Primrose School at Naperville Crossings

Our Staff

  • Jennifer Martin, Director

    Jennifer Martin

    Director

    My name is Jennifer Martin and I am excited to be the Director of the Primrose School at Naperville Crossings. I graduated with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education from Western Illinois University. After working in higher education for the past fifteen years, I made the decision to return to one of my true passions, early childhood education. I have lived in the Naperville area for over thirty years and currently reside in Aurora with my husband David and daughter Lily. I am very excited to be a part of the Primrose family of dedicated staff and teachers. I look forward to meeting your family and making wonderful memories here at the Primrose School!

  • Stacy Bella, Preschool Pathways Lead Teacher

    Stacy Bella

    Preschool Pathways Lead Teacher
    Apple of Our Eye

    Hometown: Naperville, IL

    Child care experience: 25 years teaching preschool and I have 4 of my own kids.

    Education Background: Early Childhood Education at Illinois State

    Favorite food: Chocolate

    Favorite weekend activity: Hanging out with my family

    Favorite children’s book: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

    Primrose character I most relate to: Billy the Duck because singing a song makes everyone happy.

    What I’m most excited about this school year: Meeting and getting to know my friends at Primrose

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime!

  • Ashley Blaha, Lead Teacher

    Ashley Blaha

    Lead Teacher

    Name: Ashley Blaha

    Hometown: Plainfield, Illinois

    Child care experience: Babysitting and participated in Plainfield North’s preschool programs.

    Education Background: Graduated from Plainfield North High School and currently enrolled at the College of DuPage.

    Favorite food: Tacos

    Favorite weekend activity: Watching T.V. and spending time with my family.

    Favorite children’s book: All of the Berenstein Bear and Clifford Books

    Primrose character I most relate to: Og because I love to read!

    What I’m most excited about this school year: Getting to know each child and seeing them learn new things everyday!

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime!


  • Susan Christy, Young Toddler Classroom Lead Teacher

    Susan Christy

    Young Toddler Classroom Lead Teacher

    Name: Susan Christy

    Hometown: Joliet, Illinois

    Child care experience: 27 years, mostly in Infants and Toddlers

    Education Background: Associates in Early Childhood

    Favorite food: Hamburgers with mustard and onion, tacos

    Favorite weekend activity: Spending time with family, especially granddaughter, Sophie

    Favorite children’s book: Old Black Witch

    Primrose character I most relate to: Ally because I like to think before I act and Peanut because I like to tell stories and listen to stories and I like spelling and I don’t want to get stung by a bee on my nose or any where else!

    What I’m most excited about this school year: I’m excited to meet new infants and to help nurture the growth and development of all our infants.

    Best way to schedule time to talk: I am flexible on Monday, Wednesday and Friday!


  • Emily Cortes, Early Preschool Lead Teacher

    Emily Cortes

    Early Preschool Lead Teacher

    Name: Emily Cortes

    Hometown: Hoffman Estates, IL

    Child care experience::8 years

    Education Background: Harper College and Waubonsee College

    Favorite food: Mexican Food

    Favorite weekend activity: Spending time with family and friends.Walking my dogs

    Favorite children’s book: Don’t Push the Button!

    Primrose character I most relate to: Percy, because I love working with others.

    What I’m most excited about this school year: I’m excited to watch my students grow and excel.I can’t wait for the moments they accomplish something and get excited and confident.

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime during drop off and pick up or during naptime hours over the phone.

  • Siba Hassoun, Teacher Assistant

    Siba Hassoun

    Teacher Assistant

    Name: Siba Hassoun

    Hometown: Naperville, IL

    Child care experience: Fry Family Childcare

    Education Background: Early Childhood Education

    Favorite food: Mediterranean Food

    Favorite weekend activity: Spending time with family

    Favorite children’s book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

    Primrose character I most relate to: Og

    What I’m most excited about this school year: Getting to know the kids.

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime!

    I can’t wait to learn more about you and your family

  • Vishali Komatireddy, Infant Assistant Teacher

    Vishali Komatireddy

    Infant Assistant Teacher

    Name: Vishali Komatireddy

    Hometown: Hyderabad, India

    Child care experience: I have two years in chlid care and 10 years of in home child care.

    Education Background: High School Graduate.

    Favorite food: Chicken wings, Thai food, Broccoli and Cheddar Soup and pizza.

