STAFF - Montessori School of C-U

All MSCU directresses are Montessori trained and certified. The directresses are dedicated and have on average over 20 years of teaching experience. Some directresses have been at MSCU for over 30 years, and others have sent their own children to the school.

ADMINISTRATION + SUPPORT STAFF

Kerry Rossow

Head of School

First joined us in August 1994, returned in August 2016. Has her Child Development Associates in Early Childhood Education (Parkland 1996). BA in Elementary Education with a Kindergarten endorsement (Franklin College 1994).

Brekke Day

Elementary Program Director, Interim Lily Lead

Joined us in August 2016. Illinois Educator License, Montessori Certified Directress for Ages 6-9 (Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center 2020).

Lillian Yow

Director of Admissions

Joined us in August 2018. M.Ed. (UCLA, 2001), M.A. Linguistics and Biblical Languages (Biola University, 2008), and B.A. English (UC Berkeley, 1999). Illinois Professional Educator License (ELA, ESL, and Reading endorsements), Texas Educator Certificate (ELA/ESL), and California Clear Single Subject Teaching Credential in English (English learner authorization).

Katie Courter

Office Manager

Joined us in February 2021. Training to be Montessori Certified Directress for Ages 3-6 (UWRF)

Maddie Lazaro

School Manager

Joined us in June 2021. Training to be a Montessori Certified Administrator (Seton). Attending a Montessori Conference in 2024.

Ahbleza Boltinghouse

Business Manager

Joined us in May 2022.

John Wiegand

Facilities Manager

Lisa Kirk

Custodial Manager

Joined us in July 2023.

Sara Kelly

Kitchen Manager

TODDLER FACULTY

Thalia Rodriguez

Teddy Directress + Toddler Program Director

Joined us in January 2020. Montessori Certified Directress for Ages 0-3 (Seton 2023).

Yukimi Oishi

Teddy Assistant

Joined us in December 2020. Montessori Certified Assistant (Seton 2024)

Jessica Earley

Teddy Assistant

Joined us in August 2023.

Jane Priest

Teddy Aftercare

Joined us in January 2024.

PRIMARY FACULTY

Valinda Peat

Bunny Directress

Joined us in August 1991. Montessori Certified Directress for Ages 3-6 (MECA-Seton 2004).

Martha Jackson

Butterfly Aftercare

Joined us in August 2022. Attending Montessori Conference in 2024.

Ambika Kesar

Duck Directress

Joined us in August 2006. Montessori Certified Directress for Ages 3-6 (Seton 2013).

Jennifer Johnson

Duck Assistant

Joined us in December 2014. Attending Montessori Conference in 2024.

Julie Warren

Horse Directress

Joined us in August 1985. Montessori Certified Directress for Ages 3-6 (MECA-Seton 1987).

Lynn Holland

Kitty Directress

Joined us in August 2005. Montessori Certified Directress for Ages 3-6 (Michigan Montessori Teacher Education Center 1987).

Christine Krupp

Puppy Directress

Joined us in July 1996. Montessori Certified Directress for Ages 3-6 (Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center 1999).

Patty Roy

Puppy Assistant

Joined us in August 2018.

Tina DeMoss

Substitute

Joined us in August 2019.

Nurhayat Unal

Bunny Assistant

Joined us in February 2019.

Janna Repta

Horse Assistant

First joined us in August 2008, again in 2018, and finally returned in August 2020. Training to become Montessori Certified Direct. for Ages 3-6 (Seton).

Tam Dinh

Kitty Assistant

Joined us in March 2020. Montessori Certified Directress for Ages 3-6 (Seton 2023).

Debbie Voigt

Substitute

Joined us in September 2015.

Ayesha Mehta

Bird Aftercare

Joined us in August 2023.

Maryssa Orndorff

Butterfly Aftercare

Joined us in January 2024.

D’alicia Bradford

Bird Aftercare

Joined us in May 2017.

ELEMENTARY FACULTY

Janice Lilly

Lily Directress

Joined us in August 2018. Montessori Certified Directress for Ages 9-12 (Montessori Live 2020)

Mia Hanneken

Fern Lead

Joined us in August 2021. Training to be Montessori Certified Directress for Ages 6-12 (Seton).

Adanna Eziri

Substitute

Joined us in January 2024. BA in Global Studies (U of Chicago)

Taylor Lancaster

Willow Lead

Joined us in July 2021. Two years of in-house Montessori training for Ages 6-9 (MSCU). BA in Elementary Education (ISU). Has an Illinois Educator License.