Lower School Archives - Summers-Knoll School

Ian Cook

Lead Aftercare Attendant & Classroom Assistant
icook@summers-knoll.org

Ian was born in the Ann Arbor area and went to school in Dexter before completing his Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science and Spanish at the University of Michigan. In high school and at college, he was involved in a variety of activities, including theatre organizations, orchestras, the student newspaper, and a robotics club. Ian believes life is full of opportunities for him to reflect, learn, and grow, and is excited to help that process occur within the young folk at Summers-Knoll. After he graduated college, Ian spent an academic year in Spain as a classroom assistant, helping students there improve their English skills. This experience made him realize how joyful and rewarding working with kids is. Before working at Summers-Knoll, Ian worked with neurodivergent individuals one-on-one, doing interpersonal therapy with the goal of fostering social, emotional, and independent living skills. He is happy to now be part of the Aftercare team and to assist in classrooms this year. Outside of work at the school, Ian enjoys playing board and role-playing games, reading books, spending time with family, hanging out with and supporting friends, playing video games, riding bikes, kayaking, and continuing to learn.

Myia Love

Myia is originally from Fenton Michigan, and recently graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelors’ degree in anthropology. Myia finds herself passionate about pursuing a career in the education field and accumulating experience working in early childhood education. She plans on attending graduate school in the Fall of 2024 and is currently securing a Child Development Associate credential during her gap year. Myia hopes to combine her love of anthropology and her passion for early childhood education during her graduate studies. In her free time, Myia enjoys small social gatherings, writing, and learning new languages.

Erika Noel

3rd/4th Grade Teacher
enoel@summers-knoll.org

Erika was born and raised in Ann Arbor and earned two bachelor’s degrees (Cultural Anthropology and Environmental Studies) at the University of Michigan. She has been teaching in the San Francisco Bay Area for the past 23 years and is thrilled to part of the SK community. Her teaching career began in outdoor/environmental education, where students regularly asked her, “Why can’t school always be like this?” This question drove her to get her teaching credential and devote the next 15 years to bringing thematically integrated, hands-on, project-based learning to grades 1-6 in both public and private schools. In addition, Erika spent two years teaching and writing curriculum for the education department at The Lawrence Hall of Science.

Erika’s passion is science, and thus, it has been the main through line in her career. Her hobbies are hiking, birding, traveling, reading, gardening, and dancing.

Barbara Hohmann

1st/2nd Grade Teacher
bhohmann@summers-knoll.org

Hello, my name is Barbara Hohmann. I am a First and Second grade teacher at Summers-Knoll. This is my sixth year at Summers-Knoll, first as a parent, then as a substitute, and then lead teacher. I am a passionate, creative person and always work hard to do my best.

I was raised in Okinawa until I was 10 years old and then my family moved to New Smyrna Bleach, Florida. I feel the relationships that I have formed throughout my life are powerful and have shaped who I am. Given this, teaching is some of the most important work I can do. Through human connection, I believe that we have the ability to cause change.

Over the past 20 years I have taught and learned from young people as a camp counselor, public school teacher, children’s shelter counselor and teacher, Waldorf teacher, museum educator, art teacher, and mother. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and a Masters in Education and Arts Administration, both from Florida State University. I also have a degree in Surface Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, and a Waldorf teaching certificate from the Waldorf Institute of SouthEast Michigan.

When I am not teaching I enjoy my wonderful family. My partner and two children keep me busy, rock climbing, surfing, fishing and going on adventures. I love the ocean, plants and creating things.

Mary Perrin

Art Teacher
mperrin@summers-knoll.org

This is my 8th year at Summers-Knoll. My BFA is from EMU, and my skill base in the arts is wide, varied, and always growing. I currently work with an artist’s collective based in Detroit, building themed vehicles, sets, and activities for creative events.

Though I am working towards becoming a certified teacher, I believe my background in the “real world” of Art, as opposed to arts education, is one of the strengths I bring to the school. Many things can only be learned through doing, and I have a lifetime of experience being an artist, working with other artists, and presenting my art to the public. My goal is to teach your children how to teach themselves art so they can continue to learn and grow as artists and creative thinkers long after they leave my classroom.

Imogen Giles

French and Latin Teacher
igiles@summers-knoll.org

Imogen’s Blog

I am the Languages teacher at Summers-Knoll and have been an SK faculty member for over a decade. I teach Latin to every class from Preschool to 8th grade and French from 1st to 8th grade. This role in our school life means I am known as Magistra and as Madame, and I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to begin a Latin program for the School when I was first appointed to transform what was a small French program to one that embraces all our students.

I gained my Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of London in England. I taught in a number of independent schools before becoming the Head of Classics at Cobham Hall School in Kent and then moving to this country.

I am an ardent reader and love classical music, ballet, drawing, and painting. I also love to travel and look forward to spending each Summer with my family in our home in France.

Lower School