Staff
Our Teachers
Anne Decelles
Teacher, Kindergarten (since 2019)
Anne has been on the SLC staff for four years teaching 2s & 3s. She has 19 years of experience teaching different age levels, including Kindergarten and 1st grade. Anne holds a Master’s in Elementary Education from DePaul University and an ECE teaching license from National Louis University. A fun fact about Anne is that she taught in France for almost three years. She likes reading, walking and going to the beach.
Dawn Borchardt
Teacher, Pre-K classroom (since 2015)
Dawn has over 15 years of experience teaching, and is proud of having taught students of all ages from infants to adults. She has a B.A. in Political Science/History from the University of Arizona, and a Teaching Credential/ESL Certificate from San Diego State University. In high school, Dawn lettered in the “sport” of Academic Decathlon and in her free time enjoys reading and travel.
Fran Ex
Assistant, 3s classroom (since 2016)
Fran holds a B. A. in English from the University of Wisconsin and a M. Ed from University of Illinois at Chicago. Fran has been a Fun in the Sun teacher and a Toddler Time teacher at SLC. She is a proud mother of two children who also happen to be SLC alums. Fran enjoys taking her dog Annie to the dog beach, reading novels, and bike riding with her family. One thing you may not know about Fran is that she taught high school English
Kathryn Swarczewski
Teacher, 3s classroom (since 2001)
Kathryn and has been a teacher at School for Little Children since 2001. In addition to over 20 years of teaching experience, Kathy’s educational background includes a B.S. in Elementary and Special Education from Northern Illinois University. Kathy enjoys teaching at the same school as her sister Donna Bell.
Lara Menendez
Teacher, 3s classroom (since 2022)
Bethany Goodman
Teacher, Pre-K classroom (since 2013)
Bethany has a B.A. in Psychology from Loras College in Dubuque, and studied Early Childhood Education at Oakton Community College. Bethany has 7 years of experience teaching in both a 3s and Pre-K classroom. One thing you may not know about Bethany is that she is a certified Massage Therapist.
Donna Oline
Teacher, Pre-K classroom (since 2001)
Donna has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loras College in Iowa. Donna majored in Social Work, with a minor in Sociology, and uses her educational background with children and families on a daily basis. She has over 20 years of experience in the classroom, has taught both 3s and Pre-K and has served as Beach Camp Director. When Donna isn’t teaching, she is a crossword puzzle and Scrabble fanatic! Donna enjoys teaching at the same school as her sister Kathryn Swarczewski.
Isabelle Nieves
Teacher, 3s classroom (since 2001)
Isabelle has worked as both a classroom teacher and as a member of SLC’s administrative team. Isabelle has a Bachelor Degree in Applied Behavior Science from National Louis University, and a M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Phoenix. Isabelle is a proud grandparent, enjoys cake decorating and biking and is a Star Wars geek!
Kathy Smith
Teacher, Pre-K classroom (since 2007)
Kathy has a background in Special Education, earning a B.A. in Special Ed. from Northeastern IL University, and over 12 years of experience in an early childhood setting. One thing you may not know about Kathy is that she knows sign language, and when she’s not teaching she likes to be outdoors with her family-biking, running, kayaking and camping.
Lisa Woods
Teacher, 2s classroom (since 2021)
Lisa grew up in Evanston, studied Early Childhood Education at Oakton Community College and has 6 children who have all graduated from School for Little Children. Lisa began teaching at SLC in 1998 amd has taken on a variety of roles throughout the years including Toddler Time teacher, 2s teacher and Pre-K assistant and substitute. She has also enjoyed working in the nursery at the Cradle for the last 12 years. Lisa loves teaching, reading, cooking, and movie nights with her family.
Tatiana Kleiman
Teacher, 2s classroom (since 2021)
Tatiana was born and raised in Russia in a town just southeast of Moscow. She holds a bachelor and masters degree in child psychology and pedagogics, majoring in linguistics from Ryazan Pedagogical University. Tatiana moved to the United States in 2008 and currently lives in Evanston raising her three wonderful children ages 17, 12 and 8. She began her career in this area at Beth Emet Early Childhood Center where she nurtured each child’s innate love for learning and exploration as a long-term substitute teacher. Tatiana’s strengh is to create a safe and welcoming environment for children and to connect on a personal level with each child while sparking their curisosity for learning. When Tatiana is not teaching, she is an avid world traveler and enjoys white-water rafting, hiking, mountain biking and skiing.
Catherine Kane
Assistant, Pre-K classroom (since 2022)
Catherine graduated from Saint Mary’s College in 2022 with a BA in Elementary Education and a minor in Early Childhood Education. She is a first year teacher at SLC, but has worked with SLC for 3 years during the summer at the Beach Camp before joining the staff this school year. She has many years of babysitting experience and was also a counselor at Loyola Day camp. When not spending time with children she enjoys reading down at the lake and seeing her favorite artists in concert.
