Mrs. Colleen Gilligan
3rd Grade
Colleen Gilligan believes that Catholic education and the tenets of our faith should form the foundation of every student’s learning experience. With this in mind, she prioritizes creating a classroom environment that balances faith, academic rigor, and joy each day. Colleen has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Loyola University Chicago and a Master’s in Reading and Learning Disabilities from DePaul University. Prior to joining Embers in 2025, she taught first and second grades in the Catholic school system. After earning her special education degree, Colleen worked in the Park Ridge public schools as a special education teacher for grades K-2 and later as a reading intervention teacher for grades K-5. Additionally, she participated in two overseas volunteer programs, traveling to India where she taught primary school students and to Tanzania where she worked with middle school students.
Colleen’s top priority is spending quality time with her family. She enjoys outdoor activities such as bike riding, tennis, camping, and watching her son play baseball. She also participates in a women’s Bible study group called “Walking with Purpose.” Colleen is working on seeing all 50 U.S. states and hopes to visit the Holy Land in the future.