    Favorite weekend activity: Shopping, watching movies, and getting together with friends and family.

    Favorite children’s book: The Bunny of Blue Bell Hill

    Primrose character I most relate to: Mia and Og

    What I’m most excited about this school year: I am so excited about my future here at Primrose.

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime!

  • Mary Nizzi, Food Service Manager

    Mary Nizzi

    Food Service Manager

    Name: Mary Nizzi

    Hometown: Minooka, IL

    Child Care Experience: Had 2 boys and stayed at home with them

    Education Background: 12 years at Entree Kitchen as Prepping Staff, 2 years at Meal Village as a Cooking Chef and growing up on farm with a large family

    Favorite Food: Pizza and Brownie

    Favorite Weekend Activity: Visiting family, friends and camping

    Favorite Children's Book: The Giving Tree and The Rainbow

    Primrose Character I Most Relate to: Og and Erwin

    What I'm excited about: Seeing all of the kids everyday!

  • Lesley Olivas, Early Preschool Teacher Assistant

    Lesley Olivas

    Early Preschool Teacher Assistant

    Name: Lesley Olivas

    Hometown: Aurora, IL

    Child care experience::4 years

    Education Background: Aurora High School

    Favorite food: Mexican food & Fried Chicken

    Favorite weekend activity: Spending time with family and friends.

    Favorite children’s book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

    Primrose character I most relate to: Molly the Cow, because kindness and respect mean everything to me.

    What I’m most excited about this school year: To watch the kids learn and grow.

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime!

  • Madison Oostman, Preschool Pathways Teaching Assistant

    Madison Oostman

    Preschool Pathways Teaching Assistant

    Name: Madison Oostman

    Hometown: Oswego, IL

    Child care experience: 3+ years in Special Education care and 1st year at Primrose

    Education Background: High School Diploma

    Favorite food: Homemade pasta & gravy and pineapples with chocolate.

    Favorite weekend activity: Shopping, reading and painting my nails.

    Favorite children’s book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

    Primrose character I most relate to: Og because I love to read

    What I’m most excited about this school year: Meeting new friends!

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime!

  • Doris Roberts, School Age Lead Teacher

    Doris Roberts

    School Age Lead Teacher

    Name: Doris Roberts

    Hometown: Plymouth, Michigan

    Child care experience: 10 years in daycare/Montessori as an Assistant Teacher

    Education Background: Attended Northwood Institute in Midland, MI and Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI

    Favorite food: Crab cakes

    Favorite weekend activity: Spending time with my family

    Favorite children’s book: The Kissing Hand

    Primrose character I most relate to: Libby, we all need to take more time to just listen.

    What I’m most excited about this school year: The hear about all the Explorer’s back-to-school stories and watching them grow.

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Flexible!
  • Courtney Rosine, Pre-Kindergarten 1 Lead Teacher

    Courtney Rosine

    Pre-Kindergarten 1 Lead Teacher

    Name:Courtney Rosine

    Hometown: Tinley Park, Illinois

    Child care experience: I have been working here for the last two and a half years, babysitting and high school preschool.

    Education Background: Spring of 2017 I will earn my Associates degree in Early Childhood Education.

    Favorite food: Pasta-yumm

    Favorite weekend activity: Spending time with family and friends.

    Favorite children’s book: Barnyard Dance

    Primrose character I most relate to: Billy because I love music!!

    What I’m most excited about this school year: I am excited to be working with preschool children and meeting the new families and learning new things.

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime!


  • Desi Roszak, Preschool 1 Lead Teacher

    Desi Roszak

    Preschool 1 Lead Teacher

    Name:Desi Nomikos

    Hometown: Westchester, Illinois

    Child care experience: 3years teaching, I have also babysat children from ages infancy to 12 years old.

    Education Background: Bachelor in Sociology

    Favorite food: Steak andFrench fries.

    Favorite weekend activity: Shopping and swimming.

    Favorite children’s book: The Bernstein Bears books

    Primrose character I most relate to: Benjamin

    What I’m most excited about this school year: Getting to know the children and their parents!

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime!

  • Tejal Shah, Preschool Pathways Lead Teacher

    Tejal Shah

    Preschool Pathways Lead Teacher

    Name: Tejal Shah

    Hometown: Plainfield, Illinois

    Child care experience: 8 years as a Preschool teacher.

    Education Background: Diploma in Early Childhood Education.

