Oak Park Education Foundation STEAM Programs and BASE Camp
Oak Park Education Foundation, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302
About
Oak Park Education Foundation STEAM Programs and BASE Camp include in-school and out-of-school activities such as the Art Start Program, the Science Alliance Program, the 5th Grade VEX IQ/Gears Program, the Spoken Word Program and Club, and VEX Robotics after school. In Art Start, D97 students take part in hands-on creative classroom experiences with community artists, including professional sculptors, painters, dancers, musicians, storytellers, and fabric artists. In Science Alliance, professional scientists visit classrooms and work with teachers to provide hands-on scientific experiences such as dissecting sheep’s eyes, learning about diseased cells, and engaging with a falcon. Students in the 5th Grade VEX IQ/Gears Program work with VEX IQ/Gears and other robotic programs to learn about coding and using engineering principles to solve challenges, while the VEX Robotics after school program has students design, build, and program robots in intramural and competitive leagues. Middle school students in the Spoken Word Program write and revise poems that reflect their own experiences, interests, and opinions, and the Spoken Word Club brings students from Brooks and Julian together weekly to share their poetry in a safe and supportive environment.
• Ages: 5–14 years old
Oak Park Education Foundation STEAM Programs and BASE Camp brings hands-on STEAM opportunities to D97 youth through in-school programming and summer camps, with a goal to serve every student in D97 through in-school programs. During the school year, programs are free for all D97 students, and there is a generous scholarship program for summer camps. The organization is a privately funded non-profit whose mission is to bring hands-on STEAM opportunities to D97 youth that inspire a lifelong love of learning. Its guiding principles include equity and inclusion, a sense of belonging, inspiration, real-world connections, innovation, community engagement, and fun, and its programs are described as engaging, inclusive, and inspirational.
Oak Park Education Foundation partners with D97 librarians to help deliver the 5th Grade VEX IQ/Gears Program as part of the 5th grade elementary library learning center’s curriculum. It brings artists, scientists, and tech experts into Oak Park’s public K–8 schools, and has D97 Teacher Coordinators for robotics and Spoken Word programs. The organization sponsors an after-school Spoken Word Club for Brooks and Julian students and notes that leadership and staff are involved in local community activities such as volunteer basketball coaching, PTO boards, girl scout leadership, and AYSO Board membership.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Latonia Baker; Programs Director Tamika Djondo; Operations Coordinator Susan Raphael; Program Coordinator Renee Barnett; Out of School Programs Coordinator Elle Morton; Brooks Robotics Vex Program Coordinator Brian Shinners; Julian Robotics Vex Program Coordinators Tim Walsh and Jason Morelle; Spoken Word Program Coordinators Miles Lee and Bessie Santos; and 5th Grade Vex IQ Program Coordinator Sharon Pearce. The board includes President Jason Cascarino, Vice-President Valencia Williams, Treasurer J. Luke Alberts, Secretary Aubrey Parker, and board members Erin Cottingham, Julie Dauksas, Jennifer Howat, Amy Jefferson, Jung Kim, Eboney Lofton, Katy Loster, Brennan McMurry, David Osta, Luke Staszak, and Cheryl Sullivan. The organization states it has been inspiring D97 kids annually for over 30 years.
Staff credentials include Executive Director Latonia Baker’s 18+ years of professional experience in education programs and operations, her prior role as Regional Operations Manager for iD Tech Camps managing STEAM programs for children ages 7–18, her work as an adjunct professor at the American Academy of Art creating curriculum for the Visual Studies department, and her experience running a digital design firm focused on 3D computer models and graphics for architecture and construction businesses. Programs Director Tamika Djondo holds an MBA from Stanford University and has a background in nonprofit leadership, program management, and student equity, with experience designing and leading programs that empower youth and expand access to high-quality education. Program Coordinator Renee Barnett received a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and works as a music therapist and music teacher with the Chicago Center for Music Education (ChiME). Out of School Programs Coordinator Elle Morton is a pediatric speech-language pathologist.
