Alcuin Montessori Faculty and Staff

​Our teachers are a dedicated, well-educated group of individuals who empower and facilitate students, partner with parents, and are role models in the larger community.

Infant

SHARON DIAZ: Completing her 0-3 AMS Certification from Seton Montessori Institute. Undergrad: Northeastern Illinois University.

Toddler

ANNIE BORGE: 0-3 AMS Certification, Seton Montessori Institute. BA in psychology, art minor, University of Denver.

KIMBERLEY FIPPS: 2.5-6 AMS Certification, Seton Montessori Institute. BA in journalism and mass communication, University of Georgia. BFA in fine arts, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

JESS KRIES: Early Childhood Certification from the Montessori Institute of North Texas. BDes in Industrial Design, University of Illinois at Chicago.

Primary/AYM Primary

LYDIA LEWIS-BRANDT: 3-6 AMS Certification, Seton Montessori Institute. BS in psychology, McGill University.

MONICA LIGHTNER: 3-6 AMS Certification, Seton Montessori Institute. BA in history, Western Illinois University.

JASMINE LLENAS: 3-6 PMI/MACTE Montessori Primary Teacher Certification. BS in marine biology from Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. Child Development certificate from Truman College.

MIKE NEVILLE: 3-6 AMS Certification, Seton Montessori Institute. BA in communications, Grand Valley State University.

Junior Elementary

HEATHER RIVERA: 6-9 AMS Certification, Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center. BA in environmental studies, Northeastern Illinois University. MA in educational psychology, National Lewis University.

Senior Elementary

PHOENIX HOLT: 3-6 and 6-12 Montessori Certification, Barry University; 12-15 AMI/NAMTA Certification. BA in psychology and fine arts, University of Massachusetts. MS in early childhood Montessori education, Barry University.

JEFF PETERS: 6-12 AMI Certification, Washington Montessori Institute. BA in english, Spanish minor, Earlham College.

​Middle School

GUS BUESSER: BA from Evergreen State College. MA in teaching from National-Louis University.

CHELSEA HOSLER: BA in history and sociology, Grove City College. MA in special education, University of Illinois at Chicago.

JOHANNA KENNEY: 12-18 AMI Certification, AMI Cleveland. BA in english, art history minor, Boston University. MAED, Goddard College.

Enrichment

GLORIA DOMINGUEZ: Primary and Junior El Spanish Teacher. BA in education, minor in biology, Northeastern Illinois University.

TERRAISA EICHWALD: Gym Teacher. BA in parks, recreation and leisure studies, Western Illinois University.

SOPHIA LYMAN: Art Teacher. BA in art history, Emory University. MA in teaching art education, Columbia College.

AARON SMITH: Music and Theater Teacher. BA in english, music minor, Ohio University.

MEGHAN SULLIVAN: Senior El and Middle School Spanish Teacher. BA in world language education from DePaul University.