faculty & Staff

liza moraitis / HEAD OF SCHOOL

Liza came to Prairie School with a BA from Connecticut College where, in addition to her studies in studio art, she was manager of the office of student organizations. After working for a period of time after college as an account manager for an advertising agency, Liza pursued her passion as a photographer.

Upon moving to Chicago, Liza was the studio manager for a high-end commercial photographer, then worked as a freelance commercial food and still life photographer.

In search of forests, trees and open spaces and a school for her children that valued the same, Liza left the city with her family, discovering Prairie School along the way.

Liza lives in Wheaton with her three children; two current students and one alumna. In what remains of her time, she enjoys being out in nature with her family, backpacking, photography, long-distance running, reading, and learning about permaculture gardening and foraging native plants.

Faculty

Erin Atkinson / Forest Preschool lead & marketing coordinator

Ms. Erin's journey in education is a blend of artistry, passion, and a deep commitment to holistic childhood development. She began her academic career studying Advertising Art Direction.

Her dedication to early learners has taken her from teaching art and preschool in Virginia and California to Kindergarten classrooms in Chicago. It was in Chicago that she formally continued her education, earning her Early Childhood Education credentials from Truman College.

After moving to the western suburbs, Ms. Erin deepened her practice by working in Reggio Emilia-inspired schools, eventually serving as a Lead Kindergarten teacher. It was here she designed and implemented an acclaimed Global Citizenship curriculum, a project that fostered community partnerships and led to a significant honor: in 2021, UNICEF selected her as an Empowering Female Educator for International Women’s Day.

Committed to lifelong learning, Ms. Erin expanded her expertise by earning a Nature-Based Teacher Certification from the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools in the summer of 2022, further enriching her outdoor education practices.

Ms. Erin believes in nurturing curious, compassionate, and globally-minded children. When she is not teaching, she nurtures her own garden, enjoys family time, and explores nature trails with her two adventurous huskies, Bella and Coffee.

Laura Collins / Forest Preschool lead

Laura Collins is an experienced educator dedicated to deepening her knowledge and understanding of both children and the natural world.  In addition to interning with our Forest Preschool before leading her own classes, Ms. Laura participated in a five-day Nature-based Teacher Certification in New York, CedarSong Way’s Foundations Course and other valuable workshops and conferences.  She fully embodies being a lifelong learner and continuously seeks opportunities to hone her skills.

Ms. Laura also has many years experience working as a doula, skills she draws from in her role as teacher at Prairie School of DuPage. In her work as a doula, she found passion working with clients to help create a safe and gentle environment for everyone during the birthing process. Creating this safe and gentle environment in our classroom without walls is a true passion for Ms. Laura.

In her free time, Ms. Laura can be found hiking, gardening, and crocheting. She enjoys spending time in nature with her son, daughter (a current Prairie student), and pup. They can be found camping, gardening at home or school, or snuggled up to crochet around a campfire.

Madison Stolt / FOREST Preschool Assistant & Lead Forest Preschool Aftercare

Ms. Madison believes early childhood is an ideal time to nurture a sense of wonder, resilience, and belonging in the natural world. With enthusiasm and care, she helps create environments where children can grow their connection to nature.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Integrative Biology with a Minor in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she was awarded Distinction for Excellence in Research.

She also earned a Master of Science in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior from Indiana University–Bloomington. During graduate school, Ms. Madison interned with the Bloomington Urban Woodlands Project and regularly volunteered at youth STEAM outreach events. Her experience in research, fieldwork, and environmental education has fostered a deep understanding of native ecosystems and a passion for making science accessible and engaging, especially for young learners.

Before her current role, Ms. Madison worked as a Natural Areas Instructor and Nature Preschool Teacher at Lyman Woods Nature Center in Downers Grove, where she was first introduced to the nature play philosophy, an approach she eagerly embraced and integrated into her daily teaching.

When she’s not exploring the outdoors, you can usually find Ms. Madison at home with her cat, working on a craft, and enjoying snacks from Trader Joe’s.

