Kelly Zajac (she/her)
Faculty since 2018
I’ve always loved being around and working with children, so teaching elementary school was a natural decision. Their inherent curiosity and enthusiasm brings me great joy. Once I learned about progressive education, I was hooked. It has been a dream to teach within a school that supports that method of teaching and learning, so teaching at Kazoo School is a dream come true.
I have taught in urban, rural, and suburban areas in Kalamazoo and in North Carolina, which has given me the opportunity to work with a diverse array of students. Those experiences have further solidified my commitment to progressive education. When the whole child is supported, they can move mountains.
Education
B.S. in Elementary Education and Spanish from Western Michigan University
Palin Bendele (she/Her)
Member of the Kazoo Faculty Since 2023
I graduated with my occupational therapy degree in 2017. Since graduating, I have worked in several different practice areas to expand my expertise in working with children. I am trained in Handwriting Without Tears, the Zones of Regulation, Social Thinking, & Structured Literacy. I have extensive knowledge on trauma based approaches. Some of you may already know me from last year, when I began partnering with the Kazoo School to provide school-based occupational therapy services. During this time, I fell in love with the mission of the school and am excited to deepen my connection by teaching 1st & 2nd grade.
I am deeply committed to providing a safe place for all who enter the classroom (or outdoor space) and view each child as unique, individual, and full of wonder. I believe in teaching the WHOLE child for exactly who they are. One of my favorite quotes is “children do well if they can” and it is my mission to support our children to learn and become the best versions of themselves.
I live in Kalamazoo with my wife, Kasey and our 4 pets, Winston, Aurora, Bee, and Maple. I enjoy hiking, playing video and board games, gardening, cooking, reading, and visiting with friends and family.
Education
Associate of General Studies, Kellogg Community College
B.S. in Interdisciplinary Health, Western Michigan University
M.S. in Occupational Therapy, Western Michigan University
Niki Jenkins (she/her)
Rosemary Lannen (she/her)
Kazoo School Faculty since 1996
Prior to moving to Kalamazoo in 1996, I lived and taught in Eugene, Oregon and Madison, Wisconsin. I graduated from Kalamazoo College in 1986, having completed an internship teaching at Stone Environmental Schools in Maine and Massachusetts. I received a Fulbright Scholarship for Teaching English, which took me to Strasbourg, France, where I lived and taught English to high school students at the Lycee Louis Pasteur. Upon returning to the U.S. I picked up my outdoor education interests to teach at another residential environmental school, Nature’s Classroom in Connecticut.
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1990 with a Master’s degree in Social Work, specializing in Children, Youth and Families, and in 1992 with a second Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.
When I moved back to Kalamazoo, I began teaching at Kazoo School in a 1st/2nd grade basegroup. Over the years, I have taught all levels from 1st through 8th grade at Kazoo School and currently teach Upper Elementary students.
Kazoo School has been a perfect fit for my progressive teaching style and philosophy. I see students as active participants, problem solvers, and planners of their own learning. My role is to guide the children on their individual journeys as they become thoughtful problem solvers, motivated critical thinkers, active leaders, respectful collaborators, kind friends, and lifelong learners.
Education
B.A. in Psychology from Kalamazoo College
B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin
M.A. in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin