Staff

Project Learn’s faculty are experienced teachers who bring a variety of talents and interests to share with students.

Our dedicated staff are committed to Project Learn’s humanistic and progressive vision.   Professional development is encouraged through the Staff Development Fund, which pays for teachers to attend outside workshops, courses, and conferences. By maintaining an overall student to teacher ratio of 10 to 1, students and teachers get to know each other well.

Staff members participate fully in the school community by attending Town Meeting and serving on committees.

  • Aisha Anderson-Oberman
    (2009)
    Admissions Director, Jr. High Humanities Teacher
    M.A.T. Johns Hopkins University Secondary Social Studies EducationB.A. University of Pittsburgh in Africana Studies and Political Science, dual minor in Women’s Studies and Latin American Studies. MD and PA Teacher Certification, Secondary Social Studies Education 7-12

    Aisha Anderson-Oberman is the PLS Admissions Director as well as humanities teacher in the Junior High. Previously, she worked with Teach For America helping to develop and market their new teacher support and development website.

    Aisha taught secondary school history for 7 years. First with 7th and 8th graders in the Baltimore City Public Schools and then teaching African American History to 10th graders in the School District of Philadelphia. Aisha has also worked as a union organizer in Vermont.

    Aisha's daughter Nadja is a student at PLS. After an awesome first year as a PLS parent, Aisha applied to be the Admissions Director because she wanted to share our one-of-a-kind school with the broader community. She believes that every child deserves a place like Project Learn School.

    Outside of school, Aisha enjoys spending time with her husband Seth and their two children, Nadja and Gyasi. She dreams of some day visiting several African countries. Aisha feels that her mission in life is to help make the world a safe place for children to grow into the people that they want to be no matter what their circumstance.

  • Roni Anton
    (1998)
    Office Manager, Jr. High Gym Teacher, Soccer Coach, Elective Teacher, Field Day Coordinator and Organizer.
    B.A. Temple University

    Roni can be found in beautiful front office and has been at PLS for over a decade. Roni manages the office, gives out band-aids, coaches the PLS soccer team and teaches gym to the Junior High. Before coming to Project Learn School Roni worked in sales part time, had her own business making jewelry and was a stay at home mom. 

    Roni says, “The best part of working at PLS is that every day is different.”  Because she works in the front office, Roni gets to know all the kids in school and develop a relationship with them. Roni’s two sons, Jamison and Cristofer graduated from PLS in 2004 and 2007.

    When she is not working at Project Learn, Roni spends time with her husband Bill and enjoys watching both sons play water polo. She's often found running with her dog Cloe and is a Nationally ranked Women’s Lacrosse official.

     

  • Nancy Bailey
    (1970)
    Math and Reading teacher for the Middle groups
    B.S. Salisbury State University in Edducation A.S. Middlebury School of Spanish

    Nancy is one of the original three founding teachers of Project Learn and has spent the past 40 years teaching all ages of youngsters and many subjects. She was a group teacher for many years, started the Spanish program, taught Science and now continues part-time as a math, reading and geography teacher.

    Nancy's three children attended Project Learn and her daughter Susannah was an one of the original students. Her grandaughters Sarah and Emily graduated in 2006 and 2009 and her grandson Jake is a current PLS student.

    Nancy lives with her husband in Mt. Airy, within walking distance of Project Learn. At home, she is an avid reader of mysteries, plays the piano, sews and bakes.

    Nancy adheres to the philosophy of, "blooming where you are planted" and is very satisfied that PLS is blooming and prospering on Germantown Avenue.

     

  • Liz Ben-Yaacov
    (1992)
    Junior High Group Teacher; Junior High Math and Music Teacher; Director Of the PLS Spring Musical; High School Placement Counselor; Electives: Chorus, Holocaust History, French.
    B.A. Lafayette College, German and French Language and Literature, B.S. Spring Garden College, Computer Systems Technology, PA Private School Certification

    Liz Ben-Yaacov has taught Junior high math and music at Project Learn School for over 15  years. Liz is also the transition counselor for 8th graders as they apply to high school and prepare to graduate from Project Learn School. She has directed the phenomenal Spring Musical program at PLS for many years, mounting outstanding productions including Northwest Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Grease, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof and her most recent production, Once Upon A Mattress, to name just a few.

    Outside of school, Liz tutors students in math and Hebrew and loves performing in local musical theater.  Her children, Shai, Tal and Maya all graduated from Project Learn.

     

  • Pam Chaplin-Loebell
    (2008)
    After School Director
    Ed.M. in School Psychology, Temple University

    What Pam loves most about the PLS After School Program is the creative energy of the children.  Whether she is shooting hoops or making crafts, playing chess or strumming a guitar, baking cookies or gardening, sometimes Pam just can't believe how lucky she is to have so much fun with the children in the ASP. This year she is also teaching an elective, Book Worms, for the Junior High.

    In addition to teaching at PLS, and being mom to Clara and Amy (both at PLS), Pam freelances as a computer consultant in a small business with her husband David. In her spare time, Pam can be found observing nature, quilting, cooking, reading, gardening, or just dreaming about the next fun project.

