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

Erin Atkinson studied Advertising Art Direction at Columbia College, before moving to Norfolk, VA where she taught art and pre-school. Ms. Erin also taught preschool in Antioch, CA before moving back to the Chicago area in 2007.

She continued her education with Early Childhood Education credentials from Truman College while teaching Kindergarten in Chicago. After moving to the western suburbs, Ms. Erin continued to work in early childhood teaching art and working as a Lead Kindergarten teacher in the Reggio Emilia philosophy.

Being a firstborn generation American, Ms. Erin has a love for cultures and diversity and used this passion to develop a Global Citizenship curriculum. In 2021, she was chosen as an empowering female educator for International Women’s Day, by UNICEF.

In summer 2022, Ms. Erin completed a five-day Nature-based Teacher Certification in NY with the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools, deepening her understanding of best practices for early childhood outdoor education.

When she's not teaching, you can find Ms. Erin in her garden, or on the sideline of a soccer field cheering on her son, Damon, or hiking with her two 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.

Nina Brewer / FOREST Preschool Assistant & Forest Aftercare assistant

Ms. Nina has been volunteering and working with kids since high school, including working as a student aid in a first-grade classroom where she began to develop her interest in place-based education.

She recently worked with St. Charles Park District as a before and after-school instructor and a camp counselor. Ms. Nina is currently studying towards a degree in elementary education.

It was here that Nina realized that there was no “ideal classroom” for her without nature and she loves to explore how teachers can create a welcoming and beneficial space for children.

When she is not outside in her garden, Nina enjoys baking with her family or indulging in creating arts and crafts. She especially loves to collect wooden ducks!

diane Browning / FOREST preschool assistant & Lead Forest aftercare

Growing up in a big family, surrounded by forest preserves, Ms. Diane has always loved nature and education.

During high school and college, she had many opportunities to teach children about nature and animals through Brookfield Zoo, the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, and most recently, by assisting with nature-themed kids’ summer camps at the Knoch Knolls Nature Center in Naperville, IL.

Ms. Diane recently earned a degree in Zoology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

She is excited to apply her background in wildlife and nature to fuel her passion for teaching kids about the natural world.

Sarah Fink / FOREST kindergarten lead

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.

rachel turner / forest kindergarten & grades assistant

Rachel Turner holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special Education and recently finished her master's degree in Sweden in Outdoor and Sustainability Education.

Ms. Rachel enjoys camping, hiking, yoga, and eating delicious food! Spending time outdoors and teaching children are two of her passions and she is eager to put them together at Prairie School!

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. 

erin hemmer / upper elementary lead

Erin Hemmer began her career as an educator 17 years ago after completing her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sociology. Her commitment to advocating for students led to her completion of her Masters degrees in Special Education and Educational Leadership. She has been able to teach multiple age levels and subjects in a variety of settings in Illinois. 

Ms. Hemmer is a co-founder of an equity and inclusion community organization in the Northwest suburbs. She lives in Elk Grove Village with her husband, three children Alice, Naomi and River, and their cat. She loves traveling, reading, and gets outdoors as much as she can.

Laura McCoy / upper elementary lead

Laura McCoy has been sharing her passion of science and outdoor education with students and families for over 20 years. She holds a dual Bachelors of Arts in Education and Cultural/Ecological Education from Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania as well as a Masters of Science in Curriculum Design with a Focus in Outdoor Education from Northern Illinois University.

Ms. McCoy has had a passion for the outdoors her entire life and has spent her career in the sciences and outdoor education fields. She spends time at home in her garden and volunteers as both a cub scout leader and a girl scout leader. She loves outdoor adventures with her husband and two kids. In order to unwind, she walks her two mutts.

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. She is new to Illinois and is looking forward to exploring new places, trying new things, taking time out on her bike, and being a part of the Prairie School community!

rachael zimmerman / Middle School lead / Grades Coordinator

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.

melissa wang / music instructor

Melissa Wang is a composer, educator, and percussionist. She is currently based in the Chicago metropolitan area, teaching percussion at Waubonsee Community College, drum set at Edge Music Academy, and the Trojan Marching Band front ensemble at Downers Grove North High School.

Melissa Wang's passions in music involve performing percussion with an interest in theatrical percussion and composing with an interest in incorporating unconventional choreographies in existing genres such as choreography in the Wind Band repertoire. 

Her accomplishments include receiving the Research, Engagement and Academic Diversity Grant for her performance web series, “Percussion Works by Women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+", receiving first place in the 2019 Jack Stone Award for New Music with her winning piece "Downright Up and Left" performed by Line Upon Line Percussion Ensemble. Her works have been performed by Platypus Ensemble, Seattle Modern Orchestra, and the University of Washington Symphonic Band.

Additionally, she performed percussion with Inverted Space in the 2023 Journey to the Black Lodge Tour, the 2017 Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps, and The Esoterics in Seattle for their 2024 Splendor & Solace concerts and recordings.

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.