Teachers

Meet our dedicated team of educators at Mary Queen of Heaven Preschool, where passion for teaching meets a commitment to nurturing each child’s unique journey of learning and discovery.

Hello!

Genet Pinkerton

Genet Pinkerton

Preschool Director

 

Genet Pinkerton is the preschool director. She has a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Illinois State University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Roosevelt University.

She has taught early childhood through 8th grade in public schools as well as owned and operated a home daycare preschool. She has lived in Elmhurst and been an active parishioner at MQH with her family since 1999.

She has worked at the MQH preschool since 2008 and was a preschool catechist in the religious education program for five years. She likes being in the outdoors, riding her bike, and spending time with her family. Genet teaches young children because she believes that when they are given a strong well-rounded foundation, they will experience more success in the things they strive to do in their future.

Diane Gornick

Diane Gornick

4's Lead Teacher

 

Diane holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA where she performed with the Duquesne University Tamburitzans. She taught at the preschool, elementary, and middle school levels in OH, PA, and IL and was a preschool catechist for eight years at Mary Queen of Heaven.

She and her husband Joe live in Elmhurst with their three children-Ben, Greg, and Claire. They have been parishioners since 1993. She was the KEP teacher from 2010- 2020 and is very excited to be teaching the 4’s class this year. She enjoys reading, gardening, traveling with her family, and being part of the Mary Queen of Heaven faith community.

Diane enjoys incorporating our Catholic faith into all aspects of her teaching. She believes that each child is unique and she has developed a differentiated program to meet the various needs of her students.

Deidre (Dee) Weiler

Deidre (Dee) Weiler

4's Lead Teacher

 

Dee received her Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, IN, and her Master’s degree in reading from National Louis University in Evanston. She taught grades one through three in Elmhurst and in Northlake. She was a preschool catechist at Mary Queen of Heaven for four years. Dee was our main substitute teacher for the preschool and the KEP class for many years.

She grew up in Elmhurst, and then she and her husband raised their two sons in Elmhurst. She and her family have been parishioners of Mary Queen of Heaven since 2005. She enjoys working with small children, figuring out how they learn best, and watching their self-confidence bloom.

Marlene Alcorn

Marlene Alcorn

3’s Lead Teacher

 

Marlene Alcorn is the lead teacher in the 3’s program. She has a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from Rosary College and a
Master of Art degree in Early Childhood Education from Concordia College plus 59
graduate hours in Developmental Psychology and Family Relations/Parenting.

She holds two Illinois Teachers Certifications for grades 6-12, and birth-kindergarten.
She managed a lab school within the high school. She taught special needs
college students Human Development at Elmhurst College. She taught 2nd and
3rd gr. Faith Formation at Mary Queen for many years. 

Marlene was married in 1980, they moved to Addison in 1990, and they joined Mary Queen of Heaven in 2007. They have 3 adult married children and 6 grandchildren that she loves
greatly. She loves to dance, sing, and play games. Her passion is to encourage children’s overall development by offering an integrated curriculum as they discover their world.

Kathryn Mooradian

Kathryn Mooradian

4's Assistant Teacher

 

Kathryn is our teacher’s assistant in the preschool 4’s class with Dee Weiler. She has lived in Elmhurst since 1999 with her husband Michael and 3 children. Her children attended Immaculate Conception
Grade School (P3-8th gr) where Kathryn volunteered in the preschool, kindergarten, and upper grades throughout her children’s schooling.

Kathy enjoys family time, playing tennis, pickle ball and many other games (cards, board, computer, tv)! She enjoys connecting and working with the children to make a difference in their lives!

Kristy Carambot

Kristy Carambot

Preschool Teaching Assistant

 

Kristy Carambot moved to Villa Park in 2009, and joined Mary Queen of Heaven parish that summer. Her family joined RCIA, and became a practicing Catholic in 2010.

Kristy has two sons, who both attended MQH preschool. When her kids were young, she became a home daycare provider.

She has taught Religious Education at MQH since 2014, volunteered frequently at her sons’ elementary school, and substituted regularly at the preschool. Kristy enjoys laughing, disc golf, stargazing and making memories with her husband and kids.

