CENTRAL HYDE PARK
PRESCHOOL TEAM
BUSY BEES (Young Preschool)
ALYSSA SCHNEIDER - LEAD TEACHER
(SHE/HER)
My name is Alyssa Schneider and I grew up in rural Illinois. I moved to Chicago to further my schooling and to access better opportunities. I obtained a Child Development Associate (CDA) in the past year to better myself in terms of how I interact and teach young children. I am currently enrolled in school at Western Governors University to obtain a bachelor's degree in software engineering. In my free time, I love to make music and dance! I find that the arts are truly freeing. I went to school originally for music education, playing the trumpet and taking dance classes on the side. The reason why I chose to pursue early childhood education is because, in all honesty, I truly love all children. I believe all children deserve equal opportunity to learn and grow in a safe environment, and I want to be that for them. The connections we provide to and gain from children, in my opinion, are irreplaceable.
SAMANTHA LAY - ASSISTANT TEACHER
(SHE/HER)
Hello My name is Samantha Lay. I have an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Argosy University. I have been working in a daycare center for about 3 years. I have always had a love for kids and always wanted to open my own daycare. So, when I got the opportunity to work in a daycare, I fell in love because it gave me a chance to see how things work from behind the scenes. I love that I get to continue my journey here at Little Inspirations. A little bit about my family is that it's just my mom, brother and I. One of my interests at this moment is learning about real estate and how it works from the inside out.
FRISKY FOXES (Older Preschool)
TEQUIRA LEE - LEAD TEACHER
(SHE/HER)
I'm so thrilled to be a part of your little one’s journey here at Little Inspiration. I want to know all about your little ones, but first I’m going to tell you a few things about me. I earned my Associate degree in early childhood education at Kennedy-King College with roughly 1.5 years left until I obtain my bachelor’s degree. I have spent close to 5 years in ECE working to prepare children for kindergarten as well as 1 year as a paraprofessional with a focus on students with special needs and helping teachers manage the classroom. I'm passionate about early childhood education because of the profound impact it has on a child's future development. Seeing the positive transformation and empowering children to reach their full potential can be incredibly fulfilling. In my free time, I love spending time with my family, binge-watching TV shows, traveling, decorating events Etc. overall, I look forward to working with each family to support your little one’s development every step of the way.
ISABELLA FRIEHS - ASSISTANT TEACHER
(SHE/HER)
Hi, my name is Isabella Friehs! I belong to an international family. My older brother, twin brother, and I were adopted from Colombia when we were young, but I have spent most of my life living in Hyde Park, Chicago. I am currently pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. On the path to my degree, I shadowed at Little Inspirations and fell in love with how the center helps children grow and knew that I wanted to work here. I love to dance, sing, paint, workout, bike ride, and travel. I have always loved working with children and realized that it was a passion of mine when I started to teach a dance class for young kids, so I decided to pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education to turn my passion into a career. I love to see how every child is different in their own ways. I’m excited to help children develop physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively, but am especially excited to incorporate my passion for health and dance in the classroom by helping children develop gross motor skills and learn healthy habits.
EAGLE EXPLORERS (Pre-Kindergarten)
CECILIA HERNANDEZ - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
(SHE/HER)
I’m excited to be a member of Little Inspirations. I have my son Romero Angel and step-daughter Aaliyah. Every day is a new experience, a new lesson, but also many beautiful memories that come from them. I’ve been a babysitter for over 22+ years and an early childhood educator for over 10+ years. I graduated from NIU with my Bachelors in Health and Human Services in Rehabilitation Studies/minor in Family and Child Studies. I’ve always known that teaching and guiding early-age children was what I wanted to do. My favorite part about teaching children is that we are often learning from them. We learn to adapt, ways to teach, and ways to guide as teachers. I’m always up for a challenge and encourage our little ones to join me on those adventures. Whether they are 6 weeks old or 5 years old, you can count on me to guide them to reach their milestones while enjoying their time!
During my “free time,” I enjoy having photoshoots for my children, trying new ice cream spots, and hanging out with my mother, sisters and friends. I continue to babysit on the weekends and try to enjoy my days to the fullest by taking advantage of the time I spend with my loved ones.
TENIYA HUGHES - ASSISTANT TEACHER
(SHE/HER)
Hi my name is Teniya Hughes. I love art & traveling. I wish to assist children by providing them with education to accomplish obstacles that disrupt their journeys and help them with new things.