Gaea Gomez Fidler, President

Gaea Gomez Fidler and her husband Tim joined the Lab community in 2012 when their son Jamie entered N3 at Woodlawn. Now a parent to a rising tenth grader, she greatly appreciates the active role families play in cultivating Lab’s unique community. Gaea has served in several volunteer capacities, including new family mentor, room parent, Picture Day co-chair, Lab development, organizing end-of-school events, and most recently as a member of the Middle School Council. Professionally she worked in community organizing and corporate finance for over 25 years combined. She and her family recently relocated to Hyde Park while they renovate their north side home. Please reach out to Gaea with any questions about Lab – she looks forward to connecting!

Jill Cross, President-Elect

Jill Cross is a proud Lab School alum. Upon graduation, Jill attended Wellesley College earning a BA in Psychobiology with a minor in Africana Studies. Jill returned to Chicago where she became a manager of a Child Psychology Lab at U of C. She went onto obtain her Master’s in Neurobiology at Northwestern University. Her research focused on the molecular proceses of Alzheimer’s disease. She relocated to Houston, TX working at MD Anderson Cancer Center as a Senior Research Assistant in a Gastrointestinal Pathology lab. She returned to Chicago where she has two highschoolers and a lower schooler at Lab. Jill has previously served on the Lower School Council and the EC Council.

Vacant, Treasurer-Elect

Laura Payne, Secretary

Laura Payne has two children at Lab (grade 7 and grade 11). Laura is a Vice President at Builder’s Vision, focused on sustainable investments in public markets for both Builder’s Asset Management and Builder’s Initiative. She began her professional career as an institutional investor at The University of Chicago Investment Office. Laura is also a UChicago alumna, having received a master’s degree from Booth. Laura is also involved with the Hyde Park School of Dance and Alliance for the Great Lakes. Please reach out to Laura with any questions.

Vacant, Secretary-Elect

Anne Groves, Communications Coordinator

Anne Groves has one child currently at Lab and one child who graduated in 2024.  Catherine a Sophomore.  She has been active in the Lab community since her children started.  Her favorite activities are the annual Book Swap, setting up for LabArts and volunteering on the Connections Committee.  She and her family live in Hyde Park. Please reach out to Anne with any questions about PA communications.

Priya Laroia, Communications Coordinator-Elect

Priya Laroia is the parent of one current Lab students (grade 10) and one Lab alum. She has been an active parent volunteer, serving on the High School Council, LabArts, Connections and Parent Development Committees and as a room and advisory parent in Lower and Middle Schools. Priya currently works in the Alumni Relations & Development Office at UChicago and is an alum of the University of Chicago Law School. She is excited to serve on communications team and work to make information accessible to the entire parent community. Please reach out to Priya with any questions about PA communications.

Monica Shukla, High School Council

Monica Shukla recently joined the Lab community in Fall 2022 and is a parent to two children, a rising 9th grader and a rising 5th grader. She acclimated herself to Lab by volunteering as a lower school room parent, an admissions tour guide and Treasurer of Desi Culture Group. After growing up in Ohio, Monica moved to Ann Arbor to pursue her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. Upon graduation, she moved to Philadelphia to kick start her professional career and then to London with her husband, Piyush. During her 13 years in the UK, she worked across various industries in strategy, business development and human resources, gained a master’s degree from King’s College London and raised a family. Monica and her family reside in Lincoln Park and enjoy exploring the food scene in Chicago! Monica looks forward to working with the High School community!

Amy Koh, Middle School Council

Amy Koh and her family joined the Lab community in 2019 after relocating from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a daughter in 7th grade and a son in 9th grade. She and her family enjoy discovering all the Chicago area has to offer, including bike rides along the lake, museums and theater, and great food. Please reach out to Amy with any questions about Middle School.

Nitika Naytiyal, Middle School Council

Nitika Nautiyal and her husband Neeren Chauhan have been Lab parents since 2016, when their son Nilay Nautiyal Chauhan joined Lab as an N3 student. Nitika has been a room parent and an active member of the Desi Culture Group at Lab and enjoyed bringing stories, holidays, food and music for the South Asian subcontinent to the Lab community. As Nilay starts his middle school journey, Nitika is excited to join the PA council for the first time. Please reach out to Nitika with ideas on how you would like to create an engaged and inclusive middle school parent community at Lab.

Stephanie Knox, Lower School Council

Stephanie Knox lives in the South Loop neighborhood with her husband and 4th grade daughter. She is excited to continue to help foster community and connection amongst Lower School families this school year. Stephanie works in merchandising at Ulta Beauty and enjoys tennis and reading. Please reach out to Stephanie with any questions regarding Lower School at Lab.

Samantha Morales, Lower School Council

Samantha Morales lives in Humboldt Park with her husband, Jaime, their fifth grader, and their dog, Bandon. The Morales family joined the Lab community in 2017, and deeply values the diversity of perspectives and experiences shared through active participation in the community. Volunteering with the Parents’ Association has given Samantha the chance to meet and work with many families, and she is incredibly grateful for the friendships made through those involvements. Samantha is a marketing professional for the University’s Alumni Relations and Development office. Please reach out to Samantha with any questions you have regarding Lower School life at Lab.

Carly Bradford, Early Childhood Council

Carly Bradford and her husband, Jason, live in Roscoe Village with their three daughters, Ruby (1st), Milly (N4), and Franny (too little for Lab). Carly has served as a room parent, admissions tour guide, and has helped to coordinate events for the Lab Jewish Family Group. She enjoys helping in the classroom and getting to know other Lab families. Carly grew up in the Detroit area and moved to Chicago after college (Go Green). Carly owns her own strategic events firm. Please reach out to Carly with any questions regarding Early Childhood.

Melissa Kelley-Knutsen, Early Childhood Council

Melissa Kelley-Knutsen and her husband, Scott, live in the South Loop with their son, Conor (K). Since joining the Lab community last year, Melissa has served as a room parent. Melissa recognizes the value of family involvement in education and is committed to supporting strong relationships between families and the Lab community. Melissa is a Senior Account Executive who focuses on supporting early childhood programs by addressing their biggest challenges in providing high-quality educational experiences. Please feel free to contact Melissa with any questions about Early Childhood.

Crystal Knox, Early Childhood Council

Crystal Knox and her husband, Robert, live in Bronzeville and are proud parents of three Labbies: Cali-2nd, Jaxon-N4, and Zori-N4. Since joining Lab’s family, Crystal has been an active PA-Volunteer and serves as a PA-DEI Committee member, Room Parent, Parent Tour Guide, and a member of the Black Family Forum affinity group. She enjoys collaborating with fellow parents to make positive impacts. Her greatest fulfillment is spending time with her family, together playing board games, traveling, and vibing to music. She is also a practicing Attorney of eleven years. Contact Crystal with any questions about the Early Childhood at Lab.

Helen Timothy, Early Childhood Council

Helen Timothy is kept on her toes by her two little girls, Rose (7) and Ada (3). Over the last three years with Lab, Helen has been an involved room parent, served as an ESH Tour Guide, dodged paper cuts with Book Swap and the Holiday Bazaar, and currently co-chairs Rites of May. Helen's happiest when combining her creativity, marketing and events background, and passion for creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all kiddos. Questions? Please get in touch! Thanks so much!!