Lauren Cooper / FOREST preschool assistant & Forest aftercare ASSISTANT

Lauren is thrilled to join the Prairie staff community, a place she first discovered as a parent seeking a forest preschool program for her oldest daughter. Now, with all three of her children attending, she is delighted to become an even bigger part of the Prairie School of DuPage family.

Lauren brings a rich background in the arts and literature. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Bradley University and a Master of Arts in Public Art Administration from the University of Southern California. She is currently pursuing her Master of Library and Information Sciences at San José State University. Lauren is passionate about fostering creativity and a love of learning and looks forward to sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for art and books with our students.

Her connection to the community extends beyond Prairie School; she also works at the Hinsdale Public Library and leads the Prairie Girl Scout troop. In her free time, Lauren enjoys family adventures, crocheting, running, and reading stacks of books. You can usually find her happily flitting among her collection of fulfilling work and fun pursuits, and she is so excited to bring that energy into the forest.

Katy Rhea / FOREST preschool assistant & Forest aftercare ASSISTANT

In 2022, she became a certified parent coach, deepening her commitment to helping families cultivate strong relationships and safe, nurturing environments for their children

Beyond her professional work, Katy enjoys spending time outside with her children—gardening, raising caterpillars, and exploring together. She is also a Reiki practitioner and aspiring herbalist who loves learning about permaculture, creating pressed flower art, and crafting homegrown herbal teas. Whether tending the garden, wandering through the woods, or watching butterflies take flight, she finds so much joy in sharing the everyday magic of the natural world with little ones.

Sarah Fink / FOREST kindergarten lead & Events coordinator

Ms. Sarah joined Prairie School of DuPage eager to share her combined enthusiasm for early childhood education and exploring the natural world.

Previously, Ms. Sarah lived in Chicago where she worked for Smart Love Preschool. During her time at Smart Love, Ms. Sarah flourished in many positions including Director Designee, Toddler, Preschool and Kindergarten Teacher, and Gardener in Residence.

While living in Chicago, Ms. Sarah pursued a degree in Design at the International Academy of Design and Technology and subsequently a degree in Early Childhood Education at National Louis University. In 2019 Ms. Sarah traveled to Bali, where she obtained her yoga teaching certification and in summer 2022, Ms. Sarah completed a five-day Nature-based Teacher Certification in NY with the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools focusing on best practices in nature based early childhood education. 

On the weekends Ms. Sarah can be found having fun on the farm teaching goat yoga, riding her bike along the Fox River Trail, or in her garden where she is endlessly fascinated by planting seeds and watching them grow.

Anna Ashton / forest kindergarten assistant & Lead Kindergarten Aftercare

Anna Ashton is an Early Childhood educator that seeks to honor and center children's experiences through co-collaboration between child and teacher. She aims to support the natural desire children have to explore the world around them, both tangible and intangible.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her interest in Reggio Emilia began in her undergraduate studies and has stuck with her ever since. While obtaining her Master's degree, she was working in a Reggio Emilia-inspired primary school as a Kindergarten/First Grade Co-Teacher, deepening her interest in progressive education, play-based learning, and the use of an emergent, inquiry-based framework. 

In her free time, Anna enjoys exploring thrift and antique markets, spending time with her dog, creating recipes, and listening to music.

Courtney Henderson / lower elementary lead / reading interventionist

Courtney Henderson began her 14-year elementary teaching career after graduating from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA. She had the opportunity to teach in a variety of school settings, both in Illinois and in Charleston, SC. Recognizing how stories foster a sense of community within the classroom, literacy quickly became Ms. Henderson’s favorite block of the day. Utilizing a workshop approach, she encourages all students to see themselves as readers and writers.

Ms. Henderson is a certified yoga instructor through Prairie Yoga in Lisle, IL. She and her husband live in Wheaton along with their two children, Max and Sophie (both Prairie School alumni). Aside from teaching and reading, she loves traveling with her family, all things outdoors, and training for triathlons. 

