Jo Anna – Director
Jo Anna is in her eighth year as Director of the NLC. She grew up in Alabama and received her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology with a minor in Business from the University of South Alabama and a Masters of Divinity (MDIV) from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jo Anna started and taught her first after school program and preschool class over 35 years ago and has been involved in Children’s Ministry and Early Childhood Education ever since.
Ally – Business Manager
Ally graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from The College of William and Mary and earned her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business. Ally worked five years as the Director of Marketing at a logistics software company, spent several years as an executive recruiter, and has lots of experience as a mom. She is a member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church where she currently serves as an Elder and chair of the Discipleship Committee, and has served as Sunday School Coordinator, Ministry Team Member, Security Task Force member, as well as two terms on the Nominating Committee. Ally sees her work at the NLC as an extension of her love and service to the St. Andrew congregation. Ally has worked for the NLC for over nine years.
Karen – Administrative Assistant
Karen has over 20 years’ experience working in a childcare setting. She has attended many training courses and earned numerous childcare/child development related certificates during her years working in this field. Karen maintains current Medication Administration Training (MAT), as well as current CPR/First Aid certification. She has been with the NLC for over nine years.
Amethyst – Assistant Preschool Teacher – Bird House
Amethyst’s childcare career path started with babysitting at age 14, and then working in a Head Start classroom for 2 years. While studying at Shenandoah University, Amethyst was able to student teach at Harmony Middle School as an 8th Grade English teacher. While working at a childcare center, Amethyst was been a Lead Teacher for three years and was an Aftercare Supervisor. Amethyst feels blessed to be able to have this opportunity here at the NLC and to continue her passion for teaching.
Ampy – Toddler Teacher – Duck Pond
Ampy has been working with children for more than 10 years and has returned to the NLC staff after time in Frankfurt, Germany with her husband. She has always had a passion for working with and nurturing little children and finds it rewarding. Ampy is CPR and First Aid certified, and attends classes and training for Childhood Development. She is in her eighth year here at the NLC.
Ava – Assistant Infant Teacher – Cub House
Ava is in her second year at the NLC! She is a full-time student at Shenandoah University and am in my last year of studying Business Administration. Ava maintains her CPR and First Aid certification. She loves to stay busy with the children of the Bird Nest.
Caitlin – Preschool Teacher – Hummingbird Nest
Caitlin has earned her Associates in Early Childhood Education and is always seeking to further her education by taking additional training courses. She has worked in childcare centers for eight years, and in childcare in general for over ten years. Caitlin is in her fifth year as a member of the NLC family.
Deborah – Morning Drop-Off Coordinator
Following graduation from the University of Virginia with a BA in French, Deborah served for almost seven years as an officer in US Air Force Space Command, specializing in satellite control. Deborah left the military to spend the next 20 years raising her two children with her husband Tom. In addition to full-time parenting, Deborah volunteered at her kids’ schools, at church, and with Girl Scouts. Since joining St Andrew in 2012 with her family, Deborah has taught Sunday School and Confirmation class, served on many committees including the Pastor Nominating Committee, and has been a Deacon. She is currently an Elder and chair of the Communications Committee. She rejoined the work force part-time in 2019 as a Page with Loudoun County libraries, and then came to the NLC to help with Covid protocols, remaining as our Morning Drop Off Coordinator. Deborah has always maintained her CPR and First Aid certifications since becoming a mom herself.
Destany – Assistant Preschool Teacher – Hummingbird Nest
Destany is furthering her education online, with the goal of furthering her career in childcare. Destany loved working at her mother’s in-home daycare. She is in her first year here at the Neighborhood Learning Center. Destany’s favorite thing about working in childcare is seeing the different personalities come together as the kids explore and develop. Destany is CPR & First Aid certified.
Dorothy – Preschool Teacher – Busy Bees
Dorothy is completing her fourth year at the NLC. She has worked with children since she graduated high school, with 14 years of that being with 2-year olds and 2 years with 3-year olds. She has earned her CDA (Child Development Associate), is MAT (Medication Administration Training) trained, and also both CPR and First Aid certified. Dorothy can’t imagine doing anything other than childcare as a career because she loves meeting different children, watching them grow, and teaching them about God. Learning herself as a teacher and a person is a blessing she receives through working in the field. Dorothy’s goal is to continue her education to earn a degree in childhood education.
Jennifer – Preschool Teacher – Bird Nest
Jennifer has worked in the childcare industry for 6 years and has been part of the NLC team as a teacher in the 3-year old classrooms for almost four of those years. Previously, Jennifer worked for two years with 2-year old’s. She loves working with children and watch them grow into different individuals. Jennifer is CPR/First Aid certified and her goal is to continue her education to earn a degree in childhood education.
