Faculty & Staff
Our team dedicates themselves to the Montessori philosophy. Respects children and their natural learning cycles. Provides a loving, caring, nurturing environment. Develops high expectations based on each child’s potential. Models sincerity and engages in genuine communication with students.
Administrative Team
Heidi Hodge
Head of School
Heidi embraced Montessori education in 2002 after six years of traditional teaching in both the public and private school sectors. In 2006, she finished her American Montessori Society (AMS) Elementary I-II training followed by several years serving as an elementary directress. Upon the birth of her daughter in 2008, she took the Infant-Toddler training and began her new journey serving toddlers for six years.

Though she loved her role as a directress, she decided to leave teaching to work closely with Montessori schools, parent groups, clinics and the like to provide an array of parent education opportunities, promoting nutrition and Montessori practices in the community and homes. In 2017, Heidi partnered with Joliet Montessori School as Head of School and enjoys serving the community of families.
Heidi is a native to Michigan where she grew up with organic goodness and wide open spaces on 15 acres of land. She continues to make frequent visits to see her extended family and childhood friends. Heidi has lived in the Chicago suburbs since 2002, raising her two children in Montessori education. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Franciscan University of Steubenville along with Elementary I-II, Infant-Toddler and Administrative/Leadership certification through AMS.
She enjoys cooking, road trips and all things outdoors with her husband and children including hiking, kayaking and fishing. One of the most precious aspects of her job is observing the children at work in their classrooms.
Eileen Kozlowski
Assistant Head of School
Eileen Kozlowski first joined the Joliet Montessori School Community as a parent in 2008 when her two oldest children started the primary program. Eileen was first drawn to the Montessori method when listening to her husband’s fond memories as a JMS primary and elementary student himself. Eileen fell in love with the primary program when she came to observe her children working in the classroom their first year here. Eileen and her husband feel fortunate to have had all three of their children graduate from the Adolescent Program. After being a parent, volunteer and board member, she gladly joined the faculty in 2017 as the Assistant Head of School.
Eileen has a bachelor’s degree in History and Economics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management. Eileen grew up in Orland Park and enjoys gardening, reading, volunteering and traveling with her husband, Aaron, to spend time with her three grown children.
Jennifer Rutherford
Business Manager
Jennifer Rutherford has recently joined JMS as the Business Manager in after the retirement of our beloved, Kathy Bertani, in the Summer of 2022.
Jen and her husband, Bob, started their daughter, Eva, at JMS just a few weeks into her first grade year in 2019. Eva is currently a student in the Upper Elementary program here at JMS.
Jen was raised in the Hickory/Palos Hills area where her parents were public school teachers. She has a lovely background in music, with flute being her instrument of choice! After graduating from Augustana College in Rock Island, she taught band for seven years in the Plainfield school district, then spent the last 18 years at Lewis University. In her most recent role within Lewis as the Assistant Director of University Ministry, she worked closely with the budget and facility maintenance.
In her free time, Jen enjoys spending time with friends and family and an active member of her church.
Christina Ayala-Ortega
Administrative Assistant
Christina has a bachelor and master's degree in Social Work from Loyola University specializing in children and families. She began her career with the Children’s Advocacy Center as a forensic interviewer in 2013. In addition to forensic interviewing, Christina provided bilingual English-Spanish short-term, trauma-focused therapy with children and adolescents. In time, she was promoted to Program Supervisor and in 2016, she became the Program Director at La Rabida’s Children’s Advocacy Center. She was responsible for the operations and programs, as well as building professional and community relations and developing a cohesive multidisciplinary approach with law enforcement, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the Cook County State's Attorney's office, and other community constituencies.
Christina’s passion to work with children has brought her to JMS and she is grateful to begin this journey. Outside of work, Christina is a Reiki Master Teacher and enjoys spending time with her wife and daughter, hiking, fishing, swimming, biking, and doing yoga.
Primary Program Team
Kristina Doughan
Primary Guide, Oak Room
Kristina has had many years of experience in the classroom at Joliet Montessori School, starting in 2005 as a Primary Assistant and taking over as the lead directress in the Oak Room in 2016 after she completed her Montessori training. Prior to her Montessori career she worked in the social work field. She “fell in love with Montessori” immediately after starting her work at JMS and has been a distinct asset to the school ever since.
