Our Staff

Meet Our Staff

Maleeha Mubashiruddin

Maleeha Mubashiruddin is Executive Director at Covenant Nursery School. She has a degree in Business Administration and Management from
Boston University; and over 20 years of experience in early childhood education both in the classroom and as an administrator. She is married and has two children who attended preschool in Evanston.

Priscila Martins

Priscila Martins is a lead teacher in the Wildflower classroom. She is
originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has been living in the United States for the past 14 years. Priscila has a law degree and has worked in the field of education in
many different capacities since she was 18. She most recently homeschooled her
daughter until first grade and worked as a parent mentor for Chicago Public Schools. She adores nature, music, dancing, sports and dogs. Her husband is also from Brazil and is a head instructor in a martial arts school. They have a 7 year old daughter named Julie Marie who speaks English and Portuguese fluently.

Shahanaz Begum

Shahanaz Begum is an inclusion aide and assistant in the Wildflower classroom. She moved to Chicago from Bangladesh 27 years ago with her husband. Together, they have raised 4 children. Her youngest is a junior in high school, her eldest recently completed a PhD in biomedical engineering, and her middle two children are studying humanities and neuroscience in university. She has a bachelors degree in social science, and loves to cook, garden, and sew in her free time. Shahanaz has volunteered and worked at CPS elementary schools and childcare in the Evanston area for the last 11 years. She is excited to join the CNS team and help create safe, fun, and caring learning environments in the classroom!

Natalia Leonard

Natalia Leonard is lead teacher to the Birch classroom. She has a degree in Elementary Education with a Music Emphasis. She has over 14 years of professional
educational/childhood experience. She has a background in music/theatre and art and
hopes to incorporate these gifts into the classroom. She is married with two fabulous children. Natalia stayed home to raise them. She also started her own early childhood program during the pandemic to teach her kids and their neighbors and friends. She believes all children are magical human beings and is beyond thrilled to join the
Covenant family.

Jill Clark

Jill Clark is so thrilled to be back in the Birch classroom! Jill has seen three grandchildren (including 2 alumni) through Covenant and has been a part of the community for 9 years! Jill has over 30 years of experience in various capacities in early childhood, ranging from teacher to Director. Her passion has been teaching piano and art lessons privately and as a class. Jill is an accomplished artist and has recently held her second gallery exhibit. She loves to bring all things creative into lessons big and small. She’s looking forward to meeting each child where they are and helping to facilitate discovery, self-expression, and a love for learning!

Ellie Shevick

Ellie Shevick is a lead teacher in the Birch classroom. She has a degree in liberal arts and obtained her multiple subject teaching credential in California where she taught elementary prior to moving to Illinois. Ellie then made the switch to early childhood education and loved focusing on the social and emotional growth of children. Ellie took a pause from the classroom to stay home with her two daughters in their early years. Now that they are both in school she is excited to jump back into teaching. Ellie hopes to help the kiddos let their unique gifts shine and inspire them to be life long learners.

Allyson Leber

Allyson Leber a is lead teacher in the Honeybee Threes classroom. Allyson has three children including two proud recent alumni and a little one in the Birch classroom as well! For the last five years, Allyson has served on Covenant’s Board of Directors in the roles of Personnel Chair, Internal PR, and President. Allyson brings over a decade of experience working in education with a focus on early literacy, DEI initiatives, and special education. She is passionate about early childhood education and development and is excited to work with the 3s to help make their first steps in the world of education meaningful, full of discovery, and
fun! Allyson is also looking forward to assisting families in navigating these wonderful preschool years as well as facilitating connections, especially within the CNS
community.

Liz Pawlak

Liz Pawlak is starting her fifth year as a lead teacher in the Turtle Twos and Honeybee Threes classrooms although her history with Covenant has been much longer – her children are both proud Covenant Alumni. Liz has been an active member of Covenant’s Board of Directors in the past serving as public relations chair and board president. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising from Marquette University and is continued her Early Childhood Education at Oakton Community College. She’s looking forward to nurturing our next crop of little learners and partnering with parents through all the intricacies of separation and parenting.

Kathleen Ferguson

This is Kathleen’s third year working at Covenant as a teacher in the Turtle Twos. Both of her children are Covenant alumni, and she served on Covenant’s Board of Directors for two years serving as Social chair and Vice President. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education, and has a Reading Specialist certification.
Kathleen worked with children with special needs for a decade before starting her family and during the pandemic, Kathleen ran a preschool out of her home for her own children and a small group of neighborhood children. Kathleen looks forward to working with our tiniest kiddos as they learn to navigate being at school for the first time!