About Miss Holly (Director/Owner)

Miss Holly has been teaching preschool since September of 2006. She graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2005. She taught for 1 year as a 4th grade teacher, student taught in both 1st & 3rd grade, and assistant taught in a private school Kindergarten & preschool.

She has 4 children ranging in age from 13-20 years old. Holly's Family loves playing board & card games, playing sports, going for bike rides, camping, hiking, and traveling. Miss Holly loves motorcycles, reading, & dark chocolate!

Teaching is Miss Holly's passion and she loves teaching preschool! She feels that there is no better job than being a mom & a preschool teacher!

About Miss Shalamar (Front Desk & Penguin Teacher)

Miss Shalamar is a lifelong Utahn! She has worked in education for many years, and has loved every second! She has worked with all ages of kids, but mostly preschool-6th grade. Miss Shalamar started out in special education as a reading specialist, moved on and spent five years as a school librarian, and most recently taught preschool and oversaw the reading and testing programs at Little Farmers Preschool. She loves working with children, especially preschoolers. Seeing their faces light up when they grasp a new concept, or realize they are doing something they couldn’t before is so rewarding for her!

Miss Shalamar has lived in Herriman with her wonderful husband Bryan, for 19 years. We have two daughters, Annabelle is 16, and Izzabelle is 13, and they also have a black lab, Boog, who is like their third child. When they aren’t working and going to school they are playing. They love boating, camping, spending time at our duck club property, traveling, going to concerts, seeing plays, and just spending time together!

About Miss Natalie (Owl, Horse, & Whale Teacher)

Miss Natalie loves teaching at Discovery Kids Preschool! Previously she graduated from the University of Utah in 2004 with a degree in Elementary Education. After graduation she taught kindergarten for two years. For two years she worked within her community for an organization that taught court ordered parenting classes to families. Miss Natalie had the honor of being able to teach the preschool age children within this organization.

She has been married to her high school sweetheart for 20 years. Together they have two beautiful daughters and a handsome son. Miss Natalie loves spending time with her family. Together they love to explore new places. In her spare time you can find Miss Natalie playing games with her family, reading a book, or enjoying the outdoors.

About Miss Julie (Substitute Teacher)

Miss Julie graduated from BYU in 1996 with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught school for many years in Orange, California. She loves the learning process and sharing in the excitement and joy that comes from learning new things!

She has been married to her husband, Andy for 25 years. They have 6 children ranging in ages 7-22. Miss Julie has been blessed to be home with her children for the last 19 years while she did many years of tutoring and participated in preschool swaps with several of them. She has spent countless hours in the classroom helping with all sorts of activities!

Miss Julie enjoys being outside with her family. They love to hike and spend time at the lake. Hands down Miss Julie's most favorite thing is people... big and small!

About Miss Ambree (Elephant & Lion Teacher)

Miss Ambree dreamed of becoming a preschool teacher at a very young age. After graduating from Taylorsville high school she instantly started working for a special education preschool for 7 years and is so excited to be back in the classroom after a little break to stay at home with her kids.

She currently lives in Daybreak with her husband and 3 beautiful kids Gavin (11), Maycee (9), and Ivy (4). In her free time Ambree loves to spend time with her family, teach dance, go on vacations, and watch her girls dance and her son play basketball.

Miss Ambree is so excited to be joining the amazing staff at Discovery Kids Preschool and to be back doing what she loves. Miss Ambree truly believes in making every kid feel special and loves every second of engaging with kids.

Meet Miss Lisa Anne (Wolf Teacher)

Miss Lisa Anne has been teaching at Discovery Kids for three years. Her previous jobs before being a preschool teacher include working for Elementary Schools teaching an emotional/social skills program, teaching reading skills, a school librarian, and a teacher assistant. She loves working with children and especially loves working with preschoolers because of their sweet demeanors and excitement to learn!

She received her BS from Brigham Young University in Family Health and her and her husband are parents to three awesome kids who have recently left the nest.

Her hobbies include gardening, learning about functional health, baking, playing games with her family, hiking, pickleball, and spending time with her new grandson.

Meet Miss Kaylee (Leopard teacher)

Miss Kaylee graduated from Brigham Young University with a Master's Degree in Social work in 2010. She worked as a child and family therapist for three years, focusing on preschool and elementary aged children. She has enjoyed being a mother for the past 9 years and has four kids ages 2-9 years old. She found a love for teaching preschool with her own children and taught at an in-home preschool last year. She loves seeing the excitement in children when they learn and accomplish something new.

Miss Kaylee loves spending time outdoors. She enjoys hiking, camping, swimming, and visiting National Parks with her family. She also enjoys playing sports, particularly pickleball and tennis. In her spare time she enjoys playing games and doing crafts.

Meet Miss Erin (Substitute teacher)

Miss Erin is passionate about sharing her love of learning with young children and is excited to return to the world of teaching this year. She grew up in Seattle, Washington (yes, she loves the rain!) and studied early childhood education and special education at BYU-Idaho. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, she moved to Utah and started working as a kindergarten teacher for granite school district. After four years of teaching, she had her first daughter and decided to use her talents as a stay-at-home mom, which she has been doing for the last seven years. She has two beautiful girls and one adorable baby boy.

In her free time she enjoys hiking, bike riding, camping, shopping, decorating, organizing and cleaning her house, and eating chocolate! She also loves planning parties and other fun activities for her kids and their friends.

About Miss Chiyomi Polar Bear & Seal Teacher)

Miss Chiyomi (Chee-yo-me) was born and raised in Utah. She graduated from Weber State University with Bachelor's degree in elementary education. She has been teaching elementary school, mostly first grade, for the past 5 years. She student taught in grades 4, 5, & 6 before getting her degree. She taught English in Japan for 10 years.

