MRS. ASHLEY ALANIS

Ashley Alanis is a dedicated educator, wife, and mother of four with more than 10 years of teaching experience working with young learners. She holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and is passionate about creating engaging, developmentally appropriate learning experiences for preschool and kindergarten students.

Ashley believes that hands-on exploration is the foundation of early childhood education. Through play-based learning, creative projects, and meaningful interactions, she helps students build confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.

Outside of the classroom, Ashley enjoys spending time with her family, which includes their dog and four chickens. She loves baking, cooking, and making crafts, and often incorporates her creativity into classroom activities that inspire young learners to explore and discover.

As both an educator and a parent, Ashley values curiosity, community, and creativity in young learners. She believes children learn best when they are encouraged to ask questions, explore new ideas, build relationships, and express themselves through hands-on experiences. She is honored to play a role in her students’ early learning journeys and looks forward to helping them develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive.

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MRS. ANNIE ALVAREZ

Hello, my name is Annie Alvarez. I am a dedicated mother, educator, artist, and scoutmaster with over 16 years of teaching experience. I specialize in making science and art engaging and accessible through hands-on learning, real-world applications, and creative exploration that spark curiosity and critical thinking.

In addition to my classroom work, I teach survival skills and robotics, helping students develop practical knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and confidence. My approach emphasizes inquiry, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.

As a mother of three young adults, I value resilience, independence, and compassion, principles I bring into both my teaching and leadership. I am committed to inspiring others and making a meaningful impact through education, creativity, and mentorship.

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MRS. STEPHANIE NOLAND

Stephanie Noland is the RoboThink Chicagoland owner and one of the many talented instructors who bring robotics, coding, and entrepreneurship to life for kids aged 6-14! She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Kentucky. She had a 20-year career as a management consultant specializing in both Finance and Technology business transformation before starting RoboThink Chicagoland. Stephanie’s two favorite parts of teaching RoboThink classes are: #1: Seeing the look in a student’s eyes when their robot jolts to life or their video game characters jump into action for the first time – the sense of pride and accomplishment is priceless to witness, and #2: Seeing students’ imagination and creativity! It’s amazing to see what students come up with when you give them a little guidance, some tools, and space to create!

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MRS. SANDY PLAHETKA
Sandy Plahetka is passionate about teaching kids to learn how to operate a sewing machine. She has endless projects for boys and girls. It is Sandy's pleasure to come along side families and teach kids how to love sewing. Sandy is married and has 3 teenage boys. We love our family dog named Skyler who is a German Shepherd. Some of her interests are weekend getaways with her husband and drawing with color pencils.

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MR. BRETT WEINSTEIN

Brett holds an associate degree in fitness and exercise and a bachelor’s degree in professional studies from Robert Morris University, where he focused on healthcare management. His background is fueled by a lifelong passion for health and fitness, and he loves finding fun ways to teach these topics to the next generation. As a father of two—including Holly, a fellow student at the co-op—Brett knows exactly how to keep kids engaged and moving. When he isn’t teaching, you can find him working out, cheering for his daughter at her cheer competitions, or watching his son bowl.

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MS. ERINA JOHNSON
Abbott & Lois’ founder and primary instructor, Erina Johnson, set her sights at a young age on passing along the theater’s far-reaching critical thinking skills and study techniques. In order to do so, she combined seven years of professional theater coaching with advanced education in business and elementary education. 

Erina’s professional career began in 2018, with the founding of The Kirkwood Players, a non-profit community theater that serves adults and children alike. In 2020, she delivered her first of many successful children’s theater workshops and, two years later, founded Abbott & Lois to focus on providing more for children. Ms. Johnson’s passion for theater has proven to be extremely contagious, inspiring endless quirkiness and excitement!