Arin Cox – Kindergarten – graduated from Central High School in Champaign and received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University. She worked for five years as our 1st grade co-teacher with Mrs. Kirby and is now in her eleventh year as our Kindergarten teacher. She and her husband are the proud parents of two sons including a Countryside alumnus.

Stacy Kirby – 1st grade – has been teaching at Countryside for over 25 years. She graduated from Centennial High School in Champaign and received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Valparaiso University. Mrs. Kirby minored in Reading and is a Reading Specialist. She has completed Gifted Levels I and II training and is a Certified Junior Great Books Leader. She and her husband are proud parents two Countryside alumni.

Amena Saleem – 2nd grade –has both a B.S. in Elementary Education from Millikin University and a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Illinois. In addition to her teaching certificate, she holds an endorsement in English as a Second Language. Before teaching at Countryside, she student-taught at Stratton Elementary in Champaign. Ms. Saleem has also been a volunteer tutor at The Refugee Center and a volunteer Sunday School teacher at Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center. She has a son attending Countryside and a daughter who is an alumna.

Lizzy White – 3rd grade – originally hails from Michigan. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a B.S. in Elementary Education as well as a degree in Social Studies. Before coming to Countryside, Lizzy taught in Rantoul and Bement and spent some time at Carrie Busey in Champaign. When she is not teaching, Ms. White works on the fixer-upper home that she recently purchased with her fiancé, Marc, and playing with her two cats, Larry and Marcy.

Marci Kyung – 4th grade – grew up in Champaign and attended the University of Illinois, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She is now in her ninth year of teaching at Countryside School. Mrs. Kyung spent five years teaching 3rd grade at Countryside before moving to 4th grade. When Mrs. Kyung is not at Countryside, you can probably find her at Pandamonium Doughnuts, the popular doughnut shop she co-owns with her husband.

Erika Mennig – 4th grade and Music – has a Master of Music Education from the University of Illinois. In addition she has a Bachelor of Music Education (choral), a Bachelor of Music in Open Studies (music business), and a Bachelor of Music in Fine Arts (piano performance) – all from the University of Illinois. Ms. Mennig previously taught music and directed the choir both at Edison Middle School in Champaign and in Rantoul. She is the head volleyball coach at Urbana High School and is Countryside's girls' volleyball coach. In addition, she owns her own music studio giving private lessons in both piano and voice.

Grace Woodcock – 5th grade – taught for five years in Charleston, Illinois before starting at Countryside. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Illinois State University in Elementary Education with middle school endorsements both math and language arts, and she received her Master's degree from Eastern Illinois University in Elementary Education. She has been working with elementary students since she was in junior high when she used to volunteer in her former 1st grade teacher's classroom.