Born and raised in Bothell, Joy recently moved to the Snohomish area with her family. She has been married 23 years and is the mother of three children. For the past 19 years Joy has enjoyed working with children in various areas including operating her own in home daycare. As a public school volunteer, Joy served as room mother, classroom helper, art docent and a member of the PTA. Joy is actively involved in children’s ministry programs at Gold Creek Community Church. She is co leader of her daughter’s Girl Scout troop and enjoys tole-painting, crafts, stamping, scrap-booking, reading and walking. Joy will work in our preschool program as a teaching assistant.

Sage joins our team as Little 3's teacher beginning in January. Sage was born and raised in Washington, mostly in Fall City and Carnation. She has been married to Scott and living in Snohomish for 10 years. Sage earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Seattle University and worked at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for almost two years. She earned her Masters in Education degree and Teaching Certificate from Seattle University while teaching at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. After 10 years of teaching at Forest Ridge, Sage decided it was time to stay home with her three daughters. Sage volunteers at Totem Falls Elementary and coaches Tee-ball. Her family loves to camp and be outdoors. Her hobbies include playing softball, volleyball, and arts and crafts.

Joan is a native of Washington State growing up in Bellevue. She has also resided in Columbus, Ohio and Chicago, Ill. She has been married for 27 years and has two children. She attended Washington State University where she studied Forestry. She had been an Educational Assistant with the Snohomish School District before joining Kids at the Creek. In her spare time Joan enjoys skiing, gardening, reading and relaxing with her family.

Sara joins our team as teaching assistant and office assistant in our morning program. You can find Sara helping with our valet parking and in the classroom. Sara is married to Adam and has a daughter. All three attend Gold Creek Community Church. Her previous experience includes work at the North Seattle Family Center for two years with the Teen Mothers Group, the after-school and summer tutoring programs as well as performing administrative functions. Sara also worked for the Department of Social and Health Services in the child welfare unit where she worked with abused and neglected children. Sara moved to the private workforce but found her heart really belonged to children and is anxious to continue her career working with children. Sara attended Seattle Pacific University where she studied sociology.

Laurie was born in Seattle and grew up in Mountlake Terrace. She moved to Everett in 1987 and currently lives here with her husband and two children. She has a degree from Shoreline Community College and many years of experience working with young children. She owned her own day care/preschool business for 12 years and spent a year working with special needs children before joining us at our opening as a Lead Teacher in our Pre-K program. She works Monday/Wednesday/Friday full days. In her spare time Laurie enjoys many types of crafts, gardening and spending time with her family and friends.

Suzeann joins the Kids at the Creek Preschool as teaching assistant. She was raised in Washington and lives in the Mill Creek area where she has been a professional nanny for the past 8 years. Suzeann is currently attending Edmonds Community College where she is pursuing her Early Childhood Education Degree. Suzeann is also active in the children’s program at Gold Creek Community Church. Suzeann has 5 nieces and nephews that she thoroughly enjoys spending time with. In her spare time Suzeann enjoys scrapbooking, hiking, swimming, and spending time with friends & family.

Colleen Ferrari is a native of Washington State and has lived with her husband Tom and two teenage children in Mill Creek for 15 years. Colleen has taught preschool as a lead teacher for 4 years and is completing her AA in early childhood education. She hopes to obtain her Bachelors’ Degree in the coming years. She spends her spare time watching her children’s sporting events, reading and playing with her three dogs. Colleen is an active volunteer and also taught third grade Sunday School at her local church. Colleen “Mrs. Ferrari” will be teaching our Mon-Friday Pre-Kindergarten morning session.

Nancy is a Canadian citizen , born and raised in Quebec. She has lived here in the Upper Northwest for the past three years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Christian School Education from Bethany Bible College and a Bachelor of Liberal Studies from the University of Maine. She is married to her husband, Brian, of eight years and has two children. She is an active member of Gold Creek Community Church helping in the Children's ministry, and the MOPS program. She enjoys, exercising, reading, scrap booking, playing Bunco and spending time with her family. She is excited to be a member of the Kids At The Creek staff teaching the MWF pre-k sessions.

April Heivilin earned her degree in Early Childhood Education from Shoreline Community College and spent two additional years at SPU majoring in Elementary Education and Psychology. She has over 18 years experience in a variety of school districts, preschools and church settings. April and her husband have two elementary aged children at Forest View who love to spend time spoiling the family pets. The Heivilin family is very active in their local church. April also volunteers helping orphans in West Africa with True Vine Togo. In 2007 April and her daughter had great fun playing with and caring for orphans and village children. They also loved visiting the teenage boy they sponsor and are now looking forward to adopting him! April is the lead teacher in our Pre-K program.

