Executive Director- Carol Hofbauer, Co-Executive Director- Alisa Abouzeid

McHenry Montessori School is proud to be a family owned business, founded by Carol Hofbauer in 1997.  Mrs. Carol has over 40 years of Montessori experience, as a Pre-Primary Directress and an Executive Director.  Her daughter, Alisa, has now joined the family business as Co-Executive Director. 

As a Montessori daughter, Ms. Alisa spent her high school, college years in the family business as an assistant and then as a lead teacher.  During this time, she was trained by amazing Montessori Directresses and received a hands-on education in classroom management. 

After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in History with a Pre-Law minor from Eastern Illinois University in 2000, Alisa went on to work in the corporate world at Aon Hewitt for 6 years, and then at Medline for 7.  After leaving the corporate world 3 years ago, Alisa took on the role of Executive Director of McHenry Montessori and its sister schools. She brings with her the passion for Montessori and the application of its curriculum for the children of all ages. 

Ms. Alisa is married with a 12 year old daughter, and has a spunky dachshund yorkie mix named Zuzu. 

Alisa is excited for the future of McHenry Montessori School and thrilled to watch your children grow and thrive in a warm and welcoming environment. 

Director- Lori Lanphier 

Ms. Lori began her Montessori career at Montessori Country Day School from 1992-1998 as a teacher's assistant while attending the College of Lake County and working on an Early Childhood education degree.  In 1998, she got married and moved to McHenry and began working at McHenry Montessori School as an infant/toddler teacher and Assistant Director.  In 1999, she attended Meca-Seton Montessori Institute to obtain her Infant/Toddler Credential for Montessori, and became the Director in 2000.  Ms. Lori feels very fortunate to work with our children, families and our teachers the past 20 years, watching everyone grow.  She loves the  excitement to see the children grow from young infants learning to crawl and grasp toys to kindergartners reading for the first time.  Our program has grown and changed over the years to become the flourishing environment that it is today.  Ms. Lori enjoys being here every day seeing what the children will be learning next. 

Pre-Primary/3-6 Years-Miss Quemin

Miss Quemin received her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Baekseok Arts University in Seoul, Korea in 1998 while working in a preschool.  She moved to the United States in 2005 and completed her Montessori education from Meca-Seton Montessori Institute and obtained her Early Childhood Credential in 2009 and her Infant/Toddler credential in 2014.  Miss Quemin worked with the pre-primary class at Children's Learning Montessori in Chicago.  Six years ago, she was blessed with the birth of her son and began working with the toddler class at Wonder Montessori School in Chicago.  Miss Quemin relocated to the area and began working at McHenry Montessori School in February 2018.  Her goal in working with the children is to help each child become an independent learner, to turn his attention outward, collaborate and respect and dignity for others.  She is proud and excited to be a part of McHenry Montessori School community.