Welcome to Lightkeeper Academy

John and Jill live in Manhattan, IL with their two daughters. Jill has a passion for educating children. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Resouces Management from Lewis University, and a Master's in Elementary Education from Saint Xavier University. John is a United States Military Academy Graduate who went on to serve six proud years as an infantryman. As a family, they love to spend time together having movie nights, playing board games, walking their dogs, and getting ready for the next season of sports! John and Jill were motivated to create Lightkeeper Academy after struggling to find a solution for their family's educational needs. In Lightkeeper Academy, they strive to create an environment that is child-focused while also emphasizing and embracing the importance of parental involvement. 

Tom and Michelle Bulow live in Mokena, IL with their 4 children, along with their service dog- in training, Milile. Michelle is a former Special Education teacher and spent her time teaching at Lincoln- Way East prior to having children. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from Illinois State University, and her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University. Tom is a Michigan State Alumni and is a local business owner and hospitality enthusiast. Michelle and Tom are deeply involved in the Autism community as their oldest son was diagnosed at the age of two. Tom serves as an ambassador for TACA, The Autism Community in Action. Michelle is a TACA mentor for families navigating life on the spectrum. As a family, they enjoy traveling, and spending summers in Michigan.

Cheryl lives in Blue Island, IL with her husband Kanon and their two sons. She graduated from University of Illinois-Chicago with both a bachelors and master's degree in accounting. She is a CPA and has spent over 20 years in various accounting positions in both the public and private sector. In 2020, she decided to put her career on hold, and made her focus raising her boys and assisting her husband in running their family business. As a result, Cheryl has the flexibility to manage the finances at Lightkeeper Academy, as well as assist where needed in the building throughout the week. When Cheryl is not working, she loves gardening, cooking, yoga, watching her boys play sports, and spending time at the beach in Michigan with her family. 

Ashley lives in New Lenox, IL with her husband Scott, and two children. She loves teaching and has been passionate about working with kids for as long as she can remember. Ashley graduated from Valparaiso University with a degree in elementary education and an endorsement in reading instruction. She has spent multiple years teaching in public school and private school environments in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. Ashley helps with the children’s ministry at church and enjoys singing on the worship team.  She loves coming up with creative ways to teach new concepts and helping students become excited about learning. In her free time, she loves to travel, sing, and spend family time playing board games and eating out! She is super excited for all of the hands-on activities planned for this year!

Joy lives in Orland Park, IL with her husband Danny, and their daughter. She has always been passionate about working with children through teaching and volunteer work. She graduated from Governor's State University with an Elementary Education Degree and a minor in English. She has taught in both public school and homeschool learning environments, teaching various grade levels for over a decade. When Joy is not teaching, she loves traveling, kayaking, and walking her dog, Panda. Joy can't wait to work with all the children at Lightkeeper Academy as they learn and grow through hands-on projects and creative activities. She hopes to instill a love for learning in all of her students. 

Tracy lives in Orland Park, IL with her husband Kevin, and her ten year-old daughter, Kieralyn. Tracy received her Bachelor's degree in Deaf Studies at California State University, Northrige and is proficient in American Sign Language. She has worked in mainstream classrooms, as well as with special needs children and adults. She has also been a behavior therapist for kids with autism. Tracy gave up her career when life handed her family the opportunity to live in London for five years! She moved from Southern California, where she's originally from, to London, to Orland Park! In her spare time, she runs her own business making charcuterie, dessert, and kids boards for different events. She also loves cooking and baking with her daughter, both of which she is excellent.