November 19

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Marie-Pierre Baltz, is a native of France. Her twelve years of Montessori education gave her a strong sense of independence and the desire to experience the world. Her supportive parents encouraged her to pursue her studies and practice of languages, as well as her interest for dance, music, theater and writing. She attended the Catholic University of Lille, France where she majored in foreign languages (English, Spanish and German), and traveled through Europe, Canada and the US. as an interpreter for her "Haute Couture" father's business. A shift of interest brought her to the US in 1969 to study the Montessori philosophy of education, taught in Cincinnati and came to Joliet II in 1973, where she met her husband Joseph M. Baltz, an actor, a framer, and a photography teacher. Their two artistic children, Emilie and Timothee, are her constant inspiration. Now retired, Marie-Pierre feels that elder hood opened up exciting new avenues, and her stories from both sides of the Ocean could make you wonder where lies her center of gravity!

My name is Taylor Boyle and I have been married to my husband Mike for 20 years. We have three kids aged 22, 19 and 16.  I am a high school special education teacher and boys track and field coach. In my spare time I love to read, hike, crossfit and travel. We have one dog and 4 cats. I spend a lot of time volunteering at NAWS Mokena specifically fostering cats and kittens and assisting people in finding the perfect furry friend to adopt! I once thought I was going to have a public speaking career but now I get to speak to kids all day long so it worked out!  I am excited to begin my storytelling journey as I love to talk and enjoy listening to other people’s stories.

Barbara Eberhard is the producer and host of STORIES R Us. She taught photography at the University of St. Francis and was staff photographer at the Philip Lynch Theatre for over 30 years She was the director of the children’s theatre Eberhard and Friends. Barbara is a member of artitude and Chicago Society of Artists. You can view her work at barbaraeberhard.com

Paula is a community college mathematics professor and STEM Center Coordinator. In her roles she strives to offer students diverse STEM experiences and support them in realizing their STEM career dreams! In her free time she hikes, bikes, writes and sings along to music. She values community building and enjoys spending time with family, friends and most of all, her daughter. 

Tara O’Hea is an 8th grade special education English Language Arts teacher who loves helping her students discover their voices as readers and writers. She holds a Master’s degree in Special Education from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor’s degree in English from St. Norbert College. Teaching has given her the chance to combine her love of literature with her passion for supporting students in finding confidence, creativity, and connection through words. Outside of the classroom, Tara is a married mom of three who enjoys traveling, baking gluten-free desserts, going to concerts, and getting lost in a good book. A strong cup of coffee is her daily ritual, and yoga helps her find balance and calm. At home, her two cats, Wednesday and Norbert, make sure there’s never a dull moment. Whether she’s guiding students, spending time with her family, or sharing stories on stage, Tara believes in the power of words to open hearts.