Gimme Five!
Presented by the Parents’ Association
Even as we struggle to keep our physical distance, the PA has been hard at work looking for new ways to bring the Parker community back together again. Something we realized pretty quickly is that this year is likely to provide far fewer opportunities for parents to interact and engage with teachers and school staff—so let’s fix that!
Today we’re launching a new series called Gimme Five!. Every few weeks, we’ll feature different faculty and staff members sharing five fun, random facts about themselves. This is our attempt to get to know Parker’s finest on a different level and try to reclaim some of the levity and “human touch” COVID has taken from us these last six months.
Enjoy these responses to date!
Eighth Grade Spanish Teacher Marcie Frasz
In the fall of 1989, I arrived at Northwestern University as a freshman. I had never spent much time outside of my homeland of Puerto Rico. A few hours after I had arrived and settled into my room, my roommate, Denise Chan, walked in. My life from then on was instantly better and has been for the last 32 years because of her. I am forever grateful to the housing department at NU for placing us together. They gave me my best friend.
Name something you like to eat that looks disgusting but tastes delicious?
Fish eyes. In Puerto Rico, they are a delicacy. And when I learned that they were also a delicacy in Chinese cuisine, it brought me even closer to my college roommate who is of Chinese heritage.
What song always puts you in a good mood?
“You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon. My daughters know it well too, and when we sing it together my heart grows two sizes.
What common grammatical mistake drives you nuts?
The use of “myself” as anything other than a reflexive pronoun. “Myself” is not a subject or object pronoun. Only I can call myself; you can’t call myself.
If you could make one rule that everyone had to follow, what rule would that be?
I once read that “a person needs your love most when they deserve it least.” Since then, I have used it as a sort of “golden rule.” I have never regretted the times that I have led with compassion, especially working with kids. Acknowledging that many of the uncomfortable behaviors we see in people come from a place of hurt and vulnerability has been a helpful rule for me.
Upper School Drama Teacher John Hildreth
Are you usually early or late?
I am early all the time. I’ve discovered that early isn’t exactly the Parker culture, but “5 minutes early is 10 minutes late” has stuck with me from my performing days.
Which of your scars has the best story behind it?
I’ve got a scar on my right hand from reaching under a ping-pong table and the metal leg scratching me. This was maybe 40 years ago.
If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you medal in?
If tricking your dog into taking a pill three times a day was an Olympic sport, I’d take home the gold for the U.S.A.
What popular TV show or movie do you refuse to watch?
I refuse to watch The Office, either version. I don’t think it’s funny, and I don’t like it.
Toilet paper: over or under?
Over. Under is just wrong.
Food Service Director Chef Zac Maness
What song always puts you in a good mood?
“The Cape” by Guy Clark.
What’s the luckiest thing that ever happened to you?
When I was five or six years old, I was on a winter hike with my family in Washington Park in Denver. There was a pond in the park and it had frozen over. I went running out onto the ice to see how far I could slide. My family kept walking, but I decided to do just one more run. I ran fast and hard and slid farther than before when suddenly, the ice under my feet cracked, and I fell into the frigid water. I struggled to pull myself out, but when I put my weight on the ice it cracked and broke, and I slipped back into the water. I struggled and struggled until I had used all my energy. I was just about to give up when a woman in a flowing white dress and bare feet reached her hand out and pulled me safely out of the water. This was a lucky day for me—I met my guardian angel, and I have a certain sense of security in my life knowing she is watching out for me.
What bends your mind every time you think about it?
My mind bends and warps every time I stare up at the stars.
What do you regret not doing or starting when you were younger?
I wish I had thru-hiked the Colorado Trail when I was young and able and had the free time.
Where and when was the most amazing sunset you have ever seen?
Over the Ute Mountains outside of Durango, Colorado. I was 17 and on a road trip with my buddies, and we sat on some rocks overlooking the Ute Mountains to the West. The sun set behind what is called the “Sleeping Ute” because it looks like a Ute Chief sleeping on his back. As the sun set, the sky exploded into the most magnificent display of light and color that lasted almost two hours before fading to darkness and allowing the stars to emerge and sparkle.
Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Chelsea Barras
Finishing jigsaw puzzles—I regularly finish 1,000-piece puzzles in one sitting.
What’s something you like to do the old-fashioned way?
I love sending and receiving mail. It’s much more personal and it’s always a fun surprise!
What hobby would you get into if time and/or money wasn’t an issue? I would go to school!
I love reading and learning about everything, so I would take various classes to learn new things or earn degrees.
If your childhood had a smell, what would it be?
Gym floors and grass. My two brothers and I played a lot of sports so it was always gym floors for volleyball and softball in the winter and grass for baseball and softball in the summer.
What common grammatical mistake drives you nuts?
I’m known as the grammar police in my family, so I could name a few. I try not to point out errors too often, but incorrectly using “should of” instead of “should have” always makes me crazy.
Director of Communications Nick Saracino
While not the most impressive in appearance, I have a nice scar on my right shin from where my Vepsa’s kickstart lever whacked me real good once. I didn’t care for the wound properly and it ended up getting infected. Parker’s very own Nurse Anne diagnosed it as something nasty, and she was right—I ended up being hospitalized for an MRSA infection for the next week or so. Moral of the story? Always take proper care of your wounds and ALWAYS listen to Nurse Anne!
If your childhood had a smell, what would it be?
The smells of eating out in local restaurants. My parents divorced when I was in 2nd grade. My dad didn’t know how to cook and raised my two brothers and I solo after they split up. If we weren’t eating pizza at home, we were eating at one of a bevy of smallish local restaurants for every meal of my adolescent life through high school. These outings regularly exposed me to a wide range of traditional and ethnic food styles, and I attribute my current global flavor palate to these experiences.
What’s your superpower?
Energy, enthusiasm and the ability to find a smile in darn near any situation or experience.
Where and when was the most amazing sunset you have ever seen?
Kuai, Hawaii in July 2003 while honeymooning with my wife Susie, after a daylong excursion sea kayaking along the Nā Pali Coast. Worst sunburn of my life, but the best sunset ever!
What was your favorite book as a child?
Roly-poly, pell-mell, tumble bumble—The Pokey Little Puppy for sure!
Development Coordinator Kate Jervey
What does your ideal weekend look like?
Grabbing coffee somewhere in Lakeview—preferably The Coffee and Tea Exchange or Klein’s Bakery—and walking the lakefront path with my rescue pup, Phyllis. An afternoon of reading is ideal and dinner with friends (when it’s safe again!) is a good evening!
Name something tons of people are obsessed with, but you just don’t get?
Reality TV shows. Especially the dating ones! They are the absolute worst.
What’s the best thing you got from your parents?
My siblings, by far. We’re all close in age, and now, for the first time in 13 years, we all live in the same city.
If your childhood had a smell, what would it be?
Sawdust. My dad was a contractor and was always building stuff in his shop in our basement.
What was your favorite book as a child?
The ones that stick out most are anything by Marguerite Henry because I was very into horses as a young girl. And The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene DuBois.
Grabbing coffee somewhere in Lakeview—preferably The Coffee and Tea Exchange or Klein’s Bakery—and walking the lakefront path with my rescue pup, Phyllis. An afternoon of reading is ideal and dinner with friends (when it’s safe again!) is a good evening!
Name something tons of people are obsessed with, but you just don’t get?
Reality TV shows. Especially the dating ones! They are the absolute worst.
What’s the best thing you got from your parents?
My siblings, by far. We’re all close in age, and now, for the first time in 13 years, we all live in the same city.
If your childhood had a smell, what would it be?
Sawdust. My dad was a contractor and was always building stuff in his shop in our basement.
What was your favorite book as a child?
The ones that stick out most are anything by Marguerite Henry because I was very into horses as a young girl. And The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene DuBois.
Upper School Computer Science Teacher Brianna Ifft
Coffee! Where it’s grown, how it’s harvested, what affects flavor, roasting profiles, how it’s brewed, etc. I’ve taken a couple trips to stay on coffee farms and would go back again and again if I could.
What hobby would you get into if time and/or money wasn’t an issue?
