Andrea Mesenburg: I live in Huron, Ohio, with my husband of 7 yrs, Brent, and our 2-yr old daughter, Hannah, who is the joy of our lives!  I work in Sandusky, Ohio, at the First UCC Preschool, with a mixed-age grouping of children, 3-5.  I've been the Teacher and Administrator for the past seven years.  It's lots of fun!  I've been working in the field, however, for 12 years.  I have a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Pre-Primary Montessori Certificate.
Michele: I am from New Jersey.  I'm a head pre-k teacher for N.E.W. Christian Academy in Palisades Park.  
Michelle: I'm from Muskegon, Michigan.  I am 33 years old and am the Lead Teacher at my preschool.  I'm presently working on my CDA & plan to start working on my Bachelor's in Early Childhood in the Fall of 2000.  I have 15 children in my class.  I work in a childcare center so most of the children are with us all day long and all year long.  I love working in Early Childhood and sometime in the near future I would like to open my own school.  I was a nanny in New Jersey for 7 years and loved it.  I'm still very close to "my children."  My hobbies are reading, doing projects for my classroom, and playing piano -- and now, surfing the net.  I would love to correspond with others.  My e-mail address is Cess66@aol.com.
Michelle: I've lived in Butler, Pennsylvania all my life and I currently have a Pennsylvania-licensed family childcare in my home.  I get so many of my teaching resources from books, the internet, and other great providers.  I don't have any college degrees.  I'm just a regular Mom with a lot of love and joy for children.  If I can help families with educating their little ones, it's satisfying.  I find it very rewarding to have a child or parent talk to me about the things we've learned.  I'm married and have 3 children of my own -- Jessica, Autumn, and Julie Anne -- yep all girls!  If anyone would like to share teaching ideas with me, e-mail me at Haywire629@aol.com.
Michelle: I live in Papillion, Nebraska.  I am the mother of three boys.  Right now I am taking the time to finish my bachelor's degree in early childhood education, but I have spent many years teaching early preschool (3/4 year olds) at a Christian preschool and daycare.  I also opened my home to this age group, teaching "home" preschool for several families in my neighborhood.  With a bachelor's under my belt, I'd like to establish a private preschool and kindergarten.  My email is: whitewingdove13@aol.com
Michie: I'm the Head Pre-K Teacher for a private ELC in New Jersey.  I have been in the ECE field for almost 13 years and I still love it!  The classroom experience never gets old for me.  I love Pre-K Teachers!  We are a rare and special breed of people.  I am proud to be in this field and believe that we deserve much more respect than we get.  We are true professionals.  We are constantly learning and growing to fine tune our craft.  We honor each other by sharing information and mentoring new teachers.
Mike: I'm a male Kindergarten teacher in Nelson, New Zealand.  I have been teaching for 6 years and have 3 children myself.  I am really into story telling using a wide variety of techniques including overhead projectors, toy theatre, shadows etc.  I really would like to meet teachers from all over the world to share circle time and music activities.  My email is: mike.barbara@xtra.co.nz  (I will submit ideas as often as I can with this site.  I look forward to hearing from you all.)
Frances Miller: I'm from Louisiana.  I was a "stay at home" mom of two children.  When the youngest started Pre-K, I took a teacher's aide job in her classroom to be with her.  I found out that I LOVED being with 4-5 year olds.  When she entered Kindergarten the funding was not there for Pre-K.  I decided that although I had graduated from high school 10 years earlier and had never taken a college course, I wanted to be an early childhood educator.  I fulfilled my dream by graduating in Dec. of 1993.  I taught in a private school for the spring semester in first grade.  The principal of the local public school called and offered me a job teaching Pre-K in a class that was just being opened at the school.  It was really fun to be the one deciding everything for starting a classroom.  (Our school is rural and there is only one section of each grade for Pre-K thru 8.)  I have been in this position ever since.  My husband, Dale, and I are the parents of John 18, Cassie 16, and Jacob 3....he came along since I started teaching!  LOL. 
Misty: I have a  Christian preschool in McGehee, Arkansas.  This is my first year and I would never have believed how much kids teach you.  I can't wait until next school term so that I can start over.  
Lorie Morales: I'm a Home Visitor for the LCPS, Head Start Program, in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  I was a Head Start parent volunteer with my two oldest children, and with my last child I started working for Head Start and am now in my 3rd year.  I really enjoy working with 3 year olds and their parents in their homes.  I'm currently enrolled in the CDA program (child development classes).  I need 3 more classes and to put my portfolio together to receive my CDA certificate.
