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Staff Bios
Staff Bios
Read below to get to know our teachers and our administrative staff members:
Name: Missy Bartels
Title: Preschool Teacherat Just Kids @ XPAC
At Just Kids Since: September 13, 2010
Education: Degree in Early Childhood Education from SIUC
Family: Husband, Dave and children Luke (12) and Grace (9)
Favorite Part About Working with Children: "I love getting to know all their individual personalities and the hugs!"
Name: Lindsay Bayer
Title: Development Coordinator
Position Details: Oversees grant writing, sponsorships, communications, special project administration and quality initiatives for all locations
Employed at Just Kids since: 2002-2003 (as teacher) and May 2006-Present
Education/Training: Currently working toward Masters of Education degree in Children’s Literature; Holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management
Family: Husband, Christopher
Favorite Children’s Book: What Pete Ate from A to Z by Maira Kalman
Favorite Quote: “A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.” C.S. Lewis
Name: Mary Girot
Title: 0-3 Program Coordinator
Position Details: Oversees the developmental program for infants, toddlers and two year olds at the Main Building
Employed at Just Kids since: July 1990
Education/Training: Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education; 2 year degree in Business Management
Family: Daughters, Alexis (19) and Abigail (15)
Favorite Children’s Book: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Favorite Part about Working at Just Kids: Without a doubt, the children!
Name: Melissa Henderson
Title: Preschool Teacher
Employed at Just Kids since: July, 2011
Family: Husband Chris; Step-daughters Kiersten and Kiera; Daughter Aailyah (9); Son Urijah (2)
Favorite Children’s Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Favorite Quote: “You is kind, you is smart, you is important.” Kathryn Stockett (from The Help)
Favorite Activity to do with the Children: Cooking activities
Name: Annie Howser
Title: Preschool Teacher
Employed at Just Kids since: July, 2010
Education/Training: Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education
Family: Sons Blake (5) and Colby (2)
Favorite Children’s Book: Jillian Jiggs by Phoebe Gilman
Favorite Quote: “Dance as if no one is watching...”
Favorite Activity to do with the Children: Anything and everything!
Name: Ashley Morris
Title: Assistant Teacher, Grasshoppers
Position Details: Work with children 15-30 months
Employed at Just Kids since: September, 2011
Education/Training: Black Hawk College
Favorite Children’s Book: If Animals Kissed Goodnight by Ann Whitford Paul
Favorite Quote: “Dream as if you’ll live forever and live as if you’ll die today.”
Favorite Part about Working at Just Kids: Being with the children and watching them grow.
Favorite Activity to do with the Children: Water play
Name: Katlyn Parsons
Title: Infant Teacher
Position Details: Work with infants 6 weeks – 14 months
Employed at Just Kids since: March, 2012
Education/Training: Working towards an AAS degree in Child Development
Favorite Children’s Book: Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
Favorite Quote: “Live, Laugh, Love.”
Favorite Part about Working at Just Kids: The children in my classroom; they make me smile, laugh and love my job.
Favorite Activity to do with the Children: Being outside and letting them explore; showing them new things.
Name: Lisa Redecker
Title: Finance Manager
Employed at Just Kids since: 2004
Family: Huband, Mike; Daughter, Jessica (20); Son, Jacob (19)
Favorite Part About Working at Just Kids: Being able to take a break from numbers and go into the infant room and play with a baby!
Name: Tracey Robbins
Position: Preschool Teacher
At Just Kids Since: 3/8/2010
Education/Training: Para Certificate, 2006
Family: Husband, Steve and children, Austin (19) and Lexie (15)
Favorite Children's Book: Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
Favorite Part About Working at Just Kids: "The excited expressions of the children when they have succeeded with something new."
Name: Jessica Starcevich
Title: School Age and Substitute Teacher
Employed at Just Kids since: August 2011
Favorite Children’s Book: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Favorite Activity to do with the Children: Reading to them.
Name: Amy Strandberg
Title: Pre-K Program Coordinator
Position Details: Oversee all main building preschool staff and programming (scheduling, licensing, preschool accreditation).
Employed at Just Kids since: 1999
Education/Training: Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Family: Husband, Jay; Son, Seth; Daughter, Olivia
Favorite Children’s Book: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Favorite Part about Working at Just Kids: Hearing the funny things that children say.
Name: Karissa Talbot
Title: Preschool Teacher
Employed at Just Kids since: 2007
Education/Training: Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education; 04 Certification
Family: Huband, Mike; 3 children, 1 grandson
Favorite Children’s Book: Parts by Tedd Arnold
Favorite Part About Working at Just Kids: Seeing the excitement on a child’s face when they’ve mastered a new skill
Favorite Activity to do with the Children: Anything and everything messy!
Name: Kathy Wynn
Title: Assistant Preschool Teacher
Employed at Just Kids since: Jan. 1998
Education/Training: Have worked in the child care field since 1989
Family: Huband, Michael; Daughter, Kari, and Son-in-law, RJ; Son, Matt, and Daughter-in-law Miki; Grandsons Tyler, Ryan, Blake and Carter
Favorite Children’s Book: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Favorite Part About Working at Just Kids: My favorite part is the children. They never fail to amaze, entertain and enlighten me. In addition to my work at Just Kids, I've taught Sunday School to 3 & 4 year olds at St. Ambrose Church in Milan (and still do!). As you can imagine, I've had many a child of children I taught when they were 4 years old.
Name: Shirley Wynes
Title: Preschool Teacher
Position Details: Work with 3, 4 and 5 year olds in the Caterpillar classroom
Employed at Just Kids since: Nov. 15, 1984
Education/Training: Alleman High School and Black Hawk College
Family: Husband, Mike; 2 sons, Shawn and Jeremy (Married to Lesley); 2 grandchildren, Jaclyn and Isaac
Favorite Children’s Book: I have many favorites, but I really like Are You My Mother by P. D. Eastman
Favorite Quote: “Stand for something, or you will fall for anything.”
Favorite Part about Working at Just Kids: Helping the children learn a new skill and enjoying their sense of accomplishment.
Favorite Activity to do with the Children: Reading to them and doing art activities.