Teri Johnston, M-F 3's teacher/director/Love and Logic facilitator

I have been in early childhood for over 18 years. I have double Associates Degrees in Early Childhood with emphasis in Preschool and Infant Toddler. I am currently working on my BS in Early Childhood. I began working at the Co-op in 1996 while I was pregnant with my daughter. I left for two years to work at the Child Development Lab at CSN. When it was time for my daughter to start preschool I really wanted her to have the Co-op experience. That was over 8 years ago. I see the benefits of this program every day in my daughter. My life is so enriched by my experiences I have had with the families that pass through our doors. I have made life long friends and work with an amazing staff. I can't imagine working anywhere else.

My husband, Joe, and I have been married for twelve years. We have three children. Chris is 23, Travis is 18 and Emma is 10. This past year we became proud grandparents of Hunter Daniel. I can hardly wait for him to attend the Co-op. My family is very supportive of my commitment to the school. My husband has spent countless hours over the years helping me.

 

I am also a certified Love and Logic Facilitator. I teach Becoming a Love and Logic Parent and Early Childhood Parenting Made Easy! I teach several times a year at our school and around the community.

Lisa Fitzgerald, (a.k.a. Mrs. Fitz) M/W/F 4's and Kindergarten Enrichment

I have a BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood Education. I taught Kindergarten for 1 year and this will be my 15th year teaching at the Co-op (2's, 3's and 4's). I've been teaching at the Co-op since the fall of 1994, and have seen the Co-op grow and stretch into the phenomenal program it is now.

 

I began my Co-op journey when my daughter, Katie started pre-school in the 2's class in 1992. I was the class co-coordinator and the vice president before I was hired as a teacher. My son, Adam, and I began pre-school together when he was two, and here I am... I'm 40 years old and still in pre-school!

 

My husband, Greg, a captain for the Clark County Fire Dept and I have been married for 18 years this August. It seems as though the Co-op has always been a big part of our lives. I will always be thankful to the Co-op, and all the children and their families, who have blessed my life with friendship, patience, wisdom, and strength for the journey.

 

 

 

Mindi Cooley, Kindergarten

This will be my 8th year teaching at Kids’ Co-op but my experience with the Co-op actually began 10 years ago as a parent when my oldest son, Ian, started in the 2’s class. I was so excited when I found the Co-op because I wanted a place where he could truly experience all the joys of being a kid and where I could play, learn and grow right along with him. We have gotten that and so much more! I instantly fell in love with the school and its philosophies, values and “cooperative” nature and I knew then that it was just the beginning of a lifelong impression it would make on our family. My other two sons, Brian and Sean, attended the Co-op as well from the 2’s all the way through Kindergarten. (Sean just finished last year.)

 

During our early days at the Co-op, I was finishing my Masters in Education at UNLV and taught first grade in CCSD. Though I loved being a teacher, I was yearning for more time with my own kids and was already considering leaving my full-time job in the school district when I was delighted to find out that there was a teacher position opening at the Co-op. It was perfect! I had the best of both worlds – I was able to spend those precious early years with my boys learning and playing together as a parent at the Co-op, while still being able to fulfill my passion for teaching. My teaching experience includes the 2’s, 4’s and Kindergarten Enrichment at the Co-op and Kindergarten and First Grade in the school district. I love teaching at Kids’ Co-op and feel blessed to be able to teach at a school that embraces the same philosophy on how kids learn that I do – through play, exploration, interaction and meaningful, developmentally appropriate hands-on experiences.

 

Jim and I met when we were in college at Southern Illinois University where I received my Bachelors degree in Foreign Language (French) and International Trade and have been married for 16 years.

Michelle Valenti, M-F 2's

My interest in teaching began more than 25 years ago, when I started teaching ballet and creative dance in Michigan. Through this early teaching of dance I discovered the joy of interacting with the very young and their “in-the-moment” wonder. I went into the teaching program at Eastern Michigan University after realizing that dance was a wonderful passion — but teaching was something I could excel at and could be so much more meaningful, to my life as well as to others. I graduated in 1994, with a BS in Elementary Education and a special endorsement to teach Early Childhood.

 

After I met my husband Steve and he encouraged me to move to sunny California, I was fortunate enough to teach at 2 different Lab School settings. At these schools, I worked with preschoolers in a lead teacher position as well as mentor to college students going into education related fields. After taking a hiatus from teaching to perform and travel with my husband, we started our own family.

 

When my first son Enzo made the transformation from infant to toddler, I knew it was time to revisit my “teacher-self.” I became a certified Parenting Coach through a program called Redirecting Children's Behavior. This opportunity allowed me to share with parents the skills I learned as a teacher and was needing to remind myself, being a new Mom.

 

When I was pregnant with my second boy, Marco, I discovered Kid's Co-Op. I was amazed and thrilled to find a program that went along with my philosophy of how children grow and learn. Kids were allowed to learn through play and fully immerse themselves in that process. Children were talked to with respect, allowed to be a part of decision making and supported in resolving their own conflicts, all with the guidance of loving, caring teachers.

 

Now, I am so happy that Kid's Co-Op has asked me to join this exceptional group of teachers to teach the Two's class. I find myself in the amazing position once again to work with young children in an environment where they can truly flourish. The added benefit to this job is that I get to interact with parents who honor all children and their thirst for learning.

 

 

Vicky Thompson, Office and Teacher Support

I graduated from NAU with a BA in Business Administration with an emphasis on data processing. I have also taken several seminars in childhood education. Before coming to the Co-op, I worked for Pepsi- Cola for 14 years working in the computer department.

My husband, Curt, and I have been married for 22 years and we have a 13 year old son named Matthew. Matt attended the Co-op for three years. In the past 10 years at the Co-op, I worked as a working parent, a teacher sub, served on the Board and a taught the two's class for three years. I am currently working in the office, primarily serving as the teacher support position.