Janet Story Schlapkohl (she/her) is a licensed teacher with a Master Educator’s License, MFA in Playwriting, MS from the University of Iowa, and BS in Biology from Iowa State University. She has over forty-five years of teaching experience, from preschool through university students. As a playwright, commissions include for the UI Labor Center, UI Iowa Women’s Archives, UI Human Rights Center, Center for Worker Justice, Theatre Masters, and the AFL-CIO. Her work has been performed in LA, at The Road Theatre, Chicago, New York, Tennessee, and across Iowa. In 2002, she founded Combined Efforts Theatre, a non-profit organization for performers with special needs. She has been the recipient of the Theatre Master’s award, Visionary Playwright’s award, the Isabelle Turner Human Rights Award, the Richard Maibaum Award, the Human Rights graduate student award and the Finkbine Award for Human Rights.

Cole Hotek (he/him) is an educator, choral conductor, theatre and film director, musician, and graphic designer. Cole graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Graphic Design. Cole has a plethora of experience directing and teaching children. He has worked at Country Camp for over a decade, serving as Co-Director of the summer program since 2021. Cole directed Combined Efforts Men’s choir for several successful seasons. He is happy to join our supportive and energetic group of young professionals who are interested in learning alongside teaching.

Melissa Kaska (she/her) began teaching as a substitute teacher within the Iowa City School District and joined Country School in the spring of 2023. She has been involved in several community theatre productions, onstage and off, for the last decade. Prior to teaching, Melissa worked in Human Resources for seven years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and Medieval Literature. She lives in Iowa City with her family and two cats.

Razzi Abuissa (he/him) is excited to be back at Country School after joining in 2024. He graduated with a degree in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania and previously worked as a software engineer in the solar industry and at the Wikimedia Foundation. He is currently also a science teacher at the Iowa Conservatory, a visual and performing arts school in Iowa City.