ADMINISTRATION
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 school’s the families and students, and developing the MCA staff. She has three children, a daughter who recently graduated MCA, a son in the 3 - 6 program, and an infant son.

Lynor Johnson
Ms. Lynor is the Director at MCA. Ms. Lynor holds two bachelor's degrees from Iowa State, one in business and one in Child and Family Services. She is Early Childhood Montessori Teacher certified from Seton Montessori Institute. Her early childhood experience includes working in traditional child care settings and volunteering at Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines as well as Edward Hospital in Naperville. She also has over 7 years of experience in retail and management.  Ms. Lynor’s interests include reading, baking and practicing yoga.

Stephanie Smith
Stephanie Smith serves as Montessori Children’s Academy’s Assistant Director and Infant/Toddler Teacher. She has obtained her early childhood education from Malcolm X and Triton College. She has recently completed the academic portion of her Infant/Toddler Montessori Teaching Certificate and is currently completing her internship in the Green Room (2 – 3 Year Olds).  Ms. Stephanie has over ten years of experience working with infants to school aged children. In addition to attending multiple early childhood conferences and training, Ms. Stephanie holds a Montessori Assistant Paraprofessional certificate from Seton Montessori Institute. She finds it very rewarding working with children, she loves to challenge each child’s imagination and help them develop a high level of self-confidence. Ms. Stephanie is the proud mother of her 11 year old son, Bobby.


INFANT / TODDLER STAFF

Coria Coffie
Coria Coffie has been an Assistant Teacher in our 2 – 3 Years Old Green Room since June 2008. Before working at MCA she worked at Fox Valley Preschool for over two years. Currently, Ms. Coria is participating in the Montessori Infant-Toddler Teacher Certification training at Seton Montessori Institute. Ms. Coria has completed some early childhood course work from the College of DuPage and enjoys attending seminars in Montessori and Early Childhood. Ms. Coria is the mother of two daughters, a 2 ½ year old and the other elementary school aged.

Lillian Hughes
Ms. Lillian has worked at MCA since fall 2003 as an Infant/Toddler Teacher. She has worked with children ranging in age from infants to 4 years old since 1996. Prior to MCA, Lillian worked at the Union Church of Hinsdale for 4 1/2 years. She has completed course work from Harold Washington College, Sawyer Business School and Fifth City Business Careers. Ms. Lillian enjoys attending early childhood conferences and workshops.

Patrice James
Patrice James has worked with young children for over nine years. She received her education in early childhood from Malcolm X College. She holds a Montessori Assistant Paraprofessional certificate from Seton Montessori Institute.  Ms. Patrice enjoys participating in professional development opportunities and plans to continue her Montessori and Early Childhood training in the future. Ms. Patrice is the mother of four; three sons and one daughter.  Ms. Patrice has experience in Baby Sign Language and incorporates the use of sign language actively in our Infant and Toddler classrooms.

Lisa Lofendo
Ms. Lisa is our Toddler Room Directress. Ms. Lisa has taught in MCA since Spring 2007. Ms. Lisa holds an Early Childhood Level 1 C.D.A. certification, she has completed several courses from the College of DuPage as well as completed Montessori Infant/Toddler academics. Her previous experience includes providing home care for five years, teaching at a vacation bible school program, and volunteering for a local preschool program in Elmhurst. Ms. Lisa especially enjoys providing her students with hands-on activities and sharing her love for nature with them. She incorporates gardening, nature walks, and outdoor learning experiences whenever possible. Ms. Lisa enjoys teaching Montessori because the approach builds each child’s own strengths; children can learn, grow, and become independent at a very young age.

Magdalena Pyrkosz
Magdalena Pyrkosz is MCA’s Infant/Toddler Directress; she teaches in our Infant Room (6 weeks – 15 months old). Ms. Magda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and an American Montessori Society Infant/Toddler credential. She has over 6 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.

Ashley Wilkinson

Liz Holland
Ms.Liz has worked at MCA since 2008.  She has been flexible since joining the school and works in almost every classroom!  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 and the wonder they possess.  Ms. Liz appreciates working with children because they are so open and honest and they love learning.  She enjoys reading, traveling and jogging in her spare time.

