Mary Hart is starting her fourth year on staff, working as co-teacher in the Young 3’s Yellow Room.  Last year, Mary was an aide in the M/W Transition Rose Room class as well as teacher the Little Sibs class.  Mary has also worked as an aide in the M/W and T/Th Transition Green Room classes. She has two children who graduated from Cherry Preschool and both attend King Lab School.  Mary served on the Cherry board for two years as Community Outreach Chair.  She has previous experience as a teacher of parent/child classes. 

Louise Matek is in her third year at Cherry, teaching in the 3 Morning 3’s, Young 3’s, and 3 Afternoon Multi-age all in the Yellow Room.  Louise has a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Roosevelt University.  Before coming to Cherry, she taught for the Board of Jewish Education and the Beth Emet Early Childhood Program in Evanston.  In addition, Louise has been an active volunteer in District 65 for many years.  She served as President of the PTA at Willard Elementary School and tutored many students at Willard and Haven Middle school. Louise lives in Evanston with her husband Michael and has two sons, one who attends Evanston Township High School and another in college.  She has served as Teacher Representative on the Board.

Lesley Mauer is starting her second year as teacher in the 3 Morning 3’s Yellow Room class.  Leslie, who has a degree in Education and has experience as a preschool teacher, also worked as a substitute teacher in many of our classes.  She is the parent of Cherry graduates, Sam and Josie Reed. 

Ione Novak is beginning her tenth year as a teacher, working this year in the 3 Afternoon Multi-age Yellow Room class.  During her first two years on the Cherry staff, Ione taught the M/W Transition class in the Green Room, worked as a permanent sub in the 3 Afternoon 3’s Yellow Room Class, and was a frequent substitute teacher in other classrooms.  Ione has a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois.  She is the parent of two boys, ages 15 and 13, who are Cherry Preschool graduates and has been an active PTA volunteer at Walker School and Chute Middle School.

Chantel Washington is beginning her eleventh year at Cherry as an inclusion aide.  This year, she is working in the 3 Morning 3’s, Young 3’s, and 3 Afternoon Multi-age all 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.