Mrs. Tammy is the owner of STREAM and passionately teaches enrichment, science lab, and math classes. She enjoys coming up with creative ways to make learning fun. She has taught every grade at private and public schools and enjoys teaching students of all ages! She has also been a professor of anatomy and cadaver dissection at a university. Early in her career, Tammy was a forensic pathology assistant and premedical student. She is passionate about sharing the love of Christ through teaching others about how the Bible's history, science, geography, math and prophecies are true. One of her greatest educational experiences was attending Space Academy and Advanced Space Academy for Educators. Out of this opportunity, she applied to become a NASA astronaut and served the community by starting Astronomy, Rocketry, and Robotics Clubs and volunteering at the local planetarium. She still gives virtual tours of national area museums and zoos for The Creation Trail Ministry.

Tammy has a Bachelor’s in Science and a Master’s in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. She has a wonderful, supportive husband and two adult children who are living life to the fullest! In her spare time, she enjoys sailing, kayaking, and learning to play the hammered dulcimer.

I hesitate to start descriptions of myself as a “wife and mom of three boys” first, because as the years have gone on, I have come to realize that yes, I am those things, but I am also so much more!

I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and got my Bachelor of Science degree in both Psychology with a Child and Youth Care emphasis and Business Administration. After college, I co-directed a Before and After School Program for Elementary Students. After moving to Illinois in 2005, I worked in preschool before having children of my own and ultimately staying at home to raise and homeschool them. I love the time that we were able to spend as a family but am equally as excited for them to begin their learning journey at STREAM.

If I had to describe myself, I would say that I am an open-minded, caring, understanding person who loves life and all it has to offer. I love talking with people, sharing stories, and I love learning about what makes us all unique. I love spending time with my family and going on adventures together! I have come to enjoy time alone as the years have gone on no matter what that entails- walking, working out, going for a drive, kayaking, bike riding, or just sitting on my front porch drinking coffee. Balance is so important! I think the greatest gift you can give people is the gift of your time and a listening ear. With all the wrongs that we see in the world, I am a true believer that it is such a wonderful and beautiful place filled with amazing people! I believe that learning is an individual journey and that all children have their own path that they take toward achieving their goals. 

Amanda Heinz has been in the education field for over 15 years in various roles and working with children of all ages. She graduated from Illinois State University with her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and student taught 2nd grade both in the United States and in Eastbourne, England. Amanda taught History at Barrington Middle School for a few years then became a Director with Huntington Learning Center, where she tutored elementary, middle, and high school students. Over the past 10 years, she has worked for KinderCare Learning Center in various roles from Center Director to Quality Business Partner. Amanda helped centers with their educational excellence to benefit the educational experience of children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old. She also earned her master’s degree in Early Childhood Administration from National Louis University.

​Amanda lives in Wheaton with her husband, two children Marie and Aiden, and their dog, Lexi. She homeschooled her children this past school year and so grateful to use the opportunity to oversee their education. Amanda is very excited to join the STREAM team and looks forward to getting to know all the children and families!

My passion for education began at the tender age of 7, when I realized I wanted to be a teacher. Since my experiences at home included hosting people from nations around the world, my love of language and culture began then, also. It was so rewarding helping the foreign students improve their English. As a university student, I studied bilingual education and obtained a BS in Elementary Education with a concentration in foreign languages, having studied Spanish, French, Arabic and Turkish. I completed my MA in teaching English as a Second Language at U of I, then taught ESL at all levels. I believe in keeping my students fully engaged in their learning by using a natural approach to discovering how to communicate in the new language. For many years I taught Spanish to children using my own curricula which incorporates songs, games and fun activities. It will be my pleasure to share new learning experiences with my new STREAM students!

I’m over the moon excited about Miss Shelby Anderson, our art instructor, who has put STREAM on the national radar with ou​r STREAM School of Art. She is bubbly and creative with an enthusiasm for the arts. Shelby graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts. One of her favorite classes included scientific illustration at the Field Museum. I t was her dream to go to art school sin​ce she was 5 years old. When she was in grade school, an art teacher motivated her into the arts. Now, she has dedicated her life to encourage a child’s expressive side through all different mediums.