Emily Schwarz / upper elementary lead

Emily is excited to be joining the Prairie School community! She will be coming to us with 3 years of classroom experience at independent schools in Chicago that focus on project and inquiry-based learning, all in grades 3-5. Emily has a degree in history from Loyola University and a Master's in Elementary Education from National Louis University. Prior to teaching, she worked in public radio, where she used her platform to advocate for social causes and worked towards creating community spaces within the city of Chicago.

Emily has a deep passion for learning and activism within education and is excited to share it with the students as they become better readers, writers, and community members. In Emily's classroom, students will be using critical thinking and inquiry-based learning to connect their language arts skills and understanding of history to the world around them. 

Outside of the classroom, you can find Emily hiking, reading, gardening, baking, going to her local farmer's market, or hanging around with her dog, Hank. She is thrilled to meet the students this fall and be a part of their learning journey!

Katie Reboul / upper elementary lead

Originally from Kansas, Katie has been teaching for ten years and is passionate about fostering experiences that spark curiosity and connection. She holds a B.S. in Secondary Education from Kansas State University and a postgraduate certificate in Educational Assessment from the Institute of Education in London.

Katie began her teaching career in Colorado at a progressive school in Denver, where she first integrated environmental education into her practice. This experience sparked her lasting passion for multidisciplinary, project-based instruction that connects students to real-world issues.

For the past four years, Katie has been teaching 5th grade in New York City at a school deeply rooted in social justice values. This role has deepened her approach to inclusive education, creating learning experiences that are rigorous, joyful, and center every student’s voice and agency.

Outside the classroom, Katie love baking (especially pies), exploring new places, getting out in nature, and tackling puzzles of all kinds. She and her husband, along with their two beloved cats, are thrilled to be returning to the Midwest, where Katie looks forward to joining the Prairie School of DuPage community.

Miranda Waldman / Middle School lead

Though originally from Boston, Miranda grew up in and around New York, where much of her family still lives today. Seizing every opportunity to teach that was available, she worked as a tutor and assistant children’s librarian through high school and was a nature instructor in her early college years. For fun, she assisted in teaching astronomy courses and volunteered for the Society of Physics Students’ local outreach programs. While pursuing her master’s in education at Lesley University, Miranda student taught sixth and seventh-grade classes at the Shady Hill School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was there that she was able to embrace using project-based units of thematic study to shape student learning.

In the summer of 2017, after receiving her degree, Miranda moved to Wisconsin and began teaching at Wingra School, a progressive school in Madison. While teaching there on a number of phenomenal co-teaching teams, she grew and flourished as an educator, collaborating with students and teachers alike to develop a responsive, student-centered, emergent curriculum. 

When she is not teaching, Miranda is often knitting, experimenting with digital art, playing board games and tabletop RPGs with friends, and enjoying time out in nature with her partner, Harry.

rachael zimmerman / Middle School lead / Grades Coordinator

Shelly Shimon-Hutchison / Middle School assistant & Grades assISTANT

In 2023, she received her certificate as a Master Gardener from the U of I Extension program, which tapped into her love of botany, entomology, native practices and crops.  

Like many parents, Shelly came to Prairie School with a desire to ground her children's education in the natural world. She is thrilled to marry her love of teaching with the unique nature-based philosophy of Prairie School.

When not at school, Shelly loves spending time with her family at the beach, camping, all things gardening, fostering kittens with special needs (proud foster fail), and reading anything and everything on which she can get her hands. 

specialty teachers

Rachel Davis / Visual Arts instructor

Rachel Davis has worked as an artist with children for more than 25 years, at the Madison Children’s Museum in Madison, WI and at the DuPage Children’s Museum in exhibit design and development, and as an educator. She has also been an artist-in-residence at the DuPage Children’s Museum and the Kohl’s Children’s Museum. Her work as an independent artist focuses on hands-on, open-ended art programming. Explore Ms. Rachel’s work here.

Ms. Rachel received her Bachelor of Arts in painting and printmaking from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in printmaking. Rachel’s art is influenced by how children see the natural world and the role of play in the creative process.

