New Staff at Central

Hannah is so excited to be joining the 3rd grade team at Central Elementary this year. She grew up in Highland Park, Illinois. She got her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan in Elementary Education and her Masters in Urban Education from National Louis University. Between degrees she spent a year staffing a college gap year program in Israel. After graduating with her master's degree, she taught in a Regional Gifted Center in the South Loop of Chicago for 10 years. She has also been an instructor in Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development program. She currently lives in Edgebrook with her husband and two kids (her daughter is a rising Kindergartener this fall at Edgebrook Elementary and is very excited).  She enjoys reading, being outside with her kids, crochet, and recently started cross-stitching. She looks forward to joining the Central community!

Jillian is excited to join the Central Elementary School community this year as a new educator. Originally from Deerfield, Illinois, she recently earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Jillian brings leadership and communication experience from her role as Site Director of Sun & Fun Camp at the Deerfield Park District, where she developed activities, supervised staff, and worked closely with parents to ensure a positive experience for every camper. She values strong communication between school and home and is committed to building meaningful partnerships with families. Outside the classroom, Jillian enjoys spending time with family and friends, and staying active through fitness. She’s thrilled to be part of the Central team and looks forward to a great year of learning and connection!

Carly is delighted and honored to join the Central School team as a Social Work Intern. After several years as a dedicated stay-at-home parent, Carly began her MSW program through the University of Illinois in 2023. Prior to her social work studies, she pursued English literature at Queens University in Canada, her home country. As an ally, Carly is eager to ensure all students and staff at Central feel comfortable and safe. Outside of her professional pursuits, she enjoys reading, birdwatching, collecting funny t-shirts, and, most importantly, working with children. Carly lives with her family, including four children and dog, Belle. She is thrilled to become a part of the Central School community.

Tara is thrilled to join Central Elementary as a Special Education Paraprofessional! A proud graduate of The College of Wooster, she earned her Bachelor of Arts with a minor in History and discovered her passion for education while working as a Digital Lab Assistant. There, she loved helping students build essential tech skills and gain the confidence to tackle new challenges independently. These experiences inspired her to pursue a future in education. Originally from Lake Forest, Illinois, Tara is excited to bring her enthusiasm for student growth to Central Elementary. She can’t wait to support both teachers and learners in the classroom and looks forward to continuing her own educational journey by earning a Master’s degree in education. Tara is ready to make a difference and is so happy to be part of the Central Elementary team!