Meet the Staff!

Please take a moment to meet our teachers

Ms. Traci Ms. Ann Ms. Shannon Ms. Lauren Ms. Lety

Ms. Heather Ms. Cailyn Ms. Katelyn Ms. Lonnie Ms. Debbie

Ms. Traci

Ms. Traci hails from Chicago’s Southside. She studied Education, as well as Psychology,
Criminal Justice, and English (Literature and Writing) at UIC, Chicago. You might say Traci started her
career in Education as a Professional Student….

After graduating, she first found work after College as a Substitute Teacher in the field of Special Education
for a group of schools in Chicago Heights and surrounding areas. That work was an education in itself….
Traci observed a large range of teaching styles, and had many questions and thought about how to
improve educational systems…Something was missing…until that friend of a friend of a friend encouraged
a visit to her Montessori classroom. Traci was so impressed,-yet felt like she had found her home at last!
This experience motivated her to pursue more education, to learn all she could about Montessori.

After training in Birth-3 and 3-6, she completed internships at the MECA Lab Schools in Hinsdale and
Clarendon Hills, Illinois. Traci taught at the lab schools from 1990-2000 in a range of Teaching, Mentoring, Coordinating, and Training capacities,-working with other educators, interns, parents, infants, toddlers
and preprimary-aged children. The MECA lab schools were a hub of inspiration; a center continuously fed
by enthusiasm and interest in Montessori and her work.

Traci’s own children attended at the lab schools from infancy through Kindergarten though residing in
Tinley Park. It was from a desire to bring Montessori to Tinley Park and its surrounding communities that
Hope Montessori was established. Traci helped to found Hope Montessori in 2000, and has been the Administrator and Director of Education and acting Head Teacher ever since.

Hope Montessori keeps her busy, but she still makes time to enjoy life outside of the school. Favorite
hobbies include: reading, writing, but not arithmetic, attending theatre and ballet, hiking, horses,
traveling, snorkeling, bull riding, and gardening.

Ms. Ann

Ms. Ann first came to observe at Hope Montessori in 2002. Traci and Ann had met while
doing volunteer work locally and a series of conversations they had shared tweaked Ann’s curiosity.
Ann was so inspired by what she saw that she made the decision to change her career path
(which had included nearly 20 years at an area hospital). She completed the MECA Paraprofessional
Course, in 2003, and joined the Hope staff initially as an Assistant Teacher.

In 2005, Ms. Ann earned her Montessori Teacher Certification and has been working as a Lead Teacher
ever since.

Ann was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago. She is married and has three sons, one daughter
and two dogs. In her spare time she plays the guitar and works the Karaoke circuit. Ms. Ann loves to
stylize in the footsteps of Steve Tyler from Aerosmith! She enjoys campfires, hiking and spending time
with her family.

Ms. Shannon

Ms. Shannon has been an active member of the Montessori community since 2000.
She joined Hope in 2006 as an Assistant Teacher/Teacher Intern and worked to earn her Montessori
Teacher Credential. She co-taught and has now acted as a Lead Teacher for the past two years.
Ms. Shannon had worked in the Hyde Park area as a Therapist Aid for children with Autism in a Montessori setting and also taught Special Education at Argo Community High School in Summit. Ms. Shannon has
always loved children…her love for Montessori has led her to become a Head Montessori Teacher.

Ms. Shannon was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago. She is happily married to her husband Jim
(married in 2007, they are still honeymooners!) In her spare time, Ms. Shannon and Jim enjoy traveling
and exploring new places. Her hobbies include working out and anything with the outdoors. Ms.
Shannon’s newest hobby is making homemade dog treats! She has four dogs, and they love her efforts!
She will gladly share her top-notch recipes!

Ms. Lauren

Ms. Lauren was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago. She is an Education
student at Governor’s State University. Ms. Lauren received her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education while attending Moraine Valley Community College.

One of Ms. Lauren’s education courses required that she observe a variety of preschool settings.
She came to Hope to observe a “class in action”- and just knew this would be a great fit for her. We
agreed! Since 2008, she has been a Teacher’s Assistant in Ms. Shannon’s 3-6 Classroom. She thoroughly enjoys her job working with the children.

In Ms. Lauren’s spare time, she loves to shop sales and enjoys driving her awesome Jeep Commander
(mostly on the road). She loves to dance and even once auditioned for “Dancing With the Stars!”
The Cha-Cha, Rumba, Quick-Step and Swing are all great fun, but the Tango is her specialty.

Ms. Lety

Ms. Lety joined Hope in the fall of 2008 as an Assistant Teacher in Ms. Shannon’s classroom. She leads our school in our Spanish curriculum.

Ms. Lety has always loved children. She enjoyed raising her own children and is a proud grandma.

In the classroom, Ms. Lety loves singing, baking (we enjoy her baking, too), reading and helping the
children with their work. From the first time she saw a Montessori classroom in action, she knew this was
where she wanted to be. We are so glad to have her at Hope.

