Welcome to the Everest Academy Family

Emily Ryszkiewicz joins Everest Academy as the Before & After Care Supervisor, bringing a passion for working with children and a strong foundation in human development, leadership, and relationship building. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Human Development from DePaul University after earning her Associate of Arts from Moraine Valley Community College.

Emily has experience in customer service and team collaboration through her roles in guest relations and hospitality, where she developed exceptional communication, organization, and problem-solving skills while managing the needs of hundreds of guests in fast-paced environments. Her ability to build positive relationships and remain calm under pressure makes her well-suited to creating a safe, welcoming, and nurturing environment for students.

In addition to her professional experience, Emily is committed to serving young people. As a mentor with The Cities Project, she provides weekly guidance and encouragement to middle school students, helping them develop resilience, confidence, and strong interpersonal skills.

She has also participated in an international Psychology and Culture Study Abroad Program in China and Taiwan, where she taught elementary students and explored child development and cross-cultural education.

Emily is excited to become part of the Everest Academy community and looks forward to supporting our students and families by fostering a caring, engaging, and enriching before and after school experience.

Carol Ann Luschas joins Everest Academy as the Administrative Assistant, bringing more than a decade of experience in administrative support, records management, and customer service. Throughout her career, Carol has demonstrated exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to providing outstanding service in professional office environments.

Most recently, Carol served as a Records Clerk for Columbia County, where she managed confidential records, processed legal documents, assisted the public, and handled a wide variety of administrative responsibilities.

Her experience also includes serving as an Administrative Office Assistant, where she supported daily office operations, prepared documents, coordinated marketing materials, and provided exceptional customer service. Earlier in her career, she worked at Geisinger Medical Center, organizing and maintaining vital medical records.

Carol earned an Associate degree in Medical Office Technology from McCann School of Business and Technology. She also studied History and International Studies at Kutztown University, with additional coursework through Indiana University’s B.A.L.S.I. Lithuanian Language Program.

With her strong administrative background, professionalism, and welcoming personality, Carol is a wonderful addition to the Everest Academy team. She looks forward to supporting our students, families, faculty, and staff while helping ensure the smooth operation of the school each day.

With more than 23 years of experience in education, Jeff has taught students at every grade level from kindergarten through high school. While his primary focus has been Physical Education, he has also taught Health Education and Driver Education. The majority of his career has been spent working with K–8 students, particularly those in grades K–5.

He earned a Master of Science in Physical Education and Sports Administration from the University of Illinois Chicago and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University.

Throughout his career, Jeff has been a frequent presenter at the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance State Convention, as well as the DuPage County Phil Lawler Institute Day. He has presented more than 15 sessions on a variety of Physical Education topics.

In addition to his teaching experience, he has coached nearly 20 seasons of youth athletics, including football, track and field, wrestling, basketball, and swimming. He has also served on volunteer boards for youth sports organizations supporting football, cheerleading, and swimming programs.

A proud graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he also played football, Jeff remains a devoted Illini fan. Although he comes from a family of Michigan State University athletes, including his parents and brother, he proudly chose to forge his own path at Illinois. His aunt and uncle also attended and competed athletically at the University of Illinois.

Jeff is the proud father of two grown children who are thriving in their respective careers. His daughter works in media advertising, and his son works in the mortgage lending and banking industry. He currently resides in the New Lenox and Joliet area.

He is excited to bring his extensive experience in Physical Education, athletics, and educational leadership to the students of Everest Academy. He is passionate about helping students grow not only physically, but also in character, believing that faith, accountability, and living according to God’s purpose are essential to developing confident and responsible leaders.

Joseph Martorano holds both a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan. Following his graduate studies, he completed prestigious Opera Apprentice Programs in Italy and Austria, where he studied with internationally acclaimed artists including Tito Gobbi, Mignon Dunn, and George Shirley.

Mr. Martorano enjoyed a distinguished 25-year career as a resident artist with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and performed for four years with the Chicago Symphony Chorus. Throughout his career, he has appeared as a soloist with numerous regional orchestras across the Midwest.

Since 2001, Mr. Martorano has served on the faculty of VanderCook College of Music, where he teaches Applied Voice, Vocal Techniques, Vocal Diction, Solo Vocal Repertoire, and Musical Theatre. He also devoted more than 30 years to teaching Applied Voice at three well-respected Chicago-area high schools.

Earlier in his career, he taught at Mansfield State University in Pennsylvania and served on the faculty of the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan, as part of the prestigious All-State Voice Program.

A dedicated church musician and educator, Mr. Martorano began his ministry with the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1980 under the mentorship of renowned composer and conductor Richard Proulx. He served as both a member of the Holy Name Cathedral Chamber Singers and as a cantor until 1985.

Throughout his career, he has held numerous music ministry positions in parishes across the Archdiocese. Since 1998, he has served as Director of Music at St. Alphonsus Parish in Lemont, Illinois, and in 2010 he assumed additional music leadership responsibilities at St. Patrick School.

Mr. Martorano’s lifelong commitment to music education, sacred music, and vocal performance has made him a respected educator, performer, and mentor to generations of students and musicians.