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Who's Behind Ecole 360

Leadership & Educators

Meet the people who lead Ecole 360, and the passionate educators who bring our philosophy to life every day.
Leadership

The People Who Lead Ecole 360

Meg Birgun
Founder, CEO & Director of Education
Meg holds a BA in Teaching and an MBA in Educational Management and has worked in education since 2000. She founded and led early childhood programs in different parts of the world and grew one organization to 55 centers before founding Ecole 360, where she wrote the Signature Curriculum and continues to write it herself. She lives in Chicago's northwest suburbs, near all three schools, and volunteers throughout the community.
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Mesut Birgun
Co-Founder & Director of Operations
A Political Science graduate, Mesut spent years as an event manager for NGOs and government institutions across more than 50 countries, work that depends on careful planning, coordination, and attention to the details most people never see. He brings that experience to Ecole 360, where he oversees the schedules, logistics, and countless details that help each school day run smoothly for children, families, and teachers.
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Ivy Ozdemir
On-Site Owner, Arlington Heights
Director of Marketing, Director of Technology
With over 20 years of experience in banking, business leadership, and customer relations, Ivy brings both strong business expertise and a personal commitment to early childhood education. Holding a master's degree in Child Development, she partners closely with educators and families to create a welcoming environment where every child feels supported and is able to thrive with confidence.
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Kate Topaloğlu
On-Site Owner, Schaumburg
Kate Gamze brings more than 20 years of experience in architecture, construction, project management, and business development. After moving to the United States, she expanded into early childhood education through Ecole 360, earning her Director Qualification in Early Childhood Education. She combines her architectural expertise, leadership experience, and entrepreneurial vision to build nurturing environments where children grow.
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Julie Stewart
Center Director, Arlington Heights
Julie has dedicated more than 30 years to the field of early childhood education. She studied Early Childhood Education at William Rainey Harper College and became part of the Ecole 360 family in May 2025. Her leadership is rooted in the belief that children flourish when they have the freedom to explore, create, ask questions, and make discoveries, and she works to build lasting confidence in every child.
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Emily Berman
Center Director, Palatine
Emily brings more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education. She studied Applied Educational Studies with a focus on Early Childhood Education at National Louis University. She is passionate about creating a warm, welcoming environment where children feel safe, supported, and excited to learn, and enjoys helping teachers build engaging, confidence-building classrooms.
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Linda Neil
Center Director, Schaumburg
Linda holds a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and brings more than 30 years of experience to her role, much of it in leadership and center management. For the past six years, she has played an important role in the growth and development of Ecole 360. Linda is passionate about building a nurturing school community, and treasures watching children grow into confident five-year-olds ready for kindergarten.
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Our Educators

Teachers Who Know Your Family by Name

Our experienced and dedicated educators build genuine relationships with every child—and with the families who know them best. This personal connection creates the trust, consistency, and sense of belonging that help children feel secure and thrive.

Experienced leadership at every location

Every Ecole 360 location is led by experienced directors with deep, hands-on knowledge of early childhood education. Their guidance supports thoughtful decisions and consistently high standards throughout the school.

Ongoing coaching and support

We invest in our educators through continuous coaching, collaboration, and hands-on support—helping talented teachers grow, succeed, and build lasting careers at Ecole 360.

Consistency your child can count on

We prioritize educator retention because strong, lasting relationships help children feel secure and thrive. Our teachers work closely with each child, getting to know their personality, interests, strengths, and individual needs.

Carefully screened and experienced

Every Ecole 360 educator completes all required background checks and brings meaningful childcare or early childhood education experience to the classroom.

CPR and First Aid certified

Our educators maintain CPR and First Aid certification, ensuring they are prepared to respond calmly and appropriately when a child needs care.

Accredited professional development

Our educators participate in ongoing, accredited professional development to stay current with early childhood education practices and continually strengthen the quality of care and learning they provide.
Sample Daily Schedule — Toddlers

Times are anchors, not alarms. The rhythm is the same every day; the pace follows the children.

