Meet Our Staff

Our Leadership Team

Ms. Christi
&
Ms. Kim

Owners and operators

Ms. Christi & Ms. Kim

Owners and operators

Ms. Christi and Ms. Kim are the owners and operators. They founded Little Learners in 2006. They are both Certified Reading Specialists. Ms. Christi is the Executive Director and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She also has a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Leadership and has been teaching for twenty four years. Ms. Kim is the Executive Operating Director. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and has been teaching for twenty eight years. Both Christi and Kim are committed to providing a stable and highly qualified staff to care for your child. They encourage you to visit with them at any time if you have questions or concerns. Additionally, they want to thank you for trusting Little Learners with the care and education of your little learner.

Ms. Theresa

Program Director

Ms. Theresa is our Program Director. She has an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood and a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Ottawa University. She also has her teaching license from the state of Kansas. She has over nine years of experience working with children. Ms. Theresa joined our team in 2013 as a Lead Toddler Teacher and Closing Assistant. In 2015, she became our Events and Compliance Director and then our Program Director in 2020. She is committed to helping our families feel welcome and comfortable at Little Learners. Ms. Theresa is dedicated to supporting the teachers to ensure the programs at Little Learners are engaging and all our children are successful. Ms. Theresa’s office is downstairs at Little Learners West. Please feel free to visit with Theresa at any time with comments, questions, or concerns.

Ms. Kathryn

Ms. Kathryn

Events and Compliance Director

Ms. Kathryn is our Events and Compliance Director. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Pitt State University. She has ten years of experience working with children and started teaching at Little Learners in 2016 as a Lead Toddler Teacher. Ms. Kathryn will help plan our fun, monthly activities and special events. She is excited to support our program by helping all our children and their families create wonderful memories at Little Learners. Ms. Kathryn’s office is at Little Learners West and she is available to assist teachers as well as parents as needed.

Ms. Katharine

Ms. Katharine

Program Support Director

Ms. Katharine is our Program Support Director. Katharine has a degree in applied Behavioral Science with an Emphasis in Early Childhood Education and Intervention from the University of Kansas and has been at Little Learners since 2014. She will be supporting the program by assisting throughout both buildings including supporting behavior plans, assisting with assessments and small groups, as well as substituting for the other directors, in classrooms and in the break schedules when needed. As the Program Support Director, Katharine will also plan and lead Rainbow Room activities two days a week when the schedule allows. Katharine will work out of the Rainbow Room and library.

Ms. Lindsey

Enrollment Director

Ms. Lindsey is our Enrollment Director. Lindsey completed her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from North Central Missouri She is transferring from our Little Leaders of KCK location, where she has worked for two years and was the Events and Compliance Director. Ms. Lindsey will give tours, communicate with prospective families, and support parents through the paperwork process. Her office is at Little Learners East and she is available to assist teachers as well as parents.

Our Teachers: Little Learners West

Ms. Crystal

Ms. Crystal

Lead Teacher

Ms. Crystal is the Lead Teacher in Yellow Stars (LL W). Ms. Crystal has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Kansas. She has been working with children for 4 years and joined Little Learners in 2019. She is excited to work with our two year olds to develop their vocabulary and social skills while exploring and discovering through play, songs, stories, hands on activities and theme based learning.
Ms. Gabby

Ms. Gabby

Lead Teacher

Ms. Gabby is the Lead Teacher in Red Hearts (LL W), which is a transitional preschool classroom. She worked in Early Childhood Education for a year before being a nanny for two years and then joined our Little Learners’ team in 2020. She is looking forward to creating a fun and structured learning environment for our youngest preschoolers to develop social skills, early literacy skills, and early math skills through hands on activities.
Ms. Julie

Ms. Julie

Lead Teacher

Ms. Julie is the Lead Teacher in Yellow Crescents (LL W). Ms. Julie has an Associates in Applied Science from Sothern Illinois University Carbondale. She was a para for 9 years and has over 6 years of experience in Early Childhood Education. She is excited to implement our curriculum with our oldest toddlers to develop their vocabulary and social skills while exploring and discovering through play, songs, and stories.
Ms. Amaya

Ms. Amaya

Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Amaya is our Teacher’s Assistant in Yellow Crescents (LL W). She has worked in child care for a three years and is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Emporia State University. Ms. Amaya joined the Little Learners’ team in 2020. She is excited to work with our oldest toddlers and assist as they explore arts, crafts, music, and movement activities.
Ms. Sarah

Ms. Sarah

Lead Academic Teacher

Ms. Sarah is our Lead Academic Teacher in Green Circles (LL W) with our preschool children. Ms. Sarah has over seven years of experience in Early Childhood and has a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development from Southwest Missouri State University. She is excited to work with the preschool children from Circles in the mornings and Squares in the afternoons as they focus on early reading and math skills and enjoy an exciting school year. Ms. Sarah is also our Opening Assistant at West and is available to help parents as needed in the mornings. In addition, Ms. Sarah is our Mentor Teacher and supports new staff when they join our team.
Ms. Addy

Ms. Addy

Lead Learning Extensions Teacher

Ms. Addy is the Lead Learning Extensions Teacher in Green Squares (LL W) with our preschool children. Ms. Addy has nine years of experience in Early Childhood Education and joined our team in 2020. She is looking forward to working with the preschool children from Squares in the mornings and Circles in the afternoons. They will be engaged in fun arts and crafts, music and movement activities, as well as music and art appreciation.

