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Traci Tyszka (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 inters 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 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, snorkeling, bull riding, and gardening.
Ann Signore, “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 Steven Tyler from Aerosmith! She enjoys campfires, hiking and spending time with her family.
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 before becoming a Lead Teacher. 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 their spare time, Ms. Shannon and Jim enjoy exploring new places. They thrive on thrills like zip lining, white water kayaking, spelunking, and rope bridge walking (bottomless gorge plus frayed= good times!) Their favorite vacation destinations resemble an Indiana Jones movie. When Ms. Shannon is home-sweet-home she likes to bake. She especially likes to make dog treats! She loves her dogs and they love her efforts! She will gladly share her top-notch recipes! Ms. Shannon is very happy to be a part of this wonderful community! We are so glad to have her with us at Hope!
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. 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 (we enjoy her baking, too), time with friends and family, traveling and going to the library (she loves to read). She also enjoys writing and physical fitness. Her current favorite workouts are the flying trapeze and kettle ball. ¡Ms. Lety, es una maestra muy maravillosa! ¡Todos amamos Ms. Lety!
Ms. Debbie was raised in Orland Park, Illinois. She is our Secretary/ Registrar 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. Ms. Debbie loves
photography, fishing with her husband, hanging out with her friends, and
“quiet time” at home. She is a true Reality Television junkie.
Ms. Vanessa grew up in Tinley Park! She graduated from Illinois State University, with a Major in Family Consumer Science and a Concentration in Childhood Development. She interned at Hope Montessori. Since graduating, she has returned to Hope, and we hope to keep her here! Ms. Vanessa is interested in furthering her education in this field. She loves children! Ms. Vanessa has a dual personality. On one hand: she is a confessed homebody- she likes to hang out with her dog, Roxy, her cat, Mr. Puss -and her parents! On the other hand: she is an athlete. She enjoys sports, -especially hiking (a favorite locale is Starved Rock), playing tennis, and swimming. She loves the beach! Ms. Vanessa‘s dream vacation destinations are Australia and Africa. She would love to go on Safari to hunt wildlife- with a camera! An alternate career for her would be working for National Geographic following in the footsteps of Gorillas in the Mist Anthropologist, Dian Fossey. She loves animals!
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, she spent Montessori summers at Hope…eventually earning L.I.T. (leader in training) status. She now works as an 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 “boyfriend” 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?
Originally, Ms. Katelyn came to visit as part of a college assignment and fell in love with Montessori. She joined our community at Hope as an Assistant teacher in 2008. Ms. Katelyn began her Montessori Studies at Seton Institute, formerly MECA (Montessori Education Centers Association), and earned her Montessori Early Childhood Teacher Credential in 2011. We are so pleased to have her with us at Hope! Besides children, Ms. Katelyn enjoys shopping, swimming, deep sea diving (exploring the Blue Holes in the Bahamas is an otherworldly experience!), traveling (memorable trip: Alaska), and playing the piano (which she is currently learning). She also is a substitute coach in an ice skating program. Ms. Katelyn hopes to soon visit Paris (France, not Hilton,- though they are pals), and will send us photos from the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre (she wishes to see that painting depicting her famous distant relative, Mona,- as well as other fine art), and her stroll along the river Seine. She promises to bring back some pastries, breads, and champagne for all her coworkers!
Ms. Tami is a Flossmoor native, currently residing in Homewood. She and husband Steve have 6 children- 5 teenagers (2 now away at college) and one preschooler! Tami graduated from the University of Tampa with a BS in Elementary Education. A 1st Grade teacher for 7 years, she became interested in Montessori when her son was a toddler -and she became a Montessori Parent. She sought out more training at Montessori Education Centers Associated (MECA)… After training at MECA, she taught at the Martsci Montessori School in Flossmoor for a few years before her youngest was born. Ms. Tami joined Hope during the spring of 2010, transitioning in to take on the Two Year Old Program. We are so happy to have her on our team! Hobbies include: Reading, travel, biking, hiking, bungee-jumping… She is an avid runner; she has run in 2 marathons- one in Chicago and one in Las Vegas (truth: what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!). Ms Tami is a surfer girl- her signature move is the backward flip double twist aerial barrel roll- she loves a righteous wave! What’s next for this totally rad teacher? Ms. Tami would like to try sky diving, mountain climbing, and camel-riding in the Sahara Dessert. All done in her spare time, of course!
Ms Karen grew up on Chicago’s Southside, in the Brighton Park Neighborhood. She married her High School sweetheart, -and is still on her honeymoon 30+ years later! She is the mother of two beautiful daughters J, and is looking forward to becoming a Grandma (someday, J). Currently, she resides in Tinley Park with her husband and their dog, Lucy. Ms. Karen worked steadily as a nanny over the years, and loves children. Coming to us with the most impeccable of references, we are so happy to have her with us at Hope! She works under Ms. Shannon, as an Assistant Teacher. In her leisure time, Ms. Karen loves to go antiquing. She brakes for garage sales- because you just never know what treasure you may find! Ms. Karen also enjoys cooking, stilt- walking, and race car driving. Her favorite mini getaway is a jaunt to the casinos; she loves the slots! One day, when she hits the big jackpot, she will take her dream vacation to Germany (lots of antiques). With the money made from some rare finds, she will buy a big house, where her whole family can live together happily ever after (future grandkids most welcome!)
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