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Meet The Teachers

The PVCS staff has been hand selected to meet the needs of each age group. They have the ability to predict what activities, materials, and experiences will be safe, healthy, interesting, achievable, and also challenging to the children they are teaching. They are also flexible and possess the ability to adapt to individual situations and needs as they arise among their students-teachable moments. The teachers at PVCS have a range of experience and education in early childhood education and not only meet the Arizona Department of Health and Safety’s requirements for early childhood educators but most also meet the high standards set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Most importantly, they love children and love teaching and make our preschool a fun and happy place for children to play and learn.
I am Melanie Romero, the owner and director of Paradise Valley Cooperative School. I have a master's degree in Elementary Education and many, many courses in Early Childhood Education as well. I have been working with children since I was 13 years old and babysat for all of the families in my neighborhood! I knew that someday I wanted to own my own preschool and three years ago that dream came true. I have taught first grade, and every preschool age along the way. Most recently I was a director at another school in the valley for two years prior to starting this one.

It was at that preschool that I really began to understand and believe in the philosophy that young children learn best through play, active participation in their own learning. Another strong belief of mine is that children must feel safe and loved and have their physical needs met in order to learn. I am so proud of the community we have become in the last few years and hope to grow and prosper for many years to come.

I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and moved here to go to ASU. After graduation, I stayed and my parents followed! I am married with three children. Cody is 16 and is driving! Carissa is 11, going on 20 and Cyrina turned three in April. (I had to have one more to experience my school!)

 

Hello, my name is Lama Hana-Mousa. I will be the aide in the fours class this year. I'm very excited to be a part off PVCS and this philosophy because I believe this is the right direction for our kids. They should be allowed freedom and responsibility to recognize their own needs and interests. I have an associate degree in Agriculture which I really loved.

I'm a member at St. George Antiochian Church- next door. I have a lot of experience as a Sunday school teacher for years. Also, I was very involved in the preschool my kids went to when they were little. My goal for the future is to get more experience and education in early childhood.

I'm from Syria and I have been living in the U.S. for 13 years. I have two kids. Gergey is 11 years old and loves to cook and Lana Marie is 8 years old and wants to be a teacher like her mom. My favorite thing to do is to design and decorate things and to listen to soft music.

 

Hello, my name is Paula Aceves. I am the threes co-teacher this year. This year is going to be a lot of fun for all of us! I am very excited to be part of this philosophy because I live with it every day with my five-year-old daughter, Paulina. Paulina has been coming to Melanie's school since she was two!

I am from Mexico and I've been living in Arizona for 8 years. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Business and after Paulina was born I've dedicated most of my time to helping her find her mission in life. In the journey of helping my daughter, I have taken many different classes in Early Childhood Education and one of my goals for this year is to get my CDA (Child Development Associate's Degree). I am always looking for resources, information, games and activities geared toward helping kids to learn about their surroundings. I am looking forward to a great year!!

 

I'm Debbie Ingebretson and I am really looking forward to teaching the two's class this year. Last year was my first year at PVCS. I enjoyed it so much I am back for another fun filled year. I am an Arizona native and grew up just a few miles from PVCS. I have a bachelors degree in Elementary Education from the University of Arizona and a masters degree in Elementary Education with an English as a Second Language Endorsement from Northern Arizona University. I taught kindergarten and first grade in the Madison school district for 6 years. Then I stayed at home with my son and daughter until I had the wonderful opportunity to work at PVCS. I really enjoy working at PVCS and being a PVCS parent, my daughter is in the four's class.

My number one passion has always been working with kids. I love watching them learn and grow. In my free time I love to travel and make scrapbooks. Two hobbies that go well together, because the more you travel the more pictures you have to put in the scrapbook.

 

Hi! My name is Terry Croy. I have been working in the early childhood field for 9 years. I have many hours of in-service and conferences dealing with preschool age children. I am currently attending Paradise Valley Community College to finish up my certificate of completion for Early Childhood Development. I am a believer in NAEYC guidelines because I agree that young children learn best through play. I am proud to work for a school where the children’s needs are met in this way. I currently teach the T/Th Three's class and I absolutely love my kids!

I have been married for 17 years and have two girls; Brea is 13 and Katie is 11. I also have a dog named Shadow.

 

Hello, my name is Lynda Craven, and I am very excited to be part of the Paradise Valley Cooperative School community this year. I will be teaching the Twos Class on MWF and I look forward to meeting all of my "little bundles of wonder" and sharing a fun filled year with them.

I'm from San Diego , but a job opportunity for my husband brought us to Phoenix in 2000. I have two daughters, Olivia (9) and Genevieve (5), who have taught me to re-discover the joy in play and to enjoy the little things in life. Besides being a stay-at-home mom for the last 7 years and being an active volunteer in my girls' schools, I am also an active member of the MOMS Club, and enjoy taking ballroom dance classes with my husband. I've always felt in my heart that I wanted to become a teacher, and as this is my first teaching job, I am excited in taking the first of many baby steps to what I hope is a new career direction for me.

