Our Staff

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

Tairi Grace

Founder, Executive Director

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.

Chloe Kermeen Muellner

Teacher, Grades 1-2

Chloe graduated Magna Cume Laude from Aurora University and holds a Bachelor’s degree and Professional Educator License (PEL) in Elementary Education with a General Science endorsement. She believes it is important to apply different learning strategies in the classroom to assure that all students receive the knowledge they need, in a way that makes sense to them.

Shazette DeLeon

Administrator

Shazette has a masters degree in business administration. She assists with day-to-day operations of the school, ISBE compliance and enrollment. She has twins at Yorkville Intermediate and a younger son that goes to Grace Holistic. Her favorite thing in this whole world is watching her kids come into their own and achieve their goals.

Jamie Parker

Teacher, Preschool/Kindergarten

Jamie believes that every child is a gift, full of so many talents and a life of hope and promise. Her goal is to keep each child learning and excited about exploring what each day has to offer. Jamie graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and studied both Elementary Education and Journalism. Upon graduation, Jamie taught 3rd and 4th grade at a private school in Lincoln Park for many years.

Lesli Gresholdt

Operations Manager

Lesli manages the school's social media, marketing, photography and graphic design needs, and assists with day-to-day operations. She has two children enrolled at GHCFE. She also teaches yoga at Sense of Samadhi in Yorkville and is a regional manager for Bella Baby Photography. She has her bachelor's degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Northern Illinois University.

Steev Custer

Music Teacher

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.

Brittany Hetzel

Mindfulness Director

Brittany is a Licensed Social Worker with her Master’s in Social Work from Aurora University. Her position at Grace involves checking in with students, collaborating and working with interns, and running the mindfulness program. The program will focus on proactive wellness, task management, and other supports.

Brittany Robinson

Teacher, Grades 3-4

Brittany Robinson graduated from Western Illinois University with her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education, with endorsements in Language Arts and Social Studies. 
Helping all of her students learn in the classroom, creating a positive and fun learning environment for my students, and being the best teacher she can be for her students are only three of her goals as an educator.

John Ubertino

Teacher, Math/PE

John attained an associates degree in business management from Waubonsee Community College and is pursuing his bachelors degree from Aurora University. John loves working with kids and coaching youth basketball. He is also a numbers person who has a deep passion for math.

Arielle Cunnea

Teacher, Art, Sustainability & Science

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.

Tameka Myrick-Lyles

Chef

Tameka Myrick-Lyles is a licensed self-taught chef. She has been cooking professionally for ten years and got her start in her family’s own restaurant where she managed and cooked. She specializes in American, Southern, and healthy cuisine. She has two children attending Grace.

Teresa Campbell

Teacher, History/Geography

Teresa has a Bachelors of Arts in elementary education and a minor in Science, and a masters in Diverse Learning. She has had experience working in both public and private schools and has taught students from preschool through young adults. She has four children.

Ivonne Estrada

Social Work Intern

Ivonne will be graduating this May with a Bachelor in Social Work and Minor in Psychology from Aurora University. After this year she plans to get her master's degree to become a school social worker. She truly enjoys helping others and thinks it is important to nurture our youth to help them create bright futures.

Cynthia Shevokas

Teacher

Cynthia believes in a holistic educational approach in engaging all aspects of the learner. She provides a positive learning environment to support the students’ academic, emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual needs. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and is working on her Master’s Degree in Education.

Dawn Aulet

Teacher - Life Skills, Language Arts

Dawn Aulet began her professional career as a journalist two decades ago. She earned her Master’s in Teaching from Olivet Nazarene University. Her bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University is in journalism with a minor in theater. Dawn is passionate about the arts and has coached slam poetry teams, dance clubs and cheerleaders as well as directing numerous plays at the high school level.

Maddi Beldon

Teacher's Aide, Preschool/Kindergarten

Maddi is enrolled at Waubonsee Community College working on a degree in Early Childhood Education. She's received training in Abuse Prevention, Sexual Abuse Awareness, Child Development, Health and Safety, SBS/ Traumatic Brain Injury, Food Handler, SIDS/SUID/ AAP Safe Sleep, and Mandated Reporter. She has a dog named Bruce.

Jami Feeley

Social Work Intern

Jami comes from an extensive background in early childhood. Jami received her Associates Degree with an emphasis in Early Childhood and Bachelor’s in Business Administration. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Social Work. Jami enjoys cooking, baking, being active outdoors with her fiancé and their puppy, and spending time with family and friends.

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Alissa Gawne

Mindfulness Coordinator and Academic Advisor

Alissa Gawne has her Masters in Social Work from Aurora University, specializing in Mental Health and Chemical Dependency. She is a Licensed Social Worker and wants to work with families, children and adolescents in a private practice. Alissa has also completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training and holds a Level 1 Chakra certificate.

Emily Wennmacher

Front Office Staff

Emily is the front office Administrator at GHCFE.  She assists with various administrative duties as well as day to day operations.  Emily also serves as the chapter advisor for the National Honors Society at the school.  She has 2 children and both are enrolled at Grace.