Welcome from the Head

Dear Families and Friends,

For 40 years, The Chicago Academy for the Arts has been one of Illinois’ great independent schools, an important Chicago cultural institution, and “home” to hundreds of brilliant young artists characterized by their passion, purpose, and excellence.

The Academy’s “co-curricular” educational model is simple, yet transformational. Our rigorous academic program and immersive, pre-professional arts training prepare our students for an incredible variety of paths beyond high school, leading successful, meaningful lives in the arts and well beyond.

The 180 graduates from 2017 to 2021 earned nearly $39 million in college scholarships (that’s not a typo!) and gained admission to the nation’s best colleges, universities, and conservatories, from CalArts to Juilliard; from Stanford to Princeton.

From the Grammy Awards to the New York Times Bestseller List, our alums are not only succeeding in the professional arts world, they are prepared to define it. And as physicists, entrepreneurs, attorneys, software developers, and more, Academy grads are thriving in a breathtaking variety of fields.

Most importantly, however, The Academy is characterized by its community: inspired academic teachers, professional artists with a passion for mentorship, and an incredible student body. It is a unique privilege to be immersed every day in a community of people so deeply invested in being here.

Thank you for taking a closer look at our school: we are eager to show you what makes The Academy such a special place to be.

Welcome to The Chicago Academy for the Arts. And, welcome home.

Jason Patera
Head of School

If you would like to know more about the history and mission of The Academy, click here.

School Leadership

Featured

Jason Patera

Head of School

Jason Patera has been part of the Academy community for over 20 years, serving as a faculty member, Chair of the Music Department, Assistant Head of School, Principal, and now Head of School.

Elizabeth Cunningham

Assistant Principal

Elizabeth Cunningham is the Dean of Students as well as the Student Services Coordinator. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art and a Master of Education in Special Education at Loyola University.

Elizabeth also serves as the Director of Learning Resources.

Amanda LePard

Director of Enrollment Management

Amanda LePard joins The Academy with over 10 years of Admissions experience in independent schools. A lifelong dancer, Amanda is classically trained and received a degree in Dance and Communication from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point before moving to Chicago to pursue a professional dance career.

Randy Duncan

Chair - Dance

Randy Duncan, a native Chicagoan, has the unique privilege to be a three-time recipient of Chicago’s prestigious Ruth Page Award for Outstanding Choreographer of the year. He teaches worldwide and for the past twenty-two years has been on the Academy faculty.

Sarah Hiatt

Chair - Media Arts

Sarah Hiatt is an artist and educator born and raised in the Ozarks. She uses photography to explore the ideas of grief, innocence, and growing up. Her work has been shown in various locations throughout the United States and internationally. Hiatt currently resides in Chicago, IL.

Rachel Brown

Chair - Music

Rachel Brown is a Chicago-based chamber musician, soloist, orchestral performer, educator, and arts administrator. Formerly with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, she is now Associate Principal Second Violin of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and performs with the Illinois, Rockford, and Fort Wayne Symphony Orchestras, as well as the American Music Festivals Orchestra. Rachel also instructs classical violin, viola, and musicianship.

Andrew Robinson

Chair - Musical Theatre

Andrew Robinson earned his Bachelor of Arts in English and Religion from Rhodes College, his Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University, and his Master of Arts in Educational Theatre from New York University. He has been a creative associate with the Wagon Wheel Theatre for over ten years, directing and performing in dozens of shows.

Ben Dicke

Chair - Theatre

Ben Dicke holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Education from Sterling College. He has worked as a professional actor for twenty years in regional markets throughout the country.

Margy Stover

Chair - Visual Arts

Margy Stover has taught at The Academy since 2003 and has been Visual Arts Department Chair since 2008. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute and Master of Fine Arts from SUNY Buffalo.

Nicholas Roux

Co-Chair - Humanities

Nicholas Roux teaches philosophy and creative writing. He attended Kenyon College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, with concentrations in Creative Writing and Humane Studies, and served as a student associate for The Kenyon Review.

Anna Mijalski

Co-Chair - Humanities

Anna earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in French Literature from the University of Illinois, Chicago, where she also taught before coming to the Academy.

Emily Luhrs

Chief of Staff

Emily is a seasoned professional with multiple years of teaching experience at the Denver Center Theatre Academy. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Oklahoma.