Emma Strohbusch / Orchestra instructor

Emma Strohbusch is a Chicago native, passionate about performance and music education. She began her training as a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, and later earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Viola Performance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Chicago College of Performing Arts. Ms. Strohbusch was a recipient of the Edward J. Krolick String Award – a full-tuition scholarship.

Ms. Strohbusch studied strings pedagogy at the IU Summer Strings Camp run by Mimi Zweig (Faculty, Indiana University), and has studied Suzuki teaching methods at the Chicago Suzuki Institute.

Ms. Strohbusch works with private students of all ages at Noteable Notes, Lyons Township High School, and Urban Prairie Waldorf School. Her performance experience currently includes Peoria Symphony, Rockford Symphony, and Chicago Composers Orchestra, as well as various chamber music performances throughout Chicago.

Haysie maurer / music instructor

Bio Coming Soon!

Staff

Heather Craig-Somerlot / School Coordinator

Ms. Somerlot has over 20 years of early childhood and school administration experience - both in Montessori education and traditional early-childhood and elementary education.

Along with a degree in Psychology, Ms. Somerlot has her AMS Montessori Certification in Administration, with training in the Primary (3 - 6) program, and has 13 years of experience working as Montessori Administrator working in Operations, Office Management and as Head of School. Ms. Somerlot has also worked at several traditional early childhood programs as a Lead Teacher and Administrator.

She currently resides in Naperville with her husband, two sons, and various mammals and amphibians.

In her spare time she likes to go camping and take long walks being present in the moment. She is very proud to support a program that incorporates nature into its curriculum, and to be an advocate for a quality alternative education where children are able to learn from their physical and social environment.

Alex Ramsay / Bookkeeper & HuMan Resources Assistant

Alex Ramsay comes from a background in neuroscience, office management, and accounting. When she is not working, she enjoys camping, making candles, working in her garden and spending quality time with her pit/lab mix Lu.

Alex did not previously know that schools like Prairie School of DuPage existed, and she is honored to be a part of such a refreshing environment!

Rikki RanierI / enrollment coordinator & Registrar

Rikki is the mother of two boys, a current Prairie Schooler and a Prairie School alumnus! She has a passion for conscious parenting, natural health, and simple living. Having always been interested in behavior and an avid observer of all creatures, Rikki earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at DePaul University in 2005. In recognizing and learning more about the mind-body-spirit connection, her studies have expanded to include holistic ways of healing and navigating life. She earned her Certificate in Massage Therapy in 2009 and has worked as an IL licensed Massage Therapist.

Rikki's family joined the Prairie School community in 2013 and she became a staff member in 2015, previously serving as the School Coordinator, now as Enrollment Coordinator. Through having the privilege of raising her children and being a part of this warm and giving community, Rikki has begun an adventure - of heart-centered living and embracing the many lessons that our relationships provide.

alyssa maurer /co-founder & board of director

As a founding member of Prairie School of DuPage, Alyssa Maurer has been with Prairie School since its inception in 2011.Prior to that, Alyssa worked in Chicago as a graphic designer for 18+ years, and started Tonic Design Studios, a graphic design firm specializing in corporate branding.Alyssa has participated on multiple non-profit boards, and was a founding member of Breathe – A Foundation for the Artist. Alyssa lives with her husband, two Prairie School alumni daughters, dog and cat. When she has a free moment she enjoys singing, drawing, writing, and learning new things!

IN MEMORIAM

MS. WESTBERRY / VISIONARY, CO-FOUNDER and BELOVED TEACHER

Liz Westberry was the visionary and co-founder of Prairie School, and although she served as Head of School her heart was in the classroom with the children. Her legacy lives on through all her students who will move forward into their lives with a deep love and knowledge of science and the natural world.

Those students who had the privilege of spending years being mentored by Ms. Westberry developed a deep bond with her. That bond, along with the passion for science and the natural world she inspired, is a gift they will take with them into adulthood. She will be missed dearly by the entire Prairie community.