Ms. Alison, Site Director

Alison was born in Washington State and later moved to Hawaii, where she studied Linguistics. In 2018, after relocating to Chicago, she joined New Einsteins Academy as an assistant teacher in our young toddler classroom while continuing her studies in Early Childhood Education. She went on to become the lead teacher in our Pre-K classroom and now serves as our Director.

Alison’s passion for child development began early and grew stronger during her two terms of service with AmeriCorps, where she taught English in elementary schools. She is especially interested in children’s brain development, language acquisition, and the joy of learning. She loves spending time in each classroom, supporting every child and teacher, and sharing her warmth and energy with the community. Her dream is to one day open her own daycare, and she’s grateful for the growth and experiences NEA has given her and her daughter, who has been part of the school since infancy.

Alison lives in Edgewater with her daughter. She enjoys Chicago summers, reading, singing, dancing, being outdoors, and spending as much time as possible at the beach.

Ms. Heaven, Infant Lead Teacher

Ms. Heaven is a Chicago native who recently graduated from Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy. At her young age, Ms. Heaven has already gained a great deal of experience teaching and working with youth. In the years past, Ms. Heaven worked as a teacher's assistant at a summer camp. Heaven loves working with kids because she believes that kids are the purest form of humanity. She firmly believes aiding in their development is an indescribable privilege. In the future, Heaven would love to grow in this field by pursuing a career as a lead Pre-K teacher or as a child therapist. 

Ms. Nchimunya, Young Toddler Lead Teacher

Ms. Nchimunya was born and raised in Zambia, where she graduated from college and spent 5 years working as a preschool teacher with children ages 2 to 5. She now lives in Chicago and hopes to enroll at DePaul to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. In her spare time, Nchimunya enjoys learning the newest trends in hair braiding and loves exploring Chicago with her husband.

Ms. Liz, Young Toddler Assistant Teacher

Miss Liz grew up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. She has always had a passion for working with children. Over the years, she has worked with all age groups and children with special needs, including the six years she spent at the LaGrange Department of Special Education in a variety of programs. She attended the College of Dupage, pursuing an associate degree and certification in Early Childhood Education. She also attended Gallaudet University for a summer to learn sign language. After working in healthcare for several years, she decided to return to the early childhood field, where she feels her true calling is. Miss Liz is proud to be part of the NEA family and share her knowledge with all the wonderful children here. During her free time, Ms. Liz loves baking and traveling.

Ms. Kimberly, Older Toddler Lead Teacher

Kim was born and raised in Chicago in a big family. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at DePaul University in 2018. She has been working with children of all ages since 2005, taking care of her younger siblings, babysitting for various families and working as a teacher’s aide and assistant in daycare settings. Ms.Kim loves working with children because it is fascinating to see them achieve their milestones. She has been leading the Older Toddler classroom at NEA for the last 6 years and is looking forward to many more.

During her spare time, she enjoys being with her family, attending numerous festivals throughout Chicago and going on exciting new trips.

Ms. Stephanie, Older Toddler Assistant Teacher

Stephanie was born and raised on the North Side of Chicago. From a young age, she had a strong interest in becoming an actor. However, during her high school years, Stephanie volunteered at Hayt Elementary School, assisting her second-grade teacher with various tasks. It was through this experience that she discovered her passion for working with children.

Stephanie is currently attending community college, where she is completing her Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education. With 5 years of experience working with children ages 2-5, she finds joy in helping them grow both educationally and socially. What excites her most about working with young learners is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on their lives.

Outside of her professional career, Stephanie loves traveling, exploring new restaurants and neighborhoods around Chicago, and, of course, has a deep love for coffee.

Ms. Leslie, Older Toddler Assistant Teacher

Leslie was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and spent her childhood in the Albany Park neighborhood. She gained early experience caring for her nephews and niece, as well as babysitting children ages 1 to 5. After graduating from Theodore Roosevelt High School, where she took Early Childhood Education classes, Leslie began working at a daycare.

Leslie is currently pursuing her goal of becoming a preschool teacher, with hopes of one day owning her own daycare. Outside of work, she enjoys drawing and reading, and dreams of having a small library in her home. She also loves attending concerts and traveling.