ABOUT US | atoutvae

About Us

Director

Jennifer Hanna, daughter of two teachers and the Director of the school, has over ten years of teaching experience in Montessori classrooms and almost twenty years of experience with children overall. She holds a B.A. in Education from the University of South Florida and a Master’s of Education from Loyola College in Baltimore. Jennifer was recruited to the Chicago area in 1999 to teach at Forest Bluff School, a recognized school in Lake Bluff, IL and worked for two years under the direction of Montessori thought leader, Paula Polk Lillard. Jennifer then moved to Countryside Montessori School in Northbrook, IL where for four years she directed a class of over 30 children and was trained extensively in music and art.

Founding

Having always wanted to start her own school, Jennifer opened Chicago Montessori with her husband and co-founder, Eric, in hopes that they could satisfy the growing need for educational choices and to add a new and positive educational institution to the city where they live and raise their children.

Beginnings

Chicago Montessori was incorporated in September of 2003 and opened its doors in September 2005 as the only school in Chicago to be accredited by the Association Montessori International (AMI) at the time. Chicago Montessori is unique in that it is the city's first all AMI school, and we are continuing this high level of accreditation with the completion of our Elementary school and opening of our Adolescent program.