Denice Morrison: I have four sons (ages 23, 21, 20 & 7).  I have always enjoyed being with children.  I started out babysitting at the age of 12 and always wanted 12 children, so working with children in a child care settting is kind of like having my 12 children.  I've been working in the childcare business for about 14 years.  I now work in a child care center in Palm Bay, Florida.  It's a brand new center ("Little Treasures Child Care Center") and I am the director.  We are working on building up the center from zero.  It is a struggle but it's worth it knowing we're bringing a reliable and friendly environment for children into the area.
E-mail: MORRPOOH@AOL.COM
Mur: I'm from Idaho.  I have worked at a developmental preschool in our district for the last 4 years.  I also teach children's craft and ceramic classes.
Kathy Murphy, MMT, MT-BC: I am a board-certified music therapist from Pennsylvania.  I develop music therapy sessions for pre-schoolers who are developmentally delayed or at-risk, as well as their typically developing peers.  I am also in the middle of my doctoral studies at Temple University.  I have been working with children for the past 18 years.  E-mail: murphmul@juno.com
Julaine Nelson: I am the mother of two beautiful girls, ages 11 and 14.  I home school my daughters and have since birth.  I also own an in-home day care center in Ohio called "Noah's Place."  I am open 24 hours a day Monday through Friday and do occasional Saturdays.  My center offers care for a mixed age grouping.  I have worked with children in some capacity for over 25 years.  I've been director of a center, and have taught toddlers at a center, but my true love is my current job as it allows me to be home with my girls, as well as provide care for other families.  I am licensed for 6 week olds-12yrs.  I currently care for 9 children between the ages of 14mos-5yrs.  It is challenging with the different ages but it keeps me busy -- and young.  I have a degree in education with some graduate work, but I plan to go back to school this year to get a master's in early childhood and language development.  I have worked with children since I was about 12 years old teaching Sunday School, tutoring, etc. My daughters help me with the children and my oldest daughter now also teaches Sunday School at our church.  I would love to share with others who love children.  My e-mail address is NelCal@juno.com
Judy Nickerson: I've been a preschool and junior kindergarten teacher for 15 years.  I've also taught K5 for 7 years.
Patty: I married my high school sweetheart 29 years ago and together we have raised three children (I have one grandchild and another on the way).  I was a licensed home childcare provider for four years and have worked in public school early childhood programs for the last 13 years, during which time, I slowwwwwly completed my A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education.  I am group leader qualified, special needs certified and director certified in the state of Colorado.  I am now the preschool teacher at our local elementary school and I love every minute of it…... well, except for all the paper work!!!!  I am also a trained Disaster Child Care (DCC) volunteer and am a Childcare in Aviation Incident Responder (we are known nationally as the CAIR TEAM). 
Natascha Pereira: I grew up in the Netherlands, where I worked as a recruitment and admissions person in several universities.  After I married, I moved to Singapore, where I discovered that little kids are much more fun than big kids!  I ran extracurricular programs for primary school children for a while, and then decided to retrain as a Montessori teacher.  After that, I taught preschoolers and kindergartners for several years, first in Singapore and later in Sydney, Australia.  About two years ago, I enrolled in an MA in Children's Literature and Literacy, for which I am now writing my thesis which looks at early reading experiences of deaf children.  Since it turned out to be too difficult to combine studies with fulltime teaching, I left my job at the beginning of 2001 and started my own little company running art & craft programs for children aged 2-6.  In the meantime, I also managed to find some spare time to write and illustrate a children's picture book for which I'm now trying to find a publisher.  And why I like young children so much?  They've made me realize that every day is a new Adventure with a capital A, and every night is filled with magic and fairies and shooting stars...
Kennita Perry: I live in Bermuda.  I received a BA in Psychology from Acadia University in 1996.  I've worked at a residential home for boys ages 8-18, and currently work at a nursery called "The Giving Tree."  I head up their After School and Day Camp Programs, as well as teach some classes to the toddlers and pre-schoolers.  I also have a home bakery called "Missy's Delights," which is an ever expanding business.  Since graduating, I've always worked with children, and I really enjoy it!  My husband helps me as much and as often as he can, even though being with the kids for more than 2 hours sometimes gives him a headache!!  We don't have children and have only been married for a year and a half.  Because of the business, I will have to leave the nursery, but I will always be involved with them.  The love that I've received from the parents and children is like nothing I've ever experienced in my life!  But what I love the most, is that the children are learning.  We are all teachers in life -- never pass up the opportunity!
Janet Petersen: I live in Beardstown, Illinois and teach in a Christian pre-school.  I've been working in my school for 17+ years -- mostly in Pre-school/Kdg.
Michelle Phillips: I live in Port Jervis, New York.  I have been working in the childcare field since 1988, but after I turned 30 and my youngest started preschool, I went back to college to get my degree in Early Childhood Education.  Last year, I decided to stay home and teach my own children, now that they are 6 and almost 4.  I have always enjoyed children so I volunteer often (5th grade religious ed teacher at my church, a cheerleading coach for girls ages 5-13, a girlscout leader for a brownie troop, and a substitute teacher from kindergarten to senior high).
