Why I Teach (Introducing Our Staff)

Phillip Counsel | PENCIL
Childhood should be a time filled with lots of play, joy and wonder. I teach because I believe that all children deserve these experiences.
Abigail Cummings | PUMPKIN
I am inspired daily by the spontaneous creativity and ever expanding imagination of my students.
Grace Farnum

Kim Fuchs | SUN
I love teaching children through authentic learning opportunities, experiencing life, wondering, discovering, and learning together.
Breanna Fitzgerald | ORCA WHALE
Learning from children and tending to their social and emotional development is fulfilling, rewarding, fascinating and beautiful.
Melba Flores | INFINITY SIGN
Children are natural border crossers and boundary setters in their everyday surroundings and will communicate what is (un)comfortable for them. I strive to create a nurturing environment that honors each child's intersectional identity and their multilinguistic families.

Jackie Hannan | JOY
To witness a child’s imagination take flight is both a deep joy and a sacred privilege. There is nothing more magical than to see a child delight in the world around them! Teaching allows me to protect and promote that sense of wonder, which in turn strengthens my own commitment to living a life of curiosity and creativity.
Laurie Ladr | TREBLE CLEF
I love to watch the developmental process unfold through my conversations with children. Every day brings new reasons to smile and be amazed as I look through the window of conversation at each child's understanding of their world.
Andrea Leufray | ACORN
Working with children reminds me to celebrate the little things every day. I enjoy the opportunity to support children with their social and emotional development and help them develop empathy, patience, problem solving and lifelong learning skills.

Val McKee | SEAL
I teach because every child should have a space where they feel safe to be creative, curious, and unique—and they should be surrounded by encouraging adults that provide that space.
Angel Panton-Lula | HONEYCOMB
I teach because no two days are ever the same. Each day is filled with new triumphs, love, and creativity. I strive to let every child know they are valued and important.
Evie Pearson | SUN
Children inspire me to view the world with an open mind. Their creativity ignites my own.

Nicole Price | SUNFLOWER
I teach because each day is new and exciting and the feeling that I get when I see a child’s eyes light up with excitement when they learn or try something new is unlike any other.
Sue Sears | WAVE
I teach young children because I believe in the importance of children’s play- as it involves all areas of their development as well as helping them feel the joy in their creative spirit.
Amy Twiggs | OPEN BOOK
I teach because I love seeing how amazing the world can be through a child’s eyes. There is nothing more gratifying than seeing a child as they master a challenge.

Ann Clifford
Working with children has always been a passion of mine because I was the youngest of seven children. I look forward to bringing my energy to working with the children at Leila Day.
Karlyn Donovan
Katie Finnegan | CAT
I teach because I love being able to spark the fire of curiosity that is inside each child and see their sense of wonder of the world around them grow throughout the year.

Charlotte Murray | WAVE
I am inspired daily by the spontaneous creativity and ever expanding imaginations of my students

Betty Baisden | BIRD
I love participating in the daily discoveries, curiosity, creativity, joy, and wonder that each child and teacher experience. It is both magical and meaningful for them, for me, for our community, and for our world.
Kim Fuchs | SUN
I love teaching children through authentic learning opportunities, experiencing life, wondering, discovering, and learning together.
Amber Morris | STAR
I teach because I love helping children discover their own stories and learn to express them creatively.

Kara Roxbee
I teach because I love being able to support the natural wonder of every child. I believe creating an environment where every child is free to explore their interests in a meaningful way, cultivates a lifelong love of learning.
Sara Woldu
I teach to create opportunities for kids to use their understanding to make a positive impact on the world. These kids have so much to offer and I’m the luckiest person in the world to get to spend my day with them.

Lisa Bickford | LEAF
Assistant Director
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I love to work with children because I feel that a better world starts with them. I believe a strong home-school connection is essential to the success of children’s educational experiences. Together we will set the stage for children to grow up with a love of learning and encourage discovery, social interaction and independence.
Sheila Crowley | SPIRAL
Director of Operations and Finance Manager
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I work at Leila Day because I love supporting the long standing mission of Leila Day to help working mothers/families and the commitment to enroll children from diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds. Being a part of helping families give their child a safe and nurturing place to discover nature and self, is joyful and meaningful for me.
Charlie Malone, PhD. | OUROBORUS
Executive Director
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I seek to honor childhood and the children at Leila Day; respect teachers on their teaching and learning journey; and support families in the awesome task of educating and raising up your children right. Together we can build a beautiful school here at Leila Day, contribute to the creation of the beloved community, and change the world for the better.

Amber Morris | STAR
Administrative Assistant
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I teach because I love helping children discover their own stories and learn to express them creatively.
Kara Roxbee
Curriculum and Pedagogy Facilitator
Being part of a learning/teaching community that supports the authentic wonder and joyful curiosity of every child is what I have always cherished most about Leila Day. Being part of a community that believes in the power of play and focuses on supporting both the child and family is what makes Leila Day so special and unique.