Kiddie Academy of Lincoln Square-Ravenswood

Hi, my name is Maria Duran, and I am the Executive Director at Kiddie Academy of Lincoln Square-Ravenswood. I have over 12 years of experience as a director and have been in the Early Childhood Education field since high school, where I participated in a preschool program that allowed me to teach and support young learners both on campus and throughout the district. In college, I worked with individuals in special education from early childhood through adulthood, an experience that led me back to ECE. Today, I’m passionate about guiding families, supporting children, and mentoring teachers. What I love most about my role is leading with heart—building strong partnerships with families, mentoring teachers, and creating a fun, safe, and loving environment where every child feels happy, secure, and excited to come to school each day. That’s the kind of community I strive to build every day.