  • Joan Fox
    (1991)
    Art Teacher Primary & Middle Groups, First Saturday ArtElectives: Ceramic Mural Project and cooking – “Foods that Sustain Us”
    FA Rhode Island School of Design

    Joan has been teaching at Project Learn School since 1991. After spending the last 14 years working with our Junior High, Joan has returned to her original role as full time art teacher and loves her time working with our younger students again. Along with her regular art curriculum, Joan enjoys cooking with students of all ages and is in charge of the sets and stage crew for our Spring musical. She is also the co-founder of our Saturday Arts program, currently in its 14th year.

    Joan’s two daughters, Lucy and Annie, graduated from Project Learn in 2004 and 2007. Joan continues to explore her own artwork in the form of costume design for a local dance studio.

  • Liam Gallagher
    (2009)
    Science and Jr. High Group Teacher; Electives
    B.S. University of Buffalo in Environmental Science M.Ed. University of Washington in Science Education

    Liam started teaching science at Project Learn School in 2009, and he is excited to be working in such a dynamic atmosphere.  He iteaches 3rd-8th grade science and co-teaching a junior high group with Liz. 

    Liam has previously worked at environmental camps, the Wagner Free Institute of Science and recently finished his graduate degree in Seattle, WA.  Although he spent two years out west, his family is from Philadelphia and he is glad to be back in the area. In addition to teaching, Liam plays guitar and enjoys the outdoors.

     

  • Aubrey Garwood
    (2009)
    Middle Group Teacher
    B.A. Temple University (2003), M.ED University of Michigan (2007)

    Aubrey Garwood is originally from the Philadelphia area. She attended undergrad studying Philosophy at Temple University. During that time, she worked at the Academy of Natural Sciences managing the “Outside-In” facility of the museum teaching visitors about habitats, animals, and general ecology.

    Aubrey attended grad school at the University of Michigan and received a Masters in Education. Her favorite part about teaching is seeing the pride and excitement that children have as they see themselves learn and grow.

  • Jane Laties
    (2001)
    Primary Group Teacher
    B.A. American University

    Jane Laties is in her ninth year as the K-1 teacher at Project Learn School.  Jane began teaching in 1988 at The Philadelphia School. She left her position there as one of the Kindergarten team to start her own catering business, The Secret Is. Inc.After 3 years as a caterer and personal chef Jane returned to teaching and joined the staff at PLS. In addition to teaching reading, writing, math, and science, Jane teaches the art of cooking to students throughout the school.

    Jane is a sister to 2 brothers, a mother to 3 cats, an aunt to 2 nieces, a passionate Eagles fan and a native Philadelphian. Outside of PLS Jane can usually be found swimming, biking, or running. She is a triathlete and recently completed her second marathon.

  • Lucy Miller
    (1972)
    Administrative Coordinator, Works with teachers in classrooms
    B.F.A. Philadelphia College of Art: M. Ed. Temple University

    Before returning to PLS in 1996, Lucy worked writing educational materials and training docents at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, teaching conflict resolution to teachers and mediation for middle school students. She is currently becoming certified as a Wilson Reading Program Tutor.

    Working in the office, Lucy is responsible for financial business of the school. In the classroom this year, Lucy is working with the Newspaper Elective and with Jane's and Maryanne’s Groups.

    Lucy’s son, Graham Baldwin, graduated from PLS in 2006, and is attending Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire. He is spending his fall freshman semester in Florence, Italy, as part of the Global Beginnings Program. In her spare time Lucy likes to read, be with family, walk her dog and be in the country.

  • Lisa Pack
    (1988)
    Middle Group Teacher, Math and Literacy Teacher for Middle Cluster, Educational Coordinator, Electives: Typing, Knitting, Magic, and “Mindful Cooking.”
    B.S. Temple University

    Lisa Pack has taught at PLS for 21 years.  Lisa began teaching at Oak Lane Day School in 1976. She had her two daughters in 1980 and 1981 and came back to teaching at Project Learn in 1988. Lisa says she loves to teach math, writing and reading because she is always learning new techniques and ideas and that her favorite thing about teaching at PLS is that she gets to be with kids who are eager to learn and that at times she gets to learn right along with them.

    Lisa’s daughters, Sara and Rebecca Allender graduated from PL in 1994 and 1995. She is Roni’s sister.  In her spare time, Lisa likes to cook, knit, garden and read children’s literature.

  • Ruth Sutter
    (2006)
    Business Manager
    B.A. Goshen College, Religion and Peace Studies

    Although Ruth’s grandmother, mother, aunts, sister and many cousins are all teachers, Ruth prefers working with the school’s finances, tucked away in the back office.  She’s in her fourth year at Project Learn School and keeps busy paying bills and staff, watching over tuition payments and relating to the auditors who ensure that the school is following sound financial practices.

    She also takes care of her physically-disabled sister, Beth with whom she shares a home.  Ruth enjoys walking, gardening and working for peace.

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