About Heather
Summers
Dr. Heather Summers is a retired public and private elementary school teacher with 10 years of classroom experience in grades pre-K-6.
She has also worked in teacher education as a professor and clinical supervisor. Her Ed.D in Curriculum Studies led her to examine alternative and progressive education models. Her dissertation is a unique case study examining Montessori Education for under-resourced communities. She has three teenage children who have taught her about what it means to live and work with neurodivergent learners.
All of this first-hand experience has given her personal insight into the kinds of challenges that children and families face moving through the school landscape in the City of Chicago. Heather finds that whether she is interacting with children, parents, teachers, administrators, or support staff, there is true satisfaction in supporting young people as they grow.
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My philosophy is to listen deeply and acknowledge the realities families face as they accompany their children on their journies to adulthood.
Compulsory schooling and elective recreational activities drive the lives of school-aged children and their families. As we aid the development of our children through education and recreation, many of us begin to realize that the well-worn path does not always lead to happiness and fulfillment for our children. I have made it my mission to help busy parents navigate the challenges that the beaten path poses for many children and help families explore alternate resources and pathways with courage and confidence.