Meet Our Faculty

Chris Antonsen has a B.A. in English (Illinois), an M.A. in Folk Studies (Western Kentucky), and a Ph.D. in English and Folklore Studies (Ohio State). Prior to coming to Countryside in 2010, Mr. A. had been a college professor, editor and publisher, projects manager and grants writer, database developer, and scout leader. He currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Folklore and Education.

Mr. A. loves travel and has lived briefly in England on two occasions. He would go back in a heartbeat so long as his students could visit a lot. In addition, he is the proud parent of two Countryside alumni.

Amber Barker is a nationally certified STEM educator. She taught 7th and 8th grade science for five years at Blue Ridge Junior High in Mansfield, IL before joining us at Countryside. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a B.S. in Education, and she holds three endorsements - Middle School, Science, and Language Arts. She previously substitute-taught in grades pre-K through 12 and has also owned and operated a daycare.

Mrs. Barker is the proud parent of a Countryside student. She spends time playing games with family, painting, and making custom cakes. She also enjoys welding and has even driven in a demolition derby!

Kyle Probst grew up on a farm just south of Mattoon, IL. He received his B.A. in History with a minor in Anthropology from Eastern Illinois University. Mr. Probst has lived and taught in five different states - including his first year of teaching on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota, working with the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara nations).

Mr. Probst is currently completing a graduate degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and loves exploring how maps and satellite imagery can reveal hidden stories of ancient civilizations. Outside the classroom, he enjoys hiking, jogging, kayaking, reading, playing board games and video games, and running Dungeons & Dragons campaigns for students and friends.

Fun fact: Mr. Probst is also a passionate performer who has acted in many community theater productions, from Shakespeare to musicals.

Tara Santiago has a B.S. in Computational Mathematics from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras and an M.S. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before joining Countryside in 2016, she was a teaching assistant for undergraduate math courses, an SAT instructor, and a math tutor. Ms. Santiago speaks Spanish and is learning French. She enjoys reading, cooking, and playing video games. When she isn’t teaching, she is probably at home playing with her cat, Luna Victoria.

Gloria Arizaga is a native speaker of Spanish and originally from México. She received her bachelor's degree in Journalism from the journalism school "Carlos Septién García" and her associate degree in Public Policies from the Instituto Nacional de Administración Pública de Querétaro. She has a certification for Teaching Spanish as a Second Language to Children from the Rey Juan Carlos University. Before moving to the United States, Mrs. Arizaga worked as journalist and editor for several newspapers and magazines and had the honor to work under the direction of Nobel Prize in Literature recipient, Gabriel García Marquez.

In the United States, Mrs. Arizaga has worked as consultant for publishers Editions Larousse and Chambers Harrap. She worked nine years at the University of Illinois Extension where she developed a listening course for AP Spanish. She has taught Spanish at St. John Lutheran School, and she currently teaches Spanish online to students in Beijing, China, and is a Spanish tutor. Mrs. Arizaga has taught at Countryside since 2015.

When not at school, Mrs. Arizaga volunteers in different organizations in town and enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, camping, and reading. She loves to watch history and science documentaries, and she is rediscovering chemistry in her kitchen and garden. Her daughter is a Countryside alumna.

Eileen Chen is a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese and also speaks English and Japanese. She completed her B.A. at Tamkang University, Taiwan, and holds an M.S. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. She earned a Certification of Advanced Study and an M. Ed. in Human Resource Education from the University of Illinois, and she earned a Master of Arts in Multilingual Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Mrs. Chen is a K-12 Certified Chinese Language Teacher in both Illinois and Colorado. In addition, she holds a certification of TESOL from the University of California, Irvine.

Mrs. Chen taught Chinese in Chinese schools in California, New York, and Illinois, and she taught English as a foreign language at schools in Taiwan. Mrs. Chen has twice been awarded an excellence in teaching award by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. She enjoys participating in many professional development conferences to bring new knowledge to the classroom. 

She enjoys cake decorating and teaches our wildly popular Sugar Paste summer camps where students create amazing edible treats from rolled fondant icing. Mrs. Chen also loves travel, yoga, and trying new international recipes. She is the proud parent of a Countryside alumnus, and she hopes to go back to teach languages in underprivileged areas of China after she retires.

Jacki Loewenstein is the artistic director and owner of Class Act, a Champaign-based performing arts studio. Since 1992, she has worked professionally as a theater director, instructor, and private acting coach in Chicago, NYC, and Austin.

Over the past decade, Ms. Jacki has directed local productions for Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company (CUTC), Urbana’s Station Theatre, and CUTC’s Penguin Project, a program featuring young people with disabilities paired with peer mentors.

