Our Staff

The people who make us who we are

LPP hires Bachelor and Master Degreed Educators who are nurturing, experienced, and who also possess strong personal commitments to the education of young children. Our multi-step interview process helps to ensure that the best possible teachers join our team.

On a daily basis, teachers create opportunities for discovery and learning in engaging environments where children feel safe, secure, and confident. LPP requires that all teachers possess a Bachelor or Masters Degree in Education or closely related field. Our goal is to provide an environment where teachers are valued and provided for in a way that echoes the value we place on their education and expertise. We are proud of the fact that many of our teachers have been with LPP upwards of 5 years. At LPP, all teachers receive additional hours of professional development training each year. Teachers attend professional workshops, conferences, and seminars designed to further early childhood education knowledge and skills, and to keep connected and current with best practices and research in the field.

LPP takes pride in the consistency of our staffing as well as in the environment as a whole. Children thrive in our program where teachers and children are not moved about from room to room. Having three teachers in every classroom allows for transitions to be conducted as smoothly as possible throughout the day, and ensures that all children’s needs are met both individually and as members of the group. Teachers are hired specifically for their expertise with various age groups and strong commitments are made to provide the best possible resources for teachers and the classrooms.
Directors and Education Directors at each location are actively engaged and connected to the day-to-day happenings in the classroom. Directors and Education directors work in partnership to uphold the schools philosophy, maintain NAEYC learning standards, and ensure that all aspects of the program run smoothly. All members of the administrative team are hired from within, as we feel strongly that this enables us to have a focused and intimate understanding of all aspects of LPP.

Ashley Walker

Director, LPP Belden

M.S. Early Childhood Education / Bilingual ESL Certification, Erikson Institute
B.S. Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.A. Spanish, University of Wisconsin-Madison
LPP since 2016

Josefina Olivares

Education Director, LPP Belden

B.A. Social Work, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
M.Ed. Early Childhood Education, DePaul University
LPP since 2019

Ali Clemons

Director, LPP Germania

M.S. Early Childhood Education, DePaul University

LPP since 2016

Megan Barrymore

Education Director, LPP Germania

M.A. Education; Special Education Specialization, Ashford University
LPP since 2006

Laura Bailey

Director, LPP Webster

B.S. Education Studies, Simpson College
National Director Credential, McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership
LPP since 2002

Amanda Jensen

Education Director, LPP Webster

B.S. Elementary Education, Reading & Literacy Minor, Cardinal Stritch University
LPP since 2011

Sharon Hickey-Kozek

Founder & Owner, LPP Belden, Germania & Webster

B.S. Early Childhood Education, Bowling Green State University
Founder of LPP 1994

Alison Burkhart

Community Resource Director

B.S. Early Childhood Education, Bowling Green State University
LPP since 2010

Carrie Rosen

Toddler Lead Teacher

B.A. Arts, Loyola University
M.Ed. Early Childhood Education, National Louis University (In Progress)
LPP since 2023

Julie Gloudeman

Toddler Lead Teacher

B.A. Elementary Education, Trinity Christian College
LPP since 2023

Brenda Jaramillo

Toddler Assistant Teacher

Associate in Early Childhood Education, Oakton College (In Progress)
LPP since 2023

Veronica Van

Toddler Assistant Teacher

B.A. Psychology (concentration in human services), DePaul University
LPP since 2021

Sydney Johnson

Twos Lead Teacher

B.S. Human Development and Family Science, Illinois State University
LPP since 2021

Anna Baumgartner

Twos Lead Teacher

M.Ed. Early Childhood Education, DePaul University
LPP since 2022

Rachel Wade

Twos Assistant Teacher

B.A. Theatre Arts, University of Iowa
LPP since 2022

Kaleen Holland

Threes Lead Teacher

B.S. Elementary Education, Marquette University
B.A. Communication Studies, Marquette University
LPP since 2021

Rachel Flaig

Threes Lead Teacher

B.S. Early Childhood & Special Education, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
LPP since 2021

