Meet Our Staff
Our Leadership Team
Ms. Christi
&
Ms. Kim
Owners and operators
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.
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. Thaty
Lead Teacher
Ms. Thaty is the Lead Teacher in Yellow Stars (LL-W), which is a toddler classroom. She has over
seven years of experience working with children. 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
Lead Teacher
Ms. Gabby is the Lead Teacher in Red Hearts (LL-W), which is a transitional preschool
classroom. Gabby has an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts and an Associate Degree in
Applied Sciences. She has worked in Early Childhood Education for nine 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. Gabby is also our Opening
Assistant at West and is available to help parents as needed in the mornings.
Ms. Julie
Lead Teacher
Ms. Julie B. 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 20 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. Julie V.
Lead Teacher
Ms. Julie V. is the Lead Teacher in Green Squares (LL-W), which is a preschool classroom. Ms. Julie has an Associate in Applied Science from Southern Illinois
University-Carbondale and has completed her National Director Credential. She was an elementary school para for 9 years and has over 10 years of experience in
Early Childhood Education. Ms. Julie joined our team in 2021. 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. 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. Laura
Lead Teacher
Ms. Laura is our Lead Teacher in Blue Moons (LL-W), which is a pre-K classroom. She has a Child Development Associate and is currently working on a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She has 17 years of experience working with children. She will be teaching early literacy, math skills, and handwriting while using fun and engaging themes with the children. She will also be teaching Learning Extensions with arts and crafts, science, social studies, music and movement, along with art and music appreciation to ensure our little learners are ready for a successful start in Kindergarten.
Ms. Michelle
Lead Academic Teacher
Ms. Michelle is our Lead Academic Teacher in Blue Rectangles (LL-W), which is a pre-K classroom. She has a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Southeast Missouri State University and a Masters in Learning
Disabilities from the University of Missouri Kansas City. She has 24 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
Ms. Karla
Lead Teacher
Ms. Karla is the Lead Teacher in Orange Octagons (LL-E) with toddlers. She has 24 years of experience in Early Childhood Education and has a master’s degree. Ms. Karla taught at Little Learners for four years before moving out of state and returned in 2022. 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. Joanne
Lead Teacher
Ms. Joanne is the Lead Teacher in Purple Diamonds (LL-E) with our toddlers. She has two years of experience working in Early Childhood Education. She is very excited about helping our toddlers develop their language and social skills through nursery rhymes and play-based learning in a nurturing and loving environment.
Ms. Donya
Lead Teacher
Ms. Donya is our Lead Teacher in Green Clovers (LL—E), which is a preschool classroom. She has a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and 34 years of experience working with children. She will lead 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. Debbie
Lead Teacher
Ms. Debbie is the Lead Teacher in Yellow Hexagons (LL-E) with two-year-old toddlers. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Eastern Illinois University and holds a Child Development Associate. She joined our team in 2022. 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. She is available to assist families as needed at the end of the day.
Ms. Bridgit
Lead Teacher
Ms. Bridgit will be the Lead Teacher in Red Arrows (LL-E), which is a Transitional Preschool classroom. She has an Associate of General Studies with an Emphasis in Early Childhood Education and twelve years of experience working with children. 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. Monica
Co-Lead Teacher
Ms. Monica is the Co-Lead Teacher in Orange
Ovals (LL-E) with our toddlers. She has four
and a half years of experience in Early
Childhood Education. She has her CNA and is
currently pursuing an Associate Degree in
Early Childhood Education at Allen Community
College. 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. Heather
Co-Lead Teacher
Ms. Heather is the Co-Lead Teacher in
Orange Ovals (LL-E) with our toddlers. She has three years of experience working with children. She joined our team in 2025. She is looking forward to
guiding our “littlest learners” in playbased learning to develop language and social skills in our nurturing and loving environment.
Ms. Erin
Lead Learning Extensions Teacher
Ms. Erin is the Lead Learning Extensions Teacher in Blue Trapezoids (LL-E), which is a pre-K classroom. Ms. Erin has worked in Early Childhood Education for 27 years. She is excited to work with the 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. Holly
Lead Academics Teacher
Ms. Holly is the Lead Academics Teacher in Blue Spades (LL—E), which is a pre-K classroom. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a concentration in Early Childhood and over 30 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 Blue Spades in the mornings and Blue Trapezoids in the afternoons to ensure our little learners are ready for a successful start in Kindergarten.
Our Support Staff
Ms. Ally
Teacher’s Assistant
Ms. Ally is a Teacher’s Assistant. She will be assisting to cover breaks and provide support as needed.
Ms. Chloe
Teacher’s Assistant
Ms. Chloe is a Teacher’s Assistant. She has been working with children for two years. She will be assisting to cover breaks and provide support as needed.
Ms. Deanna
Teacher’s Assistant
Ms. Deanna is a Teacher’s Assistant. She graduated from Horizons High School in 2026. She will be assisting to cover breaks and provide support as needed.
Ms. Deja
Teacher’s Assistant
Ms. Deja is a Teacher’s Assistant. She has a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Elementary Education from Fort Hays State University. She will be assisting to cover breaks and provide support as needed.
Ms. Emma J.
Substitute Lead Teacher
Ms. Emma J. is a Substitute Lead Teacher. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and has 9 years of experience working with children. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree. She will substitute in classrooms and will support throughout both buildings as needed.
Ms. Joselin
Substitute Lead Teacher
Ms. Joselin is a Substitute Lead Teacher. She has been working with children for two and a half years. She will substitute in classrooms and will support throughout both buildings as needed.
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 be assisting to cover breaks and provide support as needed.
Ms. Megan
Teacher’s Assistant
Ms. Megan is a Teacher’s Assistant. She has ten years of experience working with children. She will be assisting primarily in Orange Octagons and will assist throughout the buildings as needed.
Ms. Mimi
Teacher’s Assistant
Ms. Mimi is a Teacher’s Assistant. She is a junior at KU and will be assisting throughout the buildings to cover breaks and provide support as needed.
Ms. Sam
Substitute Lead Teacher
Ms. Sam is a Substitute Lead Teacher. She has an associate’s degree from JCCC and is attending Emporia State University studying Elementary Education. She will substitute in classrooms and will support throughout both buildings as needed.
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.
Ms. Tyler
Substitute Lead Teacher
Ms. Tyler is a Substitute Lead Teacher. She joined our team in 2023 and has over 5 years of experience working with children. She will substitute in classrooms and will support throughout both buildings as needed. Tyler is also the Opening Assistant at East and is available to help parents as needed in the mornings.
Ms. Yvette
Substitute Lead Teacher
Ms. Yvette is a Substitute Lead Teacher. She has a BA in Psychology, a BS in Early Childhood Education, and a MA in Instructional Design, with over 20 years experience working with children. She will substitute in classrooms and will support throughout both buildings 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. Mya
Junior Olathe West High Schoo
Ms. Emma M.
Junior St. James Academy
Ms. Jocelyn
2026 Graduate Mill Valley High School
Ms. Mena
Senior Olathe Northwest High School
Ms. Peylan
Junior St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Ms. Shay
Junior Eudora High School
Seasonal Staff
Our seasonal Teacher’s Assistants are college students who return to Little Learners during school breaks. They are looking forward to working with the children to provide support as needed in both buildings.
Ms. Allie
Junior Emporia State University
Ms. Anna
Senior Kansas State University
Mr. Branden
Senior Emporia State University
Ms. Claire
Senior Kansas State University
Ms. Emma
Freshman Western Governors University
Mr. Luke
Graduate Student University of Kansas