BLOOM FACULTY & STAFF
Our teachers and staff are foundational to Bloom’s innovative approach to education as a dynamic, collaborative, and engaged experience of cultivating joyful, independent learners.
Bloom's multi-age classrooms, designed to meet students' developmental needs, maintain a low student-to-teacher ratio. This allows for differentiated instruction and strong teacher-student relationships, enabling ongoing, individualized assessment of skill development, interests, and social-emotional growth.
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Teachers guide individual and group projects aligned with 21st-century learning standards, using ongoing growth assessments—not standardized tests—to measure outcomes and improve instruction. Thematic units integrate learning across subjects, adding depth and relevance to students' lives.
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Bloom's teachers embody the qualities the school fosters in its students: curiosity, independence, authenticity, resilience, and joy. As founding board member Dr. Laura Kalmes noted, echoing John Dewey, "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." Bloom values each teacher's experience and collaborative interests in shaping its practices. The school views students as learners and active citizens, promoting diversity, equity, and justice. Teachers play a key role in nurturing lifelong learners and empowered community members.
GRACE SHEESE, Blossoms Classroom & Capstone
Grace, who is one of the co-founders of Bloom Community School, has more than 20 years of teaching experience in a range of settings. A graduate of the College of William and Mary who also holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Illinois State University, she has worked as a public elementary school classroom teacher, a reading specialist, and an English Language Learners (ELL) instructor. She is an active ceramics artist and previously taught as an adjunct assistant professor of art at Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois Central College.
Grace has developed a teaching philosophy that embraces a combination of structure and autonomy to promote learning and growth in her students. At Bloom, she strives to create a learning environment that fosters independence, self-confidence, personal responsibility, and social awareness. She designs cross-disciplinary project based learning activities to address curricular goals while also providing meaningful, authentic integrated experiences that encourage students to be active and engaged participants in their own learning and to develop into lifelong learners.
ALANNA OSTER, Sprouts Class
With 15 years of educator experience in a range of settings, Alanna has developed a philosophy of teaching and learning that prioritizes play, connection, and emotional safety as foundations for true learning and creativity. She builds on these by applying her background as a college-level English instructor and a collaborative parent educator for elementary-aged children in areas of history, humanities, and critical thinking. As a parent and teacher, she is also a proponent for children spending time learning in wild spaces for exploration, emotional regulation, and learning about the outdoors.
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Alanna focused on English literature while earning first a Bachelor's Degree and then a Master's Degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she also served as a Composition Teacher for college freshmen. She has particular interest in teaching others to use language as a tool for authentic and accurate expression while also examining rhetoric, reputable sources, and appropriate documentation. Committed to supporting a variety of learning styles, she has also utilized tools and technology to help those with language difficulties feel more comfortable with both reading and writing.
STEVIE THEDE, Pods Class
Stevie Thede brings more than 15 years of experience as an early childhood educator to Bloom. She started her career in education by working in childcare while completing her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education at Illinois State University. Her love for learning continued at the Erikson Institute as she obtained a master’s degree in Early Childhood. Based on her studies and classroom experience, Stevie has given presentations about inquiry-based approaches to teaching at ISU and at an early childhood conference. The learning spaces she creates reflect the interests of her students and promote exploration and discovery.
Stevie emphasizes teaching to the whole child and incorporates aspects of the Reggio Emilia approach inside and outside the classroom. She strives to create a nurturing environment where students thrive socially and emotionally. Stevie believes education must extend into nature's wonders, which provide endless opportunities for exploration, discovery, and hands-on engagement. She aims to cultivate inquisitive minds, compassionate hearts, and responsible students equipped to positively impact our world.
LEAH SOUDER, Teaching & Learning Coordinator
With roots in Bloomington-Normal and teaching experience around the world, Leah brings a truly global perspective to Bloom. After leading the Sprouts Class at Bloom for four years, she moved into a new position as Teaching and Learning Coordinator, providing continuity in teacher and classroom support through collaboration and leadership as well as coordinating communication with families related to enrollment.
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Leah earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, cum laude, from Illinois State University. She also has an English as a Second Language certification through the American College of Education. She started her career in elementary classrooms in Minneapolis, Minn., after which she and her husband began an international sojourn. She taught at the North Jakarta (Indonesia) International School, QSI International School (Shenzhen, China), and at the Rabat American School (Morocco). A dedicated life-long learner, Leah has developed expertise in English as an Additional Language (EAL), reading and writing workshops, prevention of bullying, visible thinking strategies, supporting students succeeding with dyslexia, project-based learning, and co-teaching practices.