VEX Robotics is described as an award-winning after school program that uses the excitement of competitive sports to engage students in STEM, with investment in cutting-edge technology and top-notch coaching, and the Staszak Outstanding Educator of the Year Award is mentioned. The Spoken Word Program is offered within language and literature classes to all D97 middle school students. A local D97 parent states, “We love OPEF Programs. My kids are so excited each summer for BASE Camp and learn so much! They have also enjoyed Spoken Word programs during the school day.”
Last updated January 15, 2026.
• Ages: 5–14 years old
Oak Park Education Foundation STEAM Programs and BASE Camp brings hands-on STEAM opportunities to D97 youth through in-school programming and summer camps, with a goal to serve every student in D97 through in-school programs. During the school year, programs are free for all D97 students, and there is a generous scholarship program for summer camps. The organization is a privately funded non-profit whose mission is to bring hands-on STEAM opportunities to D97 youth that inspire a lifelong love of learning. Its guiding principles include equity and inclusion, a sense of belonging, inspiration, real-world connections, innovation, community engagement, and fun, and its programs are described as engaging, inclusive, and inspirational.
Oak Park Education Foundation partners with D97 librarians to help deliver the 5th Grade VEX IQ/Gears Program as part of the 5th grade elementary library learning center’s curriculum. It brings artists, scientists, and tech experts into Oak Park’s public K–8 schools, and has D97 Teacher Coordinators for robotics and Spoken Word programs. The organization sponsors an after-school Spoken Word Club for Brooks and Julian students and notes that leadership and staff are involved in local community activities such as volunteer basketball coaching, PTO boards, girl scout leadership, and AYSO Board membership.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Latonia Baker; Programs Director Tamika Djondo; Operations Coordinator Susan Raphael; Program Coordinator Renee Barnett; Out of School Programs Coordinator Elle Morton; Brooks Robotics Vex Program Coordinator Brian Shinners; Julian Robotics Vex Program Coordinators Tim Walsh and Jason Morelle; Spoken Word Program Coordinators Miles Lee and Bessie Santos; and 5th Grade Vex IQ Program Coordinator Sharon Pearce. The board includes President Jason Cascarino, Vice-President Valencia Williams, Treasurer J. Luke Alberts, Secretary Aubrey Parker, and board members Erin Cottingham, Julie Dauksas, Jennifer Howat, Amy Jefferson, Jung Kim, Eboney Lofton, Katy Loster, Brennan McMurry, David Osta, Luke Staszak, and Cheryl Sullivan. The organization states it has been inspiring D97 kids annually for over 30 years.
Staff credentials include Executive Director Latonia Baker’s 18+ years of professional experience in education programs and operations, her prior role as Regional Operations Manager for iD Tech Camps managing STEAM programs for children ages 7–18, her work as an adjunct professor at the American Academy of Art creating curriculum for the Visual Studies department, and her experience running a digital design firm focused on 3D computer models and graphics for architecture and construction businesses. Programs Director Tamika Djondo holds an MBA from Stanford University and has a background in nonprofit leadership, program management, and student equity, with experience designing and leading programs that empower youth and expand access to high-quality education. Program Coordinator Renee Barnett received a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and works as a music therapist and music teacher with the Chicago Center for Music Education (ChiME). Out of School Programs Coordinator Elle Morton is a pediatric speech-language pathologist.
VEX Robotics is described as an award-winning after school program that uses the excitement of competitive sports to engage students in STEM, with investment in cutting-edge technology and top-notch coaching, and the Staszak Outstanding Educator of the Year Award is mentioned. The Spoken Word Program is offered within language and literature classes to all D97 middle school students. A local D97 parent states, “We love OPEF Programs. My kids are so excited each summer for BASE Camp and learn so much! They have also enjoyed Spoken Word programs during the school day.”
Last updated January 15, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.