Shelby has a wide range of artistic abilities including painting, ceramics, drawing, creative writing, photography, print media and fiber art. She spent a year in the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World, Florida. Today, she has a background of teaching children and adults in painting.

She currently lives in Wheaton and has an art studio at Water Street Studios in Batavia. Most of her work includes whimsical abstract paintings and surreal towns which have been displayed at the Schoenher Gallery in Naperville.  

When people think of me, they think of my enthusiasm for sewing. I have a passion for sewing and a love for teaching other people my craft. At home I have a husband and 3 school aged boys. Often you will see my boys and I riding our bikes through the neighborhood. On the weekends we enjoy watching a movie together as a family to wind down our day. I am very thankful for my talent of sewing and having a loving family.

I am a Christian, a wife (of 37 years), a mom to six kids ranging in age from 17 to 35, a grandma to six precious grand kids, a foster mom of many years, a teacher, and a seamstress.

I live in North Aurora with my husband, two youngest children and our labradoodle, Bentley. I am blessed to live minutes from our married kids and grandkids; we see them often. We have a bicycle shop, Pedal & Spoke, in North Aurora, which my husband and oldest son manage. I attend Morningstar Community Church in Aurora. I taught children’s classes for many years, and I was the (volunteer) director of Christian Ed at MSCC for 7 years. For the past two years, I’ve led the mid-week children’s program at our church.

My teaching career began in 1985 after I graduated from NIU with a degree and certifications to teach K-8 elementary, and K-12 special education populations. I taught in the East Aurora school district for 5 years, then in 1990, I began homeschooling our daughter. Four years later I opened a small one-room school in our home, and taught students in grades k-12 for twenty years in my little Cottage School. In 2015, I closed my school and focused my teaching efforts mainly on my own children, but I also taught pre-school/pre-K/K to two students several days a week for two years. From 2018 to the present, I teach one day a week at a home school co-op in our town. My subjects at TEC (our co-op) include middle school and high school History and Literature, Personal Finance, Speech, and Health.

I am the mother of three and have always been passionate about teaching and expanding my children's education with project-based learning.

I am very excited to teach a STREAM and get to share my passion with the children.

Miss Lisa is certified in early childhood education and is well known and loved for her superpower to help kids learn to read and garden!

K, 1st, and 2nd grade students with focus on Reading and Math.

Mr. Dustin is excited to be teaching Math at STREAM. He opens his class with a few verses of Bible in hopes of mentoring and being a positive role model for his students. Then he plays a quick review game, teaches them new concepts, and helps them with their seat work. He loves all things Math and it shows. He just served as a Lieutenant in the USAF as a chemical engineer in the Nuclear Weapons Center in New Mexico for the last three years. He is taking classes at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and looking forward to serving as a Project Camp Director at Higher Ground Christian Camp this summer. Dustin enjoys playing games, karate, archery, snowboarding, hiking, barefoot running, and playing saxophone.

 Mr. Dave Hilliard, our family friend, is at STREAM with even more IDEAS!!

He has owned his own marketing business for the last 25 years called IDEAS and taught some classes for us last spring including comics, graphic art, song writing, garage band, creative writing and logo design! In March 2020, he and Tammy collaborated and started STREAMIng IDEAS, inventing educational games for our students. The game boards are gorgeous thanks to his talents! He has recently written and published his first comic book, L.A.W.S., and is designing the game to accompany it.

Hello! My name is Jaime Swain. I was born and raised in Arlington Heights, Illinois. I now live in Wheaton with my husband of 16 years, my 3 awesome teenagers and our 2 rescued pups, Lucky and Peanut.

Our family recently discovered STREAM last school year and instantly knew that this was the perfect, welcoming and inclusive environment we wanted our children to be educated in. With some severe language disabilities embedded with in our family’s hereditary, and the flexibility of the vision at STREAM, it was a perfect match for us. Learning hands on, the teachers flexibility, patience, understanding and in a fun environment is a perfect way to for everyone to learn!

In my spare time I enjoy doing anything outside and experiencing new adventures! I love watching my kids fish, roller-skate, and pursuing their black belts with Tae Kwon Do.

I am honored to be a part of this wonderful team here at STREAM and to be surrounded by all of your wonderful kids! If we haven’t met yet, please feel free to come and say, “hello.”