The following staff were recently appointed to positions at the Skokie Park District.

Aryn Fletcher has been appointed as the new SPACE program manager. Fletcher takes over the district’s before-and-after-school program after serving for more than a year as the district’s active adult and teen supervisor.

The SPACE program manager administers the district’s extended care program, including before-and-after-school, extended day camp, special events and summer camp programs, as well as hiring and supervising all full-time SPACE staff and summer camp staff.

Fletcher previously served as the recreation coordinator at the Lincolnwood Park District and in similar youth activities positions at several other agencies over the past two decades. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education and history from North Park University in Chicago.

She enjoys family time with her husband, two children and two dogs. Fletcher is a passionate supporter of animal rescue shelters and loves hockey.
 

Janeen Gorelick has been appointed as the district’s active adult program coordinator.

In her position she is responsible for administering the district’s active adult (ages 60 ) programming. These programs include classes, programs, day trips, luncheons, and special events.

Gorelick previously worked for the district as a SPACE program assistant and program leader, an active adult trip chaperone, and a customer service representative.

She enjoys spending time with her family, adult children and granddaughter, walking her two dogs, and weekends in Michigan’s upper peninsula.
 

Hannah Kosiek has been hired as a Park Specialist II in the district’s landscape department.

In her position she is responsible for skilled duties in the maintenance of park grounds, landscape and horticultural areas, playgrounds, facilities, and athletic areas. She also supervises full-time and seasonal maintenance staff.

Kosiek previously served as a farm and landscape superintendent at The Roof Crop in Chicago, a company that grows and maintains green rooftops, decks and productive landscapes. She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from DePaul University in Chicago and has a certification in geographic information studies (GIS).

In her free time Kosiek enjoys biking, as well as birding in Chicago’s Horner Park.
 

Karen Taira has been hired as the family and adult program coordinator at Emily Oaks Nature Center.

In her position she is responsible for assisting the nature center manager with daily programming and operations, specifically coordinating family events, campfires, and birthday parties. Taira also helps to develop and lead activities for all ages, including nature center special events.

She previously served in similar positions at Millenium Park’s Lurie Garden, as well as at several other local nature preserves, gardens, and park districts over her 27-year career as a botanist, naturalist and programmer. Taira has a master’s degree in plant biology and conservation from Northwestern University in Evanston, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Loyola University in Chicago.

Taira enjoys spending time with family, botanizing, gardening, and bird watching.
 

Serena Tyler has been appointed as the recreation supervisor at the Oakton Community Center.

In her position she is responsible for administering the district’s teen classes, after-school clubs, school day off trips, teen summer camps and other school-age special events. She also supervises part-time program staff and summer camp staff.

Tyler previously has served as a programmer, recreation leader and camp counselor at three area park districts. She earned a bachelor’s degree in recreation and parks administration from Illinois State University in Normal.

In her spare time Tyler enjoys bike rides, hammocking, and reading a good thriller.