Our Staff

My name is Bonnie Kasman, and I am the director and the 2 to 4-year-old teacher. I have my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education from Western Illinois University. I have been the director at The Big Barn Preschool since May 2011. I have been working in early childhood centers for over 30 years.

I have a wonderful husband of 32 years who often helps at the school. I have two children I am extremely proud of; my daughter is a veterinarian, and my son has a Master’s in Business.

I love working at The Big Barn Preschool because of its homey, loving, and caring environment. I love that as the director, I get to help the families, and as the teacher, I support the students. The staff here have the freedom to teach the themes and materials they choose that are best for the children’s needs. We are not cookie-cutter. I love our belief that children learn in three ways: one-on-one, free play, and group learning, which are all needed to teach the whole child. That is what we do, and I am proud to be a part of it!

My name is Ms. Jane. I am a teacher at The Big Barn Preschool. I started at the school as one of the founding members of the board of directors when my daughter Katie was very young. We opened the doors in 2007, and Katie was one of the only two students at the time.

I am proud of the way The Big Barn Preschool has grown and evolved over time. I have always stayed involved as a volunteer until our director, Ms. Bonnie, offered me a paid position as a teacher assistant. This has been an amazing experience for me. I have learned so much from our staff and the children, and I am currently studying to get my teaching certificate. My favorite things about working with children are seeing them learn things, master new skills, make friends, and amaze themselves with all they are capable of.

I love reading, acting, traveling, art, nature, gardening, learning new things, and children.

Hello, my name is Brian Darrow. I have been teaching preschool for 28 years. I graduated from Harper College with my Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education. I started working for The Big Barn Preschool on February 16, 2016. I love working with children from the age of 2 to 6. They are a joy and a pleasure to be with, and I love to enrich their minds and teach them the things they are curious about.

My favorite things to do is watching horror and superhero movies and my favorite show Doctor Who. I also have a sister and two brothers.

Hi, my name is Sheri Futris. I have been teaching preschool-age children for over 30 years. I am the pre-kindergarten teacher and assistant director at The Big Barn Preschool. I have been working here since 2009 and have enjoyed every moment of it! I love working with children because it is so fun to see them learning, and I enjoy learning from them as well. It is also fun to watch them grow, learn, and progress in life. Each day is a new experience for them!

I have been happily married for 36 years to my wonderful husband, Tom. We have two children, a 24-year-old, Tyler, and a 17-year-old, Chad. Tyler enjoys doing MMA, and Chad is starting college, where he plays football and wants to get a degree in business.