I would love to start building computers from scratch with parts that are custom to the specifications I would like, but it can be pricey and would take a lot of time! I still want to build at least one at some point.
What does your ideal weekend look like?
Slow mornings, good coffee, a game night with friends (hopefully we’d play some euchre) and some time curled up on the couch with a good book or watching a show I’m into.
What is something you are obsessed with?
I wasn’t a cat person (and still am not in my opinion) but my friend and I rescued my cat Forrest from my parents’ farm, and I may or may not be obsessed with him. I can’t imagine life without him!
Toilet paper: over or under?
Over, for sure! This is one of my small pet peeves. To be totally honest, I will actually switch it if I’m at a friend’s house and see it the other way.
Eighth Grade Math Teacher Tim O’Connor
What do you regret not doing or starting when you were younger?
Becoming fluent in at least one other language. I love traveling, and it would be so great to be able to communicate easily and clearly in new places.
What did you think you would grow out of, but haven’t?
Loving Lord of the Rings. I don’t re-read the books every year like I used to, but the movies are on TV regularly (much to my wife’s disdain).
What’s something you think everyone should do at least once in their lifetime?
Spend a considerable amount of time in New Zealand. Two weeks at minimum. A month would be much better to see all the amazing sights, meet lots of locals and drink in all the culture. The best place in the world, and there isn't a super-close second place.
Do you believe in aliens?
Statistically, there has to be other life in the universe. Do I think we have been visited by other intelligent life forms? Maybe. Haha. I guess I’ll say I wouldn’t be surprised if it had happened. But I also don’t think it has happened a lot or that the general public has had a lot of interactions.
Toilet paper: over or under?
OBVIOUSLY it is over. Miss Manners wrote an entire column about this, but it all has to do with hygiene and practicality.
Becoming fluent in at least one other language. I love traveling, and it would be so great to be able to communicate easily and clearly in new places.
What did you think you would grow out of, but haven’t?
Loving Lord of the Rings. I don’t re-read the books every year like I used to, but the movies are on TV regularly (much to my wife’s disdain).
What’s something you think everyone should do at least once in their lifetime?
Spend a considerable amount of time in New Zealand. Two weeks at minimum. A month would be much better to see all the amazing sights, meet lots of locals and drink in all the culture. The best place in the world, and there isn't a super-close second place.
Do you believe in aliens?
Statistically, there has to be other life in the universe. Do I think we have been visited by other intelligent life forms? Maybe. Haha. I guess I’ll say I wouldn’t be surprised if it had happened. But I also don’t think it has happened a lot or that the general public has had a lot of interactions.
Toilet paper: over or under?
OBVIOUSLY it is over. Miss Manners wrote an entire column about this, but it all has to do with hygiene and practicality.
(This picture is of Tim and his wife from the set of Hobbiton near Matamata, New Zealand.)
Science Lab Technician JP Navin
I am very grateful to have been born in Chicago, the greatest city in
the world.
What’s something you think everyone should do at least once in their lifetime?
Take a trip to Tokyo. It’s on the other side of the world, and the capital of Japan is one of the largest metropolitan areas. Tokyo is culture shock at its best!
Who would you like to swap lives with for a day?
Jeff Bezos. I would lock in a billion-dollar donation to improve STEAM education in CPS during the next 10 years. The money would go to new tech and professional development. I would also make sure that when Jeff goes back to being Jeff the next day, it would be a PR and legal nightmare for him to try and undo my handiwork. I would also put out tons of quotes about how Chicago is my favorite city.
What’s your superpower?
Speed cooking! I cook meals super-fast.
What’s the last new skill you learned?
How the school’s laser cutter works.
Upper School French Teacher Lorin Pritikin
Going to the Art Institute with my husband and kids, then eating outdoors at the Gage, one of my favorite Chicago restaurants.
What’s the best thing you got from your parents?
Joie de vivre.
What’s the luckiest thing that ever happened to you?
I was born with two amazing sisters and a built-in best friend for life, my identical twin. Lesley has lived in Rome, Italy for the past 30 years—that’s her on the right with me in the photo.
Who would you like to swap lives with for a day?
Mick Jagger, or any rock star for that matter. I’d love to feel the energy from the audience!
