Our Teachers

Early Learning Center uses a team teaching system. In such an arrangement, each teacher has equal responsibility for all classroom functions including planning, teaching and parent conferences. All staff are fully qualified and come to your children with a variety of teaching experiences. 

​We are confident in our team teaching system and know this approach will provide an enjoyable learning environment for your child. The teachers are excited about sharing another year with the children at ELC, and look forward to making this the best year possible for all families involved in the preschool.
Nancy Martin  |  Butterfly Class
​​Nancy Martin began teaching at Early Learning Center in 1998.  She began her career in preschool many years ago where she was working in both a preschool and a Kindergarten class. After that she had a licensed child care home and finally  discovered ELC. Mrs. Martin has a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and 18 additional graduate hours in Educational Psychology. Her favorite thing about teaching is witnessing the love of learning in young children and knowing that she is playing a part in that.  

​Her favorite thing about ELC is the families and the staff. She feels the staff all work together to give children the best start in their educational journey and support the growth of the whole child. In her spare time, Mrs. Martin has an online quilting business and loves to express her creativity.
Marciah Boerema  |  ​Caterpillar Class
Marciah Boerema has been teaching at Early Learning Center for over 15 years. She has over 30 years of experience in teaching. She taught at the Lamaze Family Center for over 20 years as a Parent-Child Playgroup facilitator and Infant Care instructor. She is also a Big Brother Big Sister tour guide at both area hospitals. Mrs. Boerema has her Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development/Early Childhood Development from Northern Illinois University.

Her favorite things about teaching are the children and the funny things they say. She loves the way a group of 3 year olds have the ability to change her lesson plans for the better. 
Sara Rydell  |  ​Butterfly Class
Sara Rydell began teaching at ELC in 2017. As a former parent, board member and teacher's assistant, she has a wonderful history with ELC and loves the family-oriented atmosphere. She has several years of experience in education which started at the college and secondary level. After staying home with her children for several years, she came back into education working in a Kindergarten classroom and now at ELC. 

Mrs. Rydell has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Central Michigan University and a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Her favorite thing about teaching is developing relationships with the children and seeing how much they grow as individuals throughout the year. The thing she loves most about ELC is the community. "Most of our staff has been here for several years and our families return when their younger children are of preschool age. It just makes for a warm community which is more like a family."
Tracey Smith  |  Director
Tracey Smith is our wonderful director. Tracey has been working with young children since she graduated with her BA degree with a major in child development/preschool from CMU in 1985. Tracey recently earned her Master’s degree in Early Childhood from Eastern Michigan University in April 2017. She comes to us with many years of experience teaching toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners. Previously, Tracey was a teacher and co-director at a preschool in Novi for 20 years. 

She is excited to be a part of the community at ELC and loves the family environment that it provides. Tracey enjoys supporting the teachers and families at Early Learning Center and is passionate about advocating for young children to learn, create, discover, pretend and play in a warm and nurturing developmentally appropriate environment.