Cynthia Almazan

Threes Assistant Teacher

B.S. Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago
LPP since 2020

Sean Kirwan

Pre-K Lead Teacher

B.S. Psychology, Illinois State University
Registered Behavior Technician
LPP since 2021

Ashley Dolewski

Pre-K Lead Teacher

B.S. Elementary Education from Northeastern University
LPP since 2024

Melissa Acevedo

Permanent Substitute

B.A. Early Childhood Education, National Lewis University (In Progress)
LPP since 2023

Emilija Renetskis

Spanish Teacher

M.Ed. Teaching and Learning, DePaul University
LPP since 2023

Ashley Cebrero

2s Lead Teacher

B.A. Child Development & Elementary Education, Michigan State University

LPP since 2020

Amelia Harlow

2s Lead Teacher

Coming soon!

LPP since 2023

Coming soon!

2s Assistant Teacher

Coming soon!

Masey Eastman

3s Lead Teacher

B.A. Human Developmental Learning, University of Illinois at Chicago
LPP since 2023

Geory Skye

3s Lead Teacher

Coming soon!

LPP since 2023

Amanda Medina

3s Assistant Teacher

B.A. Child Development & Elementary Education, Michigan State University

LPP since 2021

Mariel Salgado

Spanish Teacher

Coming soon

LPP since 2021

Jillian Keleher

3s & 4s Lead Teacher

B.A. Child Development & Elementary Education, Michigan State University
LPP since 2017

Emily Slider

3s & 4s Lead Teacher

Coming soon!
LPP since 2021

Coming soon!

3s & 4s Assistant Teacher

Coming soon!

Danielle Bernal

J&SK Lead Teacher

M.S. Literacy, University of Maine

LPP since 2022

Abby Block

J&SK Lead Teacher

M.Ed. Education Psychology, Miami University

LPP since 2021

Katie Mochamer

J&SK Assistant Teacher/Float

B.S. Communications, Holy Cross College

LPP since 2023

Kassandra Guerrero

Toddler Lead Teacher

B.A. Elementary Education, Western Governors University
LPP since 2022

Yaritza Delgado

Toddler Lead Teacher

Child Development and Preschool Education, Malcom X City College
LPP since 2024

Julianne Baustian

Toddler Assistant Teacher (Full-time)

B.A. Journalism, California State University
LPP since 2024

Fabiana Reno

Toddler Assistant Teacher (Part time)

B.S. Psychology, Universidad Iberoamericana de Santo Domingo, DR
LPP since 2022

Sarah Gerali

Twos Lead Teacher

M.A. Child Development, Infancy, Erikson Institute
LPP since 2020

Danielle Diol

Twos Lead Teacher

B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies Human and Educational Resources, Illinois State University
LPP since 2020

Jo Gutierrez

2’s Assistant Teacher

B.A. Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
LPP since 2023

Rebecca Cerotti

2’s & 3’s Lead Teacher

B.S. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, University of Missouri
LPP since 2021

Lily Culver

2’s and 3’s Lead Teacher

M.Ed. Elementary and Special Education, DePaul University
LPP since 2023

Haley Graak

2’s and 3’s Assistant Teacher

B.S. Human Services, Minor in Psychology and Sociology, Upper Iowa University
LPP since 2024

Jess DeFano

3’s and 4’s Lead Teacher

B.S. Early Childhood Education, Rasmussen College
LPP since 2021

Liv Donofrio

2’s and 3’s Lead Teacher

B.S. Child Studies & Studio Art, Vanderbilt University
LPP since 2023

Natalie Seitz

3’s & 4’s Assistant Teacher

B.A. Sustainability Studies and Political Science
LPP since 2024

Josh Rosen

Pre-K Lead Teacher

B.S. Early Childhood Education, Rasmussen College
LPP since 2020

Morgan Steffler

Pre-K Lead Teacher

B.S. Early Childhood Education, Western Michigan University
LPP since 2021

Daisy Martinez

Pre-K Assistant Teacher

B.S. Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago
LPP since 2024

Maricruz Alfaro

Spanish Teacher

B.S. Early Childhood Education, Universidad Federada de Costa Rica
LPP since 2020