Meet our Team!

I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher. I graduated from Bowling Green State University with a BA in Communications Education and spent nearly ten years as a high school English, Speech and Drama teacher on the south side of Chicago. Years later, my husband and I stood in an observation room watching children happily engaged in a variety of activities. We were hooked on Montessori from those first moments, watching children work in different ways, at different speeds and being led by their interests. Our daughter was enrolled that fall and three years later, when our twins were ready to begin preschool, I began my training at Seton Montessori Institute.

All three of our children completed Montessori through 8th grade and, after years of leading my own 3-6 classroom, I am living my dream at Lupine Montessori School.

As my journey continues, I look forward to promoting Montessori’s vision of peace in my work as a Head of School, a teacher trainer, and life-long Montessorian!

Jennifer’s compassion, joy, and steady presence enriched our school community in countless ways. She touched the lives of children, families, and staff every day, and her presence continues to be felt in the laughter and care that fill our halls. We hold her in our hearts with deep gratitude for all she gave to Lupine Montessori School.

I am honored to serve as the Office Administrator here at Lupine Montessori School. I bring many years of experience in office administration and a passion for supporting educational initiatives. I believe strongly in the importance of effective communication and collaboration between school administration, teachers, parents, and students.

I am excited about the year ahead and eager to assist in making this school year a rewarding and enriching experience for all.

I'm a 0–3 AMS Certified Montessori Teacher, certified Birth & Postpartum Doula, and Parent Guide. I help families bring Montessori principles into their homes from the very beginning—supporting everything from toileting and navigating big feelings to creating a more joyful, connected parenting experience.

I’ve had the honor of speaking at the Association of Illinois Montessori Schools Conference, the American Montessori Society’s National Conference, and Triton College’s Education Symposium. I'm excited to be working with the families at Lupine and to help build a close-knit community rooted in care and support.

My husband and I first learned about Montessori in 2008 through our daughter’s journey at a local Lithuanian Montessori program. We watched our daughter slowly emerge from a protective cocoon and blossom into a confident individual whose love of learning continues to serve her well as she heads into Junior High. After the birth of our second daughter and taking some time off to be fully present in motherhood, I began my Montessori training at Seton Montessori Institute, graduating in 2016.

Since that time, I have enjoyed the collaborative spirit that is part of the classroom community. I love offering encouragement to children, sharing their triumphs and delighting in the challenge of new ideas and experiences. It is my commitment to create a beautiful environment designed to meet the needs and growing interests of each child, providing opportunities for exploration leading to confident and creative self-expression.

I graduated from DePaul University with a degree in early childhood education and a minor in Spanish. I’m married and have two amazing daughters, Chloe and Eva.

As my husband and I looked into preschools for our oldest, we were introduced to the amazing world that is Montessori education. I was immediately drawn to the learning environment and the philosophy of Maria Montessori. I began volunteering at Chloe’s school and eventually worked as an assistant in their toddler program. When Eva was born, my husband and I found Lupine Montessori and we are so thankful and excited to be part of this loving community.

I am delighted to be a member of the wonderful Lupine community and look forward to this new journey in the Casa.

My Montessori journey began when I was 24 years old at Denali Montessori in Anchorage, Alaska. It was a five-day substitute teaching job that ended up lasting eight years. I had never heard of Maria Montessori, however, I could see immediately the purpose and passion within each teacher to do this work and the enthusiasm demonstrated by the children while engaged in the pursuit of knowledge.

I graduated from Augustana College in 2003 with English and Sociology degrees as well as earning NCAA, All American Honors playing tailback for the football team. I completed my Montessori training for lower elementary at Seton Montessori in 2015. I have presented workshops at both state and national conferences on approaches to Physical Education and the benefits of purposeful activities in green spaces. My wife and I enjoy camping, reading, hiking, fires, cycling, and family hammock time with our daughter.

I graduated from Drake University in 2009 with a degree in Art History, and I try to incorporate art into my everyday life! Painting, drawing, and digital art are a few areas I enjoy.

