Our Team

Jessica is the founder and owner of Dandelion Nursery and Preschool. Growing up, Jessica always knew that she wanted to work with children and help make an impact in their daily lives. She believes in supporting each child and family with respect, honoring and appreciating the diversity that each child brings. Jessica has over 15 years of direct preschool and infant classroom experience, from directing Day Camps and youth programs, to teaching infants to preschool aged children, and working as a child care center Director.

Ashley holds a B.A. in Theater from the University of Notre Dame with a Minor in Anthropology. While in college, she worked with an ND Outreach program that brought workshops to local schools. She completed her Masters of Fine Arts in Classical Acting from the University of Houston in 2015, where she taught as a professor at the university, while building curriculum for a local Children’s Museum. She completed her Masters in Child Development with a concentration in Infancy (0-3 year-olds) and Administration in 2022.
Ashley believes the early years of birth to five are a pivotal time in a human being’s life as it creates the infrastructure for empathy, self concept, and a love of learning. Before a child learns what to learn, they learn HOW to learn. Children are intrinsically curious about the world they have been born into. Caregivers are protectors of this time where the child engages with their environments to understand, connect, and discover themselves and their systems of being.

Chelsea completed her Master of Science in Child Development with a concentration in Administration in 2020. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Northwestern College, Iowa. She believes that every moment of her day is a chance for children to develop communication, social, emotional, cognitive, and motor skills. These are entwined in all they do. As part of the administration team at DNPS, she will strive to create a space that is an extension of the home and provides every child with the support and care they need.

Maggie, originally from Evanston, holds a Master’s in Child Development from Erikson Institute (2019) and a BA in Anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis (2009). Since 2009, she has worked with young children as a daycare director, a teacher, an education coordinator, and a nanny. Maggie loves reading to and playing imagination games with children. Her goal is to make every family feel supported and welcome!

Hey there! My names Alexis but you can call me Ms. Lex! I enjoy crocheting, making music and drawing.

I have worked in early childhood education for about four years. Before that, I was a gymnastics coach right here in Chicago. I am passionate about encouraging children to develop their interests. I attended the Pacific Northwest College of Art and Design and enjoy art, specifically ceramics and metalworking.

My name is Ms. Caitlin and I am teacher at heart! I am from Memphis, TN and have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Memphis. I have been working with children for about 10 years now. My teaching philosophy is to cultivate a safe and nurturing environment, while also incorporating fun into every lesson! To foster a positive learning environment, I make every student feel supported and engaged in all activities and practices. Exposing children to positive environments can help build their confidence, self security, and has lasting effects that can follow them into adulthood! I’m am excited to get to know you and your little ones.

Daquana is originally from the west side of Chicago. She is a mother to two beautiful baby girls. She loves chocolate and the color pink, to laugh and to make others laugh. Daquana enjoys writing, Twilight and all things vampires. She took courses in psychology and plans on going back to school. She has been working with children for 3 years.

As a childcare worker with 10+ years of experience, Eli values communication and respect while maintaining a warm, nurturing environment for children to explore and express themselves. Through their artistic background and education in Reggio Emilia and Montessori, Eli is able to construct creative solutions on the spot, and their unique personality allows for connection with children on their own terms.

Hi! My name is Ms. Jennifer but I prefer to go by Ms. Jenni or Ms. Jen. I’m excited to work together to make our center a fun and safe space.

Josh Leeper is a creative and collaborative professional who loves storytelling and community-building. With experience in theater, film, and voice acting, he brings a fun and imaginative energy to everything he does. As a co-founder of A Short Leap Theatre Company, Josh is all about inclusivity and using play to spark learning and connection. His diverse background and upbeat personality make him a natural at inspiring curiosity and creativity in young learners.
In his free time, Mr. Josh is an avid runner and a multi-marathoner, he loves basketball, both playing and watching, and prefers to sit at home watching movies with his wife and cat most nights of the week.

Hi, my name is Kiara but I prefer to go by Ms. Kiki. I’m very excited to be a part of an amazing team at Dandelion. I can’t wait to have fun and get to know all the families.

Mx. Lindsey has been an Early Childhood Educator for 13 years and is working toward earning their Early Childhood Education degree. Lindsey grew up in rural Illinois and has lived in Chicago since 2018. With a passion for play based learning, Lindsey is inspired by Reggio Emilia pedagogy. They love to bring their interests in art, music and the environment to the classroom. In their free time they enjoy quilting, hiking, writing songs and baking.

Mara has been dedicated to Early Childhood for 6 years, majoring in Early Childhood Education. She is passionate about encouraging children to develop Socially, Emotionally, and Intellectually. Mara specializes in developing fun and educational lesson plans in English and Spanish. She looks forward to meeting you all as well as meeting your children and helping their development.

Mo started her journey in education working for CPS as an after school tutor. Shortly after, she completed a few courses in early Childhood Education at Harold Washington College. She has primarily worked with infants and toddlers for the last 7 years, however recently has had the opportunity to work with 2’s and preschool age children. Throughout my teaching she has strived to develop and maintain meaningful connections with her students, families, and community members. When the students feel safe, it allows them to thrive. In my spare time, she enjoys cooking, painting and spending time with her wife at the lake.

Norma was born and raised in Chicago. She is a mother of four wonderful children; 13, 18, 19, and 20. She has years of experience working in a daycare setting. Norma began her love for children as a mother and has continued as a teacher of infants. Each believes each age group comes with its own milestones and that she can learn from the infants as much as they learn from her.

Pey has over seven years of experience working with kids, from infants to early teens, and loves creating fun, play-based learning activities for little ones. They’ve worked as a lead and daycare teacher, specializing in ages 2 to 3, focusing on making the classroom a safe and engaging space. With a film, media, and theatre background, Pey enjoys bringing creativity, storytelling, and imagination into their work. Outside the classroom, you can find them watching movies, doing crafts, or hanging out with their kitties.

I’m from Wisconsin and love making jewelry or anything to do with arts and crafts.

Hello My name is Ms. Ta’Niya and being an early childhood educator has always been a passion for me. I believe that early childhood education is the foundation of building our new generations by providing a nurturing environment with progressive learning experiences, sensory exploration, creativity and lots of love especially. I have worked with children for about 7 years and loved every aspect of it. I have experience working with children from infants to school age, and I am continuing my education to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.