top of page

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

tairiIMG_3759.jpg

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.

IMG_6376.jpg

Classroom Teachers

Students in Classroom
JAMIEIMG_1481.jpg

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.

MADDIEIMG_0245.jpg
IMG_5789.jpg

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.

IMG_5986-2.jpg
cynthiaIMG_0209 copy.jpg

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.

websiteIMG_1539 copy.jpg

Program & Support Staff

steevIMG_3577.jpg

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.

IMG_7373 arrielle.jpg
teresaIMG_0359 copy.jpg

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.

IMG_7135rena.jpg
emily.jpg

Emily Wennmacher

Front Office

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.

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.

IMG_7461.jpg
IMG_7567 brianna.jpg

Brianna Walczak

Social Work Intern

Bree is currently going to Aurora University, majoring in Social Work. She also works at an elementary school in Geneva doing before and after school care.

Donna Davis

Social Work Intern

Donna is a social work intern in our mindfulness program, with her Bachelor's in Social Work. She is currently attending Aurora University for a Masters in Social work. She has two children, a boy and a girl.

IMG_7481.jpg
bottom of page