Pilgrim Community Nursery School
460 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL
(708) 848-5869

Teachers & Staff

Our staff is experienced and/or degreed in early childhood education. Teacher to child ratio ranges from 1:7 to 1:8 depending on the age of the child. The Nursery School Director is in charge of day-to-day operations of the school. The staff is in a continuous process of increasing their knowledge about young children. Every year the teachers and director attend at least one Early Childhood Conference and participate in 15 hours of in-service training.

Here is a little bit about the members of our staff:

Abby
Years at Pilgrim: 2
Grew Up: Marietta, GA (suburb of Atlanta)
Favorite place in Oak Park: Rehm Park, Hole in the Wall
Favorite part of teaching at Pilgrim: Watching the kids play and discover new things everyday.

Jayne
Years at Pilgrim: 21
Grew Up: All over -- born in Wisconsin
Favorite place in Oak Park: I love to walk all over OP
Favorite part of teaching at Pilgrim: Awesome families and staff.

Kathy
Years at Pilgrim: 3
Grew Up: Chicago and Oak Park
Favorite place in Oak Park: Borders Bookstore
Favorite part of teaching at Pilgrim:  The kids -- you never know what they are going to say!

Mary Sue
Years at Pilgrim: This is my second year
Grew up: I grew up outside of Palatine, IL where my family ran a year round children's camp
Favorite Place in Oak Park: I love to walk with my dog in Thatcher Woods and watch the seasons change
Favorite thing about Pilgrim: I love the children, the families, and the other teachers.

Rhona
Years at Pilgrim: 12
Grew Up:  New Jersey
Favorite place in Oak Park: Any estate or garage sale and at the dog park
Favorite part of teaching at Pilgrim:  It is exciting to witness those "Aha" moments when ideas click in the children’s minds.

Wendy
Years at Pilgrim: 10
Grew Up: Rockford, IL and Delavan, WI
Favorite place in Oak Park: Our backyard
Favorite part of working at Pilgrim: Working in the office has kept me in touch with the wonderful staff and families at PCNS.

Jodi
Years at Pilgrim: 15
Grew Up: Chicago
Favorite place in Oak Park: Priory Park with my grandchildren
Favorite part of teaching at Pilgrim: The Children!

Nancy
Years at Pilgrim: 7 teaching and 3 as a parent
Grew Up: Mount Prospect, IL
Favorite place in Oak Park: The red, white and blue park and Thatcher Woods
Favorite part of teaching at Pilgrim: I love the feeling of being a part of a huge extended family.  There isn't a place in OP where I don't see a familiar Pilgrim face and that's a wonderful thing.  I love the children and getting to know the families.

Ruth
Years at Pilgrim: 17
Grew Up: Villa Park/Lombard
Favorite place in Oak Park: Conservatory -- I love visiting in the winter
Favorite part of being at Pilgrim: I love what children say at this stage of development.  I also love block building and imagination and ingenuity.

Rebecca
Years at Pilgrim: 3 as a parent, now in my 15th year teaching
Grew Up: NH, Maine and Vermont
Favorite place in Oak Park: OP Conservatory
Favorite part of teaching at Pilgrim: We have a fabulous community of parents, teachers and children.

Aileen
Years at Pilgrim: 22 years as a teacher, 3 years before that as a parent
Grew Up: Chicago
Favorite place in Oak Park: I love Chicago museums and events (especially in summer).  I love going to the Art Institute.
Favorite part of teaching at Pilgrim:  The very loving and supportive community of staff and parents.

Nick
Years at Pilgrim: 13
Grew Up: By the White Sox Park
Favorite part of Pilgrim: The children here make me very happy every day.

Donna
Years at Pilgrim: 14
Grew Up: Maywood, IL
Favorite place in Oak Park: Besides PCNS?  Is Brookfield Zoo in the OP area? I love to eat at Fuego Loco.
Favorite part of teaching at Pilgrim: The kids are darling. The staff is well qualified. The parents are awesome.

Maryanne
Years at Pilgrim: 7 years as a teacher and 3 years as a parent'
Grew Up: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite place in Oak Park: It is my secret
Favorite part of teaching at Pilgrim: The kids...The kids...The kids.

Mary
Years at Pilgrim: 21 years
Grew Up: in Logan Square (NW side of Chicago)
Favorite place in Oak Park: Rehm Park, walking around
Favorite part of teaching at Pilgrim: Being with the children and sharing their wonder, curiosity, and discovery.