At ChooChoo Chicago, Your Family Childcare, our teachers make us who we are. We have a team of loving, supportive, and educated caregivers. These teachers are carefully chosen with our ideals and beliefs in mind. They have educational and in-field experience and continue to nurture and guide our children daily. They know the ins and outs of child development but also how to spread love and have fun.
Our teachers provide an environment where close personal attention, nurture, and the well-being of each child are the main focus. They spend their days guiding our children to play, learn, and grow in their “home away from home.”
Founder/Program Director
Mrs. Mia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Entrepreneurship from the City University of New York, accompanied by 15+ years of childcare experience in various settings. In recent years she has achieved Illinois’ Director Certification, Early Childhood Education Credentials, as well as Infant Toddler Credentials through Illinois’ Professional Development System and INCCRRA.
With her entrepreneurial skills, love for education and children as well as specialization in art history and studio arts, Mrs. Mia brings her love for arts and crafts as well as her reliable and reputable childcare experience into this family venture.
At the age of 19, Mia, or as the neighborhood kids call her, “Mrs. Mia,” packed her bags in Serbia and ventured to the U.S on a volleyball scholarship to explore her educational opportunities. Her studies took her from Dodge City, Kansas to New York City, but no matter where she was, she continued caring for the little ones around her. She worked as a Teacher’s Aide in a daycare center in KS, a loving family nanny on the Upper East Side, NY, and a trusted babysitter across NYC. After graduating from the City University of New York with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Entrepreneurship and Art History, she got a “real job” in the art world. However, Mrs. Mia quickly realized that her true passion is her work with children. In 2013, Mia and her husband Goran moved to Chicago and Mia opened her new family venture, in-home family childcare. In this move, ChooChoo Chicago was born and Mrs. Mia has never looked back.
Mrs. Mia brings a unique perspective through her past experience with Art History and Studio Arts. She shares her expertise with her team and the children through a variety of fun, creative activities. In recent years, she furthered her education about little minds by gaining credentials through INNCCRA and the Illinois ExceleRate Program and achieved:
– Early Childhood Education Credentials
– Infant Toddler Credentials
– Illinois Director Credentials
These credentials give Mrs. Mia a deeper knowledge of children, as well as the administrative and leadership qualities that are necessary to run a successful early childhood organization.
Mrs. Mia has a love for helping children flourish during their earliest years of life. She’s passionate about providing a nurturing, home-like feel to the children in her care, and she’s knowledgeable about what these little minds need in academic and social-emotional contexts. She serves as a director at ChooChoo Chicago Academy and is beyond excited about the newest expansion to the center-based location.
A mother of three little ones Vanya, Luna, and Vida, Mia and her family enjoy spending time outdoors. They spend time biking, exploring city parks, and venturing out to try new foods together. Mrs. Mia also enjoys Studio Cycling and Yoga. She loves to meet new families and hear their stories, as it allows her to follow her true passion: creating a hub of children, their families, and loving teachers where everyone feels welcomed, safe, appreciated, and honored to be a part of the ChooChoo community.
Ms. Jagoda worked with children of all ages as a daycare teacher for over seven years. Her passion for working in preschool grew over time, which prompted her to get her Bachelor's in Early Childhood Development from the University of Arizona Global. She loves to see children grow and learn from their surroundings and fun activities, and by far she enjoys implementing exciting arts and crafts projects into her classroom’s everyday curriculum. She moved to Chicago from California with her, now, husband in December 2020, with whom she enjoys spending her free time and discovering new places around Chicago. She is happy to be part of ChooChoo Chicago and is looking forward to making new friends.
Ms. Emi (Emily) holds a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences with an emphasis on Creative Writing and Literature, with DCFS lead teacher qualifications. She loves to read in her spare time and says reading to children and encouraging early literacy is one of her favorite parts of early education. Ms. Emi has been teaching for about 2 years now. She is a Chicagoland native, growing up in the NW suburbs, who loves to travel and learn about different cultures and countries. When not teaching or reading, she crochets and cross stitches - pushing herself to make more interesting and intricate things. Her creativity and love for reading make her a true gem in our community.
Miss Dominique holds a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Administration from National Louis University accompanied by 6 plus years of teaching experience in various age group settings. She fosters special interests in human growth and development and especially favors the infant age group because it brings her absolute joy to see how much they learn and grow within a matter of months. Ms. D recently graduated with a second MA degree in Creative Writing. She is currently a self-published author that loves to express her creativity on paper through words while writing novels in her spare time. Her previous early childhood experience and love for children make her a great addition to our ChooChoo Team.
Hoppers Lead Teacher
Miss Taj graduated from the City Colleges of Chicago in 2020 with an Associate Degree in Early Childhood, and since she entered the childcare classrooms, she hasn’t looked back. She is passionate about the toddler age group as they challenge her thinking and betters how she leads her classroom. Miss Taj loves dancing, movement, and telling stories, so you will see her engaged and busy with her toddlers. She believes in building solid foundations for each child that will support their educational and human journey throughout their life. Her goal for her classroom is to bring love and laughter into it each day. In her spare time, she loves baking, reading, and watching documentaries. She is super excited to join the team at ChooChoo!
Locomotives Lead teacher
Boxcars Lead Teacher
Boxcars Lead Teacher
Cabooses Lead Teacher
Cabooses Co-Teacher
Cabooses Assistant Teacher
Boxcars Assistant Teacher
Hoppers Assistant Teacher
Locomotives Assistant teacher
Floater/Teacher's Aide
Floater/Teacher's Aide
Substitute Teacher
Mr. Ted is a skilled and passionate professional with a BA in Theatre. With six years of experience in education and childcare, including serving as an assistant teacher and a swim instructor, he has now shifted his focus to his acting career. However, Mr. Ted still contributes as a substitute teacher here at ChooChoo, bringing his love for performing into the classroom to help children develop their social skills and boost their confidence. Outside work, he enjoys making music, playing board games, and watching movies with friends. Mr. Ted is a cherished member of our team at ChooChoo Chicago, bringing creativity and enthusiasm to our students’ learning journey.
Floater/Teacher's Aide
Grow Your Center 