Susan Place: I live in Jackson, Minnesota and have worked in school systems in Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota.  I have taught 4th grade, Early Childhood Special Education, owned a daycare, and am teaching currently at a Lutheran preschool (4 year olds).  My husband, Jeff, and I have two children.  I love getting ideas from others and also sharing ideas that I have used in my classrooms.  I also enjoy sharing recipes and trying new ones.  I would love to hear from anyone willing to be a "pen pal" by email: jsplace@rconnect.comet
Jamie Plewe: I'm in my second year teaching preschool in my home in Provo, Utah.  (I use Stormie's curriculum packets...what a find!).  While my older two children are in school, and my younger two are napping, I teach two classes in the afternoons.  I'm a couple classes away from a Masters in Ed. Admin.  I love seeing children learn and grow and being remembered as 'Miss Jamie', their preschool teacher.
Rochelle Bonifacio Prado: I live at 13 Langka Road, Nayong Silangan, Antipolo City PHILIPPINES 1870.  I've worked as a volunteer teacher assistant in a school for special children, and 4 yrs as a preschool teacher.  I love writing poetry, snorkelling, and reading articles on education (including Special Ed).  E-mail: rochbp@excite.com
Quincy: I work with preschoolers at the Berry College Child Development Center in Rome, Georgia.  I am a teacher's assistant working on my certification and Masters degree in ECE.
Sandra Raymond: I am a breast cancer survivor who is presently teaching four year olds in a Christian preschool.  My undergraduate degree is in English; I returned to school to get my teaching certification and taught high school English for a year or so.  We moved and I, again, returned to school to receive my Master's Degree in Special Education; I taught sixth, seventh, and eighth grade Special Ed.  When I got sick I resigned from teaching.  I am doing very well (yea!!) but am not interested in returning to teaching full time.  I needed a "kid fix" so I applied to the local preschool and am eager to begin my second year there.
Karen Rexford: I live in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, but have lived in many places in the USA, my favorite being in the foothills of Boulder, Co. when I was 20.  It was a place of inspiration and youthfulness to me, and was also where I started to work with children in a home setting.  I worked for a wonderful,caring, and highly intuitive woman in Louisville, Co., named Gail.  She was wonderful with the children in her care and I worked with her for 7 years, also becoming a live-in nanny at the same time.  I came home to New England when I was 27 to care for my mom and worked as a preschool teacher of 3-yr olds for 6 years.  I'm 35 now, and still working as a preschool teacher (4 yr olds).  I have worked with (from 91-04) "high risk" children in Head Start and YMCA programs and am now studying to become a pediatric nurse.
Debbie Reynolds: I am in St. Louis, Missouri.  The worst part about having a "famous" name is that I can’t “carry a tune in a bucket” and have never been able to dance “in the rain” or otherwise!  I have been Ms. Debbie for so long that now, at 49, it appears to be the only name I can answer too, prompting my children (Ryan 20, Marissa 19, James 12, and Jonathan 10) at times to call me Ms. Mommy!  After being in administrative positions for over 25 years, I decided to take a “sabbatical” and teach for a few years while I regroup.  I now teach Pre-K in a small center close to my home.  I do this with the help of my excellent assistant, Dora, my calico cat.  She is part of all my curriculums and has a very busy e-mail correspondence with “her kids.”  I have completed the certification program for Early Childhood Directors for our state, as well as training in High Scope and Project Construct (Missouri's curriculum for from birth-3rd grade).  I am a validator for Missouri’s Accreditation Program and should be working towards my Master’s, but who has time?  I'm extremely interested in early literacy experiences and believe that you can NEVER read too much to a child.  If it’s been written for a child, the book is probably in this house (including nearly 100 "cat" books because of Dora).  I believe that we are a child’s first line of defense in a world that grows more violent daily.  The world would be a better place without TV and video games (my children have memorized this speech).  In 1995, I succeeded at getting a church sponsored day car licensed after being told for 10 years that it couldn’t be done.  I brought a nearly 100 year old building up to compliance and expanded it from 40 children to 63.  I also wrote and received nearly $25,000.00 in grants.  I was one of only 10 church sponsored centers (statewide) that were unlicensed at the time, to receive a Block Grant from the state in 1993.  I don’t think any facility should be exempted from basic health and safety requirements and that licensing should be more aggressive with “problem” centers.  I love this website and am so happy I found it!  Thank you, Stormie, for letting me be a part of it!  I would love to hear from any other Kindred Spirits, and Dora would like to hear from their cats! >^..^<  You can e-mail us at: totallydora@juno.com
Krista Ritchie: I am an Early Childhood Educator currently operating a private home day care called "Lilliput Learning Center."  I worked in commercial and municipal child care settings for eleven years before opening Lilliput in 1999.  Our daughter, 18 months old, is enjoying the benefits of having playmates in our home every day!