What’s something you think everyone should do at least once in their lifetime?
See Madame Butterfly, the opera, in person. Or watch a DVD of it from start to finish
Physical Education Teacher Tyler Heidtke
you medal in?
Dodgeball.
What fad or trend do you hope comes back?
The sacrifice bunt. It's a lost art!
When was the last time you climbed a tree just for fun?
I LOVE climbing trees. When I was in middle school my friend and I would climb trees and repel down them (we brought rope up with us). That said, it's been a few years since I've climbed one. Maybe I'll find one this weekend...
What does your ideal weekend look like?
My ideal weekend is backpacking in the mountains. After a long day of hiking, there is nothing quite like taking a dip in a glacial lake (brrrr!), scarfing down a chicken/veggie rice bowl and enjoying the
sounds and views of nature by a campfire.
What’s something you think everyone should do at least once in their lifetime?
Go on a multi-day backpacking trip (see above).
Second Grade Grade Head Cathy Davidson
What song(s) have you completely memorized?
I can probably sing any Beatles song by heart.
I can probably sing any Beatles song by heart.
If your childhood had a smell, what would it be?
I grew up in Southern California in the ’50s and ’60s, when there weren’t any freeways and far fewer people. It smelled of eucalyptus trees and orange groves. Sigh.
What’s the best way to start the day?
I like to start my day with one of my husband’s lattes.
There are two types of people in this world. What are they?
People who see the glass half full, and those who see it half empty. Especially now—you can see it in how they are responding to real challenges.
What’s something you think everyone should do at least once in their lifetime?
Spend time abroad. I lived in London, England with my husband and kids for 10 years and would not trade that time for ANYTHING! If you can’t live abroad, travel as often as you can.
Upper School English Teacher Mike Mahany
Which of your scars has the best story behind it?
I have scars under both arms from a brace I had to wear for six months when I broke my collarbone playing football in 7th grade. I was a skinny 85 pounds, and two much bigger linemen tackled me in a drill called “The Meatgrinder.” They don’t treat collarbone injuries with braces like the one I wore anymore. I was just lucky, I guess.
I have scars under both arms from a brace I had to wear for six months when I broke my collarbone playing football in 7th grade. I was a skinny 85 pounds, and two much bigger linemen tackled me in a drill called “The Meatgrinder.” They don’t treat collarbone injuries with braces like the one I wore anymore. I was just lucky, I guess.
What’s something you like to do the old-fashioned way?
I never read books off a screen or from my phone. Seriously—never. I guess I like the feel and heft of books, the covers, the fact that I can see my progress each night.
I never read books off a screen or from my phone. Seriously—never. I guess I like the feel and heft of books, the covers, the fact that I can see my progress each night.
What did you think you would grow out of, but haven’t?
I’m way too old to be drinking pop, but I’m kind of addicted to Mountain Dew. One of these days I’ll grow out of this habit, but during the pandemic, it’s a comfort to me. (That’s me and my Dew in the photo.)
I’m way too old to be drinking pop, but I’m kind of addicted to Mountain Dew. One of these days I’ll grow out of this habit, but during the pandemic, it’s a comfort to me. (That’s me and my Dew in the photo.)
Name something tons of people are obsessed with, but you just don’t get?
I hate coffee. I don’t get why someone, after tasting such a bitter drink for the first time, would ever
take a second sip. If I had to drink coffee, I would drown it in milk and sugar until it became
something else entirely.
I hate coffee. I don’t get why someone, after tasting such a bitter drink for the first time, would ever
take a second sip. If I had to drink coffee, I would drown it in milk and sugar until it became
something else entirely.
What’s your superpower?
This is a strange superpower, but—I guess due to my lengthy Catholic schooling—I can spot a nun, habit or no habit, with about 100% accuracy. This power has not really gotten me anywhere—it has not made me rich or famous or well-respected. But, sadly, I’m very good at it.
This is a strange superpower, but—I guess due to my lengthy Catholic schooling—I can spot a nun, habit or no habit, with about 100% accuracy. This power has not really gotten me anywhere—it has not made me rich or famous or well-respected. But, sadly, I’m very good at it.
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.