We are excited to introduce the following new staff members that will be joining the high school team
this fall. These individuals were hired after participating in a rigorous selection process that included
multiple interviews, teaching live lessons and/or presenting information in their area, along with an
extensive reference check. They are all very excited to join the Chagrin Falls High School community and
look forward to meeting and working with you this school year.
Jill Yanik, Art Teacher
Jill will be teaching 2D art courses at the high school. She holds a Master’s in Art Education from Case
Western Reserve University and a Bachelor’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Jill taught
traditional and digital art grades K-5 at the Perry Public Schools. She also teaches animation and 2D
stop-motion to advanced high school students enrolled in the pre-college program at the Cleveland
Institute of Art.
Elizabeth Harrold, Art Teacher
Elizabeth graduated from Chagrin Falls High School in 2010. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from
Miami University (Ohio) this past spring where she completed her student teaching in Liberty, Indiana at
Union County High School and Liberty Elementary School. Elizabeth also studied at the Florence, Italy
Art and Design Institution where she honed her skills in photography and sculpture. She will be teaching
3D art classes at the high school.
Jay Schach, Business Teacher
Jay is a resident of Chagrin Falls and has two children that graduated from CFHS. He holds a MBA from
the Cleveland State Monte Ahuja College of Business and a Bachelor’s degree from Bradley University.
Jay brings his rich experience in a variety of businesses along with his insight as a business professor to
the district. He will be teaching business classes at the high school this year.
Faith Kover, Guidance Counselor
Faith has seven years of experience as a guidance counselor at Mentor High School and she completed
her internship at Solon High School. She completed her Master’s degree in school counseling from Kent
State University and her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Baldwin Wallace University. Faith will be working
in the counseling office with 11th and 12th graders with the last names M-Z.
Emily Bertagnolli, Math Teacher
Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the Ohio State University and a Master’s in
Education from John Carroll University where she received the Golden Apple Award. She taught math at
Saint Martin de Porres High School in Cleveland and served as a math summer school instructor for St.
Ignatius high school. Emily will teach AP Statistics, Probability and Statistics, and Geometry this year.
Kevin Somerville, Math Teacher
Kevin earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Kent State University and recently completed his Master’s
degree and licensure from the University of Akron. He completed his student teaching at Waterloo
Middle School in Atwater, Ohio and worked with at risk students as a tutor and site coordinator for the
Akron After School Program. Kevin will be teaching 9th and 10th grade geometry at CFHS.
Brooke Anderson, Science Teacher
Brooke earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Cincinnati. She taught
science courses at Bristolville middle and high schools. Brooke is an active member of the Woodrow
Wilson Teaching Fellowship program, which attracts top STEM students to the teaching profession. She
will be teaching AP Physics and Chemistry next year.
Victor Puskas, Science Teacher
Victor recently completed his Master’s degree with licensure from John Carroll University where he was
recognized as the Golden Apple recipient. He completed his student teaching at St. Ignatius High
School. Victor also holds a Bachelor’s degree in biology from the Ohio State University and was the
wrestling team manager at OSU. He will teach Physical Science, Honors Chemistry, and Biology at CFHS.
Alison Hinesman, Science Teacher
Alison will be teaching middle school classes along with one high school physical science course. She
joins the district from Heritage Middle School in Painesville where she taught 8th grade science. Alison
has her Masters of Education from Ashland University and completed her undergraduate work at Mount
Union College. She also has teaching experience with the US National Park Service.
Lisa Peskar, Spanish Teacher
Lisa is joining the CFHS world languages department from Tippecanoe High School where she taught
Spanish levels 1 and 2. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton where she earned
the Dr. James M. Ferrigno Award of Excellence that is given to the outstanding senior studying Spanish.
Lisa also studied Spanish at the Universidad de Granada in Granada, Spain and at Escuela de Espanol
Sakribal in Xela, Guatemala. She will teach Spanish 2 and Spanish Conversation classes at CFHS.