Faculty

Nick Anaya

Nick Anaya is an engineering and robotics teacher at Lindblom HS. Before teaching, he worked as a professional electrical engineer and began volunteering with Lindblom’s robotics team in 2008, helping students design and build robots.. In 2017 he switched careers to teach full time and has worked to create one of the best engineering programs in CPS. He currently mentors several FIRST Robotics teams across FLL, FTC, and FRC, helps run robotics events and shared practice spaces for schools in Chicago, and supports student groups like NSBE Jr., SHPE Jr., and STEMinists so students can meet role models and build strong networks. In 2025, Nick received the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching for his impact on students and STEM education in Illinois. His work focuses on making STEM welcoming for everyone and showing students that engineering is not just about building machines but also about helping their communities grow and thrive.

Ken Clark

bio to come

Matthew Houghteling

Matthew Houghteling leverages his twenty years of experience as a Director of Technology and IT professional in teaching an introduction to computer science class and two course levels of Computer Networking.

Mark Sidarous

Mr. Sidarous is an award winning professional educator, digital learning consultant, and technology coordinator. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC( with a degree in Cell and Structural Biology, spending 3 years doing genomics research (see his article here!). After a Masters and Ed at UIUC and a career change, he started teaching in the Chicago Public Schools, teaching in three schools across the city over twenty years. In his time in CPS, he picked up two additional degrees (Educational Leadership and Computer Science), and has engaged in several initiatives:

taught computer science, engineering, biology, and chemistry to over 2,000 students over 20 years
won the prestigious CPS DRIVE award
earned National Board Certification in 2017 and renewed in 2020
co-wrote a scholarly chemistry paper with other educators on the synthesis of molybdenum carbide for the water gas shift reaction
piloted curricula in biology and computer science and wrote CPS district assessments in biology and chemistry
as member of the Instructional Leadership Team, wrote school’s Continuous Improvement Work Plan
served as department chair for science and CTE departments
written grants for total award funds of over $100,000 for schools
coached teams and clubs including the district winner for the Chicago Student Invention Convention
designed and administrated the school website at two CPS schools
serving as technology coordinator, managed school computers and supported teachers in their use of technology
led dozens of professional developments with thousands of teachers through the CTUF Quest Center

Bill Starzyk

Bill Starzyk is a Computer Science teacher at Lindblom Math and Science Academy in Chicago Public Schools. He teaches Exploring Computer Science and Web Design & Development, and has been recognized as a top 100 ECS teacher by the National Science Foundation and as a Northern Illinois Educator Award winner.

He previously served as a Code.org facilitator, leading professional development workshops for teachers nationwide. Bill holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in Marketing and Mass Communication from Illinois State University, and a Master of Arts in Teaching in Business Marketing & Computer Education from Chicago State University.

Keith Van Rhein

Mr. Van Rhein graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 1990 with a BS in Mathematics, MS in Computer Science, and secondary education endorsements in Mathematics and Computer Science. After student teaching at Lane Tech he moved to a full time position as a programmer/analyst work in C programming language at R R Donnelly and Sons, developing software for page layout and design for JC Penney's catalog. He transitioned to a career in education, teaching 7 years at Saint Xavier University and then Loyola University in their computer science departments, before returning to professional programming at Black Dot Group. In 2003 he came back to education, teaching 17 years at Kelly High School before joining us at Lindblom where he is teaching Game Programming in Java and is a programming mentor for our FRC and FTC robotics teams.