Kristen Baron,
Assistant Morning Preschool Teacher
Kristen joined the Rose Hall team in 2019 as an Assistant in the morning preschool classroom. Kristen has a master’s degree in education and spent several years teaching elementary in the traditional setting before having children of her own. After being a Rose Hall parent for many years, she has joined our team and brings a sense of wonder, joy, and love to the classroom. When Kristen is not busy with her three children, she loves reading, baking, and exercising.

Faith Kanatzidis,
Assistant Afternoon Preschool Teacher, French Teacher
Faith joined the Rose Hall team in 2008 as an Assistant teacher in the afternoon and has been keeping us organized ever since. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in French and delights our children weekly with her French lessons. Faith has spent much of her career in education, teaching high school French, working in Montessori Toddler classrooms, and being at Rose Hall. Faith raised three children in Wilmette and now enjoys spending her free time reading, traveling, and knitting.

Michelle Kothmann,
Lead Morning Preschool Teacher
Michelle joined Rose Hall in 2015 as a Lead teacher bringing her Southern charm, sense of peace, and overwhelming joy to our classrooms. Prior to teaching at Rose Hall, Michelle taught at a Montessori school in Texas, moved to Illinois, and spent many years raising three children. She enjoys spending her free time with her family, watching baseball, and being active outside.

Chase Martinek,
Assistant Kindergarten Enrichment Teacher
Chase has been at Rose Hall since 2020 as a substitute teacher but transitioned to Assistant during the school year. She came to Rose Hall first as a parent but is a natural teacher and gave away her secret one day when she came in to be a reader. Chase has a master’s in education and was an elementary teacher in the traditional setting for many years prior to having children of her own. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, riding bikes with her family, spending time by the lake, and playing games with her two children.

Ann Mazza,
Lead Morning Preschool Teacher
Ann has been at Rose Hall since 2009, beginning as an Assistant and transitioning into the Lead role shortly after joining the team. She has taught in the Early Childhood field for most of her career, teaching in the traditional setting before raising her own children and then coming to Rose Hall. When not at school, Ann enjoys spending time with her family, doing yoga, finding new art projects, reading, and traveling.

Paige O’Donoghue,
Lead Afternoon Preschool Teacher
Paige joined Rose Hall in 2017 as an Assistant but quickly became a Lead teacher. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching, and spent many years teaching special education, kindergarten, and junior kindergarten in a traditional setting, before having children of her own. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, golf, cooking, and most of all, the “little moments” in life.

Chris Peterson,
Assistant Afternoon Preschool Teacher
Chris has been at Rose Hall since 2019 after being a Rose Hall parent. Chris spent the first part of her career in advertising before becoming a parent. Chris has enthusiasm, joy, and compassion for every child every day. Chris enjoys spending time with her family and her dogs, and in her spare time attending live music and taking long walks on the beach.

Sam Wallace,
Lead Kindergarten Enrichment Teacher,
Assistant Morning Preschool Teacher
Sam has been at Rose Hall since 2016 in both the morning preschool and kindergarten enrichment programs. She is in her last year of her Montessori teacher training and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. Prior to moving to the United States and having children, Sam spent many years as an Elementary teacher in her native Australia. In her spare time Sam enjoys spending time with her two children, coaching youth triathlons, personal training, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.

Wendy Weiner,
Toddler Assistant Teacher,
Kindergarten Enrichment Lunch Teacher
Wendy joined Rose Hall in 1998 and has committed most of her life to teaching young children. Wendy is incredibly warm, loving, and patient, and brings a calm spirit to our toddler classroom. As the mother of three grown children, and many grandchildren, Wendy enjoys spending time with her family. She, also, enjoys knitting, yoga, and traveling.

Debbie Whalen,
Lead Toddler Teacher
Debbie has been a teacher at Rose Hall since 2014, joining the team first as the Little Explorers teacher and then transitioning to being the Lead Toddler teacher. Prior to teaching at Rose Hall, Debbie taught in a Montessori Lower Elementary classroom, was a Rose Hall parent of 4 children, served on the Parent Association, and on the Board of Directors. When Debbie is not working or enjoying her family, she can be found outside in the mountains or reading a good book.

Kerry Wickel,
Lunch Bunch Teacher
Kerry joined Rose Hall in 2008 as an Assistant in the Preschool classroom and has been our resident problem-solver ever since. Kerry brings a sense of life and laughter to everything she does, and the children love her. After spending the first part of her career in business, Kerry transitioned to Early Childhood and has been here ever since. Kerry enjoys spending time with her two adult children, traveling, cooking, reading, and going to the beach.

Christine Wilson,
Assistant Morning Preschool Teacher
Christine joined the Rose Hall team in 2020 as a substitute and quickly transitioned to an Assistant. Her skills as an artist are an asset the classroom as the students explore fine artists throughout the year. Christine is in the process of obtaining her Montessori Teacher training and brings fresh ideas and a calm spirit to the classroom. In her spare time, Christine likes to go camping and do craft nights with her friends. She is an artist and teaches ceramics to adults.