Anne joins the Undersea Room as our new teaching assistant to Ms. Henrich. Anne is a mother of two daughters and graduate of University of Washington. Her experience with children includes work at her daughter’s co-op preschool (6 yrs), classroom volunteer, 5 years as art docent at Cedarwood Elementary, preschool teacher at Gold Creek church, volunteer at PTA as Vice President, community action chair, book fair chair and was active in Girl Scouts. Anne’s interests include gardening, reading, cooking of all kinds, going to the gym, and she loves going to her children’s soccer games.

Jenn joins the Kids at the Creek staff as Teacher in the Undersea Room. A native Washingtonian, Jenn is all about building relationship with kids and their families. Previously with the YMCA of Snohomish County’s Childcare Department, she is skilled in connecting to children from both the community and church environments. Jenn comes to us with an Associates degree in Elementary Education from Everett Community College and a Bachelor degree in Behavioral Science from California Baptist University. With 14 years of volunteer experience in teaching, Jenn is well prepared for the classroom. Her strengths, joys and passions lie in drama and music ministry, a heart for expression, and reading. Employed part time for 12 years at a Christian Bookstore, she has a wealth of knowledge about good reads she would love to share!

Anne-Marie joins our team in the Pre-K program. Anne-Marie was born and raised in Northern California and moved to the Seattle Area in 1987. She has been married to her husband Greg for 19 years and has two teenage daughters. Anne-Marie just completed her Associates Degree at Edmonds Community College with a focus on Early Childhood Education and Relational Communication. Anne-Marie has worked as an assistant preschool teacher at a local preschool for two years and also brings years of experience volunteering in her daughter's classrooms, Girl Scouts, the local PTA and serving at Gold Creek Community Church. Anne-Marie enjoys spending time with her family, reading, exercising, baking, loves her women’s bible study and enjoys knitting.

Michelle joins the Kids at the Creek team in the Pre-K program. After graduating from the University of Puget Sound, she decided to pursue a career in teaching and earned her Elementary Education teaching credentials from the University of Washington. Michelle taught fourth and fifth grade in the Bellevue School District for seven years before becoming a full-time mom. She and her husband Scott have two children. Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, playing soccer, volunteering in her children's classrooms, serving in the children's programs at Gold Creek, attending Bible studies, reading, and working with children!

Sandra is a native of Washington and grew up in the Bellingham area. She and her husband Jerry have been married 13 years and have a son. Prior to joining Kids At The Creek, Sandra taught preschool for three years at a private Christian preschool and assisted for one year. She is working toward her early childhood certificate through ACSI. She has also been actively involved in her church Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. Sandra enjoys reading, shopping, walking and visiting with friends. Sandra will be teaching in our Tuesday/Thursday preschool program.

Bev and her husband Paul moved to Washington in June of 2005 from Southern California following a job transfer with Boeing. Bev comes highly recommended from her previous employer where she spent the last 22 years as a full-time preschool teacher with Small World Preschool in Saugus, California. She has her AS in Child Development from College of the Canyons in addition to numerous continuing education classes in all phases of preschool education. Bev discovered Kids at the Creek while evaluating local preschools for her granddaughter who lives in the area. Bev admits she wasn’t ready to retire quite yet and she really missed her role working with young children. We are fortunate to have Bev join our Tuesday/Thursday team teaching our 3 & 4 year olds.

Born and raised in Renton, Kris recently moved to the Snohomish area with her family. She has been married 21 years and is the mother of four children. Kris has always been an active leader in children’s programs as well PTA and classroom volunteer. Her previous experience includes AWANA leader and Director for preschool through early elementary, Sunday School teacher, and vacation Bible school teacher. When she is not attending her children’s various school and sporting events, you can find her gardening, reading, stamping, having tea with friends, or "camping" and boating at the family cabin on Lake Wenatchee.

Gloria joins the Kids at the Creek team as teaching assistant. Gloria is a Washington native and loves the beauty of the Northwest. She lives in Lynnwood with her husband of 23 years and three sons. Gloria’s experience includes three years with a local preschool and several years of volunteer work in her children’s classes. She volunteers in her church nursery, Vacation Bible School and Sunday school classes. Gloria’s hobbies include cooking, gardening, walking and watching her boys play sports. Most of all, she loves to spend time with her family and friends.

Joni will serve as teaching assistant at Kids At the Creek Preschool after a long history of service to children. Joni served as Preschool Director at Gold Creek Community Church, Educational Assistant at Totem Falls Elementary School and as a private child care provider. She is married to John and is the mother of three teenage daughters. Joni graduated from Shawnee State Community College in Portsmouth, OH and in her spare time she enjoys spending time with her teenage daughters, reading, walking and yard work!

