Alcuin Staff

Shawn Edwards: Executive Director
As Executive Director, Mrs. Edwards oversees and works directly with all members of the administrative staff and faculty.  She works closely with the board of trustees and all standing committees to support the sustainability and growth of the school. Shawn Edwards has over 20 years of experience working in Montessori Schools.  With a background in psychology and human services, she fell in love with the Montessori model as an appealing way to offer children a healthy aid to life.  She received her advanced education and Montessori Elementary certification at the Washington Montessori Institute in 1990 and has been involved in the mission ever since.  She worked at the Post Oak Montessori School in Houston, Texas for 14 years first as a teacher and then an administrator. 

During her time in Texas she also spent two years working at the Alief Montessori School – the first Montessori Charter School in Texas.  Mrs. Edwards has been married since 1989 and has three children: Jayme, Jacob and Joshua.  All three children began their Montessori careers as young toddlers at Post Oak Montessori School in Houston.  Jayme completed her middle school education there, graduating from the eighth grade program.  Shawn and her family moved to Oak Park in July of 2006 when she joined Alcuin as Executive Director. Jacob and Joshua have been at Alcuin since 2006. Mrs. Edwards and her family enjoy camping, sports and reading.

Pat Ellis: Business and Human Resource Manager
As Business Manager, Mrs. Ellis works in the following areas: daily operations of the school including facility, technology and personnel management.  She is responsible for all aspects of finance and operations including budget, billing and collections, purchasing, accounts payable, employee compensation and benefits administration.  Mrs. Ellis works with the Executive Director, the Board treasurer, and the Finance Committee to implement the strategic financial plan and is second in command in the absence of the Executive Director.  She has been at Alcuin Montessori School since 2000.

A native Chicagoan, Mrs. Ellis enjoys cooking, traveling and working with children.  She and her husband also serve as mentors for various young adults.

Alejandra Valera:  Director of Admissions and External Affairs
A Montessorian for over 12 years, Ms. Valera has previously worked at Near North Montessori and the Montessori School of Lemont.  As the Director of Admissions and External Affairs, she assists with the daily operations of the school, focusing on recruitment, admissions, enrollment and registration.  She also spearheads Alcuin's internal and external communications, including marketing and advertising materials.

A writing and education professional with extensive editing, proofreading, consulting, photographic, art and Web experience, Ms. Valera received her degree in English and Creative Writing from Roosevelt University and her work has appeared in Chicago Parent, Gapers Block, Ohdeedoh, Oyez Review, Rodwan Art Gallery, Womanmade Gallery and Apartment Therapy Chicago.  She is also a "Montessori in the Home" consultant. Ms. Valera joined the Alcuin staff as Director of Admissions and External Affairs in May 2009. She enjoys reading, building Rube Goldberg contraptions with her son and traveling.

Jamie Kazay: Development Manager
As the Alcuin Development Manager, Ms. Kazay oversees the implementation of the annual fund and spring fundraisers, maintains the alumni and friends database and relations and leads the school in advancement efforts.

Ms. Kazay was born in Hollywood, and grew-up in Pasadena, California. She relocated to Chicago for graduate school in 2005. She holds a BA in English and Creative Writing from California State University, Northridge and an MFA in Poetry from Columbia College, where she teaches writing. Her poems have appeared in Northridge Review, Wicked Alice, Columbia Poetry Review, and elsewhere. Ms. Kazay joined the Alcuin staff as Development Manager in June 2009. She enjoys traveling and researching Virginia Woolf.

Shuntae Richardson: Office Manager
Shuntae Richardson began at Alcuin as a school parent, serving time of the Board of Trustees, and since then has become an important part of the administrative team.  As the Office Manager, Ms. Richardson provides support and structure for the school office, answers the phone and extends messages.

Ms. Richardson is a graduate of The Joseph School of Business and Entrepreneurship and Robert Morris University.  She has worked in corporate America for over 18 years with more than 15 years being spent in the mortgage banking industry.  While at Alcuin she has served on the Board of Trustees, been a parent volunteer, assisted the administrative staff with varied duties and her son is an Alcuin alumni.  In her spare time she loves to skate, dance, spend time with her children, and serve youth.

Gina Gleason: Lower School Director
A northern Michigan native, Gina Gleason, received her degree from Alma College before moving to Chicago in 1998.  After receiving her AMS certification from the Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center in 2003, Ms. Gleason was an intern at Alcuin and was a lead directress since then.  In 2008, she became Lower School Director.  As Lower School Director, Ms. Gleason supervises and evaluates Parent/Infant, Toddler and Primary faculty and staff, and provides support to students, parents and staff. 

Ms. Gleason is currently completing her Masters in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University.

Keith Drnek: Safety Officer

Gwen Palermini: Facilities