Laura Walker, Center Director

Bio:

Laura Walker has been working as a Center Director at KinderCare since August 2003. Prior to coming to KinderCare, Laura worked as a teacher, an Assistant Director, and a Center Director for Children’s World Learning Centers for seven years. Laura has a Bachelor’s Degree from Franklin University. Laura also has a Child Development Associate Credential from The Council for Professional Recognition. Laura’s goal is to build strong relationships with families where both parents and caregivers are able to work together to best meet the needs of children.

Previous Experience:

Prior to joining KinderCare, LauraI worked as a toddler teacher, an Assistant Director, and a Director for seven years.

Quote:

Building relationships and trust with the families at our center is very rewarding to me.

Niki Bridgeman, Assistant Director

Bio:

Nicole Bridgeman has been working at KinderCare since April of 2001. During her first two years with KinderCare, she worked as a teacher in the infant program. Since 2005, Niki has worked as an Assistant Director at our Worthington center. Niki is originally from Dayton, Ohio but moved to Westerville to attend Otterbein University in 1999. There she earned her Bachelor of Art's Degree in Public Relations with a minor in Communications. Niki values great communication and strong relationships with every family in our center.

Quote:

The relationships that I have with the parents and children are rewarding. I love watching the children change and grow a little more each day.

Ms. Edilma, Infant Classroom

Bio:

Ms. Edilma has been working at KinderCare since February on 2008. During this time, Ms.Edilma has worked as a classroom assistant in a variety of classrooms. Ms.Edilma has a degree in Accounting and is fluent in Spanish. Ms. Edilma values the opportunity to build relationships with families and works hard to assist in meeting the needs of both parent and child.

Quote:

I enjoy being around the children, watching them extend their creativity, and helping them make baby steps every day in learning.

Ms. Angela, Infant Classroom

Bio:

Ms. Angela has been working at KinderCare since May 2004. During this time, Ms. Angela has worked full time with infants and toddlers. She has worked in the early education field for a total of fifteen years in Ohio and Nevada. Ms. Angela has been married to her wonderful husband since 1980 and she has three children as well as six grandchildren. Ms. Angela enjoys being a positive influence on many young lives every day.

Previous Experience:

Previously worked at KinderCare in 2004 through 2007

Quote:

I love watching the babies grow each and every day!

Ms. Breanne, Infant Classroom

Bio:

Ms. Breanne has been working at KinderCare since June 2011. During this time, she has been working as a teacher in our infant programs. Ms. Breanne earned a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Grand Valley State University in 2007 and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Alabama in 2011. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Ms. Breanne began her career as a teacher by working at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Michigan. She worked there for four years teaching children of various ages including infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-agers. As a writing tutor at both universities, Ms. Breanne assisted in the teaching of English Composition and Argumentation to undergraduate students, as well as high-risk high school students. As a graduate student at the University of Alabama, Ms. Breanne spent three years teaching a variety of undergraduate Composition, Creative Writing, and Literature courses. In her spare time, she was also involved in programs to engage under served middle school, high school and GED students in Creative Writing. Though not fluent, Ms. Breanne is a competent Spanish speaker and holds a specialization in Latin American Studies from Grand Valley State University.

Quote:

I love the each day is different and I know that I will laugh and have fun with the children.

Ms. Shardae, Toddler Classroom

Bio:

Ms. Shardae has been working at KinderCare since 2011 and is a full time teacher in our toddler program. Ms. Shardae has recently graduated from college with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Central State University. Her passion for children inspires her to come to work every day. Ms.Shardae loves the opportunity to be a positive influence on the lives of children and she enjoys watching them learn and grow.

Quote:

I love being positive influence in the daily lives of children.

Ms. Heather, Toddler Classroom

Bio:

Ms. Heather has been working at KinderCare since April of 2011. She works full time in our Infant classrooms. She holds a Bachelor's Degree of Fine Arts in Musical Theater from Marietta College and a Master's of Arts Degree in Vocal Performance from Ohio University. Prior to her work with KinderCare, Ms.Heather served as a nanny to a family based in Midtown Manhattan. She also taught with the Athens Community Music School and served as a voice teacher and teaching assistant at Ohio University. Ms. Heather is fluent in German and has a working knowledge of both Italian and French.

Quote:

I love learning about the children in a positive, upbeat environment.

Ms. Tonya, Discovery Preschool Classroom

Bio:

Ms. Tonya has worked with KinderCare since 2002. During that time, she has worked in every classroom of the center. Tonya has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Butler University in Dance Performance and is currently working on obtaining her Child Development Associate Credential. In her free time, Ms. Tonya enjoys time with her husband and two children. She also teaches dance classes at Columbus Youth Ballet. Ms. Tonya has always loved having the opportunity to work with children and is seeking growth within the company in the near future.

Quote:

I love seeing the children grow and learn every day.

Ms. Doha, Discovery Preschool Classroom

Bio:

Ms. Doha has been working with KinderCare since 1996. During this time, Ms. Doha has worked with toddlers and two year-olds. Ms. Doha was born and raised in Syria but came to the United States in 1993. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Psychology from The University of Damascus in Syria. Ms. Doha loves working with children because she enjoys being a positive influence in their lives and she is proud to watch them learn and grow every day.

Quote:

I love watching children grow and learn new things. Teaching them is a joy!

Ms. Tiffany, Preschool Classroom

Bio:

Ms. Tiffany has been working at KinderCare since 2009. She has a degree in Applied Business from the University of Toledo but plans on completing her Early Childhood Education Degree at Otterbein University in the near future. Ms. Tiffany has been educating children since 2007 and is also a full time mom. For Ms. Tiffany, working with children has been a lifelong dream and KinderCare has given her the opportunity to do what she loves the most.