Time Moment What Happens
6:30 AM Arrival & Welcome Greeted by name, hellos chosen at the Greetings Menu, jobs claimed, and the day's headline read.
8:30 Breakfast Fresh, organic food at a shared table. Manners and healthy habits are taught here, not assumed.
9:00 Morning Spark The week's theme opens, the big question, the read-aloud, and the day's first wondering.
9:20 Work Time & Small Groups Language & Literacy · Math & Science Discovery · Reading & Story · Art & Creative Expression · Real-Life Skills. Interest areas stay open all week.
Daily Enrichment One every day, Sign Language · Spanish · Yoga · Orff-Inspired Music · French, five enrichments across the week.
Morning Outside Time 20–30 minutes by rotation, or our indoor movement space when the weather keeps us in.
11:45 Lunch Fresh, organic food. Trying something new is celebrated, "no thank you" is respected, and children clear their own places.
12:20–2:30 Rest & Quiet Time Bodies rest. Early risers read, draw, and work quietly beside them.
2:30 Waking & Small Groups Slow waking at each child's own pace, cots away by their own hands, then small groups.
3:00 Afternoon Snack The third meal of the day, fresh fruit and whole foods, poured and passed by the children.
Afternoon Outside Time 20–30 minutes by rotation, or our indoor movement space.
3:30 Twilight — Wind-Down The day closes: what we noticed, what we made, and one quiet piece of work.
Until 6:00 PM Choice Time & Goodbyes Interest areas stay open, families greeted and updated at the door, and every departure by name.
6:30 AM
Arrival & Welcome
Greeted by name, hellos chosen at the Greetings Menu, jobs claimed, and the day's headline read.
8:30
Breakfast
Fresh, organic food at a shared table. Manners and healthy habits are taught here, not assumed.
9:00
Morning Spark
The week's theme opens, the big question, the read-aloud, and the day's first wondering.
9:20
Work Time & Small Groups
Language & Literacy · Math & Science Discovery · Reading & Story · Art & Creative Expression · Real-Life Skills.
Daily
Enrichment
One every day, Sign Language · Spanish · Yoga · Orff-Inspired Music · French.
Morning
Outside Time
20–30 minutes by rotation, or our indoor movement space when the weather keeps us in.
11:45
Lunch
Fresh, organic food. Trying something new is celebrated, "no thank you" is respected.
12:20–2:30
Rest & Quiet Time
Bodies rest. Early risers read, draw, and work quietly beside them.
2:30
Waking & Small Groups
Slow waking at each child's own pace, cots away by their own hands, then small groups.
3:00
Afternoon Snack
The third meal of the day, fresh fruit and whole foods, poured and passed by the children.
Afternoon
Outside Time
20–30 minutes by rotation, or our indoor movement space.
3:30
Twilight — Wind-Down
The day closes: what we noticed, what we made, and one quiet piece of work.
Until 6:00 PM
Choice Time & Goodbyes
Interest areas stay open, families greeted and updated at the door, and every departure by name.
Throughout the day: diapering every two hours and whenever needed · bathroom whenever asked · potty training follows each child's individual plan

ORFF Music

Inspired by the Orff Schulwerk approach developed by German composer and educator Carl Orff, children explore music through movement, rhythm, singing, storytelling, and hands-on musical experiences. The program supports creativity, self-expression, communication, listening skills, and social development while fostering a lifelong appreciation for music.

Fun Fact: The Orff approach teaches music the same way children learn language—through exploration, imitation, movement, and play.

Yoga & Mindfulness

Through yoga, mindfulness, meditation, and breathing techniques, children develop focus, balance, self-regulation, and emotional well-being. Beginning in our youngest classrooms, these practices help children build healthy habits that support both physical and mental wellness throughout life.

Family Feedback: Many families share that children bring these techniques home, using breathing exercises and mindfulness strategies independently in everyday situations.

French & Spanish

Through engaging, age-appropriate experiences, children are introduced to new languages and cultures while developing communication skills, confidence, and global awareness. Early exposure to multiple languages also supports cognitive development, problem-solving, creative thinking, and executive functioning skills.

Fun Fact: Children can naturally acquire multiple languages simultaneously during early childhood. Research suggests that young children have the remarkable ability to learn several languages with native-like proficiency when exposed consistently from an early age.

Sign Language

Introduced beginning in our infant program, sign language helps children communicate their needs, reduce frustration, build confidence, and support early language development.

Fun Fact: Research shows that sign language can strengthen communication skills and support language development long before children are able to express themselves fully with words.