MUSIC TEACHER

Jeanie Bonansinga (Jeanie B) teaches music to children in our 3-5 day classes on Wednesdays.  A lifelong singer/songwriter, she started playing the guitar at the age of 12. Her sound is Americana roots music — a mixture of bluegrass, country, blues, and enough rock 'n' roll to keep everyone dancing! She has taught at Happy Child and Creative Kids Corner in Evanston, has released several CDs for young children, and gives numerous children’s concerts. Jeanie and her group, The Jelly Beans, are recent recipients of a Parents' Choice Recommended Award and a Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Award for her sophomore CD "Mommy Knows Best," whose track "The World is a Wonderful Place" was voted Best Children's song of 2007 by The Children's Music Web Awards.

MORNING LUNCH STAFF

Emily Erikson works in the Lunch Program on Tuesday and Thursday.  She is starting her second year on the staff as an inclusion aide in the 5 Morning Pre-K Purple Room.  Emily has worked as a summer camp teacher and teacher aide at School for Little Children.  She also worked at Pope John XXIII School in the after school program.  Emily is the parent of two young children, a boy entering first grade and a two year old girl. 

Del Lord works in the Lunch Program on Wednesday. She is beginning her fifteenth year at Cherry Preschool.  She teaches both of the Transition Classes and the Afternoon Young 3’s Class in the Green Room.  She also works in the Morning Lunch program on Mondays and Wednesdays.     A native of Belize where she worked in a school for five years, Del also worked in childcare for over eleven years prior to joining Cherry’s staff. Six years ago, Del earned her CDA early childhood credential and became an American citizen!  Del has been a Teacher Representative on the Board.  Del's son, Ray, is a Cherry graduate and is now a junior at ETHS.

Linda Messam works in the Lunch Program on Friday. She is beginning 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.

Karen Weine works in the Lunch Program as the Lunch Coordinator Monday through Friday.  She 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. 

AFTERNOON LUNCH STAFF

Sunita Jain works in the Lunch Program on Tuesday and Thursday. She is beginning her seventh year on the Cherry staff as an aide, working as part of the 5 Morning Pre-K and 4 Afternoon Pre-K Purple Room team.  In past years, Sunita also worked in the M/W Transition Rose Room.  Sunita is from India where she taught school for 11 years.  She also holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology and has taken classes in child development.  Sunita is very interested in working with children with special needs.  She is the mother of two boys attending Evanston schools.

Chantel Washington works in the Lunch Program as the Lunch Coordinator Tuesday through Thursday.  She is beginning her eleventh year at Cherry as an inclusion aide.  This year, she is working in all three classes in the Yellow Room, as well as the Afternoon Lunch Program on Tuesday through Thursday.  In past years, Chantel has worked in the Purple Room, Green Room, Orange Room, and Yellow Room.  She is also part of the summer camp staff.  Chantel is the mother of a Cherry graduate, Christian, who is in seventh grade at King Lab School.  In her years as a Cherry parent, Chantel worked on Cherry’s Jubilee and volunteered for the Market Money program.  Chantel has also served as a Teacher Representative on the Cherry Board.  Chantel has a certificate in Early Childhood Education from Oakton Community College.

Joann Zobel works in the Lunch Program on Wednesday.  She is beginning her eleventh year on the Cherry Staff, working this year as an assistant teacher in the M/W Transition Rose Room class.  Joann also works in the Afternoon Lunch program on Wednesday.  In her first four years on the Cherry staff, Joann worked as an inclusion aide in the Green Room.  She is the parent of two boys, ages 17 and 15.  Her younger son, Joe, attended Cherry Preschool for two years.  Joann has served on the Cherry Preschool Board and was an active Cherry volunteer.