The Staff

Mrs. Dobilaitis has been with Council Oak Montessori School for longer than anyone else currently on staff. As assistant in the Children’s House classroom she brings a calm understanding to the mix, helping to guide students through the day and assisting Ms. Laura in managing our youngest classroom.

Her role as stabilizer is illustrated well by her colorful lanyard. When a student is feeling, she encourages them to take hold of this lanyard until they have calmed down. This works so well that students have started to do this all on their own. Silently holding the lanyard and grounding their emotions.

Michelle Shinners holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre from St. Mary’s College of Minnesota and has worked on scenery building, prop making and stage management for dozens of academic, community theatre and professional shows. Early on she found herself frequently drawn to opportunities where she could share her love of theatre with children. She was a VISTA Volunteer in Alaska, where she played drama games and directed short plays with Girl Scouts, and a visiting artist for Minneapolis Public Schools, where she used theatre to help children increase their reading fluency. Based on these experiences Michelle decided that she wanted to pursue teaching as a career and attended the University of Minnesota and earned a teaching certification and a Master’s of Education degree. Over the course of eleven years, Michelle taught in a Chicago elementary school, where she worked in different roles including second grade teacher, technology instructor and storytime facilitator.

Meanwhile, Michelle’s daughter Eliza was thriving as a Council Oak Montessori student. Michelle became a COMS volunteer, eventually directing the school musical. She had plenty of opportunities to observe and be impressed with the deep thinking and sustained effort of the students’ work cycles and found herself musing that if she had the chance to do it over again, she might very well choose to become a Montessori educator. In the summer of 2018 that chance came and Michelle enrolled in Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center, where she has bugun her intensive learning about Montessori philosophy and practice. Michelle is thrilled to be a part of the Lower Elementary COMS classroom.

Jennifer Bonko discovered COMS and Montessori education accidentally when trying to prolong her maternity leave from the business world after having her oldest daughter, Teresa. She began at COMS in January of 2006 as the After Care Director and planned to only stay long enough for Teresa to enter first grade. Shortly after beginning here at COMS, Jennie decided to completely change her career path after being inspired by Montessori education’s focus on the individual child and their potential. Walking through the classrooms left her in awe of the inquisitive students working peacefully and truly engaged in their work. Quickly, Jennie realized that becoming a lead directress in Montessori education was her true cosmic task.  She continued as the After Care Director while assisting in our Lower Elementary classroom. The next summer Jennie began working toward her AMS certification at Seton Montessori Institute. She holds both Elementary I & II certifications and she has taught both Lower and Upper Elementary here at COMS. Jennie also has her Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Xavier University. Jennie is married to William Bonko, and the mother of two daughters, Teresa and Hannah.

Lluvia Hernandez has been at Council Oak since 2004. She started as a volunteer and grew into the classrooms. She was the Lower Elementary assistant from 2006 to 2014, after which she accepted the position as Administrative Assistant. Her love for Montessori Education has kept her in the COMS environment where she has an extraordinary example of what true Montessori Education is. Her hope is to have her daughter Eva attend COMS once she turns 3 years old. The excitement that she sees in the children’s eyes as they begin each morning reminds her that they hold our future in their hands, and we are here to help them discover who they are.

Gerry Burns developed a passion for the piano in seventh grade. Gerry started performing professionally at the age of sixteen in Chicago. He studied music at Daley College and DePaul University School of Music. While attending DePaul University he studied classical piano with Mary Sauer, principal pianist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Gerry’s interest in music extends into jazz, blues, rock, Latin, country, as well as classical music.

Gerry has performed worldwide with shows in Venezuela, Finland, Indonesia, Canada, Poland, The Republic of Congo, just to name a few. He continues to perform regularly throughout the Chicagoland area. In 1994 Gerry founded Blue Island Music. Blue Island Music provides private music lesson on a variety of instruments. The music school has lessons for children and adults. They teach all styles of music and have instruments and supplies for sale.

Gerry and Blue Island Music are excited to partner with Council Oak to share the joy of music.

Ms. Latonia has been a grounding force at Council Oak Montessori School for over a year now. In her role in the office, she has organized the operations of Council Oak in incredible ways. If you need a file found or to un-jam the printer Latonia is your go to. On top of that she brings her caring demeanor to students and staff alike, and maintains a space and listening ear that comforts us on our more difficult days.

Having previous experience in office work in the healthcare industry, she brings efficiency and seriousness to her work. She also brings a smile, laughter and a sense of empathy as one of the first points of contact for families. Along with Lila, Latonia is out every morning greeting students as they arrive each day.

Bio Coming Soon…

Having first been drawn to COMS as a school home for her children, Michele began to take an active interest in what was then the Farm-to-Table program.

With her background in fine arts and food – Michele has worked in kitchens around Chicago including under Chef Giuseppe Tentori of Boka Restaurant. Michele has worked as a food stylist and in culinary production with the Food Network, Steve Harvey Show, Windy City Live and WGN. Along with her time at COMS, Michele is currently working with HSTV and Fabio’s Kitchen Academy.

In 2020, with the school kitchens closed due to the pandemic, Michele began further developing the farm-to-table program, expanding it into what is now the school’s Earth Stewardship curriculum. Sharing her passion for cooking, recipe development and organic gardening, Michele is developing a Montessori-based curriculum where students are learning about their food from seed to table and back to the soil. Current special interests include companion planting, herbology, paper making from native plants, and natural dye and pigment extraction.

Kathy Burke came to COMS initially as a parent, having been curiously drawn to Maria Montessori’s child-centered educational mission. She poured herself into volunteer opportunities, from helping students bake cookies for COMS coffee shops to designing and sewing costumes for the school’s annual student musical. Before long, Kathy found herself moving forward in a new purpose—not just raising her kids in a loving Montessori environment but also jumping in herself, training to become a Children’s House guide.

A builder, crafter, and portrait photographer, Kathy holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a focus in photography from Saint Xavier University. A lifelong Girl Scout and Girl Scout troop leader, she brings a purpose-driven and independence-minded perspective to Montessori learning. Full of energy, creativity, and positivity, she aims to give the best of herself at COMS every day.

Kathy lives in the south suburbs with her husband and three kids. In her free time, if she’s not doing yoga, knitting, or reading, she is armed with power tools, building something cool in the basement.