Jennifer Braun
Bio coming soon!
Cathy Brereton is elated to be returning to TCNS for a third year as an assistant teacher in the 3-year-old afternoon class. She and her husband have been North Shore residents for 24 years and all three of their children are Trinity alums. After receiving a Bachelors degree in Education and raising her children, Cathy is grateful to be back teaching in the Trinity community. When not spending time with family and the family’s two spoiled dogs, she enjoys tennis, reading, needlepoint and traveling.
Maria Costas is a resident of Wilmette and has taught preschool for 17 years. This is her eighth year at Trinity as the academic readiness specialist. She attended Loyola University of Chicago where she received a BS degree in Psychology and also received a Masters of Education degree in Community Counseling. During that time, she also spent a year in LUC’s Masters program, where she completed a year of curriculum and instruction classes. She is married and has three wonderful children – a daughter and two sons. Maria loves traveling, reading, shopping and spending time with friends and family!
Allie Frei has been a part of Trinity for one and a half years now, where she has been an assistant teacher in RTG, 3 AM, 4 PM and KE. She graduated from Georgetown University with a major in Justice and Peace Studies and minors in education and psychology. After graduation, she taught Kindergarten English for a year in Thailand, followed by working as an AmeriCorps NCCC member. Allie has also worked as s camp counselor and tutor, which helped her develop her passion for education and working with children. Allie is currently working towards her masters in education at DePaul University.
Sue Gaertner is thrilled to say that she is in her twenty-second year as director of TCNS! She is also the lead teacher in the 3-year-old morning class. Sue earned her teaching degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Prior to joining TCNS, Sue was the preschool coordinator at Skokie Park District. She also taught first and second grade, but her true love is preschool!
Sue’s high-energy style of leadership is noticed in all that she does. She is constantly striving to improve the school and incorporate the latest in educational practice. Her warmth and support motivate the staff to strive for excellence.
Sue’s three children are products of Wilmette School District 39, where she was an active volunteer. She is on the executive board of a non-profit dedicated to helping families facing the tragedy of a child with cancer. Sue is devoted to TCNS and loves giving tours of the school! Contact her at sue@trinitywilmette.org to request one.
Ellie Johnson is the lead teacher in the 4-year-old morning class. Now in her tenth year teaching at Trinity, Ellie started as a substitute teacher, which ignited a spark and a quest to study early childhood education. Ellie is a former TCNS parent and a graduate of Miami University in Ohio. She lives in Wilmette with her husband and three Trinity alum daughters.
Nikki Kim is thrilled to start her third year with team Trinity as the lead teacher in the 4-year-old afternoon class and an assistant teacher in Ready Two Grow and the 3-year-old morning class. Nikki found her passion working with children while she was a nanny for a wonderful family in Wilmette. Although she does not have children of her own, she is the proud mom of two large and energetic dogs, AJ and Piper! Nikki holds a degree in Kinesiology Studies and a masters in Early Childhood Education from National Louis University.
Janet Langdon is delighted to begin her third year at Trinity as an assistant teacher in the 4-year-old morning class. Her recent experience includes work as a kindergarten paraprofessional in District 39. She holds a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA in management from Walsh College. She lives in Wilmette with her husband and 3 children. Prior to staying home with her children, she spent 10 years in the field of Human Resources. After years working with people at all levels, she realized that her favorite people are actually children, so she is grateful for the opportunity to work with them in the early childhood setting.
Kath Lyman lives nearby with her husband, four children and two dogs. She has a BA from the University of Notre Dame and later went on to obtain another BA and Teaching Certification at Concordia University in River Forest, IL. For five years, Ms. Kath taught at All Things Bright and Beautiful in Kenilworth. She took a break when her family adopted her two youngest boys from Haiti in 2013. This is Ms. Kath’s fourth year teaching at TCNS and she loves teaching the 3 year olds. In her free time, Ms. Kath loves walking her dogs, reading, knitting and working in her garden.
Becca Lyman is so excited to join the Trinity team for her first year as an assistant in both the Monday Ready Two Grow and KE programs. Becca has lived in Wilmette her whole life and, along with her husband, raised their three children here. A proud New Trier alum, Becca brings years of experience in both early childhood and corporate settings, including Salt Fitness and HiLove Travel bags. She started at Baker Demonstration School with ages three to four, while doing coursework at National Louis University. Most recently Becca worked for District 28 as an after-school Kidcare Coordinator, where she was responsible for 70 children ranging in ages five to 10-years-old, directing them in after-school activities and homework assignments,
Christina Mulligan is excited to return to the Trinity team this year as an assistant teacher in the 4-year-old morning class. Christina and her husband have lived in Wilmette for 18 years and have three teenagers, all Trinity alums! Prior to staying home with her children, Christina worked at RollingStone.com, The Chicago Sun-Times and Scholastic, Inc., where she was an editorial assistant for a line of preschool books. Christina has an English degree from the University of Michigan and a journalism degree from Northwestern University.
Kelly Botke
Bio coming soon!
Jen Morcos
Bio coming soon!
Kate Parker
Bio coming soon!
Kelsey Davies
Bio coming soon!
Erin Sullivan
Bio coming soon!
Stephanie Strano
Bio coming soon!
Stephanie Joyce
Bio coming soon!
Colleen Shean
Bio coming soon!