Smoky Row Children's Center

Bios

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  Judy

  Founder

  Judy’s professional life began in 1960 (yes, before you were born!). She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education at University of Omaha and a Master’s Degree in Child Development at Ohio State University. She taught in the Omaha public schools before joining the HEADSTART program, which included teaching Child Development at Columbus State Community College. Then she realized and fulfilled her goal of creating a high quality early childhood center when she founded Smoky Row Children’s Center in 1983. Judy says, “The favorite part of my day at SRCC is getting out of the office and spending time in the classrooms. As I walk around seeing children happily involved in developmentally appropriate activities, I feel proud of our teachers and the work they are doing and the wonderful service we offer. I deeply appreciate their passion and dedication to the mission of the center.” She and husband Bob, who is a retired OB-GYN, love to travel. They also delight in spending time with family, especially their three grandchildren. Being a Grandparent is the dessert of life!

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  Bobbie

  Infant Room

  Bobbie has been working in the Infant Room since 1994! She grew up in Worthington with two sisters who are still her best friends. She also enjoys hanging out with her 25 year old daughter, Carly who attended Smoky Row as a preschooler. She likes movies, reading, and camping in her old camper near Michigan. She thinks of Smoky Row as her second family and loves her co-workers and the relationships she builds with the infants and their families. She also babysits for Smoky Row families.

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  Jannie

  Infant Room

  Jannie has been working in the Infant Room since 2008. She is a lucky grandma because her grandson Mason attends Smoky Row’s preschool! She has happy childhood memories of playing hide-and-seek and brings that playfulness to the infant room. She loves watching the babies learn, give smiles and hugs. In her spare time she likes to travel (especially to the beach), read and take walks.

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  Sue

  Infant Room

  Sue has been working in the Infant Room since 1992! She has a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan. She enjoys spending time with her three grown sons, visiting the Open Door Art Studio in Grandview, and occasional trips to farmer’s/flea markets.

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  Tunde

  Infant Room

  Tunde has been at Smoky Row since 2005. She has a Bachelor of Education from Hungary where she grew up. Her daughter is in kindergarten here at Smoky Row. In her free time she enjoys baking and trying out new recipes. She also enjoys watching British comedies.

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  Becky

  Toddler Room

  Becky has worked in child care since 1999. She graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Her favorite things are going to Ohio State Football games, reading and playing volleyball every chance she gets.

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  Amanda

  Toddler Room

  Amanda has been at Smoky Row since 2005. She has attended Columbus State Community College working on her Early Childhood Education degree. She loves to attend concerts, read books and watching movies.

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  Megan

  Toddler Room

  Megan has been at Smoky Row since April 2012. She is currently attending Columbus State Community College studying Early Childhood Education. She has lots of experience working with children through babysitting and volunteering at elementary schools. In her free time she enjoys playing sports, riding bikes, traveling, going to concerts, watching plays/musicals, and being with her family.

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  Kim

  Super Star Room

  Kim has been teaching at Smoky Row since 1990! She has her Child Development Certificate and has attended many workshops and conferences and worked on a training video with Action For Children. She lives in Grove City with her husband, Bill. She is very proud of her son Gregg who is a paramedic. She enjoys beach vacations, snorkeling and snow skiing. She also loves to cook and do fun science projects in the Super Star Room.

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  Jola

  Super Star Room

  Jola has been teaching at Smoky Row since 1988! She has a degree in Education from Capital University and continues to attend conferences and workshops related to Early Childhood Education. She has lots of great childhood memories of dressing up and playing pretend. She has always loved books. A favorite idea was pretending to be the teacher for all of her stuffed animals. She comes from a family of educators including her brother and her son recently earned his Master’s Degree in higher education.

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  Kaitlin

  Monkey Room

  Kaitlin graduated from the Ohio State University in 2011 with a degree in Education and Human Ecology. She comes to us with 6 years of teaching experience. In her free time she enjoys traveling and has been all over the world. She loves working with the children in the Monkey Room!

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  Marissa

  Monkey Room

  Marissa moved to the Columbus area from Chicago in 2013. She has 3 years of experience working with children babysitting, volunteering at child care centers and working in the field. She is currently working on her Childhood Development Associates Degree. She is very passionate about teaching and loves to see children discover new things and being excited to learn.

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  Mindy

  Teddy Bear Room

  Mindy has been a Teddy Bear teacher since 2013. She has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Kent State University. During her summers home from Kent State she worked at Smoky Row! She lives in Grandview and loves spending time with her parents who live nearby. She especially enjoys spending time with her brother and niece.

