Ms. Lisa Schmidt joined us in November 2019 as our Director. Ms. Schmidt graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Master of Science degree in Applied Family and Child Studies and has the Illinois Director Credential Level II from Illinois Gateways. Ms. Schmidt has been in the early childhood profession since 1992 serving as an early childhood teacher, assistant director, director, practicum director, and child development undergraduate faculty. In addition, Ms. Schmidt is a certified trainer in the areas of Early Childhood Curriculum Development and Early Childhood Assessment Practices for the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA).

Other areas of professional expertise for Ms. Schmidt include teacher training, mentorship, and professional development; strategic planning; developmentally appropriate practice; and early childhood accreditation. Ms. Schmidt has been a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) since 1994 and has served in a variety of leadership roles on the Northern Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children (NIAEYC) Board. Ms. Schmidt has most recently joined the St. Charles Early Childhood Leaders organization.

Ms. Angela Tanakatsubo joined us as an Infant teacher in August 2020. Ms. Tanakatsubo received her Associates degree in Early Childhood Education from McHenry County College, in addition she has over 10 years of experience in the early childhood education field primarily with infants. She has been serving as a Master Teacher in our leadership team since July 2023.

Priyanka Patel earned her Master of Science (MS) degree in Psychology and worked in the psychology field for approximately three years before transitioning to Project Management. Over the last few years, she has honed her skills in organization, leadership, and strategic planning. Priyanka joined the team at Primrose St. Charles West in February 2024.

Priyanka was drawn to Early Childhood Education (ECE) due to her strong desire to make a positive impact on children’s early development and her passion for fostering a nurturing environment for young minds. Her background in Project Management aligns seamlessly with her role at Primrose, as the skills she developed in organization, leadership, and strategic planning play a vital role in supporting daily operations, ensuring the school runs efficiently, and supporting the families of Primrose.

An interesting fact about Priyanka is that she enjoys baking, reading, and painting in her free time. She also loves spending time outdoors or trying new activities with her husband, family, and friends, and is passionate about volunteering. Priyanka is excited to be part of the Primrose St. Charles West team and looks forward to supporting and working alongside families to help each child thrive.

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Ina Macatula has been in the early education field since 2011. She earned her associate degree in arts from Elgin Community College in 2012 and her bachelor’s degree in Family and Child’s Studies from Northern Illinois University in 2014. Teaching has always been a career she’s been passionate about, and she has spent nearly 14 years teaching early education. Throughout her career, she has served as a lead teacher for children ranging from infants to school-age. While each age group presented unique challenges, she thoroughly enjoyed working with them all. In her current role as an Education Coach at Primrose School, Ina is excited to be part of a leadership team. She now has the opportunity to share her wealth of experience with teachers, supporting them in finding success in their own teaching journeys. Outside of her professional life, Ina is a wife and mother of three boys. She enjoys taking road trips with her family and spending quality time together. Ina also enjoys listening to music and going for walks by herself. She looks forward to working with the families and children at Primrose School.

Ms. Gabby Partida has been a valued member of the Primrose St. Charles team since 2021. From a young age, she has aspired to be a teacher, and she holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Her experience at Primrose has significantly enhanced her ability to work with children, and she continues to grow professionally through the opportunities and knowledge gained in her role. An interesting fact about Gabby is that she is a twin!

Mayra Ortiz has been with Primrose School of St Charles West since 2025. Her education background is she has her GED and has experience working in early childhood education. The aspect she loves most about working with children is being around their sincerity.  She has been married for 19 years and have 2 children. Her kids are 18-year-old (son) and 2-year-old (daughter). She comes from a big family – she has 8 siblings and has taken care of all their children (nephew’s). This sparked her interest in wanting to work with children. In her free time, Ms. Ortiz likes to time with her family, children, husband, and dog named Kingo. In the summer she likes to go to the park and walk. A fun fact about Ms. Ortiz is her favorite holidays are Christmas and the Day of the Dead. Her favorite book as a kid is “I love you to the moon and back”.

Ms. Sharon Suda joined Primrose School of St. Charles West in 2022. She holds a Bachelor of Education with a minor in Psychology from Illinois State University. Ms. Suda is deeply passionate about Early Childhood Education because she loves witnessing babies experience their “firsts” and the joy that comes with achieving these important milestones. She firmly believes that every day offers new opportunities to learn and grow. Ms. Suda enjoys working closely with both the families and infants in our infant room, helping them thrive in a nurturing environment.

A few fun facts about Ms. Suda: She is a mother of four, with her youngest currently a sophomore in college. She resides in downtown Geneva and has two beloved pets: an Old English Sheepdog named Lacy and a Corgi named Willow.

Ms. Carol Oh joined us as Toddler teacher in January 2018. Ms. Oh completed her Child Development Associates Credential in Maryland, Texas and Illinois. Ms. Oh also received the Illinois Early Childhood Education credential level 1 from Illinois Gateways. Ms. Oh has over 25 years of experience in various childcare settings, including her own ranging from infants through school age.

Ms. Kassy Partida has been a valued member of the Primrose School of St. Charles West team since 2021. With a CDA certification, she is deeply committed to fostering an environment where young learners can thrive. Her passion for early childhood education comes from a genuine love of being around children and witnessing the joy and excitement they experience as they learn new things. Helping children grow and develop is something Ms. Partida finds incredibly rewarding, and she takes pride in supporting their educational journey.

Outside the classroom, Ms. Partida is a proud aunt of four, which has given her plenty of hands-on experience with kids of all ages. She also has a dog named Max who keeps her active and entertained. In her spare time, Ms. Partida loves being outdoors, shopping, and spending time with her friends, finding balance and relaxation in the activities that bring her joy.

