The staff & leadership at St. Mark's Day School is a loving & nurturing team whose sole focus is the best interest of children.
St. mark's team
Staff & Leadership
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Carrie Bender, Amanda Davis, & Susan Dilsaver
Tiny Tots & 2s Teachers
Carrie has been in the early childhood field for roughly 32 years! Over the course of her 32 years in early childhood, she has been both a teacher & director! She holds an Associate’s Degree in General Education with a certificate in Early Education, both from McHenry County College. She is a State & NCLB-certified Paraprofessional through the Illinois State Board of Education. Through Gateways to Opportunity, she also holds a Certificate of Completion in Child Care Administration & a Level 4 ECE Credential. As both an educator & a mom, Carrie believes that learning takes place in a fun, loving, safe, & nurturing environment that fosters play-based learning. Her & her husband, Jim, have two amazing children, Jess & Connor (both who have graduated from college). Outside of the classroom, Carrie loves yoga, reading, being outdoors, crafting, & spending time with family & friends!
Amanda has been a mom at St. Marks for over 5 years! Her BA is in English & minored in Secondary Ed while in college. Not only does she bring an abundance of warmth & love to the classroom, she also meets each child where they are at by making each child feel valued. She creates a learning environment where all students thrive & we couldn’t be more excited to have her part of our St. Marks Family. In addition to being with the tots & 2s, she also teaches STEAM enrichment & Mini Masters enrichment here at St. Marks!
Susan has been teaching Sunday School at St. Mark’s for over 30 years. In fact, some of our current parents at St. Marks had her as their Sunday School teacher, which to this day they share very fond memories of her as their teacher. Susan also gives the monthly message during Chapel Time to the entire school & brings several years of Early Childhood teaching as a certified teacher. Susan has been serving as an active member of the ministry at St. Mark’s Church for many years & is St. Mark’s Junior Vestry Warden. Her comforting presence & love for teaching young learners is a gift that we are so lucky to have here at St. Marks.
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Kathi Slatter & Sara Morrell
3s Teachers
Kathi has been teaching at St. Mark's for 14+ years. She grew up in Park Ridge & attended Maine South High School. Kathi graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison & earned her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from National Louis University. She has four children all graduates from BHS & enjoys skiing with all of them!
Sara has been teaching at St. Mark's for over seven years, but her adventure here began as a parent & later as a substitute teacher. We just couldn't let her go! Sara has BA in Marketing & Advertising from Columbia University, & an MA in Integrated Marketing Communications, so she is well-versed in helping families from both the classroom & office at St. Mark's. She is well-qualified with early childhood certification from DCFS. Sara embraces the philosophy of St. Mark's as she supports children in their journey to learn, explore, & discover through play, music, art, and lots of movement! Outside of school, Sara enjoys spending time with her family & attending her son's hockey games!
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Meg Jorgensen
Pre-K (4s)
Meg has been sharing her passion for education with children for over 16+ years. Meg has a B.A. in Elementary Education from Michigan State University (GO GREEN!) & joined St. Mark's in 2020. Meg is a caring, compassionate teacher who meets each child where they are at. Not only is Meg a nurturing teacher, but her love for her preschool students is so evident in the way she leads with patience, kindness, & warmth. Outside of school, Meg enjoys traveling, gardening, & spending time with her three children & seven grandchildren. Meg & her husband of 40 years, Mark, live in North Barrington with their two dogs, Ollie & Shuggie.
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Sara Morrell, Kathi Slatter, & Lindsay Miller
Leadership Team
Together, we-Kathi Slatter, Sara Morrell, & Lindsay Miller-will be working collaboratively to ensure that every aspect of the Day School flourishes. Each of us brings unique experience, a shared love for early childhood education, & a deep commitment to the mission of St. Mark's.
Kathi Slatter - Leadership Team (Director)
After sixteen wonderful years teaching at St. Mark's & 4 magical years as a St. Mark’s parent, I'm honored to step into this new role while continuing to guide our curious, joyful three-year-olds in the classroom. With a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education & qualifications for a Preschool Director, I will be focusing on staffing & parent communication. St. Mark's is truly a second home to me, & I'm excited to serve the school in this new capacity while staying close to the children who inspire me every day!
Sara Morrell - Leadership Team (Day to Day Operations)
St. Mark's has been my teaching home for the past seven years. Prior to those years, I was a St. Mark's parent for 2 years. It has been a joy to grow alongside our students & programs-especially through the development of our after-school enrichment offerings. Within our Leadership Team, I will be supporting the day-to-day operations of the school office while continuing to teach.My heart is in the classroom, & I am grateful to be able to blend that passion with the opportunity to help lead our community forward!
Lindsay Miller - Leadership Team (Social Media/Community Engagement)
As both a parent & former teacher (& former student when I was 3 years old!!) at St. Mark's, this school & community holds a very special place in my life/heart. I currently love being a stay at home mom to my two boys, as I recently took time away from St. Mark's to welcome my second child in Dec. 2024. I hold a Master's Degree (M.Ed) with my major being in Early Education & my minor being in Curriculum & Instruction. My BA from DePaul University is in Relational Communication with a focus in early childhood. Within our Leadership Team, I will be focusing on all our social media platforms & keeping our community informed & inspired! You'll most likely see me in & out around St. Mark's with my one-year-old in hand & dropping/picking up my 4 year old in the pre-k room!
We are all deeply committed to the values & vision of St. Mark's. As always, our doors & inboxes are open. We look forward to working closely with each of you to ensure that every child & family feels known, supported, & celebrated here at St. Mark's!
With gratitude & enthusiasm,
Kathi Slatter (kslatter@mydayschool.org)
Sara Morrell (smorrell@mydayschool.org)
Lindsay Miller (lmiller@mydayschool.org)
The St. Mark's Day School Leadership Team -
Ms. Carol has been encouraging & developing preschooler's natural love of music & movement in the Chicago area since 1998. Children enjoy learning basic music skills & exercise their fine/gross motor skills in her classes. Students also practice self expression & social skills, as they engage with Ms. Carol's guitar & age appropriate props/instruments, & different styles of music! Carol & her husband are empty nesters now & enjoy 'glamping' as much as possible!
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Coach Kelly has been working with children both in the
classroom & as a coach for over 10 years - which led her to start Gym
Kids Enrichment! Coach Kelly's approach to teaching is through interactive games, different sport skills, stretching/yoga, music, & more! No matter what she has planned for the week, it is always fun & age appropriate for the students she is leading. Our little athletes adore Coach Kelly - she is truly the kindest, most energetic & upbeat physical educational instructor out there! Kelly holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology & a Master’s degree in HR Management. Kelly lives in Crystal Lake with her husband & three children.
