Floaters and Subs (0 -5 yrs)

Iduvina is a loving parent and grandparent. She even shares a workplace and a classroom with family! Idu is also a loving teacher. She is patient, sees and empowers the children and is always making someone laugh. She also enjoys cooking

Hi my name is Tony Arnieri and I have been working with kids for about 5  years now and I have been babysitting around the community so I can’t wait to bring some of those skills in  to the Oak Parks Friends School I really enjoy hanging out with Kids seeing them  grow and explore and I have been a bus assistant at a daycare. And so I just can’t wait to bring my energy and my funny personality into the world of park friends school and I’m very excited to be a part of this team

Kiana is excited to join the OPFS community! From Tahlequah, Oklahoma, she earned her CNA and phlebotomist certifications while in high school. She believes in facilitating hands-on immersive experiences for the kids– Having gone to a Cherokee Immersion School, she believes building community is the pillar in development. Growing up, she helped take care of the community's children, eventually going into babysitting for her younger siblings and others. She has 10 siblings and likes to play the clarinet and saxophone in her free time, as well as go on hikes! 

Rose joined OPFS at the start of 2026. Originally from upstate New York, her experience working at an educational farm program for 6-10 year olds began a life-long desire to encourage childrens’ curiosity about nature. She spent her college years in North Carolina where she played and taught violin, meeting her husband in a folk band and later following him to Chicago. Now working towards a PhD in communications, her research focuses on the benefits of screen-free schools on social health at all age levels. At home she bakes for fun, plays music, and comes up with ideas for science fiction novels with her husband. 

Rhona Taylor has been an actor, storyteller and early childhood educator for more than 40 years. 

Lisa has spent more than three decades as an educator in various roles: classroom teacher, child care provider, parent educator, home visitor, teacher trainer, and college faculty. They have worked in diverse settings, from child care centers and elementary and middle schools to community colleges and private universities. In all these roles, Lisa has worked to engage children in active and meaningful learning, to support families as their children’s first and closest teachers, and to involve educators in reflective and practical dialogue to help improve their teaching. In 2024, after 15 years at the Erikson Institute as the Director of Program Design and Operations for both the Early Math Collaborative and the Department of Professional Learning, Lisa left full-time employment to move into a new stage of life with a focus on grandparenting, substitute teaching, and advocacy. 

Kristeen joined OPFS in early 2026. She worked with children the first few years out of college, and is delighted to return to the field after a 28-year career in the federal government. She loves being around kids and learning from their curiosity and imagination. She believes in intentional silliness, laughter, and big hugs. She lives in Oak Park with her high school-aged son Franklin, her husband Larry, and a sweet dog named Daisy. Outside of work she enjoys singing in a choir, volunteering at the food pantry, and going to Morton Arboretum for long "talk walks" with her family.

Hi, I am Miss Inci Ochoa. I am the teacher with the wacky hair colors and crazy ideas! I was born in Toluca, Mexico. I am first generation, I recently found out I am indigenous and come from the Otimi Tribe. I am very proud of my roots, and I am currently in school to become an Occipital Therapist specializing in young children. I have been working with young children for 5 years and can wait to continue growing that number! I currently live in Berwyn IL with my partner and his three kids and a cute Shiba Inu puppy name Seppy! I can't wait to meet you all and create fun memories. One fun fact about me is that I love oddities, and I love cute paintings of forest animals, especially rats and bats!

Karen grew up in Rochester, New York and left to attend Ashland University in Ohio. She has an Elementary Education degree, has done course work in Early Childhood Education, and attends continuing education workshops and seminars. She and her husband moved to Oak Park in 1999 and have two adult daughters.

Karen worked at the elementary level between corporate computer jobs (where teaching adults was a big part of the job). She also worked with her church high school youth group. She taught at Pilgrim Community Nursery School for four years in the 4-year-old classroom and recently, three years in the 2-year-old classroom.

Karen is an avid quilter and geocacher, and loves to travel and read.