Kristina completed her training at Seton Montessori Institute in Clarendon Hills, IL, with the bulk of the training completed in the summer of 2014. She attended seminars throughout the school year and obtained her certificate after completing her student teaching in 2015. She appreciates the wealth of Montessori experience here at JMS, and the support and guidance from her colleagues.
Kristina grew up on a farm in Odell, IL and enjoys running, working out, Bears football and her family.
Minerva Widner
Primary Assistant, Oak Room
Minerva Widner was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and is a proud mother of five children, grandmother to two, and eagerly awaiting her third grandchild. She has dedicated 16 wonderful years to working at Joliet Montessori School, where she has built strong relationships with both students and staff. Minerva took a brief retirement to homeschool her granddaughter, where she applied the Montessori Method to nurture her learning at home.
Outside of the classroom, Minerva enjoys spending her time crocheting, knitting, and quilting. One of her favorite pastimes is playing Mexican Train, a fun and competitive domino game. Minerva’s warmth, creativity, and dedication continue to enrich the lives of everyone at JMS.
Gosia Wolf
Primary Guide, Willow Room
Gosia’s path to the wonderful world of Montessori education was a long journey, spanning two continents and a variety of occupations. A Polish native, she came to the USA to complete her BA in Psychology, which she started in her home country. During her first years as a student in Poland, she became fascinated with developmental psychology, critical (or sensitive) periods for learning and the work of pioneers like Jean Piaget and Maria Montessori.
The birth of her daughter made her revisit those old fascinations and theories. She knew she wanted to create an environment that would facilitate her learning and development in the best way possible. That led to more research, and soon she was completely enthralled by the Montessori method. It was a pivotal point in her professional career and she suddenly knew that her place was in the classroom, serving children the way Maria Montessori intended.
Gosia first completed the Paraprofessional Course at Seton Montessori Institute to prepare herself for the role of a classroom assistant, the very job she held for three years at Montessori School of Lemont. Her role quickly grew as she began her American Montessori Society (AMS) teacher preparation course and assumed more responsibilities in the classroom while completing her training. Gosia became certified in July of 2017 and joined JMS shortly after to become the primary directress of the Willow Room.
Amy Litchfield
Primary Assistant, Willow Room
Amy Litchfield has been part of our community for the past 5 years as she's watched her son grow from the early years in the Parent Child program into a thriving student in the Lower Elementary program.
Amy joined the JMS team in the Fall of 2022 and completed her Primary Assistant Teacher course through The Center for Guided Montessori Studies. She is married to James Litchfield and they share 3 children (2 in college and one at JMS), along with four dogs! Amy is so grateful for this opportunity to join our staff and looks forward to becoming an asset to the Willow Room. Her hobbies include reading, bowling and spending time outside, which will be perfect for those walkabouts!
Divina Cruz
Primary Guide, Maple Room
Divina joined our school community in August 2026 to lead the third primary classroom. Divina’s Montessori journey began in a primary classroom in 1996 where she worked as an assistant, inspiring her to take the Early Childhood (3-6) AMS training. After working for a few years as a Primary teacher, she became pregnant with her first child, prompting her to complete her Infant-Toddler (0-3) AMS training. In preparation for the birth of her daughter, she created a Montessori home environment to support her child’s fullest potential. When her older daughter began first grade, she noticed the developmental shift into “the second plane of development”. Because of Divina’s curiosity and desire to better understand her children, she continued her training and earned her Lower Elementary (6-9) AMS Credential, and then her Elementary (6-12) Diploma through the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI).
Over the past 14 years, Divina has worked as an elementary Montessori teacher, a Montessori Instructional Coach supporting teachers in both the private and public sectors, a private Montessori math tutor, an AMS School Accreditation Consultant and Coordinator, and the Head of School at a small Catholic Montessori School.
For fun, Divina loves spending time with her two daughters and husband. On the weekends (and sometimes during the week), she loves to bake. Her newest passion is baking sourdough bread and sharing it with her family and friends as a freshly baked loaf.
