Dr. Michelle Bettuzzi - Instructor/Center Director
Dr. Bettuzzi discovered the KUMON program as a mom desperately searching for a program that could help her then 2nd grade daughter who was struggling in reading. KUMON made all the difference not only in terms of her daughter's success in reading and math skills but also in building her self-confidence and self-learning skills.
Dr. Bettuzzi passionately believes that all students can benefit from the Kumon program just as her own children have. She is a veteran Kumon Instructor who is ranked in the top 3% of Kumon North America Instructors. She specializes in teaching struggling readers and advanced math instruction. Dr. Bettuzzi graduated with Honors from Marquette University in 1988 with a degree in Physical Therapy, and she completed her Post Doctorate Studies at Rosalind Franklin University where she was awarded the Post Doctorate Physical Therapy Award . She has specialized in nuerological training and Sports Rehabilitation for the past 20 years. She utilizes her neuro-training expertise to maximize each child's individualized learning style through the KUMON method.
Dr. Bettuzzi is a reading specialist certified by an IMSLEC (International Multisensory Structured Language Educational Council) accredited program. She is a member of the International Dyslexia Association and the National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC). She is involved in several voluntary study groups aimed at providing and administering the Kumon Method of learning to students of every ability. She has been the team leader for the Chicago Area Advanced Math Instruction Study Group where instructors from all over the country come together to study and teach advanced level math to struggling and gifted students. With other credentialed instructors from across the United States, Dr. Bettuzzi is involved in the research and development of reading materials aimed at providing the most effective instruction of fundamental and advanced reading skills to each student.
Susan Hani- Assistant Director
Susan is currently pursuing her studies in Child Psycology at Northeastern Illinois University. With her background knowledge and work experience in elementary education, Susan brings her knowledge of school curricula and classroom experiences to her job as Assistant Director. She is the welcoming smile who assists Dr. Bettuzzi in classroom observations and in the implementation of individualized lesson plans. She is passionate about how KUMON can help all children succeed in school.
Susan knows each and every student, and most of their parents. She is the calm and reliable soul of our Center.
Eric Bechelli
Eric graduated from Illinois State University in 2001 with a degree in Secondary English Education with a Middle School Endorsement. As a K-12 substitute teacher, Eric brings an intricate knowledge of school curricula and a diverse body of classroom experiences to our center.
Eric is the person our students see when they come to class each time. He organizes their work, changes out their homework, gives them their stickers, tells them if there is something they need to do at a particular class (such as take an Achievement Test, etc).
Eric's backgroung in education and classroom experience make him an integral part of the successful team that brings KUMON to the Niles commuity.
Johann Segala
Johanna holds a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education with a major in Social Science and a minor in ESL. She is an AMS (American Montessori Society) certified upper and lower Elementary Montessori teacher. Johanna has over eight years of teaching experience in both traditional and Montessori classrooms.
Johanna works as an assistant instructor in the Junior Kumon Reading and Advanced Reading programs. She "loves working with younger kids who bring so much energy to the center.”