Director

Amy Cardin joined First United in 2005, as an Assistant Teacher in a Threes class. Amy is a graduate of University of Illinois with a degree in business. After working at First United a few years Amy earned a MEd from Dominican University in Early Childhood Education. She has been a teacher of Four and Five-Year-Olds, a teacher in Alpha Club and Young Sprout Day Camp and is now the Director of First United Nursery School. Amy enjoys presenting at professional conferences and parent workshops. Amy will have two daughters in college next fall.

Teacher (Room 26) & Assistant Director

Leslie has been teaching at First United Church Nursery School since September 1992. From 2005 to 2012, she also served as a Professional Development Leader for The Collaboration for Early Childhood Care and Education, where she developed and executed Professional Development Workshops for area child care centers. Prior to teaching at First United Leslie was a workshop coordinator at the DuPage Children’s Museum and Director of the Toddler Program at Lakeshore Academy in Chicago. Leslie attended DePauw University and received a BA in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Iowa. She and her husband Geoff have two adult sons. Leslie greatly enjoys “being a part of such a supportive community of families and teaching staff” at First United Church Nursery School.

Administrative Assistant

Priscilla has worked at First United Church Nursery School since 1991 in various capacities. She has assisted in the classrooms, been a substitute teacher and currently keeps the administrative obligations of the school running smoothly. Priscilla has previously worked as a banker in Trust Operations, a food stylist for Veggie Times Magazine and a professional dresser for The Lyric Opera of Chicago. Priscilla is married to Rich and has two adult sons, two wonderful daughter-in-laws, a granddaughter and a grandson.

Teacher (Room 25)

Ann Bell joined the staff of First United in January 2014. She has a BS in elementary education from Indiana University and taught elementary school in Chicago Public Schools for nine years. She also has been a Sunday School teacher and Bible School teacher for a number of years and co-directed the Christmas Pageant at First Presbyterian in River Forest for ten years. She, her husband and four children and live in Oak Park.

Assistant Teacher (Room 21)

Jane Bell joined FUNS as the Assistant Teacher in Room 23 Afternoon class January, 2019. Jane is an alum of First United and spent considerable time here as a teen working alongside her mother. She subbed during December, 2018, and was such an asset we were able to add her to the staff. Jane is currently a student at Triton College.

Assistant Teacher (Room 26)

Tisa began working at First United Church Nursery School in 2004 and has been on staff for several Young Sprout Day Camp summer sessions. Tisa has a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from Calcutta University in India as well as the completion of several online courses in Early Childhood from Kendall College in Chicago. Prior to joining the First United staff, Tisa worked for five years with the International Labor Organization project (UN) and the International Program for the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC) and taught for three years at Singing Winds School. Tisa and her husband have one son.

Teacher (Room 21)

Stacey Duncan joined the staff of First United School in September 2015, working in the Fours class in Room 20. Stacey has a BA in English Literature and an Elementary Teaching certificate from Madonna University. She has taught second and third grades in Bloomfield Hills and in Detroit, Michigan. Since moving to Oak Park she has provided child care to the children of District 97 teachers and is excited to be back in the classroom. Stacey has two sons.

Teacher (Room 20)

Portia Ebert has a long history at First United. She and her three sons are all alumni. Portia earned a BS in Early Childhood Education from the University of Illinois and taught at First United beginning September, 1996 for several years prior to starting her family. While her sons attended First United, she was an active Board Member and has continued to be a supporter of the school. We were delighted to have Portia return to the staff in September 2012.

Teacher (Two’s Class)

Leah has been joyfully singing, dancing, playing instruments and teaching children in the Chicago area for over twenty years and is thrilled to join FUNS as a Teacher in the Twos classroom. She holds a degree in K-12 instrumental music education from Roosevelt University, she is Kindermusik licensed and has brought her early childhood music program to many schools, daycares, libraries, preschools and private businesses in her career as a music educator. Inspiring little minds to be inquisitive, creative and playful is her favorite part in working at First United Nursery School. Of working with the twos, Leah says, “Twos are not terrible they are terrific! A two-year-old is full of wonder, a walk down the block can take an hour when a two-year-old is engaged in exploration”. She lives in Oak Park with her patient husband, four lively children (FUNS alums), one naughty dog and two busy bunnies.

