Erin fitzgerald

I began teaching the 2 year old class in 2017, and have served as director of Little Lights since 2019. Born and raised in Metro Detroit, I come from a big family with 3 sisters and 2 brothers. At age 10, I started babysitting and immediately became fascinated with how people develop through their early years. I came to Chicago after falling in love with DePaul University and graduated from there with a B.A. in Psychology and a concentration in Human Development. During my time there, I worked as a tutor through the America Reads program for children in grades K-12 and I also volunteered as an adult tutor at the Howard Area Community Center. Since then, I’ve become a mother to three wonderful boys. I also worked as a teacher for 1st and 2nd graders in a summer program called H.O.P.E. (Hamtramck Odyssey Program for Excellence). I provided childcare for 10+ years with children at the High Ridge YMCA for ages ranging from 6 weeks to 9 years old. I love working with kids, they bring me so much happiness. For me, there is no greater joy than seeing a smile on a child’s face, especially as they overcome an obstacle or learn something new. It is my pleasure to get to know each and every Little Light that comes to St. Pauls. My goal is to offer a loving, nurturing, and positive environment for them to thrive.

Danielle Mayfield

Has been part of Little Lights since 2018 and truly loves being a part of the program. Over the years, she has substituted in the two-year-old class, served as a caregiver for the church prayer group, and works as the Children’s Program Coordinator and as the three-year-old class teacher at St. Pauls. A Chicago native, born and raised in Bucktown, Danielle attended The Art Institute of Chicago after graduating from a community high school. With decades of experience teaching and supporting children in a variety of educational settings, she brings creativity and care to every role. Outside of the classroom, Danielle enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring the city, and making the most of everything Chicago has to offer. At home, she and her husband, Anthony, are raising two amazing young men, Erik and Andy.

Aimee Holper

I have been teaching four-year-old Preschool and Junior Kindergarten at Little Lights since 2019. I am looking forward to a new school year helping your little ones learn and grow! I have been working with children for more than 30 years in various roles; including as a Pre-K to 3rd grade classroom teacher, as a special education inclusion teacher, and as a developmental therapist and evaluator. I earned my Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2004 and my Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from DePaul University in 1997. I hold a teaching certificate in Early Childhood Special Education as well as a Developmental Specialist Credential in Early Intervention. Most of my experience has been teaching all ages of preschool while utilizing my play-based, family-centered approach to learning. Prior to teaching at Little Lights, I worked as a Developmental Therapist and Evaluator in the Illinois Early Intervention Program. This role gave me the opportunity to learn about all domains of child growth and development. When I’m not teaching, I love to spend time with my husband, our two sons, and our dog, Maisie. I also enjoy cooking, reading, gardening, music, and sports.

iris gonzalez

Hi everyone, I'm so happy to be working with your kids! Prior to coming to Little Lights, I was working in childcare for ten years with children of all ages through the YMCA. I have always been drawn to kids - I love their smiles and each one of their personalities, and I love watching them grow!

I was born and raised in Chicago and have two children of my own and one step-son. My daughter, Briana, is in graduate school at the University of Illinois, my son, Julian, is in seventh grade and my step-son, Tyler, is a graduate of UIUC.

In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, spending time with my family, and watching movies. I am looking forward to a great year together and I am excited for what this year holds!

Kelly Herndon

With a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Illinois and with my Illinois teaching Certification, I became a first grade teacher. When I began having children of my own, I made the decision to stay at home with them. Once my last child left for college, I went back to teaching as a para educator in a third grade class. I was offered a position in a preschool and I fell in love with preschoolers, I immediately knew I had found my people. I bring years of experience working with children of many ages in many different settings.  I currently live in Lakeview and I am enjoying time with my husband and kids. I really love working at Little Lights and the teachers here are the best of the best. This is my fourth year working with Ms. Danielle and I am excited for what this year holds for us.  

Suzanne Slaughter

I am very excited to be joining the teaching team here at Little Lights!

I grew up in Connecticut and came to the Midwest for college. I graduated from Wheaton College with a BA in Elementary Education and received certification in Illinois. I have taught preschool, kindergarten, second and fifth grades. I also worked on staff at Kohl Children’s Museum. When my children were young, I led a neighborhood playgroup and taught Sunday School at our church. Later, I was certified to teach music by Musikgarten, and had classes in Edgewater and Bucktown. Most recently, I lived in Nairobi, Kenya for nine years. There, I learned Kiswahili and taught ESL to women. I also worked for Rosslyn Academy and taught science and music in the Elementary school. My husband and I have three grown children. I enjoy traveling, scrapbooking and reading African memoir.