Jennifer Dearlove, Director
Jennifer joined Rose Hall in the summer of 2025. She holds a B.A. in fashion and is a trained early childhood educator with the American Montessori Society(AMS). Currently, she is pursuing her Leadership and Administration Certification from AMS, along with a certification as a dyslexia tutor. Since 2015, she has worked as a lead teacher in Montessori schools for preschool, toddler, and parent-child classes.

Jennifer enjoys sharing her curiosity for the natural world with children and watching them become engrossed in outdoor play and exploration. With her free time, she enjoys hiking, native gardening, and practicing yoga. Her favorite part of the day is sitting down to dinner with family and catching up.

Caroline Baxter, Office Manager and Lead Lunch Bunch Teacher
Caroline has been at Rose Hall since 2010, joining the team in the office and eventually taking over the Lunch Bunch program. Caroline graduated with a degree in advertising and spent several years working for Northern Trust. Caroline brings a sense of fun, creativity, organization, and joy to everything she does!

She spends her free time enjoying her three children and friends, traveling, and walking along the beach.

Kristen Baron, Assistant Afternoon 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.

Ava Wichser Foerster, Assistant Full Day Teacher
Ava joined Rose Hall in the summer of 2025 as an Assistant to the full day program. After completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ava was a professional Ballet Dancer with the Kansas City Ballet as well as various companies in Chicagoland. Ava has been teaching dance for over 10 years and was a music and dance specialist in Chicago Public Schools. She is excited to step into a Montessorri classroom and is eager to receive her lead teaching certification.

When not teaching or dancing, Ava enjoys experiencing the Chicago arts scene, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her husband and dog in Roscoe Village.

Alexis Hubbard, Assistant Morning Preschool Teacher

Alexis joined Rose Hall in the summer of 2023 as an Assistant in the morning preschool program. Alexis has a degree in neuroscience and spent many years in research, veterinary medicine, and medical publishing. As a former Rose Hall parent, she has a firm understanding of the Montessori philosophy and loves to work with children.

Alexis enjoys spending her free time with her family walking on the beach, canoeing on the lagoon, and growing vegetables in her garden. Her dedication to her children has given her a unique insight into child development, and she brings the same level of dedication and passion to the classroom.

Faith Kanatzidis, 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 her children in Wilmette and now enjoys spending her free time reading, traveling, and knitting.

Sarah Kost, Lead Full Day Teacher and Assistant Morning Teacher
Sarah has spent many years as a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing across all grade levels in a traditional educational setting. She joined Rose Hall in 2022, is an AMS trained teacher, and brings a sense of calm and gentleness to the classroom.

In her spare time, Sarah enjoys exploring the outdoors with her son and spending time with her family and friends. She loves learning new crafts and is an avid board game player.

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.

Aly Marti, Assistant Morning Teacher and Assistant Full Day Teacher
Aly joined Rose Hall in 2022 as an assistant in the preschool classroom. She lives in Ravenswood with her partner and their cat and dog, Bug, and Bird. Aly spent many years working as a graphic designer and copy editor before making the switch to education.

When she’s not at Rose Hall, Aly can be found repotting one of her many houseplants or reading a crime novel in the sunshine. 

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.

Kate McFeely, Toddler Assistant Teacher
Kate joined Rose Hall in 2024, is a local parent and active in her children’s lives. Prior to starting a family, Kate earned a nursing degree and spent time working in the field of early childhood. She is a natural with our youngest students and brings joy to the classroom. In her spare time she enjoys reading, spending time with her family and extended family on the East Coast, and traveling. She also spends the majority of her time cheering her son on as she watches copious amounts of baseball games!”

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 Afternoon Preschool Teacher
Sam has been at Rose Hall since 2016 in both the morning preschool and kindergarten enrichment programs. She is an AMS trained teacher 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.

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.