Our staff is reflective, full of passion and downright creative. We are here to create daily meaningful experiences for your child.

Urban Child Academy is always seeking highly qualified teachers who are passionate about implementing the latest in educational research at our play-based center. Email our team at faculty@urbanchild.org with a brief description of what you are looking for professionally and a copy of your resume.

Directors

• Laura Bianchi Eikenmeyer, Ph.D. is fulfilling her dream of opening a preschool in Chicago. She earned her doctorate in Educational Psychology from Loyola University in Chicago. Laura contributes to the Academy as both Owner and Curriculum Director, focusing on providing each child with the best possible early education experience based on contemporary research. As a Chicago Mom herself, Laura has personal insight into the preschool scene, having survived the tedious and frustrating process of finding a high quality preschool for her own young urban child. This first-hand experience has shaped Urban Child Academy’s mission through every stage of its development and growth.
• David Eikenmeyer, J.D., M.B.A., a native Californian who has adopted Chicago as his home, earned his law degree from the University of Notre Dame and his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Professionally, he has experience in litigation, intellectual property, manufacturing and information technology. At Urban Child Academy, he is responsible for developing a physical space worthy of the school's educational goals. He makes sure the school runs smoothly and remains true to its educational mission of creating a nurturing and fun environment for the children, their families and teachers.
• Melissa Gilroy, M.A.T. El. Ed is a graduate of Montclair State University. She was born and raised in New Jersey where she completed her Bachelor’s in Psychology and continued her education in the Master’s program in Elementary Education. Melissa moved to Chicago in 2009 and enjoys every aspect of the city. She joined the UCA team in July 2013 and loves being around the kiddos. Melissa was a lead teacher in the Eager Einstein classroom for two years and feels that this specific age group has an eagerness to learn like no other! She loves to watch each of them explore and grow! Melissa joined the director team in 2015. She loves welcoming new families to UCA as our enrollment director. When Melissa is not at UCA she enjoys spending time with her husband Tim and her two boys Brady and Andy. Melissa loves being a mother and director!
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Leads

• Shanice Wright, B.A is a graduate of Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. She earned her Bachelor of Science at PSU in Human Development and Family Studies and her Master of Arts from JHU in Museum Studies. She is originally from a small town in Pennsylvania but lived in Washington, D.C. for many years before moving to Chicago a year ago. While in D.C. she worked as an educator in early childhood education and museum settings. She enjoys working with children of all ages and creating fun and engaging learning opportunities for them. She also has fun bringing her love of science to the classroom. In her free time Amber likes to read, hike, travel, and visit museums.
• Alexandra Duryea, B.A. ECE, is a 2012 Indiana University graduate from Indianapolis, Indiana. Alexandra started her child development career at The WonderLab Museum of Science, Health, and Technology as a gallery assistant, where she implemented educational programs for young children and teens. These programs involved the elements of science, nature, and art, which are her true passions in life. From there, Alexandra pursued a year in AmeriCorps, working at the Women, Infant, and Children’s (WIC) office. Here she read and tutored children in various waiting rooms of the health clinics the WIC office was held in. She believes that a good education and fluency in reading at a young age can build the strongest foundation for a child’s schooling career. She joins the Urban Child Academy team in June 2019 and is excited to contribute her education, passion, and enthusiasm to helping children grow. In her free time, Alexandra enjoys riding her bike, going to musicals, and doing photography.
• Iris Gasca, B.A Elementary Education., is a graduate of Furman University of Greenville, South Carolina. At Furman, Iris graduated with an Elementary Education degree and a focus in both Special Education and Spanish. Following in her mother’s footsteps and motivated by her younger sister, Iris pursued a teaching career. Iris student taught in a 2nd grade, public school classroom in Greenville, South Carolina. Before entering her last year of college, Iris interned at UCA in the summer of 2018. She also taught at the Gold Coast campus at the start of 2020 and cannot wait to be back! In her free time Iris loves to read, watch movies, and go out in the city with her friends and family.
• Samaiya Baker, CDA earned her Child Development Associate credential in 2019 and is currently completing her early childhood degree from Rasmussen University. Samaiya started working with children in 2018 because she believes that the early childhood period is the most important and education must be developmentally appropriate. She enjoys building meaningful relationships with children and their families and helping children safely explore the world around them. Samaiya is from the south side of Chicago and spent her childhood bowling with her grandfather and hanging out in his classroom. In her free time, she enjoys bowling, reading, and having potlucks with her friends.
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Specialists

• Roberta Gasca, B.S, is a graduate of Instituto Politecnico Nacional of Mexico, City with a Bachelor Degree in Business. Roberta started working in Chicago Public Schools 16 years ago as a substitute teacher in a classroom with children who have special needs. Over the next 7 years, Miss Roberta continued to teach first grade, kindergarten and preschool while taking Masters level courses in Education at Northwestern University and Malcolm X College. Her experience at CPS was some of her favorite work of her life! Before joining UCA, Roberta led a classroom of 3 year-olds at Kids Life Center where most of her teaching was in Spanish and in Head Start Programs. Ms. Roberta has been working for UCA since fall of 2013 teaching Spanish to all grades at UCA and also working with preschool classrooms who she considers as her second family.
• Shannon Netemeyer, B. A., is a graduate of Millikin University. She is originally from Albers, Il. During her education career, Shannon has volunteered with various classroom programs such as Operation Safe Kids and Morning Religious Learning. After finishing college, Shannon obtained her substitute teaching license, which is where she began spending time in preschools throughout the Southern Illinois area. She became fascinated with how unique each child’s learning experience is and how they were willing and excited to learn and grow. In her spare time, Shannon enjoys writing and performing many styles of music, reading good books, and exploring the city. Shannon joined UCA in June of 2020 and is looking forward to being the UCA Music Specialist!
• Erik Bianchi Eikenmeyer, C.K.@ H. (Certified Kid @ Heart), , is all grown up now! Born and raised in Chicago, he helped his parents create the magic of UCA. Now in college studying engineering, he enjoys running, working out, playing soccer and video games. Many of the original design decisions, toys and creative curriculum ideas came straight from Erik and his own childhood years.
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