Michele Sciabica

Michele Sciabica

4’s Teaching Assistant

 

Michele Sciabica is a teaching assistant in the 4’s class with Diane Gornick. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dominican University in River Forest, IL. She has lived in Elmhurst since 1996 with her husband John and two children.

They have been Mary Queen of Heaven parishioners since 1998. When her kids were young, she stayed home with them and provided home day care for other children. She has done various volunteer work at Emerson Elementary School and she was a catechist at Mary Queen of Heaven for 10 years. 

She began working as an assistant teacher for MQH preschool in 2009. Michele enjoys traveling with her family, reading, and playing tennis and pickle ball. She loves working with young children and she is dedicated to making a difference in the life of every student.

Elise Waite

Elise Waite

Lead teacher for the afternoon preschool

 

Elise Waite began at MQH Preschool in 2022 as a substitute assistant teacher and fell in love with the program and teachers at MQH. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL.

  She is passionate about nature and about connecting humans with their natural environment. She has worked as a naturalist, preschool program leader, and camp leader with children and families through Skokie Park District, Lake County Forest Preserves, and Friends of the Forest Preserves. Growing up in Elmhurst, she has followed the family business in children’s entertainment.

Elise is practiced in the art of face painting, balloon twisting, and leading children’s activities at parties and events. When not swinging on the MQH playground swings, you can find Elise playing frisbee with her 2 dogs, going on nature walks, and singing show tunes.

Kristy Carambot

Kristy Carambot

3's & 4's Teaching Assistant

 

Yadira early Childhood education was obtained at Harold Washington College.

She had the opportunity to be part of a parent mentor group at Conrad Fischer with the dual language program. She worked closely with teachers to help the students with one-on-one reading and writing. This is where she gained more knowledge and experience with the development of young children and teaching strategies for them.

She is so happy to be a part of the Mary Queen family!  She loves the work that she does and believes in a learning environment that allows children to be challenged and supported with the right tools that allow their curiosity to thrive.

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What Our Families Are Saying

The Campbell Durkin Family

Mary Queen of Heaven preschool has everything you could ask for – caring and committed staff, rooms and toys that are joyful and carefully put together to support learning and fun, wonderful communication about school events and ways to get involved, and a community that truly loves children and wants to nurture and equip them to be the very best little people they can be.  From the moment you enter the preschool, you can feel this is a place where a love of learning, and a love of all people, brightly shines.

The Hagan Family

We cannot thank MQH Preschool enough for the wonderful experience they have given our son (and our whole family) during his first school experience.

We transferred him into MQH this Fall after 2 months of not having the best experience with a different 2s program, so to see the immense difference in the care and nurturing that his teachers and all of the staff at MQH have provided from day 1 has been beyond comforting.

We truly felt welcomed into the Mary Queen community from the start and have been so happy with the learning opportunities, special activities, and communication that our son and our family have gotten, and the friendships developed throughout this year. We feel so fortunate to have found such a great, supportive place for our children to begin their schooling experience!

Alex and Debbie

We feel so grateful and blessed for the last three years our son has attended MQH preschool. All the teachers and staff were immediately welcoming and their dedication, care and concern for every child became quickly apparent.

We appreciated the weekly classroom recaps and open lines of communication. The teachers and staff were true partners in helping our son develop and thrive in a wonderful positive environment where he genuinely loved going day after day. Not only did they prepare him academically for kindergarten, but also focused on the social and emotional skills needed for future success. We wholeheartedly recommend MQH preschool.

The Behr Family

Mary Queen of Heaven has been the ideal place for our children to start their school years.The environment is a welcoming one fostering a tight knit community and a truly happy place to walk into every day. The teachers and staff are so kind, caring, and attentive to our children. They create a warm and rich environment for the kids, celebrating their wins and encouraging their personalities to shine.

Our children have grown so much at MQH and we are so thankful for that. We feel very lucky to have MQH in our lives!”

The Springate Family

The curriculum is a wonderful balance of learning academics and faith through play, along with building a foundation of classroom confidence.

My once shy three-year-old now begs to go to school every day, even when class is not in session. As a family, we’re able to join in to help with school activities, game nights, and service projects. The teachers are engaged and enthused in creating a warm, nurturing, and educational environment – it’s surely a place for children to thrive. Mary Queen of Heaven Preschool isn’t just a preschool, it’s a joyful community, and we feel lucky to be a part of it.