Meet Our Staff

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Our fun and loving staff members know how to play! We enjoy getting down on the floor with your children and becoming a part of their play experience. We feel it's important to not lead children's play, but rather allow them to guide us through their thought processes. Learning at our school is play-based. This means that we believe children learn about the world through playing in both imaginative and concrete ways. Some examples include singing songs, creating unique art pieces, and pretending and acting in the dramatic play room. Every room offers many activity choices to fully stimulate our children's young minds!

School Director

Laura Nola is not only the Owner and Director of our school, but she is also one of the Preschool Teachers! She's been in the childcare business for over 15 years and is a fun and loving teacher (and boss!). Before starting Play and Learn in 2001, Laura ran her own home day care business. On top of running Play and Learn, she also teaches continuing education classes for people in the childcare field through Childcare Network. Laura teaches our young preschool class (2.5-3.5 years), and also works with the school-age children. She graduated from Madonna University with a degree in Child Development and Early Childhood Education.

Infant & Toddler Teachers

We have two Infant Teachers, Irene Watts and Elsie Luckhardt. Irene graduated from the University of Michigan and has worked for nine years here at Play and Learn. Irene is our assistant director and handles all the billing. Elsie is a retired school teacher and has been part of our school since 2001. She loves to sing to the children and has a heart of gold! Elsie also teaches the toddler class on Thursdays. Alicia Maynard is our toddler teacher. She has been with Play and Learn since 2007 and loves getting down to the toddler level and pretending and exploring with her kids. Alicia graduated from E.M.U. with her degree in Early Childhood Elementary Education.

Preschool Teachers

Pam Tighe is one of our Preschool Teachers, and she's been with us since 2001. She teaches our 3-and-a-half to 4-and-a-half year old class. Pam previously owned her own home daycare business for over 15 years! Pam attends several classes throughout the year that are offered through Childcare Network and The National Association for the Education of Young Children. She wants to be sure that the kids in our program are benefiting from the best teaching methods within the Early Childhood field.

Stacey Griffiths has been with our school since 2004. She teaches our Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten kids and works hard to make sure that they're all set for school! Stacey graduated from E.M.U. with an undergraduate degree in Special Education and Early Childhood. She's currently working on her Master's degree at Eastern in Speech and Language Special Education.

Adam Kinasz also teaches our Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten class. He graduated from E.M.U. with his degree in Elementary Education and has been with Play and Learn since 2001. 

Stacey and Adam's Class

School-Age Teachers

Laura is our School-Age teacher. She helps the kids get their homework done after school so they (and their parents!) have more free time when they get home! Helping with the school kids is Alex Nola, Laura's son, Melissa Girbach, Pam's daughter. Alex is a Junior and Melissa is a Senior at Saline High School and they're awesome with all the children!

 

Pam's Class