Ms. Elizette Garza has been with Primrose St. Charles West since 2022. She holders her Child Development Association (CDA) credentials. What strives her towards the field of Early Childhood Education is her love for connecting with all the amazing children she meets working in this field. She also enjoys watching them learn and grow daily. A few fun facts about Ms. Garza are she is getting married this summer1! She is also very creative and loves art and music.

Ms. Beth Tucker joined us as an Early Preschool Teacher in April 2021. Ms. Tucker has her Bachelors in Sociology, Psychology and Social Work from Rider University, the majority of her coursework focused on children and child development. Ms. Tucker has twenty-two years of experience ranging from infants through pre-kindergarten.

Ms. Brittany Byrd started at Primrose St Charles West back in November 2022. She graduated from South Elgin High School. She is excited to get to know all your children. In her role, she wants to create an exciting atmosphere for children to learn.

Ms. Maria Galarza joined us as a Toddler Support Teacher in May 2021. Ms. Galarza has her Associates Degree Early Childhood Education at Elgin Community College. Ms. Galarza has more than five years of experience working with children, and this is her first child care setting. She currently serves as a Preschool Pathways (two’s and three’s) classroom.

Ms. Briana Arand joined the Primrose St. Charles West team in June 2021. She holds an associate’s degree from Waubonsee Community College. Ms. Arand is driven to work in Early Childhood Education (ECE) by her passion for teaching students new concepts. She finds great joy in watching her students grow and develop, observing how their minds progress each day, which makes her work both fun and rewarding.

A few fun facts about Ms. Arand include her love for playing softball, riding motorcycles, and spending time outdoors. She also enjoys quality time with her son.

Ms. Jocelyne Gomez has been with Primrose of St. Charles West since February 2022. She holds an Early Childhood Education (ECE) degree from Elgin Community College. What motivates Ms. Gomez to work in the ECE field is her desire to gain a deeper understanding of how children grow and develop. She believes it is important to recognize and support all the abilities a child possesses. While working at Primrose, Ms. Gomez is committed to gaining the knowledge and experience necessary to help her students—and her own child—thrive in an educational environment.

Ms. Angela McGhee has been with Primrose of St. Charles West since 2023. She holds an associate’s degree from Waubonsee Community College. Ms. McGhee’s passion for Early Childhood Education (ECE) stems from her desire to make a positive and lasting impact on young children. She enjoys working with children and watching them develop and grow at their own pace. In her free time, Ms. McGhee enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends. She has a son, Andre, who is currently in high school.

Ms. Nicole Cramer joined the Primrose St. Charles West team in June 2024, bringing with her seven years of experience in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) field. With a strong aspiration to pursue a leadership role in the near future, Ms. Cramer holds her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and is currently working towards an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Elgin Community College.

Her passion for ECE is driven by her desire to make a positive impact on each of her students. Ms. Cramer believes that all children deserve the opportunity to be inspired and motivated, and she views it as her responsibility to help them discover their strengths and overcome their challenges. In her classroom, she strives to create an environment of comfort, happiness, and love for her students.

Outside of her professional life, Ms. Cramer is a proud “fur mom” to one dog and two cats. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, walking, reading, and spending time in nature with her husband.

Ms. Megan Frase joined us in November 2021. Ms. Frase has a Child Development Associates Credential and thirteen years of experience ranging from infants to pre-k children.

Ms. Andrea Petrarca joined us in 2021 as a Preschool teacher. Ms. Petrarca has her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from Aurora University; she also has an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Petrarca has about eight years of experience in the field and six months of experience in the public school district.

Ms. Rosalia Ayala started with Primrose St. Charles West back in August 2023. She has resided in St. Charles IL for over fifteen years with her three children! She recently moved to Batavia IL and is proud to say she is a grandmother of two amazing and loved children named Gio and Zoey.

Ms. Linda Raymond joined us as a Support teacher in August 2018. Ms. Raymond has her Child Development Associates Credential along with three years of Elementary education experience and twelve years within the field. She is an amazing teacher in all age groups.

Ms. Mina Valenti joined us as a Support Teacher in September 2018. Ms. Valenti has her Child Development Associates Credential and five years of experience within the field.

Ms. Coraliz Vila has been with Primrose School of St. Charles West since 2025. She has been passionate about working with children since high school, and her love for early childhood education has only grown over the years. Her journey began at the age of 16 when she started as an at-home babysitter for a family with two children, later growing to three. Watching the children she cares for grow and develop brings her immense joy, and she finds it incredibly rewarding to see the excitement on their faces when they learn something new.

As a dedicated teacher, Ms. Villa is committed to fostering a nurturing and stimulating environment where every child can thrive. Her personal experience as a mother has only deepened her understanding and appreciation of the unique needs and milestones in early childhood development.

Outside of the classroom, Villa is the proud mom of a lively 3-year-old named Mateo. She enjoys spending quality time with him, especially by listening to and dancing to his favorite tunes. Music is an important part of her life, offering a relaxing escape. In addition, she has a passion for baking and takes custom baking orders on weekends, adding a creative touch to her downtime.

Ms. Gabriela Arroyo has been a part of the Primrose of St. Charles West team since 2023. She was inspired to pursue a career in Early Childhood Education (ECE) because she firmly believes that children, at every stage of their lives, are beautiful, and their presence and smiles have the power to brighten any day.

A few fun facts about Ms. Arroyo: She has been passionate about cooking her entire life. When she first arrived in the U.S. with her family, she worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years. She then transitioned her cooking skills to a nursing home, where she worked as a cook. Ms. Arroyo also served as a cook at Wheaton North High School before joining us at Primrose. She has enjoyed two years with us so far and loves being surrounded by children and a lively environment.