3 – 6 YEARS OLD STAFF

Sabrina Aguirre
Ms. Sabrina started working at MCA in 2005 as an Assistant Teacher with our 3 – 6 year old children. Prior to MCA she assisted at another Montessori school for two years. Ms. Sabrina completed the Seton Montessori Institute Assistant Paraprofessional Course in 2005 and continues her professional development by attending workshops. Ms. Sabrina has a school aged son who is a MCA graduate.

Sara Alvarado
Ms. Sara is an Assistant Teacher MCA since 2010.  She especially loves working with the 2 – 3 year old age group and works in our Green Room (2 – 3 Year Olds).  She had 3 years of early childhood experience before joining MCA.  She is currently working on her Nursing Assistant certificate at the College of DuPage.  She is attending the Seton Montessori Institute Paraprofessional Training in the Fall of 2010.  Ms. Sara is bi-lingual in English and Spanish.  She is the proud mother of Octavio, her elementary aged son. 

Katharine Ballinger
Ms. Kate earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Asian Studies from Augustana College. She spent a year teaching English in Wuhan, China as well as assistant teaching autistic students upon her arrival back in the states. Ms. Kate was a student of Montessori from ages 3-6. She enjoys the respect between students and teachers in the Montessori classroom. In her free time, Ms. Kate enjoys reading, exercising and dancing.

Mariana Qano
Ms. Mariana received her B.A. in Philosophy. She taught for 21 years at the high school level in her native land, Korca, Albania. Ms. Mariana has taught as an Assistant Teacher in MCA’s 3 – 6 Year Old program for over ten years. She enjoys working with the children to see them develop and grow. Ms. Mariana is especially interested in sharing great conversations with the children and giving them an opportunity to share what they want to talk about.

Chimei Schneider
Ms. Chimei taught in our Green Room (2 – 3 Years Old) during school years 2005 - 2008. Since 2009, she has been our 3 - 6 Year Old Montessori Red Room Directresses and co-teaches our Kindergarten Enrichment Program. Ms. Chimei holds a Master’s degree in Marketing Communication from Emerson College in Boston and second Master’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from New York University. She has a New York State K-6 certification and the AMS Montessori Early Childhood Certification. Ms. Chimei taught at West Side Montessori in New York for four years before coming to M.C.A. Ms. Chimei enjoys giving Parent-Education workshops and partnering with our families to develop the connection between school and home for our students. She is an avid reader and actively attends Montessori and Early Childhood Education workshops. Ms. Chimei is the mother of a daughter that graduated from our Kindergarten program and a Toddler son.

Joyce Teng
Ms. Joyce has taught as 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, 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 Montessori Musical Arts Coordinator and Red Room Assistant Teacher (Deleteand 3 – 6 Years Old Afternoon Teacher). She teaches private piano lessons and conducts our Montessori Children’s Choir. 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 the past 10 years. Her goal is to educate and provide her students the opportunity to experience and deepen their natural connection with music.


HIGH SHOOL / COLLEGE TEACHER’S ASSISTANTS / SUBSTITUTE STAFF:

Kelsey Carlson – Ms. Kelsey is a Senior at York High School.  She has worked in the Green Room since her sophmore year.  Ms. Kelsey has completed several early childhood courses at York in addition to several years of experience babysitting.

Michelle DiBoni – Ms. Michelle is a senior at York High School.  She has worked with our 3 – 6 Year Old students since fall 2010.

Lexie Paist -  Ms. Lexie started at MCA when she was a senior at York High School.  She has worked at MCA for 2 years.  Ms. Lexie has experience working in all of the classrooms; however she primarily assists in our Toddler and Green Room.

Jennifer Priske – Ms, Jennifer has been with MCA for 3 years.  She is a graduate of Willowbrook High School and is currently attending Monmouth majoring in Education.  She works in both the Blue and Red rooms and has also spent time in the Green room.

Lauren Byrd – Ms. Lauren has worked with MCA for 2 years and graduated from York High School.  She is a senior at University of Illinois focusing on Elementary Education.  She works primarily in the 3-6 year old classrooms.