Meet the Families Together Staff
Ann Gadzikowski, she/her
Director (2nd year at FTCNS)
Ann joined FTCNS after many years of experience in the Chicago-area early childhood community. Ann earned an M.Ed. degree at the Erikson Institute and began her career as a preschool teacher at Evanston Day Nursery. Her leadership roles included serving as early childhood coordinator at Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development where she led the summer Leapfrog program. Ann is also an award-winning author of books for teachers and parents of young children. Her most recent publication Problem Solving with Young Children (Redleaf Press) explores inquiry-based learning in early childhood classrooms. Ann recently served as a curriculum director and executive editor for Encyclopedia Britannica where she led the creation of family resources including Britannica for Parents. She is thrilled to join the staff of FTCNS and participate in a learning community where play is deeply valued and all are committed to equity and inclusion.
Salena Miller, she/her
Junipers & Oaks Teacher (19th year at FTCNS)
Salena completed her M.Ed. at National Louis University in April of 2023. Salena is a certified special education teacher and received her special education endorsement in the summer of 2023. She began working at Families Together Cooperative Nursery School in June of 2006. Her experience in childcare centers, however, goes back to 1998. Prior to graduation, she spent time working and organizing youth after school programs and spent six years as a lead teacher at The State of Illinois Child Development Center located in downtown Chicago. Having grown up in a large family with 17 siblings, Salena has spent most of her life around young children. Within the classroom, she believes in building a nurturing community where all children feel safe and welcome. With this approach in tow, she provides a play-based curriculum with a focus on anti-bias work that is meaningful and relevant to the lives of the children.
Mary Tabatowski, she/her
Junipers & Oaks Teacher (18th year at FTCNS)
Mary graduated from the University of Chicago in 2000 with an undergraduate degree in English and Italian literature. She had always been fascinated with how children learn, and this led her to find teaching jobs after college. She taught preschool for several years and then 3rd grade in a parochial school before returning to graduate school at the Erikson Institute to get her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and teaching certificate. Her favorite part of teaching is having deep, interesting, and hilarious conversations with kids – noticing things together, reflecting on them, coming up with ideas and questions and possible answers. In her spare time, you can find her playing bluegrass music on her mandolin, contra dancing, singing, cooking, reading, and spending time with her husband and kids.
Jill Victorine, she/her
Willows Teacher (13th year at FTCNS)
Jill started teaching preschool at Families Together in 2002 while she was pursuing her B.A. in Early Childhood Education at Northeastern Illinois University. After four years, she left FTCNS to pursue different experiences, including living abroad in Barcelona. Jill continued her professional journey as a Master and Mentor Teacher at Christopher House. She completed her M.A in Teacher Leadership at Roosevelt University and received an endorsement in English as a Second Language. Before returning to FTCNS Jill was the studio arts teacher for a CPS preschool program in the Beverly neighborhood. Throughout her journey, Jill has been greatly influenced by the ideals and theories of the Reggio Emilia Approach. She is passionate about implementing emergent curriculum in the classroom and using different art media to extend children’s ideas and theories. In her spare time Jill works in her garden, plays with her dog Piper and camps with her family.
Kirsten Ruckdeschel, she/her
Willows & Lunch Bunch Teacher (10th year at FTCNS)
Kirsten earned her B.A. in History and M.Ed in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago. In the fall of 2017, she began taking early childhood education classes and has enjoyed learning about the field both inside and outside of the classroom. She earned her basic certificate in child development in December 2018 and will be completing her ECE program this year. Before entering the world of early childhood education, Kirsten worked with international students and staff at both the International Office at Northwestern University and the Office of International Services at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Kirsten came to Families Together by way of her children, all of whom are alumni. Kirsten enjoys exploring Chicago’s nature and forest preserves.
Carey Farrell, she/her
Lunch Bunch Teacher (10th year at FTCNS)
Carey graduated from Notre Dame of Maryland University in 2000 with a BA in English and a minor in music. While working in educational publishing, she decided to pursue a teaching career. In 2009, she graduated from the Erikson Institute with an MS in early childhood education and a Type 04 teaching certificate. She has also been certified in Music Together and Kindermusik. She loves helping children express themselves and build relationships through the arts, and she brings her interests in music, dance, and stories into the Lunch Bunch and Clovers classrooms. Outside school, Carey plays trombone with Clamor & Lace Noise Brigade, performs as a solo singer-songwriter, volunteers at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and serves as a Den Mama for Chicago’s Dance Dance Party Party chapter.
Andrea Korte, she/her
Lunch Bunch Teacher (6th year at FTCNS)
Andrea earned a degree in Psychology with a minor in Women’s Studies at Bradley University in 1986. While at BU, Andrea worked as both an assistant teacher and head teacher in the on-campus community preschool program. In 1988, she earned a Masters in Social Work, concentrating on Children and Families, from the University of Chicago. During graduate school, she completed two internships as a school social worker and also as a juvenile probation officer. Andrea spent the next 30 years working with youth and their families as a probation officer at Cook County Juvenile Court. After retirement Andrea began subbing at FTCNS and was permanently hired the following year. In her spare time, Andrea is a youth deacon/leader at her church, enjoys spending time with family and friends and loves to be anywhere near the water.
Mary Donoghue, she/her
Assistant Teacher (1st year at FTCNS)
Mary graduated from Davidson College in 2004 with a B.A. in Political Science. After graduation, she worked at an early childhood development non-profit in Peru. Once back in Chicago, she pursued a Masters of Education at UIC with an ESL and Bilingual Certification. She then worked for CPS as a dual language 5th/6th grade teacher. When her twins came to Families Together for preschool, Mary fell in love with the school and became a substitute teacher. This year she is excited to join the staff as the Assistant Teacher for the Willows and Junipers. Mary is passionate about encouraging children’s language and literacy development and delights in nature play. When she is not being silly at school, she loves camping with her family, spending time with friends, and reading.
Laura Zdunek, she/her
Lunch Bunch Teacher (1st year at FTCNS)
Laura graduated from Grinnell College with a BA in Anthropology and later completed her MA in Anthropology at University of Colorado Denver. Over the past few years her two children have attended and aged out of Families Together but Laura was not ready to leave. She loves meeting children where they’re at and supporting their learning through play. Outside of school Laura enjoys riding her bike, playing games with her family, and gardening.
Kate Brenner, she/her
Business Manager (23rd year at FTCNS)
Kate manages admissions, accounts payable/receivable, and enrollment as well as working on fundraising and marketing. Kate has a B.A. in French from the University of Minnesota/Minneapolis. She was volunteer coordinator and in marketing/PR at Twin Cities Public Television. She spent a year as an English tutor in Brazil, and 10 years in marketing for a Chicago-area healthcare company. Kate’s three 20-something daughters (all Families Together alums!) will be all over the world for the next few years so she and her husband are planning lots of travel.