Meet the Team
We are dreamers and educators. Artists and writers. Musicians and scientists. Yoga teachers. History buffs. Social workers and therapists. Athletes, dancers, gardeners, mathematicians and computer geeks. Together we educate your children - mind, body and spirit.

Executive Director/Founder
Tairi Grace
Tairi Grace is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has owned a private practice since 2009. She is also a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher/200 hour Educator and owns Sense of Samadhi Yoga Studio. Tairi Grace is a member of National Association of Social Workers, Yoga Alliance, and the Yorkville Chamber of Commerce. She has five children.

Lead Teacher, Grades 1-3 (Creations)
Chloe Muellner
Chloe graduated with high honors from Aurora University and holds a Bachelor’s degree and Professional Educator License (PEL) in Elementary Education with a General Science endorsement. Chloe has been teaching since 2013 and has been a valued member of the Grace Holistic school community since it opened in 2016. As an educator, she believes in the importance of employing diverse teaching techniques to reach all students and help them understand the material in a way that is meaningful to them. Her favorite grades to teach are early elementary, as she finds joy in laying the foundation for students' lifelong love of learning and helping them build strong, positive educational experiences.

Administrative Coordinator
Erika Ritter
Erika has a Bachelor of Science in both Psychology with a Child and Youth Care emphasis and Business Administration. She has co-directed a before and after school program, worked in preschools and ran summer camp for elementary students. After having children of her own and returning to work in 2021, she was an administrator for a small private school before coming to Grace in 2022. She believes that learning is an individual journey and that all children have their own path that they take toward achieving their goals. There is no one size fits all and allowing children to learn in different ways can help open their minds and succeed.

Teacher | Grades 4-12 | Math and Social Studies
Cynthia Shevokas
Cynthia has studied astrophysics and education, received her bachelor's degree in psychology, and is working on her master's degree in consciousness and human potential and 200-hour yoga teacher certification. She also received a Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages Certificate (TESOL), Mindfulness Training, Pet Adoption, Finances and Trading, and a Google Educator Level 1 Certification.

Student Services Administrator
Emily Wennmacher
Emily Wennmacher is a Plano Reaper Alumni and former homeschool parent of her two children who now attend GHCFE. She manages the needs of the students as well as helps in the day to day operations of the school. She loves being a part of the students every day lives and is very passionate about the school and what it stands for. Emily is a parent not only to her own children but to all the children at GHCFE..

Teacher | Art, Sustainability and Science
Arielle Cunnea
Arielle Cunnea has taught an array of classes from Silly Science, Coding, Computer Animation, Robotics, Art, Theater, Piano and more. She is co-founder/director of Fine Tunes Center for the Arts and founder of Aging Gracefully Advocates, providing Guardianship and Advocacy services to mentally disabled adults.

Mindfulness Director | Academic Advisor
Brianna Walczak
Brianna is a Licensed Social Worker with a Master of Social Work from Aurora University. She has an extensive background in early childhood running care programs, with 5 years experience in behavior management in adolescence. She is a Mindfulness Program Director and Academic Advisor at Grace Holistic Center for Education. She utilizes mindfulness, CBT, DBT,and play therapy for children.

Teacher | Preschool
Maria Rosales
As a former daycare owner, Maria has a passion for nurturing and educating children of all ages. She is a Grace Holistic parent and assists with our summer camp program. She is excited to encourage kids to discover their true potential, and feels there is nothing better than bringing a smile to a child’s face. Maria lives in Oswego with her husband, Carlos, and their two children, Olivia and Charlie. She enjoys concerts, rollerblading, and spending time with the people she loves.

Teacher | Music
Steev Custer
Steev Custer began playing the guitar at age 15, and started performing in bands at the age of 17. He is well versed in playing both electric and acoustic guitar, bass, and ukulele, and is an accomplished songwriter whose works have been licensed by MTV for use in their programming. He has been teaching professionally for over 10 years at park districts and the music school he owns with his wife; Fine Tunes Center For The Arts in Channahon, IL.

Kindergarten Teacher
Buffie Diaz, MA
Buffie is an experienced educator with more than 20 years of teaching. Buffie integrates her values of exploring consciousness, social justice and environmental care into her teaching. Her background in counseling, mindfulness, and creative expression informs her approach, with an emphasis on emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and nurturing students' innate curiosity and resilience. Buffie enjoys yoga, meditation, hiking, poetry, cooking, creating art, and spending time outdoors with her family.

Physical Education | Enrichment Educator
Trent Delaney
Trent has been teaching kids about importance of fitness and sports for more than five years. He enjoys spending time with family, friends, and watching football on Sundays.

ELA Teacher, Grades 4-12 & Spanish, all levels
Sarah Withaar
Sarah has taught English at the high school and college level locally, and has earned the title master teacher of adult education for language arts. She specializes in differentiation, unique lesson planning and treasures student relationships. She graduated from Aurora University as a state certified teacher with her bachelor’s degree in English, and later Concordia University with her Master in Curriculum and Iinstruction. Sarah and her husband, Justin, have four children; Emma, Jack, Delilah and Violet. She enjoys gardening, plants, movies and the great outdoors.

Preschool and Kindergarten Co-Teacher
DiAna Helvie
As a kindergarten teacher for 23 years and an educator for 34 years total, DiAna brings decades of experience working in early education. She was a previous recipient of the Kane County Elementary Educator of the Year award, and worked with the East Aurora school district to implement the No Child Left Behind legislature for grades K-12. Since retiring, she enjoys volunteering at food pantries, teaching preschool at her church, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Social Work Intern | Enrichment Program Coordinator
Erica Hallman
Erica holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Marketing from Elmhurst University and is on track to earn her Master of Social Work from Aurora University in May 2026. She serves as the Enrichment Program Coordinator and is licensed as a substitute teacher in Grundy and Kendall Counties. With seven years of experience supporting students with diverse learning needs, including those with IEPs and 504 plans, she has written and monitored educational goals and served in long-term roles for Learning Behavior Specialists. Erica builds strong connections with students at Grace, provides emotional support to foster confidence, and collaborates effectively with educators and families to support student success.

Licensed Social Worker
Bri Parker
Abriana “Bri” Parker is joining
Grace Holistic as a social work intern for a second year, while pursuing her Master in Social Work from Aurora University.
Her goal is to continue to create meaningful relationships with the teachers, staff and students at Grace, with her heart set on positively impacting lives.
She enjoys finding peace in the arts, listening to music and watching anime.

Social Work Intern
Karyme Guzman
Karyme is currently a senior at Aurora University. Her goal is to work as a school social worker. In her free time, she enjoys reading, going on walks and coffee runs, traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Social Work Intern
Zana Rushani
Zana is a senior at Aurora University, receiving her degree in Social Work.
She enjoys poetry, creative writing, and exploring topics related to cultural identity. Born in the U.S. to Albanian immigrant parents, her identity as a first-generation Muslim American has shaped her perspective and appreciation for inclusivity.