Toddler Program

Bonnie Fisher
Bonnie has her Bachelor's Degree in Christian Education. Working with children has been a very prominent part of her life, even as a young person herself. In adult years she has worked in a private preschool, home schooled for twelve years, then joined her kids in public school as a substitute, an inclusion sub, and tutor for middle school students. She and her husband have five children, spanning the ages of 25 - 5. She was brought to Montessori by her eldest daughter who worked in the toddler class in 2007 - 2008. She began substituting at the school and then became an assistant in the Middle Room pre school class. She attended several training seminars and took the Fundamentals Montessori course in 2008. This past year she joined Mary as assistant in the Toddler class, when her daughter left to pursue her certification as a Montessori directress. Bonnie's youngest child began attending the school when he was 3. They both love the Montessori method and this school in particular! She still loves children and is now preparing for her next role in life - grandma!

Mary Mueller
Mary is the Toddler Directress at Montessori Academy of Glen Ellyn. She trained with Meca-Seton's Infant-Toddler program in 1986. She infuses the class with her love for Montessori and respect for children. Grace and courtesy are the cornerstones of Mary's pedagogical philosophy. Children in Mary's classroom gain the self-confidence essential for success in life as well as in the 3-6 classroom and beyond. She has also assisted in the Pre-primary (3-6 years) classrooms presenting lessons in botany, zoology, geography and cultural subjects. She has many years experience in the Montessori classroom, nine of which were spent directing her own Montessori program. Mary has two biological and three adopted children from Ethiopia ranging in age from 9 to 19 years old.

Pre-Primary & Kindergarten Program

Chris Krenicki
Chris brings an extensive background in the Arts to our staff. A soloist, choreographer, artistic director, studio manager and dance teacher for more than twenty years, Chris enjoys working with children of all ages. Chris' expertise in the Vaganova syllabus, known for its attention to detail and the progressive education of artists through a carefully structured environment, is a natural fit with the Montessori environment. Her love and understanding of movement enhances our Pre-Primary environment. Chris joined our staff in 2005 and is the assistant in the Middle Room. Chris was born and raised in New England where she spends her summers teaching dance and relaxing by the sea. She is the mother of two teenagers.

Sue Jurgensen
Sue attended Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois and earned a bachelor degree in Elementary Education. She has been a Montessori teacher for over 20 years. She is a certified directress and teaches a Pre-primary (3-6 years) class. She loves teaching and working with children. "The things I like most about Montessori are the respect for the child and how each child is treated as an individual and can learn at their own pace and pursue their own interests. Also, I love to see children experience respect and kindness and it becomes second nature to treat others in the same way."

Rosemarie Pinkos
Rosemarie first came to Montessori Academy as a mom dropping off her son and daughter in the preprimary program. She observed, "The classrooms are peaceful and curiously enticing for the children. Making up her own mind, on a daily basis, is very empowering to a young person." As her children continued through the Elementary Program she volunteered more at the school. She took the Montessori Fundamentals Training with Don Czerwinskyj, and worked for two years as a substitute in all the classrooms. Getting to know the different directresses and children was important, and she has been assisting in the morning Pre-primary (3 - 6 years) Southroom since 2006.

Don Carlson
Don Carlson discovered Montessori in 1989 when he married Annie. He began reading and learning everything he could about Montessori. The whole common sense approach to teaching children struck a chord with Don because it corresponded to his educational experience in many ways. Then in 2008, Don was inspired to take his 3-6 training at Wellspring Montessori Education Center, which is hosted by Montessori Academy during the summer. He is now an assistant/intern with the pre-primary class.

Eva Schuchardt
Eva is a native German. Like many of our staff, Eva is bilingual and brings to all the classrooms the benefits of her native culture and language. She studied and trained in the highly technical field of textile science, working for the Art Institute as a Conservation Scientist for over 10 years. Her interest in Montessori education began as she searched for a preschool for her oldest son. After much consideration she concluded that Montessori was the best method for the children. For two years she worked in the Montessori classroom which lead her to take the Montessori Assistant's Training. She has assisted in the pre-primary (3-6 year) class at Montessori Academy of Glen Ellyn since 2002. Eva is working with all the children as a substitute and as valued member of the administration team in the office. Her attention to detail is an asset to our Montessori community.

Alia Shakir
Alia is a mother of three children, aged five, three, and one. Before her children were born, she was a college research student studying the factors that induce the onset of preeclampsia in pregnant women. Her work in this field ultimately led to a publication in a medical journal. After her children were born, Alia put her academic career on hold and began to focus entirely on raising and educating her children at home. She has relied in particular on books such as Teaching Montessori In The Home and The Montessori Method. In 2008, she enrolled in the Montessori Teacher Education Program at MECA-Seton. Alia is using her patience and her love of learning to nurture the children in her class.

Elementary Program

Annie Carlson
Annie has made Montessori her life work for over 30 years. "And I owe it all to my youngest brother who was in Montessori when I was studying Child Development in college." Seeing her brother's Montessori experiences inspired her to pursue her Montessori training. She is trained in Infant-Toddler (birth - 3 years), Pre-primary (3 - 6 years) and Elementary I and II (6 - 12 years). Annie has taken her love of Montessori to a new level by joining the faculty of Wellspring Montessori Teacher Education Center and presenting Math to new Montessori teachers. Annie took the reins as the Director of Montessori Academy in 1979 and has taught at all three levels, Toddler through Elementary. Currently, she is directing a morning 3 - 6 class and continues to be involved at all levels as Head of School.

Wilfran Ramirez
Wilfran is the Director of the Elementary Program. He is a native Columbian who has joyfully spent the last seven years implementing and living the Montessori philosophy in the Elementary classroom. He graduated in his native Colombia with a degree in Language, but continued his education and studies in the U. S. He attended MMTTC and received the training for Lower Elementary (6 - 9), as well as upper Elementary (9 - 12). Teaching is his passion and he does his work with great dedication and commitment.