Communication
 Debate and Speech 

Jared Zuckerman
High SCHOOL SPEECH Coach (since spring 2020)

Former Director at Blue Valley Southwest and current Assistant Coach at Glenbrook North, IL. His team was the first in Kansas history to win the National Speech and Debate Association national championship. They also won the 2017 and 2018 National Catholic Forensics League national championships, were the Tournament of Champions finalists, and received the Ungar Cup as the nation’s top team. As a coach, he received the 2018 National Debate Coaches Association Coach of the Year and National Speech and Debate Association Ted Belch Coach of the Year. He won 11 state championships as a coach.

Hamdan Suhail
High School Speech Team Coach

Hamdan has competed in both the high school and college level. Over the course of his years competing for the IHSA, he has received 5th in the state in Original Comedy and Humorous Duet Acting in 2016. While in college, he was 3rd in Prose reading and novice state champion in Informative Speaking. He then went on to receive a Silver Medal in speech to Entertain and Bronze in Informative Speaking on the National level.
Hamdan has had over 5 years in competition and 3 years of hands on coaching.

Autumn Geist
High School Speech/Public SPEAKING specialist

Autumn is a High School Speech coach for 20 years, cultivated many state finalists, champions and national qualifiers. 
She is highly sought after IHSA state individual events judge for 20+ years in north and south suburbs of Illinois.
Highly experienced leadership coach.
Autumn is teaching HS Speech and Speech Event preparing students for high school speech competition. 

Writing and Communication Team

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​ROB FRANKEL
Elementary Reading, Intermediate Reading, and Creative Writing
Rob has been a high school English teacher for a number of years. But now he has dedicated himself to private tutoring and teaching at Pyramid Academy. He loves working with students of all ages but for Pyramid Academy, he concentrates on 4th through 8th graders. His reading classes for this age range are full of the delight he has for literature, and the fun and humor he brings to all his classes. Creative writing is also a specialty of his, and he has written over thirty published plays for the middle school and high school ages!

JAMES WIES
High School Essay READING AND Writing
James is a English teacher for more than 20 years, currently teaching English courses at local college and high schools. His twenty years of teaching experience reflect the diverse face of American education today. From the inner city, in an alternative school for special education students, to the west suburbs, in two classes of gifted college bound seniors, he has maintained his commitment to student centered learning.
He also help proofreading and editing for students, specializing in college entrance and scholarship award essays. He was consistently rated as excellent in both student and departmental evaluations.

Amy Camp
Literacy Appreciation and Joy of Writing
Amy is a English teacher for 14 years, currently teaching mostly writing courses at the College of DuPage. 
She is also an avid reader and love to share her passion for Literature with students. She is very thoughtful teacher and give very clear guidance and amazingly helpful. She cares and wants her students to succeed. 
Amy is teaching Literacy Appreciation and Joy of Writing at Pyramid Academy. 

Computer  Team

Changzheng Rao

Mr. Changzheng Rao has been teaching various computer programming, data structures and algorithms, USA Computing Olympiad contest preparations courses in Pyramid Academy since 2015. He has been an IT professional and Software Engineer for over 20 years in various fields. For the recent decade, he has been mainly working in the financial and capital market industry to develop trading systems for the trading and investment companies in Chicago. He was a panel speaker in a few local trading forums on topics of high-frequency & algorithmic trading, financial modeling and trading strategies development. Mr. Rao has a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from Mississippi State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Software from Nanjing University. He is also a member and Tournament Director of United State Chess Federation. He has been putting his efforts on chess enrichment programs including tournaments, clubs, group lessons taught by Grand Masters and International Masters, and international chess & cultural exchange programs for Naperville communities.

Math Team

Gabrielle Testerman​

Ms. Gabbi has over 10 years of Mathematics teaching and tutoring
experience in Chicago and the western suburbs. Ms. Gabbi earned
her BS from the University of Connecticut and successfully completed
the accelerated Mathematics education program at Northwestern
University. Ms. Gabbi holds a Professional Teaching License for
Middle School and High School Mathematics, and has experience
teaching Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Algebra II, Geometry and
Pre-Calculus. Ms. Gabbi currently works for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
as a Mathematics Assessment Specialist, creating assessments for
Middle School and High School math programs.

Brian meadows

Mr. Brian Meadows is a dedicated educator with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Minors in Earth Space Science and Sustainability from Indiana University. He's not just a math teacher – he's a STEM enthusiast who is passionate about unlocking the potential of young minds. 
Since 2018, Brian has taught alll different levels of AOPS Math, AP and College Math courses through Cornerstone Education and later through Pyramid.   He has been coaching AMC8 for several years and his students got different level awards. Currently, Brian serves as Head Coach of the Marian Catholic High School Math Team. 

Helen Lou

Helen has a PhD in Statistics. She has been coaching Scullen Milddle School Mathcounts Club since 2009. Under her guidance, the Scullen Mathcounts team has consistently placed top 3 at the DuKane Chapter competition for the past 7 years and placed at top 5 at the State Competition for the last 5 years. Many of her students have been among the top 10 individuals in Chapter competitions and top 16 in State competitions.
Coach Helen is teaching Beginning and Advanced Mathcounts.  

Jessica Wang

Jessica Wang grew up in Naperville and graduated
from Neuqua Valley High School. She attended Duke University and studied Economics,
Statistics, and Education. She previously worked in business analytics at Capital One, and also
in Hong Kong teaching and tutoring students of all ages in SAT, ACT, and other subjects.
Jessica is a licensed high school mathematics teacher and continues to work as a private tutor
for students of all ages in SAT, ACT, math, and reading comprehension. She is currently a
teacher at the boarding school Milton Academy and has her Master of Education from the
University of Pennsylvania’s #1 ranked Graduate School of Education. Jessica is passionate
about mentoring youth and believes that every student can foster a love of learning through her
individualized approach to education.

Science Team

John Williams

John graduated with BS degree in Physics from the California Institute of Technology. At the national level he competed in the AHSME, advancing to take the AIME. For the International Physics Olympiad, he advanced as far as the United States Physics team (top 25), in the training camp has been an example of teamwork and students being encouraged by the dedication of both teachers and other students.
​John is teaching AP Physics Courses.

Ran Hong

Ran graduated with PhD degree in Physics University of Washington, is currently working as a Post Doc research associate at Argonne National lab. He has many years of teaching and tutoring experience for high school and college students. He also competed at national and international level physics competition back in high school. 
Ran is teaching USAPHO preparing students for USA Physics Olympia. 

Lani Larkin

Lani received MS in chemistry from University of Wisconsin at Madison and MS in Education from Northwestern University. She works as Chemistry Professor in Chicago community college and have been teaching chemistry in local high school for many years. she has coached and sponsored student activities, including Science Olympiad, 24 Hour Relay Challenge.
Lani is teaching AP Chemstry.