Stephanie Naumoff has been the Home School Advisor at Wallace Aylesworth Elementary School since January of this year. Naumoff was born in Arkansas and while she went to school in Lombard, Illinois, she hails from Phoenix, Arizona. Before working at Aylesworth, Naumoff worked for the Indiana Department of Child Services for seven years.
“In high school, I was actually part of the ‘Star Trek’ Club," said Naumoff. "This was back in the day when ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ was popular, and there is counselor Deanna Troi. They named me the counselor in this ‘Star Trek’ club, and I would sit outside and take little notes. I would take different members of the club and ask them questions like ‘okay, how are you feeling?’ I don't know why this started, but now that's literally what I do for my job.”
Inspired by “Criminal Minds,” Naumoff received a degree in forensic psychology. She wanted to chase serial killers, but Naumoff chose to apply for a job at the Department of Child Services (DCS). While she loved working at DCS, after seven years Naumoff went on the search for a new job that allowed her to continue working with children.
“I have a friend that used to work with me at DCS, Rachel Whitworth, who now works for the Portage Township Schools as a behavior analyst,” said Naumoff. “Rachel suggested to me that I apply because she thought that I would be a good fit. I also thought that I would be a good fit, and I interviewed here.”
Naumoff has twin sisters and supportive parents, and because of those supportive people in her life, she realized working at the DCS was the perfect opportunity for her. The “Criminal Minds” character Penelope Garcia inspired Naumoff’s bubbly vibe when helping people. She was later inspired to help people by being able to understand that sometimes life is difficult.
“Honestly, everybody just needs something. Everybody's just human, and I don't think there are a lot of folks who always remember that. After working just a little bit with people, I saw that people can get a bad rap. There's some people who just have hearts of gold and are just trying so hard, but it feels like the universe is against them.”
Like a lot of people, it is the kids that keep Naumoff coming back.
“There's so many days you just go home physically and mentally exhausted, but then it's so worth it,” said Naumoff. "You get to see them grow, even some of the kids who were struggling with so much stuff. They're maturing right in front of your eyes. Then there's this staff where I sometimes think ‘How can we make it through the day without each other?’”
Outside of her work, she loves karaoke and does a lot of theatre. Naumoff is the President of the Board of the Gary Shakespeare Company. She has also worked at almost all 15 theaters in the area. Right now, she is costuming in Whiting where the theatre is doing “The Fantasticks” as well as in Michigan City.
“We're going into our 11th season, but Gary Shakespeare provides free Shakespeare in the Parks of Northwest Indiana,” said Naumoff. “We provide free Shakespeare in the public spaces of Northwest Indiana because everybody deserves free Shakespeare. Theatre has gotten me, and I'm always sewing something.”