Meet The Highly Qualified Teachers of Christian Pre-K Prep
Its been said that the art of teaching preschool is to nurture the curiosity of life. In order to awaken our students' curiosity, we only hire teachers that have the highest qualifications and the most unique life experiences. The combination of formal education, classroom experience, and unique life experience add up to the very best teachers ever! Among our 6 teachers, they have 4 advanced degrees, speak 3 different languates, experience teaching across 3 continents, and a deep and long-lasting love for nurturing young minds. They also are all certified in first aid and CPR to ensure your children are taught by the very best preschool teachers ever!
Mrs. Gilland
Melissa founded Christian Pre-K Prep in 2014. Since then she has taught hundreds of children and fell in love with each and every one of them. She has her Masters in Education from DePaul and has been teaching for over 30 years. The diversity of her teaching experience in inner city neighborhoods, affluent suburbs, and in Africa, has given her a great appreciation that all children have their own unique set of circumstances and they all deserve unconditional love. She has dedicated her life to teaching children and wouldn't change that for anything :-) Melissa has lived in Arlington Heights for over 20 years with her husband. She is the mom of two wonderful boys and two (crazy) dogs.
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Ms. Krista
Ms. Krista’s background as a kindergarten teacher, ESL teacher, and a camp counselor is the perfect combination for a preschool teacher. Also, her international experience teaching kindergarten in Thailand, has given her an appreciation of different cultures that she shares everyday with our students. Krista’s degree is from Loyola University, and she also holds a qualification as a pediatric behavior technician. Best of all, Krista is an accomplished performer, singing anytime and anywhere she can. Her favorite part of teaching preschool? You guessed it . . . singing to the kids.
Ms. Sammie
Ms. Sammie is a passionate teacher with a heart for serving children and her community. Born and raised in Round Lake, she now resides in Mount Prospect with her fiancé. She has a degree in elementary education and is continuing her studies with a focus on early childhood education. Ms. Sammie serves in the Accessibility and Disability Ministry at her church and is also building a Youth and Young Adult Ministry focused on music, real-life struggles, and faith. Ms. Sammie has a big personality and an even bigger sense of service for her community. Ms. Sammie is committed to following God’s call and is proud to inspire young minds with love and learning.
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Ms. Jacky
Ms. Jacky brings great enthusiasm and cultural richness to our preschool family. As a proud first-generation Mexican-American college student and holder of her Child Development Associate Certification, she combines her early childhood education studies with a natural gift for nurturing young minds. Her creative spirit shines through her love of reading, writing, and artistic pursuits, including her experience showcasing children's artwork in schools. When not inspiring our preschoolers, Ms. Jacky cherishes time with her four nephews and delights our young superhero enthusiasts with her passion for Spider-Man. Her warm personality makes her a beloved presence in our preschool community.
Ms. Betty
Betty grew up in Italy and brought with her all the passion and culture Italy is so famous for. Her teaching career spans 25+ years, two countries, and preschool to high school. Betty's undergraduate degree is in psychology, and she also holds a masters degree in Developmental and Educational Psychology. She truly has a wealth of experiences! Mrs. Betty is LOVED by all the children for her unwavering patience and understanding that all children are truly special. Mrs. Betty also is a tutor teaching Italian to children and adults. She lives in Arlington Heights with her husband and son.
Ms. Lesley
As a former science teacher for many years, Ms. Lesley truly understands how to bring STEM alive to our students! She is a graduate of Rutgers and has two masters’ degrees – one in Education and the other in Educational Leadership. While her degrees are quite impressive, her favorite part of teaching is the hugs she gets from her students. She lives in Wheeling where she raised two children, both of whom are now doctors. A fun fact about Ms. Lesley . . . she’s a former equestrian, competing in show jumping events.