Amy Torf, Owner & Founder
Amy is excited to bring her experience as an engineer, camp director, teacher, and mom of three to the diverse line-up of hands-on activities at Noggin Builders. For the past 20+ years, Amy has successfully created play- and learning-based curricula and worked directly with children of all ages in various group settings.
Amy’s advanced education, including a MS in mechanical engineering and robotics, led her to teach math and science using real world projects to engage her students. As a camp program director, Amy created innovative, fun learning opportunities for children to enjoy during the summer. Her classes and camp offerings have consistently exceeded the expectations of kids and parents. She is delighted to explore with your children at Noggin Builders!
Zannah Smreker, Center Director
Zannah, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, began her teaching career in 2011 when she moved abroad to South Korea. After three rewarding years as an English teacher, she relocated to New Zealand, where she spent one year teaching preschool. Following her time abroad, Zannah moved to Chicago and joined Noggin Builders in 2016. As Center Director, her primary roles include curriculum design, staffing, and making sure all the children are having a great time. She also still enjoys spending time in the classroom, exploring, building, and making messes along side the kids. In her free time, Zannah also enjoys drawing, doing ballet, and baking!
Marta Cruz, Lead Teacher
Marta has over 30 years of experience working with and teaching children. Prior to joining the Noggin Builders team, Marta was the Director of Exploration and Education for Starland. Marta started out as a teacher’s aide in a full day parochial school for kindergartners. She loved working with children to such a great extent that she continued there for 6 years. Marta is bilingual in English and Spanish. She taught Spanish and crafts classes at the Park District of Oak Park. After that, Marta used her teaching experience and expertise to run a home-based day care for 7 years. Marta’s greatest teaching experience is through her love to her children and grandchildren! “It is the young child’s excitement for learning and their sense of wonder that keeps me drawn to early education.”
Anitta Machanickal, Lead Teacher
Jessica Lensch-Falk, Lead Teacher & Team Coordinator
Jessica has enjoyed teaching hands-on science to kids at Noggin Builders for more than 7 years. Prior to joining Noggin Builders, she spent several years researching nanomaterials at Sandia National Laboratories. During these years, she brought her love of science to middle school aged kids through a variety of volunteer opportunities. Jessica holds a PhD in Materials Science & Engineering from Northwestern University. Her advanced education and research experience provides a strong foundation for teaching kids about engineering, science, programming, and robotics. As a robotics and Destination Imagination coach, Jessica loves to help her teams take pride as they have fun while accomplishing difficult challenges while expanding their engineering, science, and communication skills. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing board games, knitting, baking, & reading.
Emily Schwickerath, Lead Teacher
Emily, a graduate of Wartburg College, has enjoyed working with students as an elementary classroom teacher for 10 years. She brings experience teaching 5th, 3rd, and 2nd grades in the the Chicagoland area and Sioux City, IA. She has a passion for STEM education and loves that she gets to help kids in low income communities explore what it means to be a scientist and engineer as a teacher for the Noggin Builders Foundation. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys playing with her son, painting, making music, and writing.
