Carolyn Stolper Friedman, M.A.
Executive Director
As founder of Smart Love Family Services, Carolyn is excited to bring Smart Love® to early childhood education with both toddler explorations and preschool offerings. She has over 25 years experience in the non-profit field as an executive and as a consultant. Ms. Friedman, a parent herself, has taught and spoken frequently on the topic of parenting both to parent groups and in agency settings. She is a published author of a popular book in the non-profit field and was a founding member of the editorial board of Illinois Child Welfare, a professional journal.

Melissa Boshans, M.Ed.
Preschool Director and Teacher
Melissa is passionate about understanding and teaching young children. She has over six years experience as an educator of young children, aged 18 months to six years. She has taught at Park West Parent Cooperative Nursery School and at Sinai Preschool. Her formal training as well as professional experience has included work with children with special needs. Melissa has presented at the annual NAEYC Conference (National Association for the Education of Young Children) and has also published work regarding the relationship between attachment, play and early learning. She received her Master's in Education in Instructional Leadership with a concentration in early childhood from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Gina Smith
Teacher, Toddler Explorations!
Gina Smith, a mother of three, has both a background in teaching and yoga. Gina combines her love of yoga and creative art in relaxed, fun filled and enjoyable classes for young children. She has practiced yoga for more than 10 years, earning her yoga teaching certificate from Global Family Yoga studio in Chicago. Gina also holds a BA in Elementary Education from John Carroll University. She is certified to teach children, teens, families and adults and is registered at the 200-hour level with Yoga Alliance.

Lenny Zieben
Teacher, Toddler Explorations!
Kids are mesmerized by Lenny's hilarity and good-hearted nature. He gives children the space and encouragement to explore materials and movement in a way they relate to and thrive upon. Lenny is constantly learning from and being surprised by children and the amazing originality they bring to his classes. When he's not at Smart Love, Lenny plays in The Sharp Cookies, a children's oriented band. He has also taught children's classes at The Old Town School of Folk Music and Snow City Arts @ Rush. He graduated from the DePaul School of Music and is an audio technician at The Chicago Cultural Center.