The Co-Op Preschool believes a child's first school experience is an important one. Our staff believes that children come first. Our program is a play-based curriculum, creating an environment in which all children develop the academic, social, and emotional skills they need to be successful in school and beyond. Our extremely talented teachers implement the educational program of the school, with the guidance of the school director and the parent board.
Michelle Bauman
Director
director@thecooppreschool.com
Michelle has been the Director of The Co-Op Preschool since 2016. She has her Associate of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education and has been teaching since 1998. She held the position of Associate Director for the Triton College Toddler Program, and prior to that taught children ages 15 months-3 years old for ten years at Triton College. Before coming to the Co-Op, Michelle had taken some time off to raise her three daughters, the youngest of whom attended The Co-Op Preschool.
Sarah Stevenson
Teacher - Little Learners & Young Explorers
sstevenson@thecooppreschool.com
Sarah has been teaching the Little Learners & Young Explorers class at The Co-Op Preschool for several years now. Sarah graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Elementary Education. She also received a masters degree in Elementary Reading Education and has her ESL endorsement. Sarah is married and has two daughters, and in her free time loves to read.
Jolie Walker
Teacher - Pre-K
jwalker@thecooppreschool.com
Jolie is back for her fifth year teaching our Pre-K students at the Co-Op. Prior to teaching at the Co-Op, she was a parent at the Co-Op for 5 years and also spent 2 years on the Co-Op Parent Board. Jolie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Illinois State University. Prior to becoming a stay at home mom, she taught Kindergarten for 10 years. Jolie lives in Lombard with her husband and their two daughters.
Katie Eklund
Teacher - Little Learners & Pre-K
keklund@thecooppreschool.com
Katie is happy to be back at the Co-Op after being here as a parent for both of her two children. She has a Bachelors of Fine Arts and Art History from the University of WI - Milwaukee. She has spent time working in the corporate finance and management field. Katie lives with her husband and two daughters.
Amanda Peacock
Teacher - Young Explorers
apeacock@thecooppreschool.com
We are excited to have Amanda returning to the Young Explorers classroom at the Co-Op this year. She has experience teaching in the preschool setting most recently as a Pre-K teacher in Villa Park. Along with her preschool experience, Amanda also ran a child care service from her home for several years. She has a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from Elmhurst College. She lives in Villa Park with her husband, Joe, 9-yr old twins, a 5-yr old daughter and a yellow lab named Layla
Carol Schraub
Teacher - Parent/Tot
Aide - Tiny Tots
cschraub@thecooppreschool.com
Carol is a familiar face at the Co-Op as she helped in our Tiny Tots classroom and subbed in many of our other classes over the past 5 years. Prior to her time at the Co-Op, Carol graduated from Triton College and worked in the medical field for 30 years. Carol has 4 wonderful grandchildren all in the Lombard area. And a secret some may not know is that she is Ms. Sarah's Mom!