Chestnut Team (Ages 4 -5 years)

Paige has been with OPFS since the summer of 2015. She worked for many years in the baby room and has transitioned as the kindergarten teacher. Paige is a yoga instructor and has her masters in early childhood education. She is a mama to her daughter Luna and a dog mom. Her hobbies include spending time with her family, exercising, reiki and all the good stuff!

Justine has enjoyed being an early childhood educator for 11 years. She discovered her passion for children when she started baby-sitting at age 14. Since then, she earned an associates degree in child development, received her certification in preschool and continues to work on furthering her education in child development. She hopes to make a difference in the lives of children by continuing to follow her passion and embarking on many more learning adventures!

Sam has been at OPFS since 2019 and spent the first four years in the school age program before switching to Chestnut. He is a volunteer coach for the OPRF frisbee team and one of the designers for our merch store. In his free time he loves watching sports, playing video games, and cooking.

Matt has been working at Oak Park Friends since the summer of 2017 in the afterschool program. He most recently has been working as a teacher with the OPFS Kindergarten. He enjoys playing basketball, hanging out with friends and family, as well as working out in his free time. In May of 2022 he earned his Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University Chicago.

Hello! My name is Jessica and I am 22 years old. I'm super ecstatic and honored to be a part of the OPFS team! I obtained my Associates in Early Childhood Education in May 2022 and have worked in the ECE field for a little under a year. I have four silly little cats that I absolutely adore. Despite not being able to bring them with me to my favorite places, I love going to museums, going on nature walks, and going on roller coasters! I can't wait to get to know everyone and have nothing but fun and create new memories with the little ones, families, and of course, the staff! 

Katie has been working in the ECE field for over 10 years in a variety of different roles but her favorite role is being a teacher! She believes in creating an environment where students are able to play, explore and feel a part of a classroom community. When Katie is not at school she loves to travel or be outside in nature with her family.