northern Schoolhouse as a lead teacher. She’s from a small town called Hartland, Michigan is excited to pursue my dream of teaching here. With a background in liberal arts and religious studies, she has a deep passion for fine arts and literature. In her free time, you can find her working on home, art, or poetry projects with her tuxedo cat, Honey. Rylee is also deeply interested in life’s biggest questions: Why are we here? What is the divine?

Rylee believes that children enter the world with their own unique ultimate potentials and beautiful gifts to share with the community. her goal is to foster each child’s deeply personal journey of growth and spiritual formation—to guide students in their pursuit of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.

Christi Grimm (Lead Teacher)

Christi joins the Schoolhouse with over fifteen years of private school teaching experience. She holds a degree in education with a concentration in psychology. She brings a passion for reading classic children’s literature and teaching arithmetic. Christi lives out in the country, on a dirt road, and enjoys the outdoor aspect of the Schoolhouse, where she can share her love of living creatures with the students.

Christi enjoys baking, crafting, and reading. She has three dogs that she spends the abundance of her time with when not at school. As her husband, daughter, and sisters are all educators—Christi sees teaching as a family affair! She is pleased to bring this dedication to education to the Schoolhouse.

Michelina Palmer (Lead Teacher)

 

Kayla Panchisin (Assistant Teacher)

Angela Vetanen (Assistant Teacher & Chinese Teacher)

Cemoy Clarke (Assistant Teacher & Music Teacher)

Vicki Botta (Art Teacher)

Peilin Tian &  Jiayu Lian (Dance Teachers)

Fatping Cheung (Martial Arts and Dragon Dance Teacher)

Tiffany Wu, Ruijin Ma, & Shannon Young (Chinese Teachers)