Ms. Katlin

Lead Academic Teacher

Ms. Katlin is the Lead Academic Teacher in Blue Rectangles (LL W) with our pre K children. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from UMKC and has been with Little Learners since 2013. She taught our Super Kindergarten class for two years and is excited about helping our pre K students prepare for a successful start in Kindergarten. Ms. Katlin will be focusing on early literacy and math skills as well as handwriting while using fun and engaging themes. Ms. Katlin is also our Closing Assistant at West and is available to assist families as needed at the end of the day.
Karla Barnett

Ms. Karla

Lead Learning Extensions Teacher

Karla Barnett is our Lead Teacher in Blue Triangles (LL W). Ms. Karla has over 20 years of experience in Early Childhood Education and has a master’s degree. She is excited to work with the pre K children from Blue Triangles in the mornings and Blue Rectangles in the afternoons. Ms. Karla will lead engaging lessons focused on arts and crafts, science, social studies, music, and movement as well as art and music appreciation that all the children in Blue Triangles and Blue Rectangles are sure to enjoy.

Our Teachers: Little Learners East

Ms. Vanessa

Ms. Vanessa

Lead Teacher

Ms. Vanessa is the Lead Teacher in Orange Ovals (LL E) with our youngest toddlers. Ms. Vanessa has an Associates in Science in Child Development from Moorpark Community College in California. She is looking forward to providing a nurturing and loving environment for our “littlest learners” while helping them explore the world through music, nursery rhymes, and stories as they develop their language and social skills through play based learning.
Ms. Jada

Ms. Jada

Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Jada is our Teacher’s Assistant in Orange Ovals (LL E). She is a student at Johnson County Community College and is excited to be supporting our little ones as they explore their world through play and sensory activities.
Ms. Nancy

Ms. Nancy

Lead Teacher

Ms. Nancy is the Lead Teacher in Purple Diamonds (LL E) with our older toddlers. Nancy has been with Little Learners since 2010! She has an Associate’s Degree in Child Development and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Services in Education. She has been working with children for twenty five years. Ms. Nancy is very excited about helping our toddlers develop their language and social skills through nursery rhymes and play based learning. Nancy is also our Opening Assistant at East and is available to help parents as needed in the mornings. She is also our Ambassador of Joy and plans fun treats and surprises for our awesome team.

Ms. Hanna

Lead Learning Extensions Teacher

Ms. Hanna is the Lead Teacher in Green Clovers (LL E), which is our preschool classroom in the mornings. She will teach our pre K children from Blue Trapezoids in the afternoons. Ms. Hanna has worked in Early Childhood Education for over two years and was previously our Lead Rainbow Room Teacher and full time Substitute. She will be teaching Learning Extensions while focusing on science and social studies, arts and crafts, and music and movement.
Ms. Wendy

Ms. Wendy

Lead Academic Teacher

Ms. Wendy is the Lead Academic Teacher in Blue Trapezoids (LL E) with our pre K children in the mornings and will teach our preschool children in the afternoons. Wendy is a graduate from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She joined our staff in 2019 as an experienced preschool teacher and has worked with children for 26 years. She is excited to work with both the pre K and preschool children as they focus on early literacy, math, and handwriting skills.

Our Support Staff

Ms. Brooke

Ms. Brooke

Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Brooke is a Teacher’s Assistant and will provide support in our classrooms. She is currently attending Emporia State University through their JCCC location and is studying Elementary Education. Ms. Brooke joined our team in 2018 and is looking forward to working with the children while covering teacher’s breaks and providing support as needed.

Ms. Monica

Ms. Monica

Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Monica is a Teacher’s Assistant. She is a graduate of Shawnee Mission West High School. Ms. Monica worked in child care for six months prior to joining Little Learners. Sh e will be assisting throughout the buildings to cover teachers’ breaks and provide support as needed.

Ms. Taylynn

Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Taylynn is a Teacher’s Assistant. She will be assisting throughout the buildings to provide support as needed. 

Ms. Debbie

Ms. Debbie

Part Time Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Debbie is a part time Teacher’s Assistant. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University. She will be assisting throughout the buildings at the end of the day to provide support as needed.

Mr. Luke

Mr. Luke

Part Time Teacher’s Assistant

Mr. Luke is a part time Teacher’s Assistant and will provide support in our classrooms and help cover breaks. He is a sophomore at the University of Kansas and will work in the afternoons.

Ms. Missy

Ms. Missy

Substitute Lead Teacher

Ms. Missy is one of our Substitute Lead Teachers. She has over 20 years of experience in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Missy will be assisting throughout the buildings to cover teachers’ breaks, substitute, and provide support as needed.

Ms. Sue

Ms. Sue

Substitute Lead Teacher

Ms. Sue is one of our Substitute Lead Teachers. She has over 15 years of experience in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Sue will substitute in classrooms and will support throughout both buildings as needed. Ms. Sue is also our Closing Assistant at East and is available to help parents as needed in the evenings.

Our Teacher’s Aides are part time and work seasonally around their school schedules. They are here at the end of the day to assist in the classrooms with other staff members. They also help clean the building so it will be ready for our little learners the next day.

Mr. Branden

Mr. Branden

Senior Eudora High School

Ms. Kelsey

Ms. Kelsey

Junior Olathe North High School

Ms. Sydney

Ms. Sydney

Senior Olathe West High School

Seasonal Staff

Ms. Annabelle

Ms. Annabelle

Ms. Delaney

Ms. Delaney

Ms. J’Linn

Ms. J’Linn

Ms. Kaylee

Ms. Kaylee

Ms. McCanna

Ms. McCanna