Luis Menacho
[Department Chair]
Mr. Menacho is proud to be one of Payton's founding members. A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, Mr. Menacho started his teaching career in 1995. He has a great love for travel and incorporates his extensive travels into his teaching. Outside of the classroom Mr. Menacho has involved his students in the political process. Students have had the opportunity to participate in the presidential inauguration, Iowa Caucuses, New Hampshire Primary, as well as serve locally on political campaigns and as election judges. Additionally Mr. Menacho is the Head of the Baseball Program where the student athletes have been Conference Champions as well as State Regional Finalist.
Char Ashley
Ms. Charlene Ashley, a graduate of the University of Michigan (BA) and DePaul University (M.Ed) joins the Payton Social Studies Department as a teacher of Modern World History and the History of Europe. She is a veteran teacher with over 12 years of experience. She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling the world exploring new places.
Sam Borde
Mr. Borde joins the Payton Social Studies Department after 15 years at Lindblom College Prep where he taught A.P. U.S. History, A.P. Economics, Social Science and World History. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He hopes his 12 year old son, Michael, will choose to apply to Walter Payton College Prep next year.
Katherine Chuu
Ms. Chuu received her Masters of Science in Education with concentrations in history and political science from the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University. She earned her B.A. at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she majored in political science and English literature. She also minored in Asian American Studies and worked with community-based Chinese language programs in Champaign, IL. She has taught at Evanston Township High School and Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Ms. Chuu is the faculty advisor of the Varsity and JV debate teams.
Website: www.mschuu.pbworks.com
Valerie Gemskie
Ms. Gemskie attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where she majored in the teaching of Latin and minored in History. It was the summers she spent in the Mediterranean that fostered her appreciation for the ancient civilizations, particularly that of the Romans. Upon graduating, she moved to New Orleans to teach at Ursuline Academy, where she taught for three years, before becoming a founding member of Walter Payton College Prep in 1999. She has coached the Boys Softball team for the last 8 years, winning a City Championship in 2004. She also sponsors the Latin Club, which participates in city and state-wide competitions, such as Certamen and the CPS Latin Olympics. In addition, she has spearheaded student travel programs to Rome and coordinates the student exchange program with Piacenza, Italy.
Adria Mitchell
Ms. Mitchell teaches U.S. History and African-American History this year. She is the faculty advisor for the African-American Club.
Aaron Weiss
Mr. Weiss moved to Chicago after studying history and education at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He began his teaching career at Paul Robeson High School in Chicago. After three years he and his wife moved to Hong Kong and worked at an international school for two years. Mr. Weiss enjoyed having students from around the world and teaching AP World History. He returned to Chicago and began teaching at Payton in 2008. He is currently teaching World Studies and U.S. History and is one of the sponsors for Model United Nations at Payton.
Rachel Allmen
Coming soon.
Luis Menacho
[Department Chair]
Mr. Menacho is proud to be one of Payton's founding members. A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, Mr. Menacho started his teaching career in 1995. He has a great love for travel and incorporates his extensive travels into his teaching. Outside of the classroom Mr. Menacho has involved his students in the political process. Students have had the opportunity to participate in the presidential inauguration, Iowa Caucuses, New Hampshire Primary, as well as serve locally on political campaigns and as election judges. Additionally Mr. Menacho is the Head of the Baseball Program where the student athletes have been Conference Champions as well as State Regional Finalist.
Char Ashley
Ms. Charlene Ashley, a graduate of the University of Michigan (BA) and DePaul University (M.Ed) joins the Payton Social Studies Department as a teacher of Modern World History and the History of Europe. She is a veteran teacher with over 12 years of experience. She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling the world exploring new places.
Sam Borde
Mr. Borde joins the Payton Social Studies Department after 15 years at Lindblom College Prep where he taught A.P. U.S. History, A.P. Economics, Social Science and World History. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He hopes his 12 year old son, Michael, will choose to apply to Walter Payton College Prep next year.
Katherine Chuu
Ms. Chuu received her Masters of Science in Education with concentrations in history and political science from the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University. She earned her B.A. at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she majored in political science and English literature. She also minored in Asian American Studies and worked with community-based Chinese language programs in Champaign, IL. She has taught at Evanston Township High School and Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Ms. Chuu is the faculty advisor of the Varsity and JV debate teams.
Website: www.mschuu.pbworks.com
Valerie Gemskie
Ms. Gemskie attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where she majored in the teaching of Latin and minored in History. It was the summers she spent in the Mediterranean that fostered her appreciation for the ancient civilizations, particularly that of the Romans. Upon graduating, she moved to New Orleans to teach at Ursuline Academy, where she taught for three years, before becoming a founding member of Walter Payton College Prep in 1999. She has coached the Boys Softball team for the last 8 years, winning a City Championship in 2004. She also sponsors the Latin Club, which participates in city and state-wide competitions, such as Certamen and the CPS Latin Olympics. In addition, she has spearheaded student travel programs to Rome and coordinates the student exchange program with Piacenza, Italy.
Adria Mitchell
Ms. Mitchell teaches U.S. History and African-American History this year. She is the faculty advisor for the African-American Club.
Aaron Weiss
Mr. Weiss moved to Chicago after studying history and education at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He began his teaching career at Paul Robeson High School in Chicago. After three years he and his wife moved to Hong Kong and worked at an international school for two years. Mr. Weiss enjoyed having students from around the world and teaching AP World History. He returned to Chicago and began teaching at Payton in 2008. He is currently teaching World Studies and U.S. History and is one of the sponsors for Model United Nations at Payton.
Rachel Allmen
Coming soon.