Jan Rubino: After returning to college (in my 40's), I landed a wonderful job, 2 years ago, at St. John's Methodist Preschool, in Hazlet, New Jersey.  This was something I always wanted to do but lost my way the first time around.  I am having the time of my life and credit most of it to the talented bunch of teachers that have taken me under their wings, and shared with me their wonderful ideas.  It's much more work and preparation than I could ever have imagined, but I wouldn't trade it for any other profession in the world.  Thanks to "Stormie" for providing another new avenue for research.
Scarlett: I live in Lincolnton, North Carolina and work at First Baptist Children Center in Maiden, about 5 min from my house.  I collect lighthouses, cherished teddies, dreamcicles, angels, baby dolls, precious moments, and Mickey Mouse.  I love to read, and write poetry occasionally, the beach, and shopping.
Eiko Seevers: My mother-in-law in Ohio (Stormie's) ----- only the greatest one a girl could ask for!
Sharon: I am from Henderson, Nevada, and am a mother of two teens.  I have an A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education.  I have retuned to work part time after many yrs.  I work in Head Start.  I also do "Pampered Chef" on the side.
Nancy Shirer: I have been a teacher for the past 15 years at a Christian Preschool in West Virginia.  I didn't teach until my own children went off to college.  I have an enrollment of 24 in the morning class and usually under 20 in the afternoon class, five days a week.  This is the best career I can think of -- every day is different.  Seeing so many smiling faces (and getting hugs) is indeed a great perk!  Since we're always on a tight budget, I'm always looking for new and fresh ideas.  Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference!
Lisa Shortt: I live in Baltimore, Maryland.  I am 27.  At age 18, I worked for Open Door Day Care which is a before and after school program in Baltimore County.  I stayed with them for 4 years, and then moved on to open my own before and after center in Darlington MD.  I took some time off after that to be at home with my own girls ages 5, 3, and 4 months.  I help out as often as possible in my daughters' classes.  I have my AA degree from the Community College of Baltimore County, and am currently working on my BA degree in Early Childhood with the hope of becoming a kindergarten or first grade teacher!  I love this site -- there's NONE out there that compares!
Barb Simms: I have been married to Ron for 41 years.  We have 4 grandchildren.  We live in Sun Lakes, Arizona.  I was born and raised in North East Ohio.  I had a home based child care from 1989-1995.  I will soon be starting a new position in the Chandler school district as a lead teacher in the 3-yr old room.  I am so glad I found your website and I appreciate you and all the hard work that you have put into it.
Deb Sinclair: I am from Brentwood, Tennessee.  I have been teaching 4 year olds at a church preschool now for 3 years, although I have been working with preschoolers for many more years than that in other areas.
Shelli Smith: I'm a stay-at-home mom from Utah who is participating in a co-op preschool group.  Each mom takes a turn teaching the group.  This year we're using Stormie's site as our basic guide and it's so helpful.  It's fun to be involved in my child's preschool so I can see first-hand how she behaves and interacts.  This allows me to know exactly what kind of help she needs to succeed in her upcoming school years.  I don't have any formal training in young childhood development, but my three children (ages 6, 4, & 2) are thriving and excelling in academics.  I do have a  B.S. degree in Environmental Engineering and love the outdoors, music, sewing, scrapbooking, and reading.
Stacie: I'm 29 yrs old -- married for four yrs this coming December.  I'm entering my second year of teaching preschool at Putnam Elementary School in Putnam, Connecticut.  I graduated from Southern CT ST University in '93 with a BS in Studio Art and again in '95 with a Master's and Certificate in Special Education.
Stacy: I am a 4 year old teacher to 18 children in an NAEYC accredited child care center in West Virginia.  I have a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in Early Childhood.  I love teaching -- period -- but I especially love the young children.  They are so enthusiastic about learning!!
You can e-mail me at: MUStacy@aol.com    :)
Pat Stajek-Vorwerk: I am a 48 year old married mom in New Jersey with 3 sons, ages 12, 15 and 18.  I have a masters degree in Special Education, and 3 years ago I started teaching a pre-school disabilities program in a public school setting.  Previous to a 14 year hiatus from teaching, I taught students from the high school level down to the primary level, in both self contained settings, and in a resource room.  I love teaching the little ones, as I'm able to observe so much progress.  I'm very fortunate in that I have a speech and language therapist teaching with me for the entire day!  In my spare time I love gardening and photography!!