 

I am Teacher Brie and I will be the Twos aide with Teacher Debbie on Tuesday and Thursday this year. This will be my first year at Paradise Valley Cooperative School and I am very excited to get started. I graduated from ASU with a bachelor’s degree in Life Science. My previous experiences working with children include babysitting as a teen and as an assistant teacher for a short time at a learning center locally. I am looking forward to meeting you all and having lots of fun this year!

I was born in Rutland, Vermont and have lived in Phoenix for over 22 years now. I am married and have a two year old son who will also be starting his first year in preschool. I have been a stay at home mom since he was born. I have been involved with the Attachment Parenting Group for a few months now which is how I heard of this position. In my free time, I enjoy photography and crafting.

 

I will be the two's aide on MWF with Teacher Lynda. This will be my first year teaching young children, and I am very much looking forward to it! I have a bachelors degree in Family Studies and Child Development and a masters in Social Work, both from ASU. I am married and for the past 6+ years have stayed home with my two son's Dylan, 6 and Alex, 2 (Alex attends PVCS). When I was a child, my parents joined the Peace Corps and we moved to Brazil . We lived there for 12 years and traveled often. As a result, I love to travel, meet new people and see new places.

 

 

Hi. I’m Kristen Flangos and I will be the MWF Three’s teacher at the new school location in the Fall of 2008. I’m excited to be joining the PVCS team and to be a part of such a great curriculum and philosophy as well as the adventure of opening a new location! I’m looking forward to meeting all my students and their families.

I have a BA in Special Needs Education from ASU where I also minored in Music. After graduating, I substituted in different districts and also taught in a K-4 Learning Resource classroom at Kiva Elementary school before finally getting a position in one of the special needs preschools in the Paradise Valley School District. There I gained a wealth of experience in both the Creative Curriculum and the art of teaching through play. Once my daughter was born I decided to be a stay-at-home mom. I have a daughter named Ashlyn (7) who is in 1st grade and a son named Ryan (2). Ashlyn attended PVCS the very first year it opened, when she was two. She had such a great experience and now I want Ryan to have that same opportunity. He will be in the MWF Two’s class in the Fall.

I grew up in CA and moved here in high school where I attended Chaparral and then ASU. My husband Peter and I have been married for 11 years. In my spare time I love photography, scrapbooking and reading.

 

My name is Maureen Love and I will be teaching the M-W-F toddler class. I graduated from ASU with a BA in Anthropology and then earned a Post-BA in Education. I married my college sweet-heart and taught third grade for 4 years as I completed my Masters in Education from NAU. I have been a stay-at-home mom since our daughter Sarah was born. This will also be her first year of preschool. I look forward to meeting all of you this year.

 

 

Hi, my name is Mary Pitblado and I am going to be working with the PT toddlers in the fall on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am very excited to be part of Paradise Valley Cooperative School. I have a BA in developmental psychology and have taken many courses in Early Childhood Education. I have taught in many school settings with many age groups. My daughter Avery will be in the PT fours class and Cayley will be with the 2s-her first school experience. I have been very impressed with the school as a parent and cannot wait to be part of the amazing staff.

 

 

Hi there my name is Nicole Gonzalez and I’m the full time 3’s Teacher here this year! This is my first year here at PV Coop School and I’m just thrilled to be part of a school that has the same philosophy about kids as I do. I really enjoy working with my 3 year olds very much! They are so full of energy and all kind of of fun and exciting questions!

I have a son named Braiden who is 17 months old. Braiden is such a sweet and loving little boy. He keeps his mommy busy that is for sure. He comes to PVCS in the toddler room for a couple hours a day. He LOVES his class and teacher very much. Braiden is my only child and we just moved back home from TX not to long ago. I have been teaching in preschools since I was 18 and I really enjoy it. I have taught the toddlers for a short time, and then the two’s and three’s. I enjoy watching the kids learn and grow in a playful, safe and fun environment. I’m in college for my degree in early childhood education, and minor in family studies. It is taking me longer than expected to finish up but I want to spend as much time with my growing little boy as I can.

 

Hello my name is Kristine Manar. I am the new full time toddler teacher. I am looking forward to a fun year with your children watching them grow and mature. I have many years of experience working with toddlers in various childcare centers, as a nanny, a resort babysitter and I operated a home childcare for 10 yrs. I graduated from Paradise Valley High School in 92 and started elementary education courses at PVCC. I took various child development, and child psychology classes. Along with my perfessional and educational experiences I am a mother of 3 young boys. Alec 11(ADHD & ODD), Collin 8 and Nate 6(ADHD).I have been with my husband since highschool and married for 12yrs. I enjoy spending time on the soccer field and at chess matches with my boys.

 

 

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