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  Danielle

  Teddy Bear Room

  Danielle has been teaching since 2004 and a Teddy Bear teacher since 2008. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education from Ohio State University. She lives in Powell with her husband, daughter and dog. She loves being a Teddy Bear teacher and feels so lucky because her daughter attends Smoky Row!

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  Taryn

  Tree House Club

  Taryn has been teaching since 2006 and at Smoky Row since 2008. She has a degree in Human Ecology focusing on Early Childhood Education from Ohio State University. She is a huge Ohio State football fan. She also loves spending time with her sons, Quintin and Landon, at the park and taking her dog, Brutus, on walks.

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  Denise

  Tree House Club

  Denise has been at Smoky Row since 2008. She has her Child Development Certificate from Columbus State Community College. She has been married for 27 years and has two sons. She enjoys her class very much because they remind her of her boys when they were young and made her laugh! She also loves to garden, cook, and spend special time with her family.

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  Amy

  Sunshine Room

  Amy has been working at Smoky Row since 1984!! She has a two year degree in Early Childhood Development and has attended many workshops and conferences related to Early Childhood Education. Her favorite part of the day is when impromptu discussions arise when children are sharing their news. In her free time she likes to do yoga and take spinning classes.

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  Marika

  Sunshine Room

  Marika has been an educator since 2000. She has degrees in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Ohio University. Marika’s favorite food is Mellow Mushroom Pizza, she loves going to Hilton Head every year with her family, and she went to Smoky Row’s care after school program as a child!

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  Bethann

  Rainbow Room/ Kindergarten Room

  Bethann has been working at Smoky Row since 1993! She has a Music Education Degree from Ohio University. She is very proud of her two grown children, Heather and Abram. She just welcomed her first grandchild into the world. She is so excited to be a grandma! She loves singing and playing the guitar. She always looks forward to seeing generations return to Smoky Row.

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  Sharon

  Rainbow Room

  Sharon has been working at Smoky Row since 2008. She has a degree in Education from Indiana University (GO HOOSIERS!). She and her husband, Matt, have been married for 26 years. They have three children, one son and two daughters. She loves spending time traveling with her family, watching her kid’s athletic events (football, rowing, horseback riding and gymnastics), playing with her dogs, doing crafts, reading and exercising.

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  Emily

  Rainbow Room

  Emily has seven years of teaching experience. She has a degree in Human Development and Family Science from Ohio State University. Her favorite activity outside of school is ice hockey as both a player and a coach. She is at the rink almost every night and on the weekends! She also attended Smoky Row as a preschooler 23 years ago!

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  Ashley

  Butterfly Room

  Ashley has nine years of teaching experience. She has a degree in Human Ecology from Ohio State University. She loves to go for walks with her husband daughter and dog, Pippi. Her favorite part of the day at Smoky Row is playground time. She loves to play games with the Butterfly friends!

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  Denise

  Butterfly room

  Denise has seventeen years of experience teaching preschool. She has a degree is Early Childhood Education and Mild-Moderate Intervention. She is very proud of her two grown sons. She loves travel and fuzzy animals like the classroom bunny and her dog, Samson. Her favorite part of the day is when she can do messy art and science projects with the kids.

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  Missy

  Kindergarten Room

  Missy has been teaching Kindergarten at Smoky Row since 1993. She has a degree in Elementary Education from Ashland University. In her free time, she loves coaching her twin boys in soccer, watching her daughter’s basketball and soccer games, and shopping. She has wanted to be a kindergarten teacher ever since she was in third grade!

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  Dana

  Administration

  Dana has eighteen years of teaching and administrative experience. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education from Ohio State University. She enjoys traveling to Walt Disney. She loves coffee, brownies, or anything chocolate. Her favorite part of her Smoky Row day is saying good morning to all of the smiling, happy, children as they walk through the front door!

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  Lora

  Administration

  Lora has been at Smoky Row since 2000. She has a degree in Elementary Education from Bowling Green State University and a Master’s in Early Childhood Administration from National Louis University. She loves giving tours to new families and getting to know those families and children as they attend Smoky Row. In her free time she likes to read, exercise, travel and spend time with her daughter, Bailey, and son, Thomas.

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  Lisa

  Administration

  Lisa has 28 years of classroom experience and moved to administration in 2010. She has a degree in Child Development from Ohio State University. She and her husband are empty nesters and love to travel, go to concerts, and work in her yard. She also loves her Buckeyes! She likes being the first person you see at Smoky Row and letting you in the door with a smile!