Alcuin Montessori Administration
Nicole Cochrane, Education Director
Nicole is the Elementary Director, leading the Elementary team and building bridges between the Primary, Middle School, and Redwood Literacy programs. She has taught in elementary Montessori for almost 15 years. Nicole’s youngest daughter is part of the Senior Elementary/Redwood Literacy Program, and her older daughter is a graduate of Alcuin’s Middle School program.
Nicole received her Master’s in Montessori Education from Xavier University in Cincinnati, and her Bachelor’s in Science from Illinois State University. She also has her 6-9 Montessori certification from Xavier University, and an AMI (Association of Montessori International) administrator certificate. Additionally, Nicole has her Illinois Professional Educator’s License for Early Childhood Education, birth through grade 2. She loves that in Montessori education we teach the whole child: the academics cannot grow unless the social and emotional parts are growing as well. Nicole loves to explore and adventure with her family, develop her gardening skills, and spend time in nature and on the water.
Nicole is the Elementary Director, leading the Elementary team and building bridges between the Primary, Middle School, and Redwood Literacy programs. She has taught in elementary Montessori for almost 15 years. Nicole’s youngest daughter is part of the Senior Elementary/Redwood Literacy Program, and her older daughter is a graduate of Alcuin’s Middle School program.
Nicole received her Master’s in Montessori Education from Xavier University in Cincinnati, and her Bachelor’s in Science from Illinois State University. She also has her 6-9 Montessori certification from Xavier University, and an AMI (Association of Montessori International) administrator certificate. Additionally, Nicole has her Illinois Professional Educator’s License for Early Childhood Education, birth through grade 2. She loves that in Montessori education we teach the whole child: the academics cannot grow unless the social and emotional parts are growing as well. Nicole loves to explore and adventure with her family, develop her gardening skills, and spend time in nature and on the water.
Erin Giannoni, Education Director
Erin leads the Primary team and builds bridges between the Infant/Toddler, Primary, and Elementary programs. She has taught at the Primary level since 2007 at schools in Colorado, Chicago, and at Alcuin since 2015. Erin loves how the Montessori environments are designed to fulfill the child’s natural desire to manipulate and explore materials to engage in discovery.
Erin received her Master’s in Montessori Education from St. Catherine University, Bachelor's of Arts from Alma College with a major in Elementary Education, AMS (American Montessori Society) Early Childhood Credential from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies, and an AMI (Association of Montessori International) administrator certificate. Erin loves to travel, explore the outdoors, watch and play sports, and spend time with her family and dear friends. Her son is enrolled in Alcuin's infant program.
Erin leads the Primary team and builds bridges between the Infant/Toddler, Primary, and Elementary programs. She has taught at the Primary level since 2007 at schools in Colorado, Chicago, and at Alcuin since 2015. Erin loves how the Montessori environments are designed to fulfill the child’s natural desire to manipulate and explore materials to engage in discovery.
Erin received her Master’s in Montessori Education from St. Catherine University, Bachelor's of Arts from Alma College with a major in Elementary Education, AMS (American Montessori Society) Early Childhood Credential from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies, and an AMI (Association of Montessori International) administrator certificate. Erin loves to travel, explore the outdoors, watch and play sports, and spend time with her family and dear friends. Her son is enrolled in Alcuin's infant program.
Gina Gleason, Executive Director
Gina Gleason began her Alcuin career as an assistant in the Primary program in 2003. She then served as lead teacher of a Primary class from 2004 through 2009, when she was named Lower School Director. In July 2010, Gina became Executive Director of Alcuin. As the Executive Director, Gina is the chief administrative officer and educational leader of the school. Gina received her Master's of Arts in Teaching from Concordia University with a focus on early childhood education, and Bachelor's of Arts degree from Alma College, with a major in communications. In addition to her AMS (American Montessori Society) certification from Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center, in Evanston, she also has an AMI (Association of Montessori International) administrator certificate
Gina’s other interests include marathons and triathlons. She has completed over 100 races (including multiple IRONMAN triathlons) and has participated in fundraising efforts for the Illinois Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Chicago AIDS Marathon Training Program. Gina’s son is part of the Middle School/Redwood Literacy Program, and her daughter is a graduate of Alcuin’s Middle School program.
Gina Gleason began her Alcuin career as an assistant in the Primary program in 2003. She then served as lead teacher of a Primary class from 2004 through 2009, when she was named Lower School Director. In July 2010, Gina became Executive Director of Alcuin. As the Executive Director, Gina is the chief administrative officer and educational leader of the school. Gina received her Master's of Arts in Teaching from Concordia University with a focus on early childhood education, and Bachelor's of Arts degree from Alma College, with a major in communications. In addition to her AMS (American Montessori Society) certification from Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center, in Evanston, she also has an AMI (Association of Montessori International) administrator certificate
Gina’s other interests include marathons and triathlons. She has completed over 100 races (including multiple IRONMAN triathlons) and has participated in fundraising efforts for the Illinois Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Chicago AIDS Marathon Training Program. Gina’s son is part of the Middle School/Redwood Literacy Program, and her daughter is a graduate of Alcuin’s Middle School program.
Alejandra Valera, Associate Director
A Montessorian since 1997, Alex Valera has previously worked at Near North Montessori and The Montessori School of Lemont, and has been at Alcuin since 2009. She has lectured at WellSpring Montessori Training Center and was a panelist at the “Freedom in Education” conference. As the Associate Director, her responsibilities focus on Alcuin's long-term viability, in particular with enrollment and fundraising, as well as her work with marketing and admissions.
An award-winning writer, Alex received her Master's of Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University, Bachelor's of Arts, with honors, in English and creative writing with a minor in Secondary Education, from Roosevelt University, and an AMI (Association of Montessori International) administrator certificate. Alex is currently working on her first novel, enjoys reading, traveling, boxing, and sewing with her son who is a graduate of Alcuin’s Middle School program.
A Montessorian since 1997, Alex Valera has previously worked at Near North Montessori and The Montessori School of Lemont, and has been at Alcuin since 2009. She has lectured at WellSpring Montessori Training Center and was a panelist at the “Freedom in Education” conference. As the Associate Director, her responsibilities focus on Alcuin's long-term viability, in particular with enrollment and fundraising, as well as her work with marketing and admissions.
An award-winning writer, Alex received her Master's of Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University, Bachelor's of Arts, with honors, in English and creative writing with a minor in Secondary Education, from Roosevelt University, and an AMI (Association of Montessori International) administrator certificate. Alex is currently working on her first novel, enjoys reading, traveling, boxing, and sewing with her son who is a graduate of Alcuin’s Middle School program.