She received her B.A. in Journalism from UNC–Chapel Hill and her MFA in Directing from Illinois State University in Normal, IL. Prior to joining Countryside, Ms. Jacki was our guest director for Countryside’s 8th grade production of Into the Woods, Jr. back in 2016.

Whitney McComas graduated from the University of Illinois with both her B.S. in Classics with a concentration in Latin and her M.A. in Classics with a specialization in Latin. While pursuing her master's in teaching, she was recognized by her university students for excellence in teaching. Ms. McComas student-taught at Victor Andrew High School in Tinley Park, has tutored Latin, and has taught summer language camp for children ages 9-12 at the University of Illinois. Ms. McComas enjoys yoga and teaches it locally. She is in her eleventh year teaching at Countryside.

Shane Woodcock earned his B.S. in Physical Education from Eureka College and M.S. in Sports Administration from Eastern Illinois University. This is Mr. Woodcock’s ninth year at Countryside.

Through his creativity and enthusiasm about physical education, he has grown our program with several new activities. Mr. Woodcock established our archery program, archery summer camp, and the First Tee Golf program. He founded our ever popular annual Color Run and our annual Countryside Golf Outing.

In addition to serving as our Athletic Director, Mr. Woodcock is a Middle School Advisor and teaches our middle school wood shop class.

Krystal Young  holds a B.A. in English literature and M.Ed. with a focus on Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has served as a substitute teacher in a variety of schools and content areas at Champaign Unit 4 Schools. While earning her M.Ed., she gained familiarity with and contributed pieces to the curriculums of several local area schools. Krystal maintains her teaching license and completes professional development, mostly focusing on dyslexia.

Prior to her current position, Mrs. Young was a co-founder and managing partner of Codagami, a Champaign-based technology company that develops web and mobile applications for some of the most recognized brands in the world. During her tenure, Krystal was responsible for marketing, human resources, finance, employee development, and operations.

Mrs. Young has been a member of the Countryside community for twelve years and is the mom to three Countryside alumnae.

Stacy Kirby became our Associate Head after spending over 25 years as our 1st grade teacher! Mrs. Kirby graduated Magna Cum Laude with her B.S. in Elementary Education from Valparaiso University and is a Reading Specialist. 

As one of our founding teachers, Mrs. Kirby played an essential role in creating the basis of the curriculum and community on which Countryside stands today. She became our Elementary Team Leader in January 2020, supporting elementary faculty and working closely with the Middle School Team Leader to write a comprehensive K-8 curriculum for the school. 

She and her husband are the proud parents of two Countryside alumni who are now in college and beyond. She enjoys spending time with her only "child" left at home, her beloved Border Collie. She enjoys dining out, walking, reading, gardening, and spending time with friends and family. 

Leslie Gascoigne graduated from Aurora University with her Bachelor of Social Work and received her Master of Social Work from the University of St. Francis. Prior to joining Countryside, she served as the Program Director at Piatt County Services for Seniors where she managed the Senior Information Service Program and assisted clients applying for services.

Previously, Ms. Leslie worked as a therapist providing diagnostic and therapeutic services to children, adolescents, and adults. In addition, she has worked in client scheduling, case management, and agency referrals.

She loves spending time with her greyhound, Maisie, as well as her cats Memphis and Chan. She also enjoys reading and creating digital art.

Fun fact: She is our first alumna to work full-time for her alma mater!

Melissa Hartman holds a B.S. in Business Administration in Management Information Systems from the University of Illinois. Prior to coming to Countryside, she worked as an academic records coordinator in the University of Illinois’ registrar’s office and as an admissions and records officer. She began her career at Countryside as a substitute teacher and chair of CSA (Countryside School Association), our parent-teacher organization, before taking over the chaos of running the front desk.

Mrs. Hartman enjoys photography, reading, and travel – especially to the beach or Disney. Fun fact: Her favorite subjects to photograph are the beach at sunset or fireworks around the castle at Disney World. She is also the proud parent of two Countryside students.

Erin Smith earned her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Secondary Education from Ball State University and her Master of Education in Education Policy Organization & Leadership from the University of Illinois. She also holds a Superintendent Endorsement from Eastern Illinois University.

Ms. Smith has served as Principal at both Oakwood High School and Iroquois West High School. She has also taught math from pre-algebra through AP Calculus AB, including teaching locally at Next Generation School, University Laboratory High School, and Parkland College.

She is an avid reader and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Education at Illinois State University. Fun facts: She has run 13 marathons, 4 ultramarathons, and completed her first Ironman triathlon in 2017. In her free time, she enjoys cooking for her family and going on fishing trips.