Alcuin Montessori School of Oak Park, Illinois - Oak Park, Illinois

Primary Program

Shazia Khan: Primary Directress, Room 2

Shazia Khan grew up in Karachi,

Pakistan

and graduated from St. Joseph's High School. She studied at St. Joseph’s College in Karachi and received a Bachelor’s degree in English literature, geography and history and a Master’s degree in economics. She received AMI training through the Montessori program in Holland, and taught Montessori in Karachi. In 2001, she moved to the

United States

where she joined the faculty at Alcuin. Mrs. Khan had previously established a boutique where she worked as a designer for four years to produce her own line of clothing. With a passion for singing she now performs at community gatherings with her family. Most songs are in Urdu and she has her own band, Saaz.

Gingi Lahera: Primary Assistant, Room 2

Amanda Sanderson: Primary Directress, Room 4/5

Amanda Sanderson is originally from Fenton, Michigan, she graduated from Kalamazoo College with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology. In college she studied in

Ecuador

and developed a strong appreciation for inter-cultural awareness and travel. Miss Sanderson also worked with elementary age children throughout college and after graduating decided to continue. After working for a year as an assistant in a Montessori classroom she pursued AMS training at Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center to become a lead teacher. Miss Sanderson began working at Alcuin in the Fall of 2008. She has been living in Chicago for almost 2 years and loves living in the city.

Norma Wright: Primary Assistant, Room 4/5

Margaret Combs: Primary Directress, Room 6/7
Margaret Combs earned her BFA from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 3D design with a focus on metalworking, with additional work in textiles, clay, glassblowing, graphic and product design. She studied in Cortona,

Italy

, and received an MFA at the University of North Texas, majoring in art and 3D design. Her work has been shown extensively around the nation and she has done commission work and work for private collections, galleries and art shows. She received her Montessori Certification from the Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center. Her internship was completed at Chiaravalle Montessori School in Evanston. She has been a Primary Directress at Alcuin Montessori School since 2000. She has incorporated art into the classroom in many ways. Ms. Combs is a consultant for and educational presenter at the Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center and is also an Instructional Guide for the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, an online Montessori training center.

Vira Mandybur: Primary Assistant, Room 6/7

Sara Pletcher: Primary Directress, Room 8
Sara Pletcher began her career as a Montessori student, growing up in Springfield, Illinois. She then lived in Olympia, Washington, where she graduated from the Evergreen State College with a Liberal Arts B.A. During college, Ms. Pletcher actively pursued independent studies relating to ecology and child development. She completed a wide range of projects within the field, developing and implementing environmental curriculum at Islandwood Education Center, as well as writing and illustrating an original children's book. She completed her Montessori credential through MECA-Seton in Clarendon Hills. After teaching at Woodland Montessori for two years in Madison, Wisconsin, she moved to Oak Park to become part of the Alcuin community. Ms. Pletcher continues to pursue ways to integrate more natural experiences into the classroom, growing mushrooms and making recycled paper with her class.

Lakshmi Subramanian: Room 8, Primary Assistant

Clarice Murphy: Room 8, Dayhouse 1
Janne Laurencelle: Room 8, Dayhouse After Care