Leadership

Erica Koegel

Executive Director

My journey with KLA Schools began in 2013 as the School Principal of the Plainfield location. I am now the Executive Director for all three locations Naperville, Naperville West, and Plainfield, to support the School Principals and team since 2021. I see the children as competent individuals capable of learning through meaningful experiences, thought-provoking, and in-depth, real-life investigations.

Children are curious, and according to Carl Saga, "Every kid starts out a natural scientist." The Reggio Emilia Philosophy allows children to problem solve, think critically, and develop self-confidence. I believe that parents are the most important teachers in a child's life. As educators, we partner with parents and encourage families to be involved in our School.

Carrie Hemmer

Director of Admissions, Finance & Communications

I first joined the KLA Team in 2017, where I was a Lead Pre-K Teacher and the Assistant Principal at our Plainfield location. In January 2020, I accepted my newest role as Director of Admissions and Finances for all three of our locations: Naperville, Naperville West, and Plainfield.

As the Director of Admissions, I look forward to sharing our beliefs and values with new families as we begin our partnership in laying the foundation for their children. Being one of the first to meet our newest members of the KLA Family, it brings me joy to watch the children find their sense of belonging within our schools and see how much they grow throughout the years.

Kimberly Hernandez

Admissions & Events Coordinator

Hello, I am Kimberly, and I have been on the KLA team since 2018. I formally taught in classes 3sB and 4sA, and I have truly loved every minute of it. I am now a part of the leadership team for all three schools as the admissions and event coordinator.

I believe a child's life is similar to a piece of paper, meaning every person who enters their life leaves a special mark. I chose Early Childhood Education so that I could leave a positive impact on every one of my students' lives. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family. I have been married to my husband, Ryan, since June 2021. We welcomed our first child, Blake, in July 2022.

Kelly Collins

School Principal

Hello, my name is Kelly, and I am the principal at KLA of Naperville West. With 17 years of experience in early childhood education and 3 years at KLA, I have found my true passion. Before teaching, I worked in the corporate world, but after having my second child, I realized that teaching is what I truly enjoy. It brings me great joy to watch children grow and develop into their own unique individuals. As a firm believer in positive redirection and encouraging children to solve problems, I strive to lead by example as children often mimic what they see.

In my free time, I cherish spending time with my family and enjoying the precious moments of childhood. I am excited to connect with the school and community in my new role as principal.

Lindsay Stassus

Administrative Assistant Principal

Hi there, I'm Lindsay - the Administrative Assistant Principal at KLA Schools of Naperville West. With a sister who works as a speech pathologist and a mom who was a second-grade teacher, working with children has always been a part of my life.

I've had 5 years of experience in childcare facilities and an additional 8 years of experience working as a nanny with children of all ages. During my time at Joliet Junior College, I participated in an Early Childhood Education Cohort and earned my Associate's Degree. My biggest passion is helping children learn, grow, and find joy in their learning. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time in nature, and I'm a huge animal lover. I'm excited to continue growing with KLA Schools.

Heather Kostov

Pedagogical Coordinator

With my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Early Childhood education from a Reggio Emilia philosophy based university, I knew that KLA was a tremendous opportunity for me to showcase my love of teaching. I started at KLA in Plainfield in 2015 in the 4s program, then became the Kindergarten teacher for the next 6 years.

I was able to shape the lives of dozens of children using project-based curriculum to teach all the basics required by the state without the required tests and rigid assessments. By providing thought provoking experiences and weaving in my love of reading, I learned about many topics along with my students as I was the bridge to support their thirst for knowledge. I am now the Pedagogical Coordinator at Naperville West and will channel my enthusiasm to mentor other teachers in the Reggio Emilia philosophy.