In her spare time, Ms. Lety enjoys baking, time with friends and family, traveling and going to the library
(she loves to read).

¡Ms. Lety, es una maestra muy maravillosa! ¡Todos amamos Ms. Lety!

Ms. Heather

Ms. Heather currently works as a Teacher Assistant in our Two Year Old Classroom.
Before joining Hope in the Spring of 2009, she had already worked for 5 years with young children in
various daycare settings.

Ms. Heather graduated from Governor’s State University with a major in Early Childhood Development.
She always knew she wanted to be a teacher and work with young children. After observing at Hope in
2009, she knew she wanted to study Montessori…..she knew this was her calling. Ms. Heather has begun training and hopes to achieve her Montessori Teaching credential by next year.

In her spare time, Ms. Heather enjoys racing her car, “Aqua Man”! She would like to compete with
Jeff Gordon someday. Ms. Heather loves to play chess and is also a card fiend. She especially likes to
play Black Jack. Watch out, Las Vegas!

Ms. Cailyn

Ms. Cailyn was born and raised in Tinley Park. She has been around Montessori all her life (Ms. Traci is
her mom).

She attended Montessori from infancy through Kindergarten year, at MECA Lab Schools in Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills. Thereafter, Montessori summers at Hope…eventually earning L.I.T. (Leader in Training)
status. She now works as a Junior Assistant in the Two Year Old Program.

Cailyn enjoys children and working at Hope, but does not want to be a teacher (sorry mom). Currently,
she wants to become an Occupation Therapist (like her grandma).

When Cailyn is not working or at school or studying, she is usually to be found with her “sweetheart",
Charlie-her American Quarter Horse! Horses have been Cailyn’s passion since she was 5 years old.
Other interests include: enjoying music (country to rap) on her I-pod, going to concerts, reading, texting
and talking with friends, rodeo clowning and working out. Her favorite television veg-out shows are –
Gilmore Girls, McCleod’s Daughters, One Tree Hill and House. Also to relax, Cailyn likes to doodle and
color in her designs. She still enjoys her big box of crayons! Hmmmmmmmmmmm….when was the last
time you colored?

Ms. Katelyn

Ms. Katelyn has been as Assistant Teacher at Hope since 2008. She came to visit as
part of a college assignment and fell in love with Montessori. Ms. Katelyn is now beginning her Montessori studies at MECA (Montessori Education Centers Association). Ms. Katelyn hopes to achieve her Montessori
Early Childhood Teacher Credential by next year.

Ms. Katelyn enjoys shopping, swimming, deep sea diving for sunken treasure, traveling (recent trip:
Alaska) and playing the piano (which she is currently learning). She also is a substitute coach in an
ice skating program.

Ms. Lonnie

Ms. Lonnie was born and raised in Blue Island, Illinois. Her parents hail from Mexico and
Ms. Lonnie is fortunate to have been raised bi-lingually; she speaks English and Spanish fluently. She
graduated from Eisenhower High School and attended Moraine Valley Community College.

Ms. Lonnie has been living in Tinley Park with her family for the past seven years. She has three wonderful children. Her two daughters go to Lincoln-Way North High School and her son is a student at Dr. Julian
Rogus School in Frankfort.

Ms. Lonnie loves to cook. She makes killer Chile Rellenos (stuffed peppers). To treat herself, she’ll curl
up with a good book; she particularly likes mystery novels. Her favorite author is Anne Rice. Ms. Lonnie
enjoys riding bikes, playing tennis and swinging on the flying trapeze. She also likes to juggle and walk
the “tight rope” in her spare time.

Ms. Lonnie joined Hope Montessori in the Spring of 2009. Ms. Lonnie brings Spanish to Ms. Anne’s 3-6 classroom, where she works as an Assistant Teacher. We are so glad to have her with us at Hope.
iElla es un maestro muy paciente, amable, y gentil con los niños!

Ms. Debbie

Ms. Debbie was raised in Orland Park, Illinois. She is our secretary at Hope Montessori.

Ms. Debbie had worked as a Teacher’s Assistant at several preschools (including another Montessori
preschool), before joining the Hope family.

Ms. Debbie enjoys spending time with her family. Her daughter graduated from Paul Mitchell of Chicago
and her son is finishing his Nationals for a career as an EMT/Paramedic. Ms. Debbie loves photography,
hanging out with her husband and friends, just being silly, and “quiet time” at home. She is a true fan of
the UFC and is also a Reality Television junkie.

Ms. Debbie is a “pro” at cutting her grass and maneuvering her riding lawn mower. Well-known locally,
this garage-based family-owned business is not very lucrative but it is oddly satisfying. Future goals:
She would love to mow the White House lawn, Wrigley Field, Soldier Field and Matthew McConaughey’s
estate. If you have connections and can help her achieve this, please let her know!