Renee joins the KATC team as lead teacher for our Tuesday/Thursday morning 3 year old program. She is a native of Washington and lives in Everett with her husband and their daughter. Renee earned her Early Childhood Education degree from Washington State University. She was an active volunteer during her daughter’s elementary school years, is currently an active member of her church and enjoys needle arts, reading and spending time with her family and friends.

Laura Pawley grew up in Edmonds and has lived in Silver Firs since 1994. She is a graduate of Western Washington University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She taught elementary school for 7 years before becoming a full-time mom, then joined Kids at the Creek in 2006 and discovered her passion in teaching preschoolers. Laura and her husband, Harley, and their children attend Gold Creek Community Church and actively serve in many areas including Children’s Ministry, small groups, and community events. As a family they enjoy camping, tropical vacations, and bike riding. Laura spends her time outside the classroom volunteering at her children’s schools, scrapbooking, gardening, and scuba diving with her husband (on those tropical vacations).

Jeannie was born and raised in the Seattle area. She graduated with a BA in Communications from Washington State University. She has been married to Jeff for 18 years and has three wonderful children. Jeannie loves kids and has volunteered in many activities including Girl Scouts, coaching basketball, room parent, team mom, Sunday school teacher, pre-school assistant and parent helper in each of her children's classes and various PTA positions. She served three years as Nursery Director for Gold Creek Community Church where she continues to be on staff in an accounting support role. Jeannie enjoys family and friend time, watching her kids sporting events, reading and water sports.

Dawn has been married to Sid for 22 years and they have two sons. They have lived in Lake Stevens for 13 years. She wears many hats at KATC, working as an office assistant and helping with valet. Dawn and her family have attended Gold Creek Community Church since 2000. She volunteers with Children’s Ministries and has led several women’s bible studies. In her spare time, she enjoys scrap booking, spending time on their boat, contributing to the success of Starbucks in Snohomish County, soaking in the tub and watching her beloved football! One of her goals each year is to know each and every student at KATC by name. She is well on her way!

Tracee joined Kids at the Creek as a teaching assistant in January 2007. She has been married to her husband Tim for 11 years and has 2 daughters. She has four years experience working and volunteering at a private Christian school. Tracee is actively involved in children’s ministry at Gold Creek Community Church. Her hobbies include traveling, scrap booking and spending time with her family and pets. Tracee will work in our pre-kindergarten program as a teaching assistant.

Leslie joins Kids at the Creek as a Teaching Assistant. Leslie has been an active volunteer in the public school system for many years as teacher assistant, in the PTA at various positions including Book Fair Chairperson, and Yearbook Chairperson. She actively volunteers at Gold Creek Community Church and has eight years experience teaching Sunday school for 2-3 year olds. She has been married for 26 years and has two daughters. Leslie loves to paint, work in the garden (anyone’s garden) and loves to read in her spare time.

Tanya is Co-Director of Kids at the Creek Preschool and brings many years of experience working with children. Over the past 25 years she has served children in a variety of private, community and church settings. Her experience includes preschool teacher, private and public tutoring, Sunday school and children’s outreach ministry. She also co-owned a building and development company for 15 years and worked as referring agent for a financial company. She is STARS certified and currently completing her Early Childhood Education and transfer degree. Tanya is passionate about matters of child development and equipping children and families for future success.

Joy McBride will head our new kindergarten class after many years of working in education and with children. Joy was an elementary school teacher and elementary science specialist for six years. She also served for several years as Children’s Ministry Pastor at Gold Creek Community Church. For the past year Joy has been preparing for our new kindergarten program, researching curriculum, attending specialty training clinics and substitute teaching for Snohomish School District. Joy brings unique experiences to our program including her role as part of a research project at the University of Washington, Joy was selected to teach advance math to highly capable pre-k and kindergarten age children. She was a member of the original leadership team which started Kids At The Creek, a member of the site planning team at Totem Falls and has been an active parent volunteer for her own two children. Joy earned her elementary education teaching credential from the University of Washington.

Liz Wynn is the founding director of Kids At the Creek Preschool. She has a passion for young families and the challenges of raising children in today's culture. She earned her degree in management and human resources from Fresno Pacific University and continues to take courses in early childhood education. Liz uses her experience in management and business to recruit and coach top quality teachers for our dynamic preschool. Her previous experience includes working and volunteering in a variety of children’s programs in her community and church (YMCA, Boys/Girls Club, Nursery and Children’s Sunday School Teacher). Liz is an ordained minister with the Nazarene Denomination.