Montessori Children's Academy

 Administration Staff
 

Lillian Smith

Ms. Lillian is the Executive Director of Montessori Children’s Academy. She holds a B.S. in Business/Retailing and has completed early childhood education coursework from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has participated in Seton Montessori Institute’s Early Childhood Education and Administration for Montessori credentials. Her prior experience includes seven years in the retail and management industry. Ms. Lillian actively attends professional and early childhood education seminars and conferences. Ms. Lillian is dedicated to serving the needs of the school’s families and students, and developing the MCA staff.

She has three children, a daughter and son in Middle school, and a son in Elementary school, all three are graduates of MCA.

Infant / Toddler Community

Magdalena Bajno

Ms. Magdalena is MCA’s Nido Room (Infant) Directress, she has worked at MCA since 2009. She leads our Nido Room (6 weeks – 15 months old) and has had experience teaching in our Toddler Room. Ms. Magda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and an American Montessori Society Infant/Toddler credential. She has over 9 years of experience working with Infants and Toddlers in the Montessori environment. Ms. Magda takes great pleasure in responding to the needs of children and families. Her teaching philosophy is that each child is unique; it is her privilege to help students discover their individuality and their talents. She is dedicated to being fully present and understanding of children’s cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development. Ms. Magda has a son and daughter.

Julie Bruder

Amanda Bennett

Ms. Amanda has been Assistant Teacher in the Nido Room since October 2014. She studied education and psychology from Harper College. Ms. Amanda has coached gymnastics for more than 8 years. She is trained in pediatric yoga. Ms. Amanda teaches yoga and breathing techniques to our Green Room and 3 - 6 year old students during in our summer camp. Ms. Amanda’s interests include traveling, enjoying outdoor activities, and playing with her two dogs.

Sarah Chervinko

Ms. Sarah has worked at MCA since August 2012.  She is a graduate from Willowbrook High School and is currently studying Elementary Education at the College of DuPage.  She plans on becoming a Kindergarten or First Grade Teacher in the future.  While attending Willowbrook, she completed several education classes, one class gave her the opportunity to be the teacher of their preschool.   She has also babysat for the past five years. Ms. Sarah appreciates how children have so many choices to learn in Montessori.  She likes working with children and seeing how they develop physically, emotionally, and cognitively as they grow.  In her spare time, Ms. Sara plays sports, she especially enjoys volleyball and softball.  She also enjoys scrapbooking, baking, and decorating cakes.

Michelle DeBoni

Ms. Michelle is an Assistant Teacher, primarily working with our infants and toddlers at MCA. Ms. Michelle started working at MCA when she was in high school in 2010. She took a break to pursuit her college degree at College of DuPage and babysit. Ms. Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, babysitting and traveling.

Sandi Figueroa

Ms. Sandi joined our Toddler Room as an Assistant Teacher in August 2015. Ms. Sandi also assists in our Nido Room. She graduated from John F Kennedy High School in 2009 and is currently enrolled in Moraine Valley College for early childhood development. Ms. Sandi volunteered as Sunday school teacher at St. Gal Church. She is bilingual and loves to teach children Spanish. She loves babysitting her three nephews and her siblings. Ms. Sandi enjoys working with children and being able to help them learn and overcome their obstacles. In her free time, Ms. Sandi likes running, listening to Latin music and bachata dancing.




 

Liz Holland

Ms. Liz has been working at MCA since 2008, she has experience working in each of our programs. For the past four years, Ms. Liz has been dedicated to our Green Room (2 – 3 Years Old) in addition to serving as MCA's Administrative Coordinator. Ms. Liz holds a Montessori Assistant Paraprofessional certificate from Seton Montessori Institute and is working towards completion of her Infant-Toddler Montessori certification from SMI. Ms. Liz enjoys connecting with children and prior to her work at MCA, she has many years of experience babysitting. She is looking forward to building relationships with all of the new students and continuing to foster old relationships. She enjoys watching the 2 year olds transition to the 3-6 program. Ms. Liz appreciates the wonder they possess, how open and honest they are and observing their love of learning. She enjoys reading, traveling and jogging in her spare time.

 

Lorena Martinez

Ms. Lorena has worked an Assistant Teacher in our Green Room since April 2015. She holds an associate’s degree and is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Education from Northeastern Illinois University. Ms. Lorena is the second oldest among eight children in her family, which gives her many years of experience with babysitting. In her spare time, Ms. Lorena enjoys catching up with her siblings while cooking or having movie nights. Ms. Lorena also loves baking with the children in the Green Room. Being a Spanish speaker gives her the ability to communicate with the children in Spanish to help develop their Spanish language skills. Ms. Lorena feels that every day is a brand new day when working with the two years old and watching them interact with each other. She is amazed how the children grow and glad that she can be part of their important milestones.

Yessenia Rodriquez

Vanessa Rojas

Ms. Vanessa has been MCA’s Toddler Room Directress since September 2014. Her previous experience includes working in retail, babysitting, and volunteering as a Sunday school teacher. Ms. Vanessa is currently in the process of completing her Birth through 3 year old certification through AMS from Seton Montessori Institute. She is also working towards completing her bachelor’s degree in Bilingual Education from Chicago State University. Her expected completion is in 2017. Ms. Vanessa has a love for culture and nature which she enjoys sharing with the children. She enjoys trying out new foods, music, yoga, and reading. Ms. Vanessa’s first language is Spanish and she likes to teach the students basic words in Spanish. Ms. Vanessa actively attends MCA events and workshops. She really enjoys supporting the students’ development and watching their personality and independence blossom.

