Leadership Team

Mike Rogers

Founder | Executive Director
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Mike Rogers is the founder of Moving Everest Charter School and has served as the Executive Director since its inception. Prior to Moving Everest, Mike spent the bulk of his career in public and private education as a high school teacher, department chair, and school principal.
Michell Edwards-Hicks

Principal
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Michelle Edwards-Hicks began her career in education as a teacher within the Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) network in Chicago, where she built a strong foundation in urban education. In 2016, she joined the Moving Everest team as a second grade teacher. In 2019, Mrs. Hicks transitioned out of the classroom to further develop as a leader, serving first as Dean of Students and then as Assistant Principal. Today, she proudly serves as the Principal of Moving Everest.
Lakeishia Hayes

Director of Operations and Compliance
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LaKeishia Hayes joined Moving Everest in 2015 as a founding member of the leadership team as the Director of Operations & Compliance. Before Moving Everest, Ms. Hayes was the Business Operations Manager at CICS-Longwood Charter School.
Kerry Bartholomew

Assistant Principal
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Kerry Bartholomew joined Moving Everest as Assistant Principal in 2022. Mr. Bartholomew has worked in Chicago charter and alternative-education schools for 23 years including: Assistant Principal at Garcia High School, special education teacher at Maryville Academy, and founding reading teacher at Noble Street Charter High School.
Alexandra Wazny

Assistant Principal
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Ms. Wazny is certified in Illinois as a Learning and Behavior Specialist Type 1. She joined the Moving Everest team in 2022 as an instructional coach for the diverse learning department. This is her eleventh year in education and second year serving as the Middle School Assistant Principal.
Lisa Rusen

Director of School Culture
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Lisa Rusen joined Moving Everest in 2016 as a kindergarten teacher. Ms. Rusen is currently the Director of School Culture. Before coming to Moving Everest, Ms. Rusen was a teacher and school leader with Lighthouse Academies in East Chicago, IN. Ms. Rusen was a 2005 Teach for America corps member in the Mississippi Delta.
Stefanie Dulak

Director of Instruction (Student Supports)
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Stefanie Dulak joined Moving Everest in 2017 as a 2nd grade Reading Teacher. Since then, Mrs. Dulak has taught reading intervention to scholars in grades K-3 and serves as the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Coordinator. Before coming to Moving Everest, Mrs. Dulak taught Preschool and 1st Grade in the West Contra Costa School District in the Bay Area of California.
Laurel Copeland

Director of Instruction (1, 2, 3)
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Laurel Copeland joined the Moving Everest team in 2015 as a founding teacher. She taught 1st Grade for three years before transitioning into the role of Director of Instruction in 2018. Before coming to Moving Everest, Mrs. Copeland taught at CICS Lloyd Bond.
Olivia Corya

Director of Instruction (4-8)
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Olivia Corya joined the Moving Everest team in 2024 as the Director of Instruction for middle school. Before Moving Everest, Ms. Corya taught for ten years in Indianapolis and Chicago and served as Director of Curriculum and Instruction for two years at Great Lakes Academy in South Shore, Chicago.
Stacy Young

Director of Instruction
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Stacy Young joined the Moving Everest team in 2025 as Director of Instruction. Before serving at Moving Everest, Ms. Young was an instructional coach for two years at Hoover Schrum School District 157. She was also a special education teacher and math team lead at KIPP One Academy for 5 years.
Bradford Ritchie

Director of Technology
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Brad Ritchie joined the Moving Everest team in 2018 as the Director of Technology. He continues to serve in that role today. Mr. Ritchie began his career at AT&T, then founded a technology service and support company. After forming his company, he migrated to the education field and worked at improving technology for a variety of schools in the Chicago area.