The task of education must be to stimulate and unleash the wisdom that lies dormant in the lives of all young people. This is not a forced process, like pressing something into a preformed mold, but rather drawing out the potential which exists within. - Daisaku Ikeda

Tallgrass Staff

Melissa Bradford

Melissa Bradford
Staff Member

Melissa holds a Masters Degree in Education (K-9) as well as a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy from Northwestern University. For 7 years she taught in the public school system, teaching Jr. High School science. She is now an adjunct faculty member at Joliet Junior College - teaching math and science in her spare time when not staffing at Tallgrass Sudbury.

"I became involved in Sudbury education 15 years ago when my children were toddlers.  I love the way students are empowered and able to pursue their passions at Tallgrass Sudbury School."

Larry Pavia

Larry Pavia
Staff Member

Larry is a native of the Chicago area, with a bachelor's degree in Art and Design from the University of Illinois, Chicago.  A graphic designer by trade, Larry has had a keen interest in the visual arts since childhood, including pen and ink drawings, technical illustration and ancient crafts such as stained glass, which he taught himself how to work with back in high school.  Larry has worked with children and youth in various capacities for most of his adult life, and holds a certificate in Waldorf Education.

"Seeing some of the inadequacies of other educational approaches, I looked into the Sudbury model, which spoke to my own experiences with resourcefulness and self-education.  I like that all members at Tallgrass, staff and students alike, are responsible for their actions."

Peter Tulloch

Peter Tulloch
Staff Member

Peter holds a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Loyola University Chicago, and a Bachelor's Degree in Music Technology from McGill University in Montreal. He spends summers working at camps, and once led a 6-week canoe trip through northern Saskatchewan. He plays several instruments, including accordion and bassoon, and likes to read books about popular music history. He also enjoys writing stories, drawing pictures, making puppets, dancing, speaking French, and playing in the snow.

"It has been a dream of mine to find a school that truly respects every student, and I am excited to have found that place here at Tallgrass."

Erica Kohagizawa

Erica Kohagizawa
Assistant Staff Member
Erica holds a Bachelor's degree in East Asian Languages and Cultures and a Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a native of Chicago and is fluent in Japanese. She studied Chinese and Korean in College, while focusing most of her studies on second language teaching and acquisition. She founded photography club at UIUC and has been photographing for various events and performances to pursue her passion in photography.

"I'm always impressed by how independent and responsible the students are at Tallgrass. I am very happy to be here and there is much to learn from this school and everyone here."