Quote:

It is so rewarding to see the children learning and growing!

Mr. Brian, Preschool and Prekindergarten Classrooms

Bio:

Mr. Brian has been working at KinderCare since 2009. Mr. Brian is a teacher in our prekindergarten program and he occasionally works with school-agers as well. Mr. Brian has a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Middle Childhood Education from The Ohio State University. He is currently taking classes at Otterbein University in an effort to gain licensure with a specialization in teaching children ages 10 to 15.

Quote:

I love seeing students learn new things and I enjoy watching them use their knowledge to create new ideas.

Ms. Monica, Prekindergarten Classroom

Bio:

Ms. Monica has been teaching at KinderCare since August 2011. Prior to coming to KinderCare, Ms. Monica worked as middle school teacher in Hawaii for five years. Ms. Monica has also worked as a violin instructor in the Baltimore, Maryland area. Monica has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Performance as well an Intervention Specialist Certification in Ohio and Hawaii.

Quote:

I love helping children to reach their fullest potential.

Mr. Jason, School Age Classroom

Bio:

Mr. Jason has been working at KinderCare since October of 2010. He currently works in our kindergarten enrichment program as well as our school-age program in the afternoon. Mr. Jason attended Bow Valley College in his home town of Calgary, Alberta where he graduated with a School-Age Level A Advanced Certification as well as an Early Childhood Education Level 1 Certification. Mr. Jason is currently enrolled in the Childhood Development Associate Credential program, hoping to finish in 2012.

Previous Experience:

Prior to joining KinderCare, Mr. Jason worked in school age programs in Canada.

Quote:

I enjoy being a positive influence on today’s children and youth.

Ms. Ashley, School Age Classroom

Bio:

Ms. Ashley has been working at KinderCare since March of 2008. Ms. Ashley has worked in a variety of classrooms at the center and has worked as a tutorial instructor as well. Ms. Ashley is also an active participant in summer camp planning and transportation of children to and from school every day. Ms. Ashley obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from The Ohio State University in 2010. Ms. Ashley’s goal is to make every day fun and unique for the children. She feels that open communication with parents help to build a strong relationship that benefits each child in her care.

Quote:

I love that I am given the opportunity to learn as much from children and they are learning from me.

Ms. Allison, School Age Classroom

Bio:

Ms. Allison has been working at KinderCare since 2005. She has worked in a variety of positions which include teaching different age groups and life guarding in the summer months. Currently, Ms. Allison is working in our school age classrooms. Ms. Allison has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. Ms. Allison also has the opportunity to teach first grade at a local charter school in Columbus, Ohio. Ms. Allison values the opportunity to build relationships with each individual child and she hopes to be a positive influence in their lives.

Quote:

I love how different each day is and I enjoy the children’s enthusiasm.

Ms. Kelly, School Age Classroom

Bio:

Ms. Kelly has been working at KinderCare since 2005. She has worked as a tutorial instructor, a preschool teacher, and a school age teacher. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from The Ohio State University in 2006 and her Special Education Teaching License in 2011 from Ashland University.

Quote:

I enjoy finding new and imaginative ways to engage children in learning.

Mr. Branden, School Age Classroom

Bio:

Mr. Branden has been working with KinderCare since 2009 and works with the school age children in the before and after school program. He also works with these children during Summer Camp and other breaks from school. He enjoys working with KinderCare because he is able to observe the children and find ways in which to address their individual needs on a daily basis. Mr. Branden obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Wright State University in 2009.

Quote:

I enjoy enriching children’s lives on a daily basis.

Ms. Amanda, Learning Adventures Clasroom

Bio:

Ms. Amanda has been working at KinderCare since 2005. She is currently a Program Specialist but has also taught in a variety of classrooms. Ms. Amanda is also a learning adventures instructor and currently teaches math, phonics, music, cooking, Spanish, and science classes at our KinderCare center. Ms. Amanda has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from The Ohio State University.

Quote:

I love watching the children learn and grow a little more each day.

Ms. Phillecia, Multi-Classroom Teacher

Bio:

Ms. Phillecia has been working at KinderCare since 2010. She works as a classroom assistant and has worked with every age group in our center. Ms. Phillecia has a Bachelor's of Art Degree in Art from Otterbein University. She enjoys using her background in art to instill foundations of creativity in children. In 2011, Ms. Phillecia spent three months in Ecuador where she worked with children teaching art and English.

Quote:

I enjoy watching the children execute a skill that they have recently learned.

Ms. Messiva, Multi-Classroom Teacher

Bio:

Ms. Messiva has worked at KinderCare since August of 2010. She works part time as a classroom assistant in all of our classrooms. She is a full time student at The Ohio State University where she is majoring in International Relations and Diplomacy. Ms. Messiva has already earned her Associate's Degree and has a minor in Sociology. In addition to KinderCare, Ms. Messiva also worked with Student Services through Olentangy Liberty High School from 2004 to 2005. Ms. Messiva is fluent in French, Arabic, and Amazigh, which is a language spoken in North Africa. Ms. Messiva believes that this knowledge assists with better communication and increased understanding of the families in our center.

Quote:

I love working with children because I love helping children learn and using creativity to extend knowledge.

Mr. Shawn, Multi-Classroom Teacher

Bio:

Mr. Shawn has been working at KinderCare since November of 2011. Mr. Shawn is a school age teacher who works primarily in our after school program. He is currently a student at The Ohio State University where he is studying Economics. Mr. Shawn’s goal is to reach out to children and to offer encouragement whenever needed. He believes that this is crucial in helping children to believe in their own abilities.

Quote:

I love being a positive role model for children as well as making them feel special.