DIRECTORS

Carolyn Stolper Friedman, M.A.
Executive Director
Ms. Carolyn Friedman received her MA in business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also holds a BA in Art History and Ibero-American Studies also from Wisconsin. She has over 25 years of experience in leadership positions with non-profit organizations in the human services, the arts and international relations with expertise in capital expansion projects. She founded Smart Love Family Services in 2002. She is also co-author of Successful Fundraising for Arts and Cultural Organizations (Oryx Press), a management book for the non-profit field.

Kelly Perez
Preschool Director
Ms. Kelly Perez holds a BA in applied behavioral science from National-Louis University. She has nearly 25 years of experience as a teacher, administrator, and teacher trainer in a variety of early childhood settings including most recently, director for a preschool in the northwest suburbs. Kelly has interacted daily with young children in educational settings as well as providing support and advice on child development, behavior, and self-esteem topics to parents.

EDUCATORS

Ann Harms, M.A.
Teacher
Ms. Ann Harms received a Master’s degree in clinical professional psychology from Roosevelt University and recently her Type 04 Early Childhood Teaching Certificate from Kendall College. Her Bachelor’s degree is in music and English from Valparaiso University. She has worked with children over the past ten years as a childcare provider, tutor, counselor, and mentor.

Jamie Klein, MA
Teacher
Ms. Jamie Klein received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Indiana University. She also has a master's in Clinical Counseling Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has many years of experience working with children and adolescents. She has worked in schools, day camps and counseling programs.

Michele Schultz, M.A.
Teacher
Ms. Michele Schultz earned her Master’s in early childhood education from Roosevelt University. She also holds a Type 04 Early Childhood Teaching Certificate. Her BA is in social sciences from DePaul University. She has over ten years of experience working with young children and their families. She has also had experience working to achieve accreditation for an early childhood program and as a parent coordinator.

Katie Bruno
Assistant Teacher
Ms. Katie Bruno received her Bachelor’s in Music with a concentration in Musical Theatre from the University of Miami, in Florida. She has taught music, theatre and dance to children and youth of all ages through numerous programs in Miami and Upstate, New York. Katie is a licensed “zumba” instructor and loves sharing her passion for movement, music, and self-expression with young children.

Patrick Donachie
Assistant Teacher
Mr. Patrick Donachie graduated from Vassar College with a BA in American Culture. He previously worked as an assistant teacher at the Wimpfheimer Nursery School in Poughkeepsie, New York and as a Tour Guide for Madison Square Garden in New York City. Patrick enjoys making music and is a vocalist and guitarist for several bands in the Chicago area.

Mary Kail
Assistant Teacher
Ms. Mary Kail earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Western Michigan University. She has worked with young children as a substitute teacher, tutor and after school aide. She has experience working with a diverse population, including children with special needs.

Caitlin Nielsen
Assistant Teacher
Ms. Caitlin Nielsen received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and communication from Wheaton College. She has many years of experience working with children and their families, as an assistant preschool teacher, a preschool summer camp counselor, and a nanny.

Nina O’Keefe
Assistant Teacher
Ms. Nina O’Keefe is a graduate of Millikin University with a BFA in theater and has continued her education in early childhood development through Oakton Community College. Previously, she had worked as a preschool teacher, caring for toddlers to kindergartners. She also managed the education department at Lookingglass Theatre Company for six years.

Billy Burdett
Gardener-in-Residence
Mr. Billy Burdett has a BA in music from the University of Illinois at Chicago and holds certificates in permaculture design and sustainable urban horticulture from the Chicago Botanic Garden. He was an assistant preschool teacher for several years and continues to provide private music lessons and childcare. Billy has worked in the area of environmental and community sustainability, most recently with the Washington Park/Dyett Green Youth Farm. He was also an organic farm worker at Natural Harvest Farm.

Sara Johnson, Ph.D., LCSW
Preschool Counselor
Dr. Sara Johnson received her Ph.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work. She is a psychotherapist with over 12 years of clinical experience with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings including: a child welfare agency, a therapeutic day school, a substance abuse program, and outpatient counseling centers. She has experience working with DCFS and the Illinois Department of Human Services. Dr. Johnson is an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work.

PRESCHOOL SUPPORT

Erica Lenhart
Assistant to the Executive Director
Ms. Erica Lenhart received her Bachelor’s degree in biological anthropology from Northwestern University. She completed graduate-level coursework in audiology, speech-language pathology, neurophysiology, and early childhood development at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she was also a research assistant. Erica has many years of experience working with young children and their families and is thrilled to be a part of the Smart Love community.

Kendall Rice
Preschool Office Assistant
Ms. Kendall Rice received her BA in political science from the University of Hawaii. She spent several years in Honolulu working in an administrative capacity for a law firm. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, she moved back to the Midwest to attend graduate school in Chicago. She is delighted to be bringing her organizational and people skills to the field of early childhood education.