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.
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.
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.
Emily Wennmacher
Student Services Administrator
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. .
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. She is Head Youth Coach at Yorkville Crossfit and is returning back to school to finish her Physical Education Degree. “I want to challenge students to embrace their body and mind through fitness and find a passion for health and wellness that supports them”.
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.
Alessandra Gonzalez
ELA & Spanish Teacher, Grades 5-12
Alessandra Gonzalez is a graduate from National Louis University with a degree in Elementary Education. She obtained an Associate of Arts from College of DuPage in 2019, has an ECE Credential Level 1, and is AED/CPR/First Aid certified. Being an educator is more than teaching curriculum; it is the responsibility to create an open, inclusive, and welcoming classroom environment for students to learn about themselves and the world around them.
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.
MORGAN KEIFFER
Social Work Intern
Morgan is attending Aurora University, majoring in social work. Her goal is to obtain my Bachelor's in Social Work in 2024 and Master of Social Work in 2025. She looks forward to making a difference in all of the children’s lives through our Mindfulness program.
ERIKA RITTER
Administrative Coordinator
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.
