Kitty Culbert, co-teacher in the 5 Morning Pre-K and 4 Afternoon Multi-age Blue Room classes, is returning for her seventh year teaching at Cherry.  Kitty is delighted to be teaching in the Blue Room with Kim Newman again. She first taught in the Yellow room with Debbie Boileve during 2002-03, then took a year off to student teach kindergarten at Walker School and complete her Education degree.   Kitty has a Masters of Education degree from DePaul University as well as a Master of Fine Arts in Set Design from the University of Arizona.  She has three children, all “Cherry grads,” ages 18, 15, and 13.  Kitty has served as a Teacher Representative on the Board.

Linda Messam begins her seventh year on the Cherry staff, working as an inclusion aide in the 5 Morning Pre-K and 4 Afternoon Multi-age Blue Room classes. Linda has also been part of the summer camp staff and worked in the 3 Morning 3’s and Young 3’s Yellow Room classes in past years.  Linda has been a long time Cherry fan, as she is Del Lord’s sister and has attended many Cherry events!  She was a teacher in Belize before coming to the United States, and she is very excited to have come back to her original love of education.

Kim Newman teaches the 5 Morning Pre-K and 4 Afternoon Multi-age classes in the Blue Room.  She has a degree in early childhood education and is starting her 21st  year as a preschool teacher.  Kim worked as teacher/director of a preschool in California where she developed curriculum and taught four and five year olds.  She also taught kindergarten and first grade for two years.  The mother of two adult daughters, Kim was an active volunteer at Willard, Haven, and ETHS and served as president of Willard PTA.  Kim is the Cherry Preschool Camp Coordinator, has served a record three terms as a Teacher Representative on the Cherry Preschool Board!  Kim was part of the original staff of the preschool and served on the 2008-09 Strategic Planning committee.

Karen Weine is starting her seventh year on the Cherry staff as an aide in the 5 Morning Pre-K  Blue Room Class.  She is also the coordinator of the morning lunch program Monday through Friday.  Karen is certified in food service and sanitation, a DCFS requirement for preschools.  She has also worked in the 5 Morning Pre-K Purple Room as well as the summer camp and afternoon lunch programs.  Karen’s son, Eric, is a Cherry graduate who is currently in seventh grade at Chute Middle School.  Karen has a certificate in Early Childhood Education from Oakton Community College.