Karen – Resource Specialist
Karen been teaching preschool for over 20 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Early Childhood Education and is active in a small United Methodist church where she teaches Sunday School, is her church Treasurer, and is a lay leader. She is CPR/First Aid certified, as well as MAT (Medication Administration Training) certified.
Karen – Afternoon Float
Karen holds Associates Degrees in both Business Administration and Paraprofessional Education. She is CPR/First Aid certified and has Mandt Training. Karen is in her 16th year with LCPS where she works in the Special Education field for children with IEPs, most of her experience with autism, down syndrome, and cross cat. In addition to experience in the public school system, Karen has worked in the childcare industry for over 10 years. Karen loves getting to see the children grow and mature. She also enjoys developing lasting friendships with her co-workers and relationships with the children and their families.
Kat – Pre-K Teacher – Lions Den
Kat started working with children at the age of 16 in her church’s child ministry with children ages 8 to 12. She is still actively involved and also helps in her church’s youth ministry. Kat feels very passionate about caregiving and decided to pursue it as a career. She is attending Lord Fairfax Community College to earn her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. Kat had the great opportunity to work as an assistant in her first learning center, then as a toddler assistant teacher. She finished her Career Studies Certificate while working as a toddler teacher and is also First Aid and CPR certified.
Kenia – Infant Teacher – Cub House
After graduating high school, Kenia earned her Child Development Certificate (CDA). In addition to the experience she has gained as a mother to two young children, Kenia has spent four years working with 2-year olds, two years with toddlers, and over a year with infants. Kenia is Medication Administration Trained (MAT) and maintains her CPR/First Aid certification. She is entering her third year at the NLC and finds joy in watching the children grow, play, and in archiving their milestones. Kenia plans on earning her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education.
Kim – Pre-K Teacher – Fox Den
Kim has worked in the childcare field for over 20 years and her primary experience is with Pre-K programs, though she also has extensive experience with school-aged children. She has completed her Early Childhood Education coursework at both Lord Fairfax Community College and JMU. She is certified in CPR and First Aid. Kim has been part of the NLC team for six years.
Larkin – Aide
Larkin earned her Career Studies Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Northern Virginia Community College. She has volunteered extensively with St. Andrew’s children and youth through the years, including teaching Sunday School and assisting with Vacation Bible School. For several years she worked with Loudoun County Parks and Recreation in their Preschool, Toddler, and After Kindergarten programs. Larkin is in her sixth year here at the NLC.
Nicole – Kitchen Manager
Nicole has been part of the NLC team for over ten years. She is the Kitchen Manager and Cook and is also a bus driver. She has completed many certificates of training while here at the NLC, including ServSafe certification and CPR/First Aid, and has enjoyed watching the children grow and thrive in our community.
Nuria – Assistant Infant Teacher – Bunny Meadow
Nuria is from Tarragona, Spain. She moved here to the States in 2020 as an Au Pair for an American family in Washington D.C. Nuria has cared for children for a long time. In Spain, she was a Scout leader for 5 years and a robotics instructor for children from 2-18 years old. Nuria has always enjoyed working with children and learning from them. She is happy to be part of the NLC team and is excited to watch the children grow.
Sonia – Pre-K Teacher – Turtle Cove
Sonia’s studies include a BA in Elementary Education from Shepherd University. In addition to maintaining CPR and First Aid certification, Sonia is also Medication Administration Trained (MAT), and MAT Diabetes certified. She has worked the past eleven years as an Early Childhood Education teacher here at the NLC. Sonia enjoys working with children, watching their dreams grow, and seeing them reach their full potential.
Suzanne – Infant Teacher – Cub House
Suzanne is a mother of three grown children. She was a stay home mother for most of their childhood and enjoyed every second of it. As an empty nester, Suzanne has so much love in her heart to offer our NLC babies. In our infant room at The Cub House, Suzanne brings her passion for nurturing and caring for little ones and believes there is nothing more precious in this world than little babies—they are gifts from God. Suzanne maintains current CPR and First Aid Certification.
Taylor – Toddler Teacher – Frog Hollow
Taylor graduated from Clarke County High School in 2015 and since then has been a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). While she enjoyed being a CNA, Taylor wanted something different. She always loved being around young children and has been around them her entire life, finding that they bring her joy and happiness. She is in her sixth year as part of the NLC family.
Val – Preschool Teacher – Bird House
Val has loved working with children since her early pre-teen years when she started babysitting, and then based her high school studies around early childhood development including half of her senior year as an intern in a kindergarten classroom. Val attended GCU working toward her early childhood education degree, has obtained an accreditation from West Virginia’s ACDS program (Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist), and has earned her permanent certification for assistant teaching in West Virginia. While her children were growing up, Val ran an in-home childcare for six years serving children aged 6 weeks to 11 years old. She then taught at Jefferson County Head Start/Universal Pre-k for 11 years. She has found her passion for teaching early learners is the purpose she is supposed to serve and is what brings joy to her heart. Val has taught at the NLC for two years.