3 – 6 Year Old Community

Maria Aragon

Ms. Maria has been an Assistant Teacher in the Red Room (3 – 6 year olds) since January 2012. She is also our successful Spanish program coordinator. Ms. Maria was born in Brazil and she has lived in the US since 2004. Ms. Maria has dedicated her life to teaching. She holds two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree in Education from the Methodist University of Piracicaba in Brazil. Her first teaching position in Chicago was in a Catholic School, teaching children 5 - 14 years old Spanish. Eventually Ms. Maria found her way into Montessori Schools. She has taught students 3 - 14 years old in Buffalo Grove, where she discovered combining general curriculum with Spanish lessons had absolutely amazing results. Ms. Maria teaches and supports the foreign language learning process by allowing students to build upon their knowledge. Her goal is to assure quality interaction between her students, her fondness working with young children contributes to a successful teaching and learning process. Ms. Maria always enjoys seeing the changes in young children develop through learning. In 2011- 2013, she was the Spanish Teacher at a Montessori School in Arlington Heights. Ms. Maria has three adult children. In her spare time, Ms. Maria enjoys music, nature, reading, teaching Spanish Sunday School, and volunteering at the library.
 

Mary Elizabeth Capuno

Ms. Mary Elizabeth is our Kindergarten Enrichment Language coordinator. She obtained her early childhood Montessori teaching credential from MMTTC in Evanston and holds a bachelor degree in voice from the University of the Philippines. Ms. Mary Elizabeth was MCA’s Red Room Directress from 2004 – 2008. Since 2012, she has been our Kindergarten Enrichment coordinator. Ms. Mary Elizabeth has two children, both are former Montessori students, a daughter in grade school and a son in middle school. In her spare time, Ms. Mary Elizabeth enjoys playing tennis and piano.

Tracie Eggert

Ms. Tracie is our Blue Room (3 – 6 year olds) Assistant Teacher. Ms. Tracie graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Art Education. She then worked as an art teacher and a Montessori assistant teacher at Near North Montessori School in Chicago for two years. Ms. Tracie left Near North to start her family, during which time she home schooled her two children and held an after school art program in her home. Before joining MCA, Ms. Tracie worked with 3 - 6 years olds in another Montessori school. Ms. Tracie’s interests include running, camping, making crafts with her children and volunteering at her church.

Carolina Lopez

Ms. Carolina is our Red Room (3 – 6 year olds) Montessori lead teacher. Ms. Carolina has her associate’s degree from Harper College and completed her 3 – 6 Yr. Old Montessori Training at MMTTC in Evanston. Ms. Carolina has over six years of experience working with children ages 6 weeks to 13 years old. Included in this time, she worked for five summers at a camp caring for and teaching children of low-income families. She taught math, reading, and geography and fun summer activities. Ms. Carolina chose to become a Montessori directress because she has observed firsthand how the world's natural environment, the classroom's concrete simple materials, and the guidance from the directress and other children can teach a child independence, compassion, respect, and so many other vital qualities and characteristics needed to become an adult that positively contributes to society. In her free time, Ms. Carolina loves to travel, read, watch basketball and football, draw, paint, and spend time with her family.

Jennifer Priske

Ms. Jennifer started working at MCA in 2007, when she was in high school. She is a graduate of Monmouth College and holds a Montessori Assistant Paraprofessional certificate from Seton Montessori Institute. Ms. Jen is MCA’s Administrative Assistant, she also assists with all of our programs. Her primary focus during the academic year is working with our 3 – 6 Year Old students. She teaches Kindergarten Enrichment, our Kindergarten/1st Grade Summer Camp Program, and actively plans and participates in MCA special events.

Chimei Schneider

Ms. Chimei has been working with children from ages 2 to 6 years old in the Montessori environment for more than 15 years. She has worked at MCA since August 2005. Ms. Chimei has been the Montessori directress at MCA in the Red Room (3 - 6 year olds) for 7 years, prior that she taught in the Green Room (2 – 3 year. olds) for 3 years. Before joining MCA, Ms. Chimei taught at West Side Montessori School in New York. Ms. Chimei has a master’s degree in early childhood and childhood education from New York University, an early childhood teacher credential from American Montessori Society, and also holds an Illinois State K to 3rd grade teaching certificate. Ms. Chimei regularly presents Parent-Education workshops to partner with our families to develop the connection between school and home for our students. She actively attends Montessori and Early Childhood Education workshops. Ms. Chimei’s interests include gardening, reading, cooking and baking. She enjoys sharing her cooking and baking skills with the children in the classroom. Ms. Chimei co-teaches our Kindergarten enrichment program, supports the students and classrooms, in addition to administrative responsibilities. Ms. Chimei is married and has two children in Elementary school.

Joyce Teng

Ms. Joyce has dedicated her passion for teaching Montessori at the 3 – 6 year olds level at M.C.A. since 1991. She received her bachelor’s degree in Taiwan and completed her Montessori Early Childhood certification from MMTTC (Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center). In addition to being the Blue Room Directress, Ms. Joyce co-teaches our Kindergarten Enrichment program. Ms. Joyce’s personal interests include listening to music, and playing sports (basketball, ping pong, and biking). Ms. Joyce’s is passionate about making Montessori materials and working with our students to develop positive self-esteem and independence.

Jasmin Tsao

Ms. Jasmin is our Musical Arts Coordinator. She teaches a weekly music class to each of our classrooms (Nido Room, Toddler Room, Green Room, Red and Blue Room), private piano lessons and conducts our Montessori Children’s Choir. In addition, she directs our annual 3 – 6 year old winter musical!! Ms. Jasmin is an accomplished vocalist and pianist; she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and she is also Musikgarten trained. She is actively involved in the musical community, as a vocal soloist, director of the philharmonic society of Chicago and other choirs, in addition to teaching private piano and voice lessons for over 10 years. Her goal is to educate and provide her students the opportunity to experience and deepen their natural connection with music.