Erin Nugent
Assistant, 2s classroom (since 2018)
Erin has a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from the University of Missouri in Columbia, and has over 10 years teaching experience. She enjoys working with all children and is happy to be back in the classroom after a hiatus spent as a stay at home mom with her two kids, both SLC alums. In her free time Erin enjoys reading, yoga, spending time at the lakefront, and is currently working on regaining her fluency in Spanish.
Janet Gregori
Teacher, 3s classroom (since 2002)
Janet is the proud mother of three grown daughters, and has over 20 years of classroom experience. She studied Early Childhood Education and Applied Social Sciences at Kendall College. When Janet isn’t teaching, she enjoys cooking authentic Greek food and spending time with family. One thing you may not know about Janet is that she can hula hoop!
Katie Barthelemy
Assistant, 3s classroom (since 2020)
Katie loves working with children and was a family photographer for many years before joining the staff at SLC. She has three children, all SLC graduates, and was on the SLC Parent Committee and Governing Board. Katie is an enthusiastic alum of the University of Illinois in Champaign. Her hobbies are photography, reading, and walking her two noisy dogs.
Sharon Moriarty
Assistant, Pre-K classroom (since 2017)
Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education degree from Illinois State University and a Master of Social Work degree from Loyola University Chicago. During her teaching career, Sharon has taught all ages from two to eighteen but finds her heart happiest when she’s in the company of early childhood students. Sharon has been a 2s teacher, 3s teacher, assistant teacher, and substitute at SLC. This year, Sharon joyously returns to SLC as a Pre-K assistant teacher after a four-year hiatus.
When Sharon has free time, she enjoys biking, yoga, reading, establishing native plant gardens in her yard, and baking. One thing you may not know about Sharon is that she’s been learning the art of writing from instructor and author Natalie Goldberg and recently joined a women’s writing group.
Our Administration
Chrissy Cornell
Director
Chrissy is a child development specialist with more than 20 years of experience in the field of early childhood education. In her role as Director, Chrissy fosters Professional Learning opportunities for the staff, helps coordinate curriculum initiatives, supports the Inclusion Program for children with special needs, sets policies and maintains quality programming at SLC. Before becoming the Director, Chrissy was a Graduate Student Intern, an Inclusive Education Assistant, a classroom teacher and the Associate Director at SLC. She has served on the SLC Governing Board since 2005. Chrissy received her Illinois Director’s Credential in 2002 and participates in numerous professional development activities, including the Evanston Early Childhood Director’s Council and Evanston Cradle to Career. She holds a M.Ed through the Erikson Institute and a BA in Interpersonal Communication. Chrissy is the proud parent of two growing children, one of whom has a disability, both alums of SLC.
Kiki Demopolous
Business Manager
Kiki graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a B.A. in Art History. After college, reality set in and she became queen of the business office at a fine arts auction house located in River North. Kiki has been with SLC since 2007 when the youngest of her 3 children started kindergarten.
Chrissy Prieto
Administrative Assistant
Chrissy was born and raised in Evanston and studied Early Childhood Education at Northeastern Illinois University and Oakton Community College. Before joining SLC, Chrissy taught at the McGaw YMCA Discovery Child Care Center. She has also worked in the hospitality industry for 30+ years, owning, with her husband, a beloved local restaurant for five of those years. Chrissy has four children, two of whom are SLC alums. Chrissy enjoys spending her free time with family and friends, cooking and entertaining.
Katie Kelly
Associate Director
Katie is an early childhood educator with more than 20 years of experience working with children and families. She has a long history with SLC, joining the staff full time in 2008 as a Pre-K teacher in the Blue Room. Katie’s other positions at SLC have included Orange Room Pre-K teacher, 3/4s teacher, as well as Monday Fun Day and Beach Camp teacher. Before joining SLC, Katie taught first grade for six years. She holds a M.Ed in Early Childhood Education from the Erikson Institute and a BA from the University of Dayton. Katie is a proud alum of SLC as are her two sons, Quinn and Jack.
Gwen Fiske
Inclusion Coordinator
Gwen is a pediatric therapist, providing developmental and behavioral therapy to children for over two decades. Gwen has a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University. She owns her own pediatric therapy practice in Evanston, and enjoys working with children and their families to facilitate children’s development. Gwen has worked with children in a variety of settings and is excited to be working with School for Little Children as the Inclusion Director. In her role as Inclusion Director, Gwen works with SLC teachers and families to determine the best way to support children at SLC, and to facilitate a successful preschool experience for all children. She is a proud mother of two young children and, in her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends.
Jon Hoffheimer
SLC Greeter (since 2010)
Jon is School for Little Children’s morning greeter and office assistant. A lifelong Evanstonian, he also volunteers at the YMCA and works for the City of Evanston Special Recreation Department at Robert Crown. In his free time, Jon loves to spend time with his siblings and exercise at the YMCA.