Emily Norman

As a mother of 6 children, I appreciate the uniqueness of each child and recognize the importance of having a supportive community while we nurture our children’s growth. As the Director of Pilgrim Community Preschool, it is my goal to partner with families and teachers to ensure our school is a positive and safe environment for your child to explore, investigate, practice new skills and develop a lifelong love of learning. My undergraduate work focused on rehabilitation services and support to children and adults with disabilities, which always provided me such joy to assist others in achieving their goals. After staying at home with our young children for a number of years, I found my calling to early childhood Education and returned to school for early childhood education teacher certifications and Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education Administration. I was a preschool teacher with The Park District of Oak Park for ten years before joining The Collaboration for Early Childhood as Early Learning Intake Coordinator in 2021. In 2022, I became the Director of Pilgrim Community Preschool and am honored to be a part of your family’s first educational experience. When not at Pilgrim, I enjoy spending time with my family and our dog Loki, gardening and exploring nature, walking with friends, listening to live music and practicing a few creative endeavors.