Jessica Ferreira
Primary Assistant, Maple Room
Jessica Ferreira is a teacher assistant in the Maple Room at JMS. She grew up around children, which sparked her passion for working with them from a young age. She enjoys helping students learn and grow every day. In high school, she took a Child Care and Guidance course, which inspired her to pursue a career in education. She is currently attending college while working at JMS. Jessica is committed to working closely with her lead teacher to support students and keep the classroom running smoothly. Jessica is interested in working in a Montessori school where she can support child-led learning and independence. She believes in helping students grow academically, emotionally, and in fostering a safe, respectful, and engaging classroom. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, creating polymer clay earrings, and solving puzzles.
Elementary Program Team
Rachael Gonzalez
Lower Elementary Guide, Paw Paw Room
Rachael Gonzalez joined the JMS team in 2020, and is the lead teacher for the lower elementary classroom. Rachael is a life-long Montessorian as she was a Montessori student in Wisconsin as a child. She is also a second generation Montessori guide as her parents were also Montessori guides for many years in Wisconsin.
Her love for teaching started when she became a paraprofessional and substitute teacher while in Wisconsin. She decided that she wanted to be a Montessori teacher so she became AMI certified in 2018 at Montessori Institute of Milwaukee. She is certified to teach first through sixth grade.
Rachael has her psychology degree from Carthage College and has completed her Masters in Education from St. Xavier University. She is also a member of the honors society, Kappa Delta Pi.
Rachael has a husband and three young children. She loves spending time with her family, being outdoors, reading, and working out.
Michelle Knollenberg
Lower Elementary Assistant, Before Care Teacher
Michelle was introduced to Montessori over ten years ago when a Montessori preschool began renting space from the church she was attending. There was an opening for a teaching assistant, and since she loved working with children and enjoyed teaching Sunday school, she decided to apply. In 2010 she completed the Assistant Paraprofessional Course at Seton Montessori and began working at Little Explorers Montessori School, where she was an assistant for ten years in their Primary Program.
She was honored to join the Joliet Montessori School staff in August 2020 and is currently enjoying her role as an Elementary Assistant. One of the things Michelle loves best about Montessori is the three-year program cycle, which allows you to witness tremendous growth in students while developing strong relationships with them.
Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking, volunteering at church, watching the Chicago Bears, reading and being part of a book club.
Amy Allison
Upper Elementary Guide, Catalpa Room
Amy Allison joined our school community to lead the Upper Elementary Program in August 2026. Amy, who brings a range of experience, knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication to our Upper Elementary students! Amy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Art and International Studies, a Master's Degree in Elementary Education, an AMI Elementary Montessori Diploma, and both AMI & AMS Primary Montessori Diplomas.
Amy has been a co-presenter at the AMS and AIMS Annual Conferences and has chaired or managed different events in the Chicagoland area. She firmly believes in supporting children in reaching their full potential and has received extremely high endorsements from a range of schools and programs. We couldn't be more enthusiastic to have her on our team!
Brian Surkan
Upper Elementary Assistant, Future Adolescent Guide
Brian joined our team in August 2026 as an Upper Elementary Assistant for the 2026-2027 school year. Brian will then move into the role of Adolescent Guide for the adolescent program's reopening in the 2027-2028 school year. Brian holds a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and Economics, a Master's in Economic History, and both AMS and AMI Montessori 12-18 Adolescent Diplomas.
Over his twenty-two years of teaching adolescents in conventional private schools, Brian's approach gradually and unconsciously evolved toward a Montessori approach. Throughout his travels, he became fluent in French, proficient in German and Spanish, and has some knowledge of Dutch, Mandarin, and Russian. Brian has also received extremely high endorsements from former colleagues, parents, and students. He believes a strong connection with the upper elementary program and its guide is essential to every adolescent program, and he is enthusiastic about the many parallels between he and Amy Allison.
After School Care Team
Hailey Zambrano
Nap and After Care Lead
Hailey Zambrano joined JMS’s staff in February 2024. Mrs. Z has two bachelor's degrees and has previous experience teaching a public middle school classroom. She enjoys her role as a support staff, providing what relief she can to the fantastic teachers and administrators here at Joliet Montessori School as the Nap Room and Extended Care Teacher. Mrs. Z strives to help every child express themselves in healthy ways and in safe environments. During nap time, she takes pride in ensuring that students are well rested to return to their classrooms with a fresh outlook and ready mind. In Extended Care, she enjoys fostering the link between learning and play for all students. She has many interests, including drawing, tabletop and card games, cats, and spending time with her friends and family.
