Meet the CAKE Board

Erin Flynn Erin holds a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University in theater arts and a masters in early childhood education from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia.  Erin completed three levels of Kodály certification at DePaul University School of Music.  A former preschool teacher, teaching artist, and community music school administrator, Erin teaches general music at a K-3 public school in North Chicago, IL as well as fiddle and singing lessons to the youngest learners at The Irish Music School of Chicago.  

Anna Ausmann is an active musician and educator in the Chicago area. She teaches K-8 general music and band at Rondout School District 72 in the Lake Forest/Libertyville area. Former K-8 general music and band teacher at CICS West Belden, charter school in Belmont-Cragin in Chicago, Anna received the VH1 Foundation’s Save the Music Grant, which funded the start up of a beginning band program at CICS. Anna holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance (flute) from DePaul University and a Masters of Music in Music Education from Northern Illinois University. She completed her Kodaly Mastery Certificate from DePaul University, as well as Orff Certification. Anna is co-president of the Rondout Education Association and a member of the Illinois Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance committee. Anna plays bass flute in Flutopia, an 8-piece flute choir, as well as contrabass in the West Suburban Flute Orchestra. 

Megan Sellberg is a K-5 general music teacher at Kirby School District 140.  She is in her 8th year of teaching with experience in both band and elementary general music.  She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from DePaul University.  In addition, she has completed all Kodály levels and certification through DePaul University.  Currently, Megan is working on Orff certification through VanderCook College.  

Meg Rieger is in her 12th year of teaching in Chicago Public Schools.  She teaches K-8 general music at Audubon School in Roscoe Village.  She holds her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and in music from Illinois Wesleyan University (’11) and her master’s degrees in music education from Northwestern University (’18).  She currently serves on her school’s Instructional Leadership Team and is an Arts Instructional Specialist with the Chicago Public School’s Arts Department.  She has previously been on staff at the Old Town School of Folk Music teaching children’s music classes over the summer and on the weekend.  She holds her Kodaly Level I from Depaul University.  

Felicity Cole is a third year K-5 general music and choir teacher at Longfellow Elementary in Wheeling District 21. Cole holds a degree in music education from DePaul University and is on her way to being Kodàly and Orff certified at Vandercook and DePaul. In 2022, she was invited to participate in Illinois Music Education Association’s Emerging Leaders conference in which she participated in strategic planning to improve and refine current ILMEA programs. In her free time, Cole teaches private saxophone lessons. 

.Emily Morrison has been teaching since 2010 and currently teaches K-5 general music at WA Johnson School in Bensenville. She received her BM in Music Education from Millikin University and completed Kodály certification from DePaul University. She is currently working on her Master’s from VanderCook College of Music. In her free time she sings with City Voices in Oak Park and takes Spanish lessons.

Dana Plazak is a K-5 general music and choir teacher in Oak Park District 97. She has been teaching elementary music since 2018, after completing her undergraduate studies in music education and vocal performance from Roosevelt University. She has completed her first two levels of Kodàly training from DePaul University, and is looking forward to completing them soon. When she isn’t teaching, Dana sings with Chicago Choral Artists and loves to bake!

Vicki Long is a K-4 elementary general music teacher and 5th grade beginning band director at Queen Bee School District 16.  She also has experience teaching general and instrumental music at the middle and high school levels and was on faculty at Northern Illinois University teaching Double Reed Techniques.  She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Master of Music in Bassoon Performance from Northern Illinois University. In addition, she is certified in the Kodály approach and is working towards completing her Orff Schulwerk approach through DePaul University and holds an ESL endorsement from St. Francis University.  Outside of teaching, she is the principal bassoonist of Chicago’s Lakeview Orchestra during the regular season and performs with the Wheaton Municipal Band during the summer.

2025 CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence honoree, Multiple GRAMMY Teacher of the Year Nominee, Yamaha "40-Under-40" Excellence in Teaching honoree, and Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching winner Jeremy Bartunek has dedicated his career to inspiring young musicians through innovative and inclusive music education. Since 2013, he has been shaping young musicians at Northbrook School District 28, where he integrates Kodály and Orff methodologies to create an engaging and culturally relevant curriculum. As the founder and director of the Northbrook 28 Children’s Choir, he leads over 175 students in community performances across Chicago. As the guest conductor for the 2025 CCSD21 Choral Festival, he continues to be recognized for his ability to elevate choral performance and foster a love of music among students.

A passionate advocate for arts education, Jeremy directs large-scale productions, mentors student teachers, and oversees a student-led fundraiser that has raised over $27,000 for the Wheelchair Foundation. His expertise has led him to present at major conferences, including the MKMEA Regional Conference and the ACDA Children and Community Youth Choir Conductors' National Retreat.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Jeremy is a dedicated researcher pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at Boston University. He has served as a Visiting Research Fellow at Northwestern University and holds multiple certifications in Kodály and Orff methodologies. His leadership extends to serving as a Golden Apple Academy Fellow and managing digital initiatives for professional music organizations.

He has been a featured performer on Good Morning America, at The House of Blues, and at the Organization of American Kodaly Educators National Conference. Ensembles under his direction have performed at Wrigley Field Gallagher Way, Daley Plaza in Chicago, at the Illuminate Northbrook Festival, and Allstate Arena.