EPIC Academy

Matthew King, Principal – Matthew is a graduate of New Leaders for New Schools (2007) which prepares leaders to innovate and affect change in struggling urban areas.  He was a teacher and administrator for 5 and 3 years, respectively, making change in lives of youth in Chicago before founding EPIC Academy.  He co-founded the Urban Students Empowered Foundation with the mission of making higher education a reality.   Matthew has a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision from National Louis University, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Miami University.

Jennifer Nagourney, Finance & Operations Manager – Jennifer is a Teach for America alumna with a strong teaching background in North Carolina’s middle schools.  She was the President of the Public Interest Law Foundation, Managing Editor of the Indiana Law Journal, and intern for the Indiana University Student Legal Services while earning her Juris Doctorate from the Indiana University School of Law.  She was the proud recipient of the Zuckerman Fellowship full scholarship to attend Harvard University, earning a Master in Education in Education Policy and Management in 2009. 

Ryan Maxwell, Instruction – Ryan Maxwell has been working for progressive change in urban education for over nine years. He has taught and worked as a department and grade-level leader from Boston to Oakland - and now Chicago.  Ryan was an award-winning teacher in Oakland, California with a track record of raising test scores in small urban schools.  Fluent in Spanish, he holds English language learner instruction certification, and has nine years experience in teaching literacy alongside college preparatory curriculum.  Ryan holds a Master's degree in Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin.

Marcus Baker, Dean of Students – Marcus was an Assistant Principal in Chicago Public Schools turnaround projects at both Harper and Fenger High Schools where he coached and evaluated teachers, oversaw afterschool and parent programs, wrote school policy, and headed up leadership teams.   Prior to entering administration, he was an effective teacher designing and implementing curriculum in middle school English and literature classrooms.  Marcus holds a Master in Education from Concordia University and a Bachelor of Science in Education Illinois State University.

Caeana Sanders, Family Social Worker – Caeana earned her Master’s in Social Work from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois-Chicago.  Her intern experiences included work preparing ex-offenders for re-entry into the workforce and leading domestic violence, anger management, and substance abuse groups.  She worked for Rainbow House and Children’s Home and Aid Society of Illinois where she was a legal advocate and mental health professional.  Caeana has strong Spanish skills and studied in Chile en route to earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Spanish from Trinity College in Connecticut.