Caring for the child, not the day
We are dedicated and caring group of educational professionals who enjoy building relationships with the children we care for, and with their families. We consider ourselves a family who truly care for the children who are in our classrooms.
DIRECTOR
Shelly Allen
Shelly has been with The Learning Tree since 1989.
"The favorite part of my day is visiting classrooms and watching the children interact and play together with big smiles and belly laughs."
ASSITANT DIRECTOR
Mari Rahn
Mari has been with The Learning Tree since 1984.
"I love reading stories and singing songs with the children. Watching them grow and learn is so much fun.."
ASSITANT DIRECTOR
Astrid Itgen-Bessemer
Astrid has been with The Learning Tree since 1997.
"My favorite part of the day is getting hugs from the children when I walk into the classroom. I also love seeing how the teachers engage the children and open their minds to new things. My job offers something new and fun every day."
ASSITANT DIRECTOR
Melissa Corcoran
Melissa has been with The Learning Tree since 1998.
"I love listening to the children as they share their observations of the world. It's amazing to see them apply all they learn."
Adriana Mardo
Adriana has been with The Learning Tree since 2008.
"I really enjoy doing songs with the children. It's nice to be able to sing together and in some situations the children help create the songs with me."
Amanda Sparks-Klekamp
Amanda has been with The Learning Tree since 2007.
"I love playing number and letter games with the children. It's always fun watching their faces when they know the answers and they don't realize how much they learn. They just think it's fun."
Cheryl Seyller
Cheryl has been with The Learning Tree since 2009.
"I love doing art activities with the children especially when it involves glitter. Life is better with glitter."
Connie Remmers
Connie has been with The Learning Tree since 1996.
" I enjoy my one-on-one times with each child; giving them all the love I can give them."
Daisy Alfonso
Daisy has been with The Learning Tree since 2017.
"I enjoy watching the babies grow. Their cute smiles, and knowing that they recognize me as their caregiver fills me with joy."
Dawn Krocko
Dawn has been with The Learning Tree since 2015.
"I most enjoy when children learn something new and you see the excitement in their eyes and smile."
Day Vidallo
Day has been with The Learning Tree since 2013.
"I really enjoy art with the children and watching how excited they get when they realize they've created something beautiful and one-of-a-kind."
Donna Witucki
Donna has been with The Learning Tree since 2005.
"My favorite time of the day is when I can sit down on the floor with the children and just spend time singing and playing with them."
Eliana Gallardo
Eliana has been with The Learning Tree since 2012.
"I enjoy having group time and sharing many of our favorite things. I love getting to know the kids as individuals."
Elideth Salgado
Eli has been with The Learning Tree since 2016.
"The thing I enjoy doing most with the children is singing and dancing. Music activities engage the children to learn and gets the body moving. It is so much fun to see the children involved in musical activities"
Emily Farrand
Emily has been with The Learning Tree since 2017.
"I enjoy doing crafts with the children. It is so much fun seeing them learn and grow each day."
Eva Ticknor
Eva has been with The Learning Tree since 2017.
"My favorite part of working with children is watching the children make new friendships and build self-confidence."
Frank Hernandez
Frank has been with The Learning Tree since 2015.
"My favorite part of the day is when the kids come up to me and tell me how good lunch was."
Frank Walaitis
Frank has been with The Learning Tree since 2000.
"I really enjoy our Science Circle. During this time the children are so focused on whatever project we are working on. I can see the little wheels spin in their heads as they ask questions or try to figure out what is happening!"
Gen Medrano
Gen has been with The Learning Tree since 1994.
"My favorite part of the day depends on what age group I am in. I enjoy field trips with the big kids. I like to go swimming. We also play board games together and have "chat" times. With the younger kids I like reading books and talking about their day."
Jackie Dennis
Jackie has been with The Learning Tree since 1997.
