Leadership

Erica

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

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.

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Kimberly Hernandez

Kimberly Hernandez

Admissions and Events Coordinator

Hello, I am Kimberly, and I have been on the KLA team since 2018. I formally taught in the class of 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 that a child’s life is similar to a piece of paper, meaning every person that comes into their life leaves a special mark. I chose Early Childhood Education so that I could leave a positive mark 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

Ms Heather

Heather Kostov

Pedagogical Director

Upon earning my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from a university deeply rooted in the Reggio Emilia philosophy, I embarked on my journey with KLA Schools in 2015, starting at the Plainfield location and initially working in the 4s program. Over the following six years, I assumed the role of a Kindergarten teacher, fostering a deep love for reading and creating engaging, thought-provoking experiences that served as a bridge to knowledge for my students.

In September 2023, I achieved a significant milestone when I was promoted to the position of Pedagogical Director overseeing all three KLA Schools locations: Plainfield, Naperville, and Naperville West. In this expanded role, my enthusiasm is boundless as I embrace the opportunity to mentor and guide educators across all our sites, further enhancing our commitment to the principles of the Reggio Emilia philosophy.

K Pullen

Kimberly Pullen

School Principal

I'm Kimberly, the School Principal at KLA School of Naperville. With 19 years in education, including 14 as a preschool director and 5 as a teacher, I'm dedicated to building strong connections with families, children, and our faculty. I'm committed to ensuring every child's growth and development.

Outside work, I'm a proud parent of two, a beagle owner, and happily married for 18 years. My hobbies include bowling, fishing, and traveling, but nothing beats time with my family. I'm thrilled to collaborate with our exceptional educators and continue our community's tradition of outstanding education and care.

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Meghan Zeller

Pedagogical Coordinator

Hi, I'm Ms. Meghan, and I've been with KLA Schools for 4 years, working my way up from summer kindergarten teacher to Pedological Coordinator at the Naperville location. I believe every child has the potential to achieve anything they set their mind to. As educators, it is our responsibility to provide experiences that encourage exploration and questioning. With over 10 years of experience working with children, including 8 years as a nanny, I bring knowledge to the classroom.

When not at work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, researching my ancestry, and crafting hobbies like sewing, painting, and cooking.

Selena

Selena Lopez

Administrative Assistant Principal

My name is Selena Lopez. I graduated from Waubonsee Community College in 2010 with my Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education. After college I began working in a Pre-K classroom. While I was subbing, I fell in love with the infant classroom. Since then I have mainly worked with ages 0-3 years old. I have a total of 8 years working in the ECE field.

I took a short break and worked for the Fox Valley Park District as an Office Manager for the Vaughan Athletic Center for 5 years before moving to Colorado in 2019. After living in Colorado for 4 years I decided to move back to Illinois and was given the opportunity to join the KLA family. Now I currently live in Aurora with my fur baby, Ajax. In my spare time I enjoy going on hikes, traveling and spending time with my family.

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