Meet Your 7th Grade Captains!

Welcome! My name is Chris Connelly. I am your son/daughter’s math teacher. I have been a teacher for the past 13 years all in the North Royalton School district. I completed my undergraduate education at John Carroll University in Communications and then received my teaching certificate from Cleveland State University.

I have been married for nine wonderful years to my wife, Jessica. We have a daughter, Taylor (7) and two sons, Andrew (5) and Logan (3). I grew up in the Cleveland area and plan to stay here. My wife is a teacher here at the Middle School. She teaches fifth grade Science.

I am also a 7th/8th grade wrestling coach and an assistant track coach for the middle school. I hope that I will also have the pleasure of coaching your son/daughter throughout the year. I feel sports and extracurricular activities help to make our children better people. They help build responsibility and promote teamwork.

Hi, my name is Janele Kauffman and I will be the Intervention Specialist for Language Arts and Math this school year.

This will be my second year teaching at NRMS. In August 2009 I received my Master’s degree in Mild/Moderate Special Education from Cleveland State University. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Education from Kent State University in 2006. Prior to accepting this position at NRMS, I spent 2 years working for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District as a long term substitute teacher, teaching 5th grade intervention, 2nd grade regular education, and 2nd & 3rd grade gifted and talented education. In addition, I am also a graduate of NRHS and I am thrilled to work in the district that raised me!

This October, (October 10th to be exact!) my husband and I will celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary. October 10th is also a special day because we are expecting our first child- a girl! ☺

Hello! My name is Mary Bernard. I will be teaching science to your student during the beginning of the school year. Jill Garman is on maternity leave until November. I grew up in Rocky River and graduated from Rocky River High School. I then went on to Bowling Green State University, where my major was Middle Childhood Education with science, social studies, and reading concentrations. I earned my Bachelor’s of Science in Education in 2007. I am working towards earning my Master’s degree from Cleveland State University.

I live in Lakewood and have two dogs. I have a Goldendoodle puppy that is 13 weeks old and a 3 year old Jack Russell-Pug mix. They both keep me very busy!
 

Hello! My name is Melissa Lapsansky. I grew up in Parma and am a graduate of Padua High School and Kent State University. In 2004, I earned my Master’s Degree in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment from Walden University. I have been teaching at the Middle School since 2001. My husband is a seventh grade social studies teacher at Brecksville Middle School. He also coaches soccer for the Cleveland Whitecaps and is the head coach for the girl’s varsity soccer team at Brecksville High School. We have two sons Gavin, 6 and Jake 3 1/2.

 

Hello! My name is Stacy Tresize. I was born and raised in Sylvania, Ohio. I had two extremely wonderful parents, and two older brothers that I love very much. I graduated from Northview High School in 1998. I then attended The Ohio State University where I graduated with a degree in criminal justice. At first I had aspirations of going to law school, but changed my tune once I started coaching little league baseball and found that my passion was working with kids and watching them succeed. I then attended Bowling Green State University where I got my degree in middle childhood education.

I was able to long term substitute all of last year for the Jammin' Jades in the 6th grade, and was extremely lucky to get hired full time this year for the Captains teaching 7th grade RICA at NRMS. I love reading and working with students, and cannot wait to get out of bed each morning and laugh and inspire these kids to be the best they can possibly be!
 

My name is Lisa Sprunger and I have been in North Royalton over 40 years. In 1987, I graduated from North Royalton High School and continued on to the University of Toledo. I received my bachelor degree in psychology with a minor in history and English from Cleveland State University. In 1998, I earned my Masters degree in reading curriculum and development.


I began teaching 8th grade history and math in North Royalton in 1993. I met my husband, Steve, while coaching volleyball and we were married in 1996 and moved to Medina. He currently teaches eight grade and coaches golf at the high school.

We now have 4 children. Emily is in 7th grade, Curt in the 5th grade, Isabella in 4th and Garrett in 2nd. Six years ago we decided to move back to North Royalton to raise our family. After a few years working part-time, I came to the seventh grade to teach social studies on the Captains team.

I spend most of my free time organizing Girl Scouts, running to sporting practices and working in the yard. Although our house is in a constant state of demolition, I can’t imagine raising a family anywhere else in the world!

Hello! My name is Jill Garman. I will be teaching science to your student this year. I grew up in Parma Heights and attended Holy Name High School. I attended the University of Dayton where my major was Middle Childhood Education with math and science concentrations. I earned my Bachelor’s of Science in Education in 2003 and was hired by North Royalton Middle School the following fall. This will be my eighth year teaching.

This year I will be teaching just science- in the past I taught math as well. I earned my Master’s Degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Walden University in 2007. I have been married for three years to Aaron Garman, an English teacher and JV Boys Basketball coach at North Royalton High School. We live in Brunswick with our brand new baby boy, Owen.

Hello! My name is Lindsey Bigeck. I am the substitute Intervention Specialist for Mrs. Kauffman while she is on maternity leave. I teach both Language Arts and Math.

 

I grew up in North Olmsted and graduated from North Olmsted High School in 2006. I then went on to Wittenberg University where I studied Early Childhood and Mild/Moderate Special Education. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in 2010. This is my first year teaching at NRMS, and it has been a great place to begin my teaching career!