After many great teaching experiences, she decided it was time to come to Utah and settle down. She has four children ranging from ages 16-2. She loves working with children and enjoys seeing their faces when they learn something new. She is excited to work with preschool ages again!

Miss Heidi (Giraffe Teacher)

Miss Heidi had been teaching at Discovery Kids Preschool for 5 years. She graduated from Dixie State College in 2002 with an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has over 25 years of experience in working with kids as a tumbling teacher. She also had the opportunity of being trained in the “I can read” program and working with various kids from all backgrounds as part of her platform during her reign as Miss Riverton 2000.

She and her husband have been married for 22 years and have 4 kids ranging from ages 11-17. Miss Heidi enjoys playing games with her family and friends, boating, and going to St. George to visit family. Miss Heidi has a sweet spot in her heart for little kids and loves how much love they have to offer.

About Miss Erika ()

Miss Erika graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University in 2005 when her first child was a baby. She and her husband, Jarom, now have 5 children (3 boys and 2 girls) ranging in age from 8-18.

She taught 4 of her 5 children through a preschool swap. She also spends time in her children’s classrooms on a regular basis. She has always had an incredible love for children. She thinks they are so fun to be around! She believes children learn best when they feel safe, loved and when in a fun, playful environment.

Miss Erika enjoys playing board games, camping, swimming, playing pickleball, sewing for her clothing business and traveling the world. She lived in Holland for 3 years when her first few children were little. She loves to travel and experience new cultures. She speaks Dutch and ASL. She loves to learn new things.

About Miss Jessica (Dolphin Teacher & Front Office Manager)

Miss Jessica has been working at Discovery Kids Preschool since 2017 at the front desk. She's also been teaching during the summer sessions and she's been teaching preschool since 2020. Miss Jessica has worked with children in all types of capacities. Preschoolers are her speciality. She has been a stay at home mom raising my children since 2004. During that time she have done daycare in her home. She has work experience in customer service and working with special needs children.

Miss Jessica stays busy with her three children ranging in age from 6-14 years old. She enjoy spending time outside. You may find her walking her dog around Oquirrh Lake at Daybreak or hiking a trail in the mountains. She also enjoys reading, crocheting, cooking, traveling and spending time with friends and family.

About Miss Lisa R. (Lead Teacher, Panther, Tiger, Snake, & Parrot Teacher)

Miss Lisa has taught at Discovery Kids Preschool since 2019. She has loved every minute of her time here, especially the children.

Miss Lisa moved to Utah in 2019 from Corning, New York with her husband of 30 years, so that they could be closer to their son & daughter & 4 grandchildren.

Miss Lisa has worked for 36 years with children of all ages from birth to 18 years old. Her favorite ages is 3-5 years old because they are ready to learn about our world and their conversations about it are hilarious. She loves to see the excitement in their faces when they finally understand a new concept.

Miss Lisa started her college education at Corning Community College in 2002 & graduated with an associates degree. She then continued her education at Kaplan University with a Bachelors in Psychology & a minor in Early Childhood Education.

Meet Raymie (Sea Otter Teacher)

Miss Raymie loves being a preschool teacher! She still has an entry from her 6th grade journal about wanting to be a preschool teacher when she grows up. She has worked with children basically her whole adult career. Starting at daycares, to becoming a director over the daycare at the Daybreak Community Center, until receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Utah Valley University in 2008.

She then taught 3rd grade at Daybreak Elementary for two years before becoming a stay at home mom for her daughter who is now ten. Her family has now blossomed into three adorable children (1 girl and 2 boys). She has continued to dabble in the teaching career through substitute teaching for all ages, and also some private tutoring. She had the privilege of teaching her oldest son here at Discovery Kids, and is is now looking forward to doing the same with her youngest!
Miss Raymie describes herself as up for anything! Other than her husband's computer games, and she's not sure she would ever go scuba diving...but maybe. Her top bucket list items are: riding in a hot air balloon, visiting all 5o states, running a marathon, seeing a broadway show of Phantom of the Opera preferably in New York ...the list could go on, but for now she is enjoying raising her kiddos, and being with her husband of 16+ years, plus embarking on life's little adventures as they come!

Meet Miss Kathy (Brown Bear teacher)

Miss Kathy earned her B.A. in Art History from San Jose State University in California. She has always loved kids and has worked with them in numerous contexts, including teaching computers at a public elementary in South Jordan and leading both children and teenagers through church service.

A true foodie, Miss Kathy is an expert at multiple cuisines, including Korean, Italian, and baked goods. She sells decorated sugar cookies.

Miss Kathy loves reading, skiing, and traveling, especially with her family, and has been to nearly two dozen countries and three dozen U.S. states. Though she grew up in Utah County, she has lived in six states and two countries and visited four continents.

The mother of three (ages 11 to 22!), Miss Kathy is married to her high school sweetheart and is the “grandma” to one dog, one cat, and a lizard. She ran the Marine Corps Marathon and has vowed never to run another.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Hello Preschool Families,

At Discovery Kids Preschool our first goal as preschool teachers is to make each day exciting! We want the children to love learning and to love coming to preschool. This is their first experience in a classroom setting and we want them to enjoy it, to feel comfortable, and to feel confident.

Our second goal is for each preschooler to succeed academically. We want them to stretch themselves, to realize their own learning potential and to seek out information by asking questions and applying new concepts.

Our last goal is for our students to be confident in a classroom setting by knowing when to share ideas and when to listen. I want my preschoolers to make new friends and strengthen those relationships using life skills and good communication.

Sincerely,

Discovery Kids Preschool Staff