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.
Our Staff
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.
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.
Classroom Teachers
Jamie Parker
Teacher | PreK and 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.
Maddi Beldon
Assistant Teacher PreK and 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.
Chloe Kermeen Muellner
Teacher | Grades 1-2 | Lead Teacher
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.
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.
Cynthia Shevokas
Teacher | Grades 5-12 | Math and Social Studies
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.
Dawn Aulet
Teacher | Grades 5-12 | 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.
Program & Support Staff
Steev Custer
Teacher | Music
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.
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.
Teresa Campbell
Enrichment Program Teacher
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.
Rena Wright
Mindfulness Director | Academic Advisor
Rena is a graduate of Aurora University with her Masters in Social Work. She also holds her Bachelors in Business Administration, and Masters in Public Health Administration. I believe that every human possesses greatness within, it's just a matter of raising their awareness of the power they possess. I like spending time with my family, yoga, reading, cooking, traveling, and being in nature.
Brianna Carter
Teacher | Physical Education
Brianna is a Certified Level 1 Crossfit Trainer with youth training certifications from Brand X Method, a company dedicated to kids fitness. I am Head Youth Coach at Yorkville Crossfit. My goal with coaching / teaching is to empower kids to find their own voice, confidence and strength through fitness.
