Meet the Staff
Miss Chris
Site SupervisorHi, I am Miss Chris, and I am proud to be the site supervisor for the team who work at Right from the Start- It has always been my hope to create a center that demonstrates the professional team that we have become. We believe that a center that is filled with dedicated staff who love their job and excel at it will foster the love and education that childcare brings to a community. We are proud of our reputation in the community and look forward to helping and watching your child grow.
A little about myself, I obtained an associate degree from Northampton Community College in Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor of Science Degree. from Kutztown University in Educational Psychology, and a Master of Education from Alvernia University in Urban /Rural Education with minor in Psychology.
I, along with Miss Lisa opened the center in 2004 and in 2011 I was offered a position to work for the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education. But after Covid I realized that although the other positions I held were exactly where my career path was to take me, I realized that I needed to be back in my roots, and I rejoined Right from the Start in the winter of 2021. I have never been prouder of our center and the staff that I get to work with daily.
I am married to my husband Phil who is a Research Chemist and I have two grown children Stephen and Nicholas and they are both married.
Miss Lisa
Center DirectorHi there-I'm Miss Lisa and I am proud to be the center director here at Right from the Start. I have been with the center since our opening day of May 10, 2004. Throughout my time at the center, I taught in the infant, young toddler, preschool, and pre-k classrooms. I also served as the Assistant Director. I have a B.A. in Early Childhood Education, an A.A. in Applied Science Early Childhood, as well as a Specialized Diploma of Leadership for Early Childhood Program Directors. I also obtained the Pennsylvania Director Credential. Professionally I am/have been a PQAS Director Instructor, member of Director Advisory Committee, member of PACCA, member of the LV ECE PD Day Planning Committee, member of the Schuylkill LEARN team, member of the Berks County Transition Fair Committee and a former TEACH scholarship recipient. I am married to my husband Brad, and we have two children, Kayla and is going to college for nursing and Brett he is a junior firefighter at Ravine Fire Rescue.
Meet our Infant/Toddler Team
Miss Heather
Lead Teacher - InfantHi- I'm Miss Heather and I have been with RFTS since March 2016. I have 35years' experience working in childcare, ranging from infants through school age as well as special needs. I hold my infant/toddler CDA. My family includes my husband Matt, our fur babies, my son DJ, and my granddaughters. My hobbies include painting & drawing, reading, shooting pool, bowling, and making Cricut projects. My favorite part of working with infants is watching the infants reach their full potential with milestones and grow. I believe in “learn through play’ and we use this daily in our classroom.
Miss Tanzy
Infant assistant teacherHi-I'm Miss Tanzy and I have been with RFTS since December 2020. I started as a teacher’s aide, and recently moved to assistant group supervisor status. I am returning to school, and I am working on my degree in early childhood education. I recently returned to work in the preschool room after maternity leave with my daughter Annie. My family also includes my mom, my bonus dad, my sisters Twyla and Tawny. I can’t wait to get to know you and your child.
Miss Bethanie
Lead Teacher - Toddler 1Hello-I'm Miss Bethany. I started with RFTS in September 2019 and worked until March 2020 when I stepped away from the field for a while to focus on my family. I returned to RFTS in November 2021. I have always worked in the toddler classrooms. I have about 10 years' experience with children, from working in a center to babysitting to having little cousins. My family includes my three daughters, Sophia, Carter and Charleigh. My hobbies include camping & swimming.
Miss Kassie
Assistant Toddler TeacherI am Miss Kassie, and I have been working with children since I was very young. I enjoy working with all of the younger children.
Miss Danielle
Lead Teacher - Toddler 2Hi I am Miss Danielle and I have been with RFTS since April 2022. I have over 25 years' experience in childcare, previously running a family-based center out of my house. I have three brothers and also two sisters. My hobbies include playing tennis, swimming, doing crafts and reading books. One of my great joys in this classroom is watching the children as they discover that they can do fun activities like art and science- We love to read and sing in this age group. They are natural explorers.
Miss Mikayla
Assistant Toddler TeacherHi, I am Miss Mikayla, and I am happy to be working in the toddler classroom. I love to sing and dance with the children. I also have a daughter who attends RFTSELA.
