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Meet Our Staff

Our Leadership Team

Christi

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-six 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 thirty 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. Lindsey

Program Director

Ms. Lindsey is our Program Director. She completed her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from North Central Missouri and has completed her National Director Credential. She transferred two years ago from our previous Little Leaders of KCK location, where she worked for two years and was the Events and Compliance Director. Ms. Lindsey is committed to helping our families feel welcome and comfortable at Little Learners and is dedicated to supporting the teachers to ensure the programs at Little Learners are engaging and all our children are successful. Ms. Lindsey will also give tours, communicate with prospective families, and support parents through the paperwork process. Her office is at Little Learners—West. Please feel free to visit with Lindsey at any time with comments, questions, or concerns.

Ms. Katharine

Events and Curriculum Director

Ms. Katharine is our Events and Curriculum Director. She 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. Ms. Katharine will facilitate the implementation of our curriculum through staff training and support and 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. Katharine’s office is at Little Learners’—East.

Ms. Katlin

Program Support Director

Ms. Katlin is our Program Support Director. 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 as well as pre-K to help prepare students for a successful start in Kindergarten. She will be supporting the program by leading engaging sensory exploration in the Rainbow Room and 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. Ms. Katlin’s office is at Little Learners’—West.
Theresa

Ms. Theresa

Operating Director

Ms. Theresa is our Operating Director. She has an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood and a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Ottawa University. She has over twelve years of experience working with children. Ms. Theresa joined our team in 2013 and has been a Lead Toddler Teacher, Closing Assistant, and Program Director. She will support both buildings by placing orders, ensuring health department compliance, and substituting for directors and in classrooms when needed. She is committed to ensuring our staff and students have what is needed for a safe and engaging program. Her office is at Little Learners— West.

Our Teachers: Little Learners West

Ms. Tyler

Lead Teacher

Ms. Tyler is Substitute Lead Teacher. She was previously a Group Leader at the Boys and Girls Club before joining our team and has over four years of experience working with children. She will substitute in classrooms and will support throughout both buildings as needed.

Ms. Gabby

Lead Teacher

Ms. Gabby is the Lead Teacher in Red Hearts (LL-W), which is a Transitional Preschool classroom. Gabby has Associates degrees in Liberal Arts and in Applied Sciences. She has worked in Early Childhood Education for seven years and 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. Debbie

Lead Teacher

Ms. Debbie is the Lead Teacher in Yellow Hexagons (LL-E), which is a toddler classroom. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University and holds a Child Development Associate. She is excited to work with our toddlers as they explore arts, crafts, music, and movement activities. Ms. Debbie is one of our Mentor Teachers and is also our Closing Assistant at West and is available to assist families as needed at the end of the day.

Ms. Julie

Lead Teacher

Ms. Julie is the Lead Teacher in Green Circles (LL—W) with our preschool children. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology with Certification in Early Childhood Education. She has worked in Early Childhood Education for over 18 years, including having her own in-home program for five years. She has been a Curriculum Director, Assistant Director, Early Childhood Instructional Partner and pre-K Teacher. She is excited to work with the preschool children as they focus on early literacy and math skills and explore fun arts and crafts, music and movement activities, as well as music and art appreciation.

Ms. Emma

Lead Teacher

Ms. Emma is the Lead Teacher in Green Squares (LL—W) with our preschool children. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and has 7 years of experience working with children. She is looking forward to working with the preschool children as they focus on early literacy and math skills and explore fun arts and crafts, music and movement activities, as well as music and art appreciation.

Ms. Kayla

Ms. Kayla

Lead Academic Teacher

Ms. Kayla is our Lead Academic Teacher in Blue Rectangles (LL–W) with our pre-K children. She has over eight years of experience working with children. She will be focusing on early literacy and math skills as well as handwriting while using fun and engaging themes with the children from Blue Rectangles in the mornings and Blue Triangles in the afternoons to ensure our little learners are ready for a successful start in Kindergarten.

Ms. Addy

Lead Learning Extensions Teacher

Ms. Addy is our Lead Learning Extensions Teacher in Blue Triangles (LL-W) with our pre-K children. Ms. Addy has 14 years of experience in Early Childhood Education and has completed her Child Development Associate. She joined our team in 2020. She is excited to work with the pre-K children from Blue Triangles in the mornings and Blue Rectangles in the afternoons leading engaging lessons focused on arts and crafts, science, social studies, music, and movement as well as art and music appreciation.

Our Teachers: Little Learners East

Karla Barnett

Ms. Karla

Lead Teacher

Ms. Karla is the Lead Teachers in Orange Octagons (LL-E) with our youngest toddlers. She has 22 years of experience in Early Childhood Education and has a master’s degree. 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. Monica

Lead Teacher

Ms. Monica is the Lead Teacher in Purple Diamonds (LL-E) with our older toddlers. She has two and a half years of experience in Early Childhood Education. She was with Little Learners for a year and a half prior to leaving to complete her CNA and then returned in 2024. She is very excited about helping our toddlers develop their language and social skills through nursery rhymes and play-based learning.