"I enjoy our large group times together. It's so exciting to see the children involved and learning new things. When a child "lights up" with excitement because they completed a difficult task it's very rewarding."
Jenna Peltz
Jenna has been with The Learning Tree since 2015.
"One of my favorite times during the day is when the children very happily and excitedly run up to me to give me a hug and share stories with me."
Jennifer Church
Jennifer has been with The Learning Tree since 2017.
"My favorite part of the day is reading books with the children!"
Kaitlyn Summers
Kaitlyn has been with The Learning Tree since 2017.
"I enjoy reading and doing art projects with the children. I love the look on their faces when they learn something new."
Kelly Meyer
Kelly has been with The Learning Tree since 2002.
"I love being able to introduce learning experiences. I love being the familiar part of their day and being a comforting part of their early lives"
Laura Huske
Laura has been with The Learning Tree since 2003.
"I love watching the children and helping them learn something new and make new discoveries. Their excitement and pride when they master something new is priceless!"
Lauren Kearbey
Lauren has been with The Learning Tree since 2016.
"My favorite thing to do is making the children smile. It doesn't matter what age they are I love finding ways to bring a smile to their face by singing, playing, or reading to them."
Maria Sanchez
Maria has been with The Learning Tree since 2016.
"I like to work with children because I enjoy watching them grow every day and be part of their development."
Mary Tharp
Mary has been with The Learning Tree since 2002.
"A part of my job that I enjoy the most is that every day is a new day in our class. Each day gives a new challenge or a chance to try an activity for the first time. We find something new to laugh at and learn to embrace the unexpected."
Mena Vences
Mena has been with The Learning Tree since 2016.
"My favorite part of the day is art time. I love seeing all the different ways children express themselves through their art."
Natasa Meseldzija
Natasa has been with The Learning Tree since 2017.
"Teaching kids new things through play makes me happy. The enjoyment on their faces is priceless while learning something new and different."
Nicole Speizio-DePaz
Nicole has been with The Learning Tree since 2017.
"Working with children is a true blessing! I enjoy watching them grow and learn and I love being a part of this process for them. I most enjoy reading with the children and seeing their imaginations soar during crafts."
Nicole Drews
Nicole has been with The Learning Tree since 2017.
"I love working with children because each day is different! I enjoy seeing them glow when they learn something new."
Nora Castro
Nora has been with The Learning Tree since 2017.
"I enjoy doing group time and hearing about the children's day at school before we begin our day at The Learning Tree."
Rebecca Nelson
Rebecca has been with The Learning Tree since 2009.
"I enjoy watching the older kids use their imagination during play time or how they solve problems during experiments."
Rhonda Syat
Rhonda has been with The Learning Tree since 2017.
"My favorite thing to do with children is music and dance. You and the children can be so creative."
Sarah Johnson
Sarah has been a teacher at The Learning Tree since 2009.
"I enjoy sitting on the floor, playing with the children and watching them discvover and learn new things everyday!"
Sandra has been with The Learning Tree since 2017.
"My favorite part of the day is when we have free play and I am sitting with the kids on the carpet- they randomly walk by and give you a hug just because they want to. Hugs are so rewarding"
Stephanie has been with The Learning Tree since 2017.
"My favorite part of the day is working in small groups withy the children. It gives you and them a chance to learn!"
Tina Ramirez
Tina has been with The Learning Tree since 2000.
"My favorite activity to do with the children is art. I love to see their creativity."
Stephanie Tess
Timera Black
Timera has been with The Learning Tree since 2017.
"My favorite time of the day is circle time. I enjoy singing and reading stories with the children."
Yesenia Perez
Yesenia has been with The Learning Tree since 2014
"My favorite part of the day is seeing the abilities the children have to learn; I enjoy learning with them."
Val Vejseli
Valerie has been with The Learning Tree since 2006.
"I love watching the babies grow and learn. I love to see their faces light up when they learn new things. Every day they discover something new and I get to share in that with them."