When I was expecting my daughter back in 2019, I was first introduced to the Montessori way of teaching through a dear friend. I immediately fell in love, and have strived to continue that mindset with my daughter every day!

We enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors hiking and fishing, and have an all-around appreciation and love of nature! You might even catch us hugging a few trees here and there! I am so incredibly excited to be a part of the amazing Lupine Montessori team!

With a deep-rooted appreciation for creativity, I have always been drawn to the power of artistic expression as a way to encourage self-discovery, problem-solving, and emotional growth. I feel a deep sense of fulfillment in working with children, watching them develop not only academically but also emotionally, socially, and creatively. As an Assistant Teacher, I am eager to help students build strong foundations in both their artistic skills and overall development. I am excited to be a support system alongside Mr. Dave and Miss. Ingrid for the Lower Elementary students! 

I started my Montessori journey in 2012 as an adolescent math and science specialist.

In 2014, I started my elementary training. Montessori is my passion and I absolutely love working with kids. Prior, I worked as an environmental educator at Nature’s Classroom. I graduated with a degree in environmental studies with a focus on marine biology. Before Montessori, I wanted to research sharks. My past times include playing sports but I also love gardening, reading thrillers and historical fiction, and music.

My husband and I, along with our 3 kids, are beyond excited to join the Lupine family!

I first became interested in the Montessori Method in college. When my daughter, Elizabeth, was born, my husband and I incorporated Montessori learning into our daiy lives with her. When Elizabeth became a student in the Casa we were excited to become a part of the Lupine community. I have enjoyed volunteering in the Casa and look forward to my new role as an assistant teacher in Upper El.

In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, playing board games and being a girl scout leader.

I’ve been teaching in some capacity since I graduated from U of I in 1995 with a degree Speech Education. I began my career teaching English, Speech, and Yearbook classes in public high school. I homeschooled my girls from kindergarten through their sophomore year of high school. In addition, I led several homeschool co-op classes in Speech, Poetry & Photography, Spanish, and Yearbook.

I’m excited to be a part of the Lupine family!

I love teaching Math and have been doing so for the last 18 years. I went to Oak Forest High School and DePaul University where I received my teaching degree. There I learned that fairness is being able to give each child exactly what they need to succeed. I am very excited to bring my passion for learning and teaching to the Lupine Montessori School family. From the minute I stepped foot into the school I knew that it was a wonderful environment where I could collaborate with others and grow as an educator. I cannot wait for the new school year to begin and to meet the wonderful students I will be helping this year!

I have been teaching music since 2008, and I have taught children as young as six months through adult students studying for advanced degrees. I am a certified teacher with a Bachelor of Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master of Music Education with a Kodály Emphasis from Capital University. I teach following the Kodály philosophy of music education, and I also use First Steps in Music. I became interested in Montessori education when seeking out educational opportunities for my daughters. I noticed immediately the similarities between Maria Montessori’s beautiful philosophy and best practice in music education. I am delighted to be a member of the Lupine team, and I’m excited to make joyful music with the wonderful community!

For years, I fostered young minds as a teacher – both for children with autism and in preschool. While I now run my own virtual assistant and social media business from home (hello, flexibility!), I often miss the infectious energy and joy kids bring.

Being a mom of four keeps things lively – three amazing daughters in college and my youngest, Sawyer, keeping Lupine busy. We're a big family that loves dance parties, game nights, and reliving the drama (and strategy!) of Survivor.

I’m excited and grateful to join the Lupine Montessori School community! Growing up among many siblings taught me the joy of caring for others, and I love creating happy moments through arts, crafts, puzzles, and sports. As I pursue my dream of becoming a nurse, I look forward to sharing laughter, learning, and growth with the children and families at Lupine.

It is both an honor and a privilege to work with this wonderful team of educators, these beautiful children, and their wonderful parents who have contributed to making Lupine such a great community to be a part of.

You will see me around Lupine in many capacities! In the mornings you can find me with the Before School Care children. I also sub when needed and help out in the front office.