Learn More About Us
At Midwest Teachers Institute (MTI), we are dedicated professionals consisting of TEACHERS HELPING TEACHERS . Our licensed staff of reflective practitioners seeks to enhance the professional development and learning of educators. Learn more about our dedicated team via our “MTI Q&A Series”
Nick Pezzuto
Vice President & Director of Education
It’s A Mistake – Men At Work
Hungry Like The Wolf- Duran Duran
Every Breath You Take – The Police
You could live anywhere for a year, where do you go?
Milan, Italy
Your short Bucketlist?
Visit Australia
First concert?
U2
Dream job as a kid?
Dentist
Your dream dinner guest, dead or alive, and why?
My dad, he passed tragically when I was only 6 months old and would of loved to be able to have a dinner and father / son conversation.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
A man’s character is judged not when he is on the top of his game, but how he responds when he is at his lowest.
Shawn Bean
President
Courses Taught
580
You could live anywhere for a year, where do you go?
Frascati, Italy
Your short Bucketlist?
Learn to kite surf
First concert?
The Eagles
Dream job as a kid?
Naval Aviator (big Top Gun fan)
Your dream dinner guest, dead or alive, and why?
The actor Sean Bean. I’d ask him if people are ever disappointed it’s him, not me (I’ve experienced that before…) .
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Time and energy are limited, don’t waste them
Angela Novak
Instructor
Courses Taught
506CV, 507H, 526, 528, 529, 532, 533, 535, 540,
542, 549, 552, 554, 572, 586, 587, 600
Mixtape Playlist
Country music – nothing specific, I love it all
You could live anywhere for a year, where do you go?
Greece
Your short Bucketlist?
Travel more – out of the US
First concert?
Ha, Britney Spears
Dream job as a kid?
Veterinarian
Your dream dinner guest, dead or alive, and why?
My grandparents because I miss them dearly.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
You can’t control others actions, just your own response to their actions.
Melanie Pizzino
Instructor
Courses Taught
599 CB, 599 CL, 599 CD, 599 VC IL,
599 VC NY, 599 VC DC, 599 CO
Italy
First concert?
NSYNC
Dream job as a kid?
A teacher 🙂
Your dream dinner guest, dead or alive, and why?
I would love to have dinner with my great grandmother. I was told she was a great cook so I would love to cook with her while learning more about our family and her immigration to America.
Gretchen Sutherland
Instructor
Courses Taught
504, 517, 518, 519, 520
You could live anywhere for a year, where do you go?
I would love to live on a house boat or yacht for a year.
Your short Bucketlist?
Attend a concert at Red Rocks in Colorado with my husband.
Your dream dinner guest, dead or alive, and why?
I would love to have dinner with one of my grandparents who are no longer alive to learn more about my family history.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t let your emotions overrun your intelligence.
Mike Foster
Instructor
Courses Taught
534, 541 , 546, 573, 589, 594, 596, 597
Getaway Car – Taylor Swift, Thunderstruck – AC/DC, and Call Me Maybe – Carley Rae Jepsen … I have 2 kids, my playlist isn’t even my own
You could live anywhere for a year, where do you go?
Saint Barts for the slower pace, beach, fishing, boating, etc.
Your short Bucket list?
Trip to Italy
First concert?
DMB at Soldier Field
Dream job as a kid?
Baseball Player
Your dream dinner guest, dead or alive, and why?
Charles Barkley bc I think Charles is extremely entertaining, funny and tells it like it is.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Listen more than you talk
Amanda Gates
Instructor
Courses Taught
596BM
This is a real struggle for me. I’m currently listening to Spanish lessons during my commute and actively trying to avoid the radio when my teen is in the car.
You could live anywhere for a year, where do you go?
Bahia de Los Angeles. I did my grad research in ecotourism and conservationism a few years ago and absolutely fell in love with Mexico.
Your short Bucket list?
I want to create lasting change in education at the national level.
First concert?
First and second concert were both Styx – just 15 years apart.
Dream job as a kid?
An orthodontist – no one told me you needed dexterity in addition to good grades
Your dream dinner guest, dead or alive, and why?
My mother always said, “You can’t control anyone else’s actions, only your reactions.”
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I would love dinner one more time with my great-grandmother. I’m starting to forget the stories she would tell me as a small child. But, I want to cook that dinner with her. She was the best cook and I frequently bake with her recipes.
Ben Leven
Instructor
Courses Taught
510 DA, 559, 560, 564
Bahamas
First concert?
First and second concert were both Styx – just 15 years apart.
Dream job as a kid?
Be the athletic trainer for the Chicago Bears
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Just do the best you can do each day.