Our Playschool Staff

Rachel has been with the Playschool since 2016 when her oldest daughter was a student here. She fell in love with our program and happily stepped into a teaching role the very next year.

Rachel graduated from Harding University with a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education. Her love of traveling found her gaining experiences working with children while doing mission work in Nicaragua as well as teaching English in Panama for 6 months. She also spent a semester abroad doing her pre-student teaching in Scotland.

She continued to teach until she moved to Alaska in 2010 when she switched careers and became a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines. She eventually stepped away to be a stay-at-home mom until her journey with us began. She was one of our teachers for a few years while all 3 of her children attended the Playschool and became the Director in 2022

I have been working with kids for as long as I can remember. I am the oldest of 10 kids, I've been teaching bible classes since I was a teenager, and I lived at a summer camp all my teen years. I am married and have 3 kids of my own, all of whom attended St. Mary's. The Playschool had a huge impact on my life because of the amazing teachers my kids had. I learned so much from them that was able to help make me a better parent!

Out of high school I did mission work in Australia for a year which made me certain I wanted to work with children and youth "when I grew up.” Since that time I've done exactly that! My goal this year is to learn a little more each day about the children in my class and how to best help them as one of the adults that is lucky enough to be in their life.

I moved to Alaska with my parents in the 80s, and I've lived here ever since! I met my husband before the turn of the century, and now we have 2 amazing kids, both of whom attended St Mary's. When our youngest moved on to kindergarten, I just couldn't leave the playschool, so I stayed on as a sub. Now, I'm thrilled to be in the classroom full time!

I enjoy traveling, costuming, stage combat, all kinds of crafts, and naps. But my greatest love is reading and I almost always have a book on hand.

My family has lived in Alaska since the 90s, and I definitely consider it home! I went to college at Florida Southern, but after graduation came right back to Anchorage. I have a bachelor’s in elementary education. I taught preschool for one year, and then spent 10 years teaching 3rd grade (with one year of 2nd grade in the middle) at Tyson Elementary.

I enjoy reading, downhill skiing, vacation to any beach, and time spent with my family!
My husband and I have two kiddos: one in elementary and one right here at The Playschool! Her first year of preschool was so awesome that I, too, hoped to spend more time here. I’m excited to be here among the wonderful staff and families of The Playschool!

I grew up in Upstate New York, went to college at the University of Central Florida in Orlando to escape the harsh winters. Ha! I came to Alaska for the summer after graduating from college to work up in Denali National Park in the tourism industry, one summer led to 2 summers, and I eventually moved to Alaska to work for a tourism company. I eventually left that job to be a live-in nanny in Girdwood, then had an administrative job for a few years . Somewhere along the way I met my husband and we now live in Anchorage with our 4 wild and beautiful kids. Our two youngest kids currently attend The Playschool. Working in the office has been the perfect fit for me. I love organizing, planning, and a good spreadsheet. This job has just enough of that along with lots of time spent with preschoolers that make me laugh, families that are a beautiful representation of our community, and working alongside wonderful women who inspire me!