Judy Placzkowski, Director
Judy graduated from Thornton Community College with an Associates of Arts Degree. She continued her education at Illinois State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with a minor in Special Education – EMH. After graduation, Judy taught at a Mother’s–Day-Out Program, substitute taught in the Steger School District, and taught at Faith United Protestant Preschool in Park Forest for six years. Judy also served as the director at Faith United Protestant Preschool for three years before teaching at the Crete Cooperative Preschool. Judy joined the staff at Peace Community Preschool as a teacher in 2007, and also served as director of the Children's Ministry at Peace Community Church before assuming the post of preschool director. Judy and her husband, Dave, have three adult children and one grandson.
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Noreen Talaga, Teacher
Noreen graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor's Degree in education. She received a Master of Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood from the University of Illinois. Noreen comes to us with 34 years of teaching experience. Noreen taught at Peace Community Preschool from 1991-1996 and returned to Peace in 2011 as the Kinderbridge teacher. Noreen and her husband, Mike, live in Frankfort and have three adult children and five grandchildren.
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Dawn Kruger, Teacher
Dawn received a Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education from Central College in Pella, Iowa, with an early childhood concentration. She has taught preschool for over 7 years in both Fulton, Illinois, and South Hamilton, Massachusetts. In addition, she taught kindergarten for the Meridian School District 223 in Stillman Valley, Illinois, for nine years and served as the district wide kindergarten team leader for three years. Dawn joined the Peace Community Preschool staff in 2013.
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Cathy Carlson, Teacher
Cathy has completed the required Early Childhood Education classes at Joliet Junior College and is DCFS qualified to teach children ages 0-6. Cathy has taught at Peace for more than 20 years. In addition to teaching she is a part time nanny for young families. Cathy serves as a Board member at Living Waters Childcare in Manhattan, Illinois. She is a proud mother of two grown sons and a wonderful daughter in law. A strong love of God and children makes working with children in a christian preschool the perfect blessing for her.
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Diane Thomas, Assistant Teacher
Diane received numerous credits from several junior colleges. Diane also worked in the Chicago Loop for 15 years. Diane mentored children in the program "Rainbows for all God's Children" at St. Jude's parish in New Lenox. Diane worked at Providence Preschool as the Administrative Assistant before joining Peace as an assistant teacher in 2000. One of Diane's favorite bible verses regarding children is "Train a child in the way he should go, and when is old he will not turn from it" Proverbs 22:6.
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Michele Duff, Teacher
Michele graduated from Prairie State College with a degree in Child Development. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Education from Governors State University. Michele has fifteen years of teaching experience, one year as Director of St. Paul's Lutheran Preschool in Matteson. Michele and her husband, Scott, have three grown children and three granchildren.
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Kathleen Horner - Assistant Teacher
Kathie graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Management with a major in Marketing. She took graduate classes in Not-For-Profit Finance and Bond Issues. She started working at Peace in 2019. Kathie is currently a Lead Teacher at Hickory Creek Community Church. Previously she co-taught 3 year old preschool at Discovery Day School in Oxford, MS. She has taken continuing education classes in Preschool Socialization and Sensory Issues. Kathie and her husband, Andrew, have two college age sons and a daughter in 6th grade.
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Crystal Collins, Administrative Assistant
Crystal graduated from Chicago Christian High School and receiver credits at DePaul University in Chicago before joining the staff at Peace Community Preschool as an administrative assistant and substitute assistant teacher in 2007.
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Mary Barnas, Assistant Teacher
Mary graduated from Governors State University with a BS in elementary education. Mary has worked as a substitute teacher in the New Lenox school district. She has also taught fourth and fifth grade in the Sauk Village school district for several years. Mary and her husband, John, are long-time residents of Frankfort and have three adult children.
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Colleen Dunford, Assistant Teacher
Colleen received her bachelors degree from Truman State University in Communication Sciences. Prior to becoming a stay at home mom, her employment background was in management, human resources and safety management. She has been a parent at Peace Preschool and is a former board member. It was her involvement with Peace Preschool that inspired her to change careers. She is currently pursuing a Master's degress in Early Childhood Special Education and feels called to serve children with disabilities in the public school setting. She has taught religious education at St. Stephens in Tinley Park for the past two years. Colleen and her husband, Joe, have two children attending elementary school in the Summit Hill School District.
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