Assistant Teacher (Room 25)

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Teacher (Room 23)

Lisa Laible has been a part of First United Church Nursery School for many years. While her three children attended FUNS, she served as a board member, and was a substitute teacher. In 2019, Lisa joined the staff as an assistant teacher for Lunch Bunch. Currently, she is delighted to be a teacher of three year olds. Lisa loves building a classroom community where children can learn and grow!

Lisa has a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa. She taught first grade for ten years in Naperville, IL, district #204. Lisa and her husband have lived in Oak Park for 27 years. She enjoys hiking in national parks with her family.

Teacher (Room 25)

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Assistant Teacher (Room 24)

Marybeth has been a teaching assistant at First United Church Nursery School since 1998. Previously, Marybeth taught for four years at the Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park and worked for fourteen years at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Marybeth has attended Eastern Illinois University and has one adult son. Marybeth finds working with young children to be very therapeutic and enjoys watching “the wonderful strides they make from the beginning of the year to the end.”

Assistant Teacher (Room 20)

Jessica subbed for several years before joining the staff at First United Nursery School in 2019. However, she and her children attended FUNS, her mother taught at FUNS, and she was on the Nursery School Board when her children attended! Jessica has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in Kinesiology and an Associate’s degree in Nursing from Triton. Jessica’s favorite things about working in Room 20 are all the funny things 4-year-olds will tell you, and working with her sister, Portia Ebert.

Assistant Teacher (Room 23)

Sheila Oravec has been an Assistant Teacher at First United Church Nursery School since 1999. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Illinois State University but soon realized she preferred working with children. Sheila previously worked for the Schiller Park School District as a Special Education Teacher Assistant, Preschool Teacher Assistant, and lunchroom assistant. She is the mother of three sons. In teaching, Sheila most enjoys how the children “put a smile on my face everyday.”

Teacher (Room 24)

Christopher Nied is an alumni of First United Church Nursery School. He worked at First United as an Assistant Teacher September 2007 through May 2011, all on a part time basis while attending college. Christopher returned to the staff in April 2012. Christopher has completed a great deal of Early Childhood Education course work at Triton College and at Concordia University. A special gift Christopher brings is an extensive collection of musical instruments from around the world which he generously introduces to children in his classes throughout the course of the school year.

Assistant Teacher (Two’s Class)

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Teacher (Room 25 & Lunch Bunch)

Barbara Reed began her teaching career at First United in 2002. She has previously worked as a Christian Education Director, Optical Assistant, and Church Secretary. Barbara received a BA in Christian Education from Central United Methodist University. She has four daughters and four granddaughters. Barbara is inspired to teach preschool by “the joy of working with children and helping them become lifelong learners.”

Teacher (Room 26)

Julie Ross joined the staff at First United Church Nursery School in September 2021 as Co-Teacher in Room 26. Julie is excited to be back in the classroom after spending time at home with her two little girls during E-learning. Prior to that, Julie ran the After-School Program at Concordia University where she also worked as a sub during the day and assisted in the kindergarten. Julie also worked at Dominican University in their Early Childhood Education Center where she received her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. Julie has a Bachelor's Degree in Education and Child Study from Smith College. She also has experience working at the Chicago Children’s Museum and as a Sunday school teacher and Awana Leader. Julie is inspired by the children here at FUNS where they can thrive in a nurturing and loving play-based environment! Julie, her husband Michael, and her daughters Vivian and Clara live in Elmwood Park. They love exploring the local forest preserves and spending time at Village Creek Bible Camp in Iowa every summer!

Teacher (Alpha Club)

Katharine Thurman is a graduate of Point Park College in Pittsburgh, PA with a BA in Theater Arts. She has been a Girl Scout leader for 12 years, teaches Church School at First United and was Executive Director of Schola Children’s Choir for five years. She brings a wealth of experience in theater, music and dance to her work in the Alpha Club classroom. Her family includes three daughters.