Teachers

Mrs. Kelly Pallarino (on-site director, teacher, 7am-3pm) is a graduate from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Education). She taught Early Childhood Special Education for 8 years in Austin, Texas, before moving to Chicago in June 2008. This is her fifth year teaching the Community. She lives in Bucktown with her husband, Mike, and labrador, Bella. She enjoys running, biking, walking her dog, cooking, traveling, shopping, and going back to Austin to visit family and friends.


Mrs. Pam Carlson (teacher, 3-5pm) is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and a Masters of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Pam has been teaching since 1984 and has had experience at the kindergarten through fourth grade levels in Dallas and Austin, Texas and in the Winnetka Public Schools. This is her twelfth year in the Orange Room. Pam is also Community's part-time curriculum coordinator. Pam and Bruce Carlson and their two teenage daughters live in the Ravinia area of Highland Park. Pam enjoys reading, gardening, raising butterflies and teaching Sunday school.

Ms. Merritt Willford, teacher, 7:30-11:30 am--bio to come
Mrs. Sue Fieldman, teacher, 11am-4pm--bio to come

Mrs. Heather Lowery (art teacher) joined our staff in 2008 as the Studio Arts Teacher. She is a graduate of SUNY Buffalo with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and a Master of Arts and Humanities in Graphic Design with a minor in Early Childhood Education. After graduation Mrs. Lowery moved to Chicago to work as a Graphic Designer specializing in the field of prepress production. She also created and was chairperson of the Computer Graphics certificate and associate degree programs at the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Chicago. In addition she has also been the owner of two businesses, PreFlight, a prepress production company and Over the Moon, a handmade greeting card company. She is married to Steve and has two children, Max (12) and Aidan (9) who attended the Orange Room, Blue Room and the Kindergarten Enrichment program. Mrs. Lowery enjoys staying active with her boys, antiquing, gardening, reading and creating art.

Mrs. Carol Kenneally (music teacher) is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She has been teaching music and movement (voluntarily and professionally) since 1998. She is currently teaching in three Highland Park preschools and one Park Ridge preschool. This is her eighth year teaching here at Community! Her eclectic curriculum is tailored to each classes' specific age group and musical level of the students. She develops children's natural gift of music through a variety of experiences such as: group singing, individual singing, age appropriate instruments, circle dancing, partner dancing, whole body movement, and engaging props. She considers it a joy and privilege to encourage future musicians! She also has the pleasure of accompanying Carole Peterson, of Macaroni Soup, in performing children's concerts. Carol had been leading children's music in her hometown church since 1998, but this year she has has had to leave that position in order to accept a new position of worship leader with the adult worship band. Carol previously taught Kindergarten and fourth grade after graduating from NIU. Carol and her husband Chris reside in Park Ridge with their four children (20, 19, 18 and 16 years old). In her spare time Carol enjoys camping, kayaking, jogging, reading, antiquing, and jammin' with her musical family!