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.

Sarah Langford

College Counselor

Sarah Langford was a high school teacher for fifteen years and is now College Counselor at The Academy. Sarah attended the University of Missouri and holds a Master of Education from The University of Illinois (Chicago).

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.

Joseph Hulbert

Director of Strategic Initiatives

Prior to assuming the role of Director of Strategic Initiatives, Joseph (Joe) Hulbert worked as Director of Partnerships at The Academy since the fall of 2014. Joe has over a decade of experience working at the intersection of education and community arts through his work at both The Academy and the Center for Community Arts Partnerships (CCAP), at Columbia College Chicago.

Stacey Talbert

Stacey Talbert is a Chicago native of diverse cultural background. She has a strong history in administrative and management support along with education. One of her specialties is building a positive rapport with students. Her passion is working with a team of varied backgrounds.

Robert Feliciano

Facilities Manager

Robert joined The Academy in 2014. Prior to taking the role of Facilities Manager, he worked as a baker at the Archdiocese of Chicago for 27 years.

Henry Feliciano

Facilities Manager

Henry Feliciano has over 30 years of experience in facilities, most notably with Verizon. Henry joined The Academy in 2014.

August Miller

Marketing and Communications Associate

August graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2022 with a B.A. in Computer Animation. He comes to The Academy with previous experience working in design and community engagement at Columbia College and Snow City Arts. A longtime advocate for breaking down educational barriers, August is excited for the unique opportunity to continue his work in both arts education as well as the non-profit sector at The Academy.

Carly Davis

Grant and Event Associate

Carly graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a B.A. in Acting. She has worked and acted in non-profit theatre in Chicago since 2016 and has experience in grant writing and event planning through her previous position as Managing Director of Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble. She is excited to be an advocate for arts education funding at The Academy.

Ali Kane

Senior Admissions Associate

Ali Kane is proud to join the stellar admissions team at The Chicago Academy for the Arts. As an Academy alum, Ali was a member of the Theatre department and graduated in 2018. During her time at The Academy, she was featured in over twelve theatre productions while taking a full course load and participating in a few clubs as well.

Libby LaDue

Senior Development Associate

Libby graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she studied Communication Arts and Theatre & Drama. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Libby was eager to move down to Chicago to continue working in the non-profit sector while simultaneously working as an actor. She is thrilled to be a part of the wonderful Academy community.

Ari Ferris

Admissions Associate

Ari graduated from Fiorello H. Laguardia High School of Performing Arts in New York City in 2020. Subsequently, Ari moved to Chicago to pursue a Music Business degree at Columbia College Chicago. She is a passionate songwriter and music producer with a background in Classical Vocal Performance. She has worked for major entertainment companies across Chicago such as the Madison Square Garden Corporation, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Live Nation Entertainment. Ari is excited to continue her work in arts administration and helping passionate young artists achieve their dreams.

Staff: Administration