Amanda Baltikas

Amanda Baltikas is a Data Strategist with the UChicago Network for College Success (NCS). She has been involved in NCS's professional learning experiences since 2012, during her tenure as a member of the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) at Lincoln Park HS. She has had a 16-year career in education, primarily teaching in Chicago Public Schools (CPS) across various grade levels, from Kindergarten to Advanced Algebra/Trig. Amanda has taken on numerous roles during her time in education, including IB Coordinator, ILT Lead, Programmer, Dual Credit Lead, FOT Support, and Diverse Learner teacher. Most recently, she served as a Curriculum Coordinator, Programmer & Data Strategist at Von Steuben MSC. Her proudest and most challenging moments as an educator have come from opportunities to inquire and reflect.

She believes that schools should prioritize centering and uplifting the student, including their gifts and day-to-day experiences. Through her involvement with NCS, Amanda hopes to continue to inquire and improve the school experience for all. She earned a BS at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Special Education as well as an M.Ed at the University of Illinois at Chicago in Educational Policy Studies with a focus on Instructional Leadership.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, being in nature, and practicing yoga. Amanda resides in the Portage/Cragin area with an extensive collection of vinyl records, plants, and cookbooks. She also enjoys crossword puzzles, breakfast foods, punk and metal music, and the first page of a new notebook.