Miss Roseann
Lead Teacher - Toddler 3Hello- I'm Miss Roseann and I have been with RFTS since January 2009. I have an Associate degree in Liberal Arts as well as qualifying ECE credits. I have over 15 years' experience with children, ranging from working in a center and babysitting. My family includes my parents-Jeff & Anita and my two brothers Jeff & Michael and their families. My hobbies include scrapbooking and I love to swim. I love to work with the children in this age group because this is their last few months as a toddler so every day you see them blossom into a better version of themselves.
Miss Syvanna
Assistant Teacher - Toddler 3Hi-I'm Miss Syvanna and I have been with RFTS since October 2017. I have worked in the infant classroom and as a center floater prior to finding my home in the older toddler classroom. I have experience working in a childcare center plus babysitting. My family includes my two boys Caleb and Hayden. My hobbies include being outdoors, swimming, going to the trail to walk and spending time with my family.
Meet our Preschool and Pre K Team
Miss Amy
Lead teacher - Preschool 1Hello-I'm Miss Amy and I have been with RFTS since September 2012. I have my AAS Degre in Early Childhood and have over 10 years' experience working with children. I also volunteer at my church as well as teaching Sunday School. My family includes my fiancé Jason and our 3 Shetland sheep dogs-Bandit, Skye and Scotch.
Miss Holly
Assistant Teacher - Preschool 1 Miss Connie
Lead Preschool 2 Teacher
Miss Brianna
Assistant Teacher – Preschool 2I joined RFTS August 2017. I have over 12 years' experience working with children both her and also, having two nieces who keep me busy. My family includes my parents-Sherry & Brian, my sister, and her husband and my two nieces and of course my cats-TJ, Midnight, Princess & Shadow. I love to travel, camp, go to concerts, check out local wineries, go bowling, go to trivia nights, play board games, watch movies and spend time with family & friends.
Miss Emily
Lead Teacher - Pre K 2Hello- I'm Miss Emily and I have been with RFTS since August 2013, I have my AAS Degre in Early Childhood and have over 10 years' experience working with children. And I still love it. My family includes my husband, and our 4 boys-Gio, Alex, Jackson, and Elias. I am a sports mom who cheers for all games and sports that my sons are involved in. We live in the town of Hamburg and enjoy all the things that the little town has to offer. I believe that showing children how to understand their environment and working towards better harmony in the class is both modeled and also organic development. I love to watch them figure out their strengths.
Miss Allison
Assistant Pre K Teacher and Center FloaterHi I am Miss Allison and I am happy to be working as a preschool assistant teacher as well as center floater. I love working with children and singing and dancing.
Miss Denise
Lead Pre K 1 TeacherHi- I'm Miss Denise and I have been with RFTS since January 2007. I have been working in childcare for over 30 years and I have my B.S in Elementary Education. My family includes my son Garrett and husband Brian and our dog Max, and our cats Kaley and Smokey. My hobbies include watching my son play sports and seeing him grow as a hunter and fishermen.
While working in the classroom I am working with children not only on academic skills but also developing oft skills that will help them when they get into kindergarten such as independence and self-reliance. The children need these skills just as much as they do the ABC and 123.
Miss Cyssondra
Assistant Teacher - PreK 1 roomI have been working at Right from the start since the summer of 2023. I graduated from Hamburg High school in June of 2023, and I also graduated from BCTC west campus for early Childhood Education. I have also worked on a dairy farm for 3 years. My family includes my mom, sister two nephews and my dog and cat.
Miss Melanie
Assistant Teacher - PreschoolHi I am Miss Melanie and I am happy to be working with the preschool ager groups.
Meet our School Age Team
Miss Steph
Teacher - School AgeHello – I’m Miss Steph and I have been with RFTS since December 2020. I am currently the teacher in School age. I have been working in childcare for over 10 years. In the past I have worked with re k and Preschool. I love my job and my favorite part is completing art projects with kids. I love to see them express themselves and their feelings and personalities in art. I encourage learning through art and play. My family includes my two children and their families including my grandchildren.
Miss Jani
School age Assistant TeacherHi I am Miss Jani and I have been working with children for a few years. My favorite age is younger children. I am happy to be working in the toddler classroom.
Miss Joannye
Preschool/Pre K floater
Miss Greta
Teacher - School AgeHi, I am Miss Greta, and I will be working with the school age classrooms.
