Meet The Team

Julie’s source of joy, and her inspiration for evolving in self-awareness comes from raising her two teenage daughters. With a BA in psychology from Lake Forest College, she holds her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Loyola University Chicago and is a licensed school social worker. Julie is experienced in counseling youth and has worked at a therapeutic day school counseling children with social and emotional challenges ages 5-17. As an early childhood social worker, she worked with families and children with developmental delays ages 3-6 years. Julie was an active member of two parent education boards in her school district. In 2019 Julie Completed her Mindfulness Educator Essentials Certification from Mindful Schools. Julie has been a student of Ramaa Krishnan for that past 5+ years. She is grateful for Ramaa's life-changing teachings and is excited to share this wisdom with youth. Julie believes when we teach and talk about matters of the heart and shared human experiences we nourish the great connectors that bind us together.

Katie Kolbe is a mindfulness and meditation teacher, speaker, Reiki Master, and Access Bars Facilitator. Having studied, trained, and deepened her personal practice for over 18 years, Katie began teaching children and families with her flagship classes (“My Mind, My Friend”, and “Little Meditators”) in 2008. In addition, Katie has completed training in the Mindful Schools Educators Essentials program and Radiant Child Yoga, Levels 1-3. Since 2016, Katie expanded her teaching to area schools, and has been offering mindfulness to grades K-12 ever since. Katie teaches meditation to children, teens and families, helping them create a sustainable and compassionate practice that supports living from the inside- out. She graduated from Northwestern University’s School of Speech with a focus in Radio, TV and Film. Katie is passionate about helping others develop tools that cultivate resilience and self-agency. She is ever inspired by teaching children and teens life skills that bring peace, increase self-awareness and curiosity, and help them to self-regulate from a place of unconditional loving kindness.

After graduating from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, Lisa built a career as an independent communications consultant. Lisa has been philanthropically active in her local community serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused children and sitting on various boards including the Lake County Illinois Health Center and the USC Keck Leadership Medicine Board. Lisa has studied with Ramaa Krishnan for the past five years. She has completed Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction training, the Mindful Educator training and is a certified Integrative Health Coach. Her desire to bring mindfulness to the health care community comes from her own experience as a cancer patient. As a recent survivor, Lisa understands firsthand the numerous benefits of a mindfulness practice and credits this practice in helping her decrease stress, remain positive and reduce pain throughout her journey.

Becky believes both yoga and mindfulness can help us to access the power of presence-- one through the body the other the mind. A graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, she put her business degree to work in retail management for over 15 years directing a chain of area stores. First introduced to meditation and mindfulness through her personal yoga practice, Becky became a yoga instructor in 2008 and has completed her 500-hour Yoga Teaching Training Certification. She is trained in transcendental meditation, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and has been a cycling instructor for over 20 years. Becky’s kids swear that belly breaths and mindful body scans are like a magic sleeping potion!

For over twenty years, Cheri Stefanelli has worked as a community health & wellness educator in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Cheri holds a B.A. in Community Health Education from Northeastern Illinois University. She is a certified iPEC Transitional Life Coach, and is an accomplished, specialized fitness professional with hundreds of hours of continuing education. Cheri completed her Mindfulness Educator Essentials Training program via Mindful Schools. She holds a 200-hour registered Yoga certification. Studying for 3 years under Ramaa Kirshnan, she is REIKI Level II attuned and teaches individuals and groups about how the brain functions, why meditation works, and how to create a personal practice. ​“My goal is to hold space for, inspire, support and/or guide individuals, regardless of age, towards their true selves and their desired goals and dreams.” ​Whether working one-on-one with clients, in small groups, or with thousands gathered at Soldier Field, her intention is to see, and to speak to the heart of each individual in every setting.

Amy is a life-long learner and adventurer with a strong internal compass that keeps her pointed towards physical activity, nature and connection for balance and joy. She is thrilled to share this perspective with young people by teaching mindfulness with Knowtice. Amy's professional endeavors have centered around improving access to learning for organizations and individuals, with a focus on helping nonprofits leverage online tools and resources to further their missions and expand their reach. She has an MA in Learning, Design, and Technology from Stanford University and a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Duke University, and has completed her Mindfulness Educator Essentials Certification from MIndful Schools. She has lived in many parts of the country and is a bit surprised, but extremely grateful, to have happily landed back in her hometown of Highland Park, IL, where she lives with her husband Mark, teenagers Kai and Caleb, and their thanks-to-COVID cat Juno.

For over 30 years, Cheryl has found her way into classrooms as a school social worker, substitute teacher, children’s writer and now as a mindfulness educator. She thrives on the collaborative energy in schools. Cheryl is honored to share her passion for mindfulness as part of the Knowtice team. Cheryl’s professional background includes a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan, a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois-Chicago and a Mindful Schools Certification. Cheryl serves on two child centered boards, The Children's Research Fund for Lurie Children's Hospital and SparkShop, which brings inspiring engineering curriculum to schools. Advocating for and being around children is her north star. She believes that empowering children with social-emotional tools to navigate our changing world is invaluable. When Cheryl isn’t in the classroom, you can find her paddle boarding on Lake Michigan, enjoying coffee with friends, baking cookies or looking for “wow moments” that she can weave into children’s books.