    Favorite food:Pasta and salad

    Favorite weekend activity: Spending time with my family.

    Favorite children’s book: Click, Clack Moo:Cows that Type and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

    Primrose character I most relate to: Ally because I love to help my friends and also, I think before I act.

    What I’m most excited about this school year:Getting to know you and your child.

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime.

  • Abby Stiff, Infant Lead Teacher

    Abby Stiff

    Infant Lead Teacher

    Name: Abby Stiff

    Hometown: Plainfield, IL

    Child care experience: I was a Nanny for 3 years and 9 months is a daycare.

    Education Background: 2 years at Joliet Junior College and 3 years Quincy University for nursing.

    Favorite food:Mexican Food and Italian Food

    Favorite weekend activity: Spending time with my family.

    Favorite children’s book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

    Primrose character I most relate to: Molly the cow.Being respectful in everyway is very important to me.

    What I’m most excited about this school year: Being apart of the growth and development in the classroom.

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime!

  • Sree Surapaneni, Preschool 2 Lead Teacher

    Sree Surapaneni

    Preschool 2 Lead Teacher

    Name: Sree Surapaneni

    Hometown: India

    Child care experience: I have over 14 years of experience!

    Education Background: Masters in Child Psychology

    Favorite food: Any vegetarian food

    Favorite weekend activity: Gardening and going for walks.

    Favorite children’s book: Love You Forever

    Primrose character I most relate to: Og, I love to read books and I love to share the love of reading with my students.

    What I’m most excited about this school year: I am most excited to get to know more about my students and their families.

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime

  • Tracey Vonnahme, Preschool 2 Lead Teacher

    Tracey Vonnahme

    Preschool 2 Lead Teacher

    Name: Tracey Vonnahme

    Hometown: Troy, MI

    Child care experience: 3 years with in-home day care, 3 years substitute in District 204, 1 year at Primrose

    Education Background: B.A. in Business Administration from Siena Heights University

    Favorite food: Pizza

    Favorite weekend activity: Playing and watching sports

    Favorite children’s book: On the Day You Were Born by Dr. Seuss

    Primrose character I most relate to: Benjamin because I love to spend time outdoors, playing with my kids and enjoying time with my husband.

    What I’m most excited about this school year: Meeting and spending time with all my little friends.

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime! You can write me a note to let me know when you can meet or call.


  • Devi Yarramasu, Infant Classroom Lead Teacher

    Devi Yarramasu

    Infant Classroom Lead Teacher

    Name: Devi Yarramasu

    Hometown: Visayawada, India

    Child care experience:13 years of childcare.

    Education Background: Bachelors Degree in Economics

    Favorite food: Stir Fry Vegetables

    Favorite weekend activity: Reading books.

    Favorite children’s book: Going to the Zoo.

    Primrose character I most relate to: Molly

    What I’m most excited about this school year: I am most excited to see the little one’s smiley faces and watching them learn and grow.

    Best way to schedule time to talk: Anytime


  • Jennifer and Dan Fu, Franchise Owner

    Jennifer and Dan Fu

    Franchise Owners

    Like many Primrose Schools franchise owners, Jennifer and Dan Fu were first introduced to the school as parents of a happy student. Originally living in Columbus, OH, Jennifer and Dan discovered Primrose when looking for childcare options for their son. It wasn't long before the Fu's fell in love with the Primrose School of Dublin and its approach to education. As a parent new to child care, I was surprised by how quickly I felt comfortable dropping my child off at Primrose, said Jennifer. The staff quickly won me over, and the whole experience had such a positive impact on my family. Noting Naperville's renowned emphasis on family and education, Jennifer and Dan relocated to the area to open a Primrose School of their own in 2009. In August 2012, the Fu's accomplished their goal of providing the very best child care options for area families with the opening of the Primrose School at Naperville Crossings. The Fu's children were the first students enrolled. We know what parents expect and deserve when it comes to their children's care and education because we've gone through it, Jennifer said. What really drew me to Primrose is that they consider all aspects of character development and provide the foundation to foster a love of learning. Jennifer is onsite at the school daily, meeting parents and students, helping the school's director manage the curriculum and ensuring that daily operations reflect the quality promised to their Primrose families. Opening the Primrose School at Naperville Crossings is a dream come true for us, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to share our passion for early childhood education with the community, said Jennifer.

    Read More