EAST PRESCHOOL TEAM
JUMPING JAGUAR(Young Preschool)
YESICA HERNANDEZ- LEAD TEACHER
Hello! My name is Star – yes, that is the name my parents gave me! I was born in Alexandria, Virginia but grew up in Orlando, Florida about 15 minutes down the road from Walt Disney World. Throughout my life, I have always wanted to have a career where I worked with young children, either as a teacher, pediatric surgeon, or psychology researcher. In May 2022, I graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Art History. My psychology coursework focused on developmental psychology, child psychology, and education. My teaching experience consists of volunteering as an assistant orchestra teacher during my gap year between high school and college, volunteering with CalTeach at the UCLA Lab school, and working as a private tutor throughout college. I define teaching as the process of passing prior mastered knowledge to an individual who before did not possess said knowledge; in other words, teaching means helping those who need it.
In my free time, I like to read psychology research, watch movies/TV, play lacrosse, and bake all kinds of baked goods.
Some fun facts about me:
-
I have traveled to over 80 countries (so far)
-
I am a classically trained cellist
-
I can teach violin, viola, cello, and bass
-
I LOVE basketball (Go Lakers and UCLA Bruins!)
-
I have a corgi named Broccoli and a cat named Raisin
JAMEELAH HARBIN- SUBSTITUTE TEACHER
Hello, my name is Jameelah Harbin, and I am thrilled to join The Little Inspirations family! I have a deep passion for working with children and supporting their growth and development during these crucial early years. I am currently a sophomore at Southern Illinois university Edwardsville. I am pursuing a degree in business management. I have been in early childhood education for over two years. Teaching and caring for young children is truly a passion of mine because I believe the early years are foundational for fostering curiosity, creativity, and confidence. I strive to create a warm, supportive, and fun environment where every child can feel safe and inspired to grow as we work together to make their time here a positive and enriching experience.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and or friends. In my free time, you can often find me exploring the city, traveling or going to museums . I’m always looking for creative ways to bring my interests into the classroom to make learning even more engaging for the children. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you and working together to make this a wonderful experience for your little ones!
DISCOVERING DINOS (Older Preschool)
DANIELLE GAWLIK - LEAD TEACHER
Hello, my name is Danielle Gawlik. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Eastern Illinois University. During my time at Eastern, I had the opportunity to have two practicum courses, one in third grade and the other in fifth grade. I also student taught in first grade at Troy Shorewood Elementary School in Shorewood, IL. In 2018, I started teaching at my first daycare. I have worked with the twos and pre-k (4-5 years old) age groups. Teaching these age groups has been so rewarding. My goal is to ensure that all the students in my care feel safe and welcome.
This profession means everything to me. From when I was a little girl, I always knew I wanted to become a teacher. As I got older, I saw my siblings struggle with school and it was through helping my younger sister that I really knew I wanted to be an educator. Shaping young minds is something I plan on doing for the rest of my life.
I grew up in Joliet, IL my entire life and just recently moved to Chicago in December of 2020. I have one brother and two sisters. I also have four nephews who each keep me busy in their own way. Just recently I became a mom to a beautiful baby girl in July of this year. In my free time I love spending time with family and going on walks. I also love watching football (GO BEARS!) and other sports such as track and cheerleading. I ran track for five years and was a cheerleader for sixteen years.
JACQUELINE SANCHEZ - ASSISTANT TEACHER
I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree. I enjoy working with children because they love to learn new material. I like being able to help them develop new skills, and create friendships with classmates that will prepare them for the future. I love teaching because I enjoy working with children because they love to learn new material. I love being able to help them develop new skills, and create friendships with classmates that will prepare them for the future. My favorite area of play for children is dramatic play because it gives them the ability to use their extraordinary imagination. Also, they get to interact with one another, and play different roles.
ZEALOUS ZEBRAS (Pre-Kindergarten)
AUTUMN NORMAN - LEAD TEACHER
Hi, I am the PreK / Kindergarten teacher! I graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a B.A in Psychology, and that experience gave me a deeper understanding of how young children develop, think, and process through their experiences. That led me to obtain a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from National Louis University. As one of the founding teachers at Little Inspirations, I have always enjoyed watching children develop an understanding of their world through interacting with it on a daily basis. I have never thought of the classroom as just being indoors, so I am very excited about watching children interact with their world through fun community outings, field trips, and outdoor adventures. In my spare time, I enjoy sketching, coloring, and watching TV, particularly Netflix.
DELESHA SMITH - SUBSTITUTE/ASSISTANT TEACHER
Hi, I’m Delesha! I’m working on my associate's degree at a community college and excited about everything I’m learning. I think teaching is all about helping little ones get a good start, and being there to support their learning and growth in a fun and positive way.
I have two sisters and two brothers, so there’s never a dull moment in my family. In my free time, I love making TikToks, shopping, doing hair, getting my nails done, and going on road trips. I’m also super into basketball, whether I’m playing or just watching a good game. I love staying busy and doing things that make me happy.