Ms. Julie

Ms. Julie

Lead Teacher

Ms. Julie is the Lead Teacher in Red Arrows (LL-E), which is a Transitional Preschool Classroom. Ms. Julie has an Associates in Applied Science from Sothern Illinois University-Carbondale and has completed her National Director Credential. She was a para for 9 years and has over 8 years of experience in Early Childhood Education. 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 is one of our Mentor Teachers and is also our Closing Assistant at East. She is available to assist families as needed at the end of the day.

Ms. Jessica

Lead Teacher

Ms. Jessica is the Co-Lead Teacher in Yellow Crescents (LL-W), which is a toddler classroom. She has over five years of experience in Early Childhood Education and has completed her Child Development Associate. She is excited to implement our curriculum with two-year-olds to develop their vocabulary and social skills while exploring and discovering through play, songs, and stories. Ms. Jessica is also our Opening Assistant at West and is available to help parents as needed in the mornings.

Ms. Missy

Lead Teacher

Ms. Missy is the Lead Academics Teacher in Blue Spades (LL—E), which is a pre-K classroom. Missy has over 22 years of experience in Early Childhood Education. She will be focusing on early literacy and math skills as well as handwriting while using fun and engaging themes with Blue Spades and in the afternoons with Blue Trapezoids to ensure our little learners are ready for a successful start in Kindergarten. Ms. Missy is also a Mentor Teacher to support new staff.

Ms. Erin

Lead Teacher

Ms. Erin is the Lead Learning Extensions Teacher in Blue Trapezoids (LL-E) with our pre-K children. Ms. Erin has worked in Early Childhood Education for twentyfive years. She is excited to work with the pre-K children from Blue Trapezoids in the mornings and Blue Spades in the afternoons. She will be leading engaging lessons focused on arts and crafts, science, social studies, music, and movement as well as art and music appreciation.

Ms. Joanne

Lead Teacher

Ms. Joanne is the Lead Teacher in Orange Ovals (LL-E) with our youngest toddlers. She has one
year of experience working in Early Childhood Education. She is looking forward to guiding our
“littlest learners” in play-based learning to develop language and social skills in our nurturing and
loving environment.

Ms. Gianna

Ms. Gianna

Lead Teacher

Ms. Gianna is our Lead Teacher in Green Clovers (LL—E), which is a preschool classroom. She has over five years of experience working with children. She will work with the preschool children as they focus on early literacy and math skills in the mornings and explore fun arts and crafts, music and movement activities, as well as music and art appreciation in the afternoons.

Our Support Staff

Heather S

Ms. Heather

Substitute Lead Teacher

Ms. Heather is a Substitute Lead Teacher. She will substitute in classrooms and will support throughout both buildings as needed.

Ms. Ally

Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Ally is a part-time Teacher’s Assistant. She will be assisting throughout the buildings to cover breaks and provide support as needed.

Ms. Megan

Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Megan is a Teacher’s Assistant and will be assisting throughout the buildings to cover breaks and provide support as needed.

Ms. Sam

Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Sam is a Teacher’s Assistant and will be assisting throughout the buildings to cover breaks and provide support as needed.

Ms. Joselin

Co-Lead Teacher

Ms. Joselin is a Co-Lead Teacher in Yellow Crescents (LL-W), which is a
transitional preschool classroom. She has been working with children for
a year and a half. She is excited to implement our curriculum with Ms.
Jessica to help the children develop their vocabulary and social skills
while exploring and discovering through play, songs, and stories.

Ms. Thaty

Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Thaty is a Teacher’s Assistant. She has over six years of experience working with children and will provide support in our classrooms and help cover breaks.
Lauren M.

Ms. Lauren

Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Lauren is a part-time
Teacher’s Assistant. She has a
Bachelor of Science in Child and
Family Development from
Missouri State University and 9
years of experience working with
children. She will provide support
in our classrooms and help cover
breaks.

Ms. Sammy

Teacher’s Assistant

Ms. Sammy is a Teacher’s Assistant.
She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in
Design from the University of Kansas
and over three and a half years of
experience working with children.
She will be assisting throughout the
buildings to cover breaks and provide
support as needed.

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 buildings so they will be ready for our little learners the next day
Ms. Jocelyn

Ms. Jocelyn

Junior Mill Valley High School

Ms. Megan

Ms. Megan

Junior Olathe West High School

Ms. Mimi

Ms. Mimi

Senior Olathe West High School

Ms. Claire

Ms. Claire

Junior St. James Academy

Ms. Emma P

Senior Olathe West High School

Ms. Campbell

Freshman Johnson County Community College

Ms. Deanna

Senior Horizons High School

Ms. Emory

Freshman Johnson County Community College