Leadership Team
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Mrs. Ilana/Owner

Mrs. Ilana lives in Geneva with her husband (Mr. Dan) and two daughters. She has been working with children since she was 14 years old in a professional setting and never once thought of doing anything else. Her and her husband, Mr. Dan, started Mill Creek ECP on June 9th, 2015. Mrs. Ilana is a Professional Development Specialist, has a bachelor's in early childhood education, an Illinois Director Credential Level 2 and has several classes towards her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. In 2023, Mrs. Ilana went to Reggio Emilia, Italy to study the approach that is the foundation of Mill Creek ECP with Mr. Dan and Ms. Valerie. She strives to be sure Mill Creek ECP is a place everyone feels welcomed, safe, and free to explore and discover while reflecting on their experiences to better themselves and the children enrolled at Mill Creek ECP.
Fun Fact: She played college basketball

Mr. Dan/Owner

Mr. Dan is Mrs. Ilana's husband. He has a bachelor's in communication, has over 15+ years as a Regional Director in Human Resources and is Director qualified after choosing to take the required early childhood classes to achieve this. Although he is not a teacher in any specific room the children love when he stops by to say hi (often fixing, collecting logs for the playground or hanging something for the teachers). Mr. Dan has studied in Reggio, Emilia Italy to learn more about the Reggio Approach to education. In his spare time... he manages a law firm, practices real estate across the country and oversees all of the human resources, maintenance and I.T. at Mill Creek ECP. He is an amazing father to his two daughters and helps ​Mrs. Ilana with many of the behind-the-scenes projects around the school. Fun Fact: Mr. Dan was a camp counselor in Maine for several years!

Mrs. Sarah/Co-Director

Mrs. Sarah attended the University of Wisconsin Platteville and has a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Early Childhood Education as well as a minor in Special Education. She has always loved her time with children and knew she wanted to be a teacher. After teaching fourth grade she decided that working with younger children was where she wanted to be! Her dedication to children and our approach to education allowed her to grow within our program as she took on the co-Directing role with Mrs. Ilana and Mrs. Aliza in the summer of 2025. She recently got married and lives in Big Rock with her husband and puppy (who is not puppy sized at all). Mrs. Sarah often has a Starbucks drink nearby and enjoys reading a good book. Fun Fact: 

Ms. Valerie/Pedagogista

Ms. Valerie joined us during the summer of 2020 and has her Bachelors in Elementary Education and a minor in Art. She has had the role of educator and administrator over the course of her educational career. Ms. Valerie is our schools Pedagogista, working to support our educators as they build their curriculum around the children. In 2023 Ms. Valerie went to Reggio Emilia, Italy with Mrs. Ilana and Mr. Dan to study the approach that is the foundation of our program. She is an avid runner (you might see her running between the two buildings in the blink of an eye). She has a daughter who recently moved to California and is an animal lover, giving a lot of her free time to volunteer at local shelters.  Fun Fact: She makes amazing decorated cookies!

Mrs. Aliza/Co-Director

Mrs. Aliza came on board as a co-Director in the summer of 2025 alongside Mrs. Sarah and Mrs. Ilana. She has been working in Early Childhood Education her entire career and has a master's in early childhood education. Previously, she has been a director at several Reggio Inspired schools, has been on several Reggio Inspired study tours in Reggio Emilia, Italy and at Boulder, Colorado and was excited to be able to continue the approach with us at Mill Creek ECP while being outdoors as well. She is married and has one daughter who is currently enrolled in our program. When not working she enjoys spending time with close friends. Fun Fact: She interviewed with us for a teaching position about 5 years ago but at the time was living too far away!