Meet Our Staff

Our dedicated, caring staff is an integral part of what makes K’Ton Ton the incredible place it is. Each and every member of our staff values and understands children in a way that is inspiring.

Our classroom teachers all have degrees in either Early Childhood or Elementary Education. Our assistants all have years of experience working with young children - both as staff and as parents.

Each year, the entire staff goes through ongoing professional development to stay current with what we know is best for young children as well as current brain research and child development. All staff are CPR/First Aid certified.

Erin Nowakowski, Director

I student taught at K'Ton Ton in 2002! I became director in 2015, and I can honestly say it's my dream job. Before becoming director, I spent ten years teaching at Eads Elementary School in Munster and spent some time at home with my two littles. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from DePaul University with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. In 2006, I became National Board Certified in Early Childhood Education.

Family: Husband Jeff, a son, Oliver, and a daughter, Sadie
Pets: Two dogs: Chester and Mimi
Hobbies: reading, cooking, photography
Favorite color: green
Favorite place: South Africa
Favorite books to read: Anything I can
Favorite children's book: EEEEKKK! I have to chose just one?
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite Movie/TV Show: Love Actually
Favorite Thing about K'TonTon: I love K'Ton Ton because of the family we are. There is no greater joy than greeting our kids and families every morning.
At K'Ton Ton, you can find her: here, there, and everywhere

Ruth Weinberg, Teacher

Mrs. Weinberg has been at K'Ton Ton since 1998! She has a BS in Education from Indiana University.

Family: Husband, 1 son and 1 daughter, and 1 granddaughter!
Pets: Grand-dog, Zeller
Hobbies: knitting
Favorite color: Red
Favorite candy: turtles
Favorite books to read: mysteries
Favorite Music: Coldplay, Adele
Favorite vacation: Sightseeing
Favorite Thing about K'TonTon: I enjoy watching the children develop and grow.
At K'Ton Ton, you can find her: reading books and doing puzzles

Dawn Lanman, Teacher

Mrs. Lanman has been at K'Ton Ton since 2007! She has a BS in Education from Indiana University and a Post Baccalaureate in Early Childhood from Purdue. She also has postgraduate work in Special Education.

Family: Husband and 3 daughters
Pets: too many!
Hobbies: dance, decorating, crafting
Favorite color: Pink
Favorite place: Home
Favorite candy: dark chocolate
Favorite books to read: Pat Conroy
Favorite food: dessert
Favorite Music: the Beatles
Favorite Thing about K'TonTon: Watching as the children develop from terrifics two's in to fabulous five year olds
At K'Ton Ton, you can find her: cooking in the kitchen or playing with Lego blocks!

Bailey Hoffman, Teacher

Mrs. Hoffman joined us in 2016. She has a BS in Elementary Education from Kansas State University.

Family: Husband, 1 son and 1 daughter
Hobbies: reading, crafting, scrapbooking
Favorite color: purple
Favorite place: Home
Favorite candy: M & Ms
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite Thing about K'TonTon:
At K'Ton Ton, you can find her: on the floor playing

Christina Ankenbruck, Teacher

Lori Marcotte, Teacher

Karin Ballow, Assistant

Family: Married to Ken Ballow and I have one son, Andy
Pets: Golden Retriever named Henry
Hobbies: Baking, cooking, exercising, yoga, pilates, and taking my dog for walks
Favorite color: pink
Favorite place: home
Favorite candy: dark chocolate
Favorite food: Italian
Favorite Music: jazz and classical
Favorite Thing about K'TonTon: I am fortunate to work with terrific people and together we create a wonderful environment that allows us to nurture these precious children as they begin their journey through school. Being able to interact with the children allows me to see the world through their eyes which is always refreshing.
At K'Ton Ton, you can find her: Deep in conversation with our kids!

Rosalie Zarowny, Assistant

Family: Husband and 3 boys - all of whom are K'Ton Ton graduates!
Pets: Mia, a doberman
Hobbies: Scrabble
Favorite color: Purple and Blue
Favorite place: Home
Favorite candy: cinnamon
Favorite books to read: fiction
Favorite food: chinese
Favorite Movie/TV Show: P.S. I Love You
Favorite Thing about K'TonTon: Watching the children grow and learn
At K'Ton Ton, you can find her: doing projects with the kids

Krystan Bacevich, Assistant

Family: Husband Drew, one daughter, Madeline and a son, Jack
Pets: Considering adopting a puppy soon-ish
Hobbies: Houseplant hobbyist, avid reader, minimalist/tidy enthusiast, rookie gardener, board game geek, podcast junkie and aspiring environmentalist
Favorite color: Green
Favorite place: Hawai’i
Favorite candy: Peanut m&m’s
Favorite books to read: Any and all kinds
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite movie/tv show: Stranger Than Fiction, New Girl
Favorite music: Indie folk/ folk rock
Favorite thing about K’Ton Ton: I love the tight-knit family feel among the teachers and alternatively, as a mother sending her child here, I love the truly play-based, no screens, amazingly nurturing environment K’ton ton provides for children.
At K'Ton Ton, you can find her: amidst all the children reading, playing, and chatting

Angela Klausner, Assistant

Family: Brad, Delilah ‘DD’ 9, Emery 7.5, Benny 4
Pets: fish
Hobbies: crossfit, sewing and crafting, camping
Favorite color: Black
Favorite place: the beach or the cabin
Favorite candy: chocolate=snickers PB square, fruity: Mambas
Favorite books to read: let’s face it... I currently only read kids books so Gruffalo, Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose etc 🤣 or celebrity gossip mags in the checkout line
Favorite food: tacos
Favorite movie/tv show: this is us, walking dead, ozark, stranger things
Favorite thing about K’Ton Ton: the community that becomes like family
At K'Ton Ton, you can find her: at the project table