CHILDREN’S LEARNING CENTER STAFF
Brittney Boyd
Director
Brittney has an AA in arts with a concentration in early childhood education from CLC and has her BA in Infant and Toddler studies with concentration in early intervention from NLU. She has worked in the ECE field for 17 years now, starting as an assistant teacher and eventually making her way up to center director over the years. She found her passion for children early on, but it really blossomed when she became a mother 15 years ago. She has two daughters ages 14 and 8 and two step daughters ages 13 and 15. She also has 3 dogs and 2 cats. Brittney and her husband love the mountains, and love to vacation whether they're hiking or exploring beautiful mountain landscapes, she's always up for the next adventure. In her free time, she loves to read and binge all things Netflix, but most of all, loves spending her free time with her girls.
Jene' Appling
Assistant Director
With over 30 years of experience in early childhood education, Jene' brings both deep expertise and heartfelt passion to her role. She holds an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education with a focus on Leadership from Rasmussen University. Throughout her career, Jene' has worn many hats—including Preschool Teacher, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher, Assistant Director, and Director of Operations — always with the goal of creating nurturing, enriching environments where children can thrive. She believes that every child blossoms in a space filled with positivity, encouragement, and curiosity. Jene' is excited to bring her warmth and experience to Gorton Center, and she looks forward to welcoming families with a smile and building strong, supportive relationships within this vibrant community of care.
Marisa Sherman
Teacher
Marisa has over eight years of experience working with children. Her educational background consists of a B.A.in Counseling and a M.A. in Clinical Counseling. She is a long-time resident of Highland Park and has one son and five grandchildren. At Gorton Children’s Learning Center, her goal is to foster independence with each child in their pursuit of self actualization and to guide and support their social and emotional development.
Penny Strang
Teacher
Penny’s mission is to nourish a child’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning new things, both in the classroom and in nature. She focuses on meeting the children where they are and providing them with the tools they will need to thrive in kindergarten! Penny has over 20 years of experience working with children and holds a B.A. in Psychology from Lake Forest College. She and her husband have lived in Lake Forest for 25 years and raised two grown sons who attended Gorton's Drop-In Center and Camp Gorton summer camps.
Akhira El-Amin
Teacher
Being an early childhood educator has always been a passion of Akhira's. She believes that early childhood education is the foundation of building our new generations by providing a nurturing environment with progressive learning experiences, sensory exploration, creativity and lots of love. Akhira has worked with little ones for about 10 years and has experience working with children ranging from infants to school age. She has been a pre-K teacher on the Navy Base and a Lead Twos teacher at Kindercare. She currently holds her Child Development Associate, is CPR & First Aid certified and will be graduating with an Associates in fall 2023. Akhira is continuing her education to obtain a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. In her spare time she LOVES spending time with her children, going on many adventures, exploring museums and eating at fun places. She enjoys everything about art, poetry, music and having tea parties with her daughter. Akhira is also a realtor, so when she's not teaching children she is selling houses!
Katrin Walke
Teacher
Katrin has been working with young children for over 11 years, from infants up to age five. Her teaching journey began at a German language school for kids, and she later transitioned into a group home daycare setting. Katrin has a background in Art History and six credits in Early Childhood Education.
Katrin lives in Highwood with her husband and three wonderful children, a playful dog, and a curious bearded dragon. She loves being outdoors and doing crafts, and she brings that passion into the classroom — finding creative ways to connect nature and learning. She believes in experimenting alongside the children and letting their imaginations guide our days. Katrin doesn’t just teach; she learns from her students, and to her, is what makes work so inspiring!
Shawne Miles
Assistant Teacher
Shawne finds great joy and fulfillment in working with young children. She views children as pure beings and working with them is an honor and responsibility that she holds in the highest regard. Shawne holds a Business Degree from Trinity College and has 15 years of experience in customer relations and several years of running a home daycare. She is exploring pursuing a master's degree in early childhood education. When Shawne is not at work, she enjoys reading, baking, gardening and spending time with her husband and two teenage daughters.
Florina Mathe
Assistant Teacher
Florina feels happy and fortunate to be a part of Gorton Children's Learning Center team. She holds a degree in Economics and has many years of experience in this field. She decided to follow her passion - being around the children and working with them! Florina attended intensive classes in early childhood edication in Romania and became an Educational Trainer at FasTrackids International. In her free time she likes spending time with family, her husband and her five year old son.
Kristen Hernandez
Assistant Teacher
Kristen is excited to join the CLC team at Gorton Center. She finds great fulfillment in watching children grow and thrive, especially when their faces light up as they master new skills. Inspired by her own experience as a parent, she developed a deep appreciation for early childhood development and is excited to begin her journey in the field of early childhood education.
In Kristen's free time, she enjoys styling her daughter’s hair - a tradition passed down from her own mother. She also loves spending quality time with her two sons, whether they’re playing video games or racing monster trucks. When she has a moment to herself, she loves treating herself to a relaxing manicure.
