Chris Lockwood, Director
Department of English
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
Chris Lockwood spent twelve years as the Head of English, Bilingual, and International Education in Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico, and as the Upper School Principal at the American School Foundation of Chiapas in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico. He taught upper-level classes on Modern Drama, the Contemporary Novel, and Shakespeare. Chris studied at the University of Keele (UK), Loyola University New Orleans (USA), the University of Cambridge (UK), Harvard University (USA), and the University of Buckingham (UK).
Dawn Jamrog, Enrollment Specialist
Katie Mudd, Director of Marketing and Communications
Namon Kent, Director of Technology
Marge Clements, Office Manager & Bookkeeper
Advisory Council Members
Cami Badman
Sullivan High School
Sullivan, IL
Cami Badman teaches at a rural high school in Sullivan, IL, and is an active member in her school district as a club advisor or coordinator for many different organizations. She has served on the NEHS Advisory Council as one of the Midwestern Region representatives since 2021. Cami finds joy in reading on vacation; watching her son play baseball, football, and swim; and helping her husband coach middle school and high school baseball in the district where she teaches.
Tara Ann Carter
Milken Community School
Los Angeles, CA
Tara Ann Carter, originally from Philadelphia, holds a B.A. in English from Millersville University and an M.A. in Non-Traditional Literature from Villanova University. Beginning her career with the Philadelphia Teaching Fellows, she taught English and Social Studies for seven years in the School District of Philadelphia before transitioning to independent education in St. Petersburg, Florida, and later California. Tara has participated in 14 international travel programs, most recently researching AI policy in Brussels and Luxembourg, followed by a four-week study tour through Central Asia. In her free time, she enjoys reading memoirs, long-distance running, and exploring contemporary art in Los Angeles.
Breanne Hicks
St. Mary’s Hall
San Antonio, TX
Breanne Hicks is the Cultivator for Interdisciplinary Studies at Saint Mary’s Hall in San Antonio, TX. In this role, Breanne teaches Rhetoric, Composition, and Literature; Feminism and Literature; Echoes in the Borderlands: An Interdisciplinary Study of Selena Quintanilla; Transdisciplinary Research; and an Interdisciplinary Study of Walking. Breanne enjoys reading biographies, listening to true crime podcasts, and spending time with her family in the Texas Hill Country.
Jessica Seat
Batesville High School
Batesville, AR
Jessica Seat is the NEHS Faculty Advisor at Batesville High School Charter in Batesville, AR, where she also teaches AP and concurrent English courses. She holds a BA in English, an MA in English, and is a doctoral candidate for Educational Leadership. She has been teaching English at both high school and college levels for eight years. She lives in Cave City, AR, with her husband, Rob, and children, Bryon and Joanne. Jessica is a Sigma Tau Delta alumni of Arkansas State University.
Michael Penna
Toms River High School North
Toms River, NJ
Michael Penna is an English and Theatre Teacher in the Arts Academy at Toms River High School North in Toms River, NJ. Michael has a PhD in Education from Walden University, an MPhil in Education from Walden University, an MA in Theater Studies from Montclair State University, and a BFA in Musical Theater from Syracuse University. Michael has over 25 years of experience in the Theatrical Arts. He has worked professionally on Broadway, on national tours, and at regional theatres.
Tonatzin Rodriguez
West Covina High School
West Covina, CA
Tonatzin Rodriguez is a dedicated English teacher at West Covina High School, where she has been inspiring students since 2011. Tonatzin works closely with her students to help them discover or rekindle their joy for books. Tonatzin’s NEHS chapter encourages members to share their love for reading with others, particularly with younger students who may not have had the same exposure to literature. Outside of the classroom, Tonatzin enjoys hiking through scenic trails or challenging herself with rock climbing; she finds solace and inspiration in nature.
Chris Tamarri
Burlington County Institute of Technology
Westampton, NJ
Chris Tamarri has been a teacher since 2006. In that time, he has served in places ranging from his high school alma mater to an international school in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Since 2017, he has worked at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, where he teaches British Literature and AP Language and Composition, and acts as faculty advisor for the school’s Ethics Team and Book Club. Recently, he was named Chair of the English Department. He lives in Collingswood, NJ.
Lindsey Ward
The Woodlands College Park High School
The Woodlands, TX
Lindsey Ward is a secondary teacher at a large (6 A) public school in The Woodlands, TX. Throughout her career, she has taught English I, English III, and English IV as well as the Practical Writing, College Readiness, Bible Literacy, and Humanities electives. She earned her BFA in RTV production from Sam Houston State University and her MA in Curriculum and Instruction for gifted and talented students, along with her grade 8-12 teaching certification, from The University of Houston.
