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.
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.
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Sara Rydell | Butterfly Class
Sara Rydell began teaching at the Early Learning Center in 2017. As a former parent, board member and teacher's assistant, she has a rich 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 ELC is the community. "Most of our staff have 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." |
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Heather Finnie | Butterfly Class
Heather Finnie began teaching at ELC in 2024. She graduated from Olivet College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Elementary Education. She is passionate about being an early childhood educator and fostering a love for learning. Her love for nature, art, and literature are the foundation of her teaching style. As a former ELC parent, she admires the program and community that makes this such a wonderful school. She is excited to be back at ELC in this new capacity and to meet and work with all the wonderful families. |
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Shannon Robertson | Caterpillar Class
Shannon Robertson grew up in Troy, Michigan and currently lives in Ann Arbor with her husband Winston and their children, Alexandra, Patrick and Samuel. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2000 where she played soccer and earned a degree in Biopsychology & Cognitive Science. After college, Shannon spent time in San Diego, CA and Fort Collins, CO working in the biotech industry, playing soccer and coaching before returning to U of M in 2004 to obtain her Master of Arts in Education with Elementary Certification. She taught first grade for three years in Detroit and one year of kindergarten in Australia before her daughter was born there in 2010. Shannon’s youngest son attended ELC from 2019-2021 and she began working there in October 2022 as an aide. She is very much looking forward to stepping into a teaching role and collaborating with the wonderful staff and families at this school! Shannon loves working with children, reading, skiing and spending time outdoors with her family and their dog Coco. |
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Maura Tyno | Caterpillar Class
Maura Tyno began teaching at ELC in 2023. She has her Bachelors in Literature from Eastern Michigan University, with a minor in Children’s Literature. She also has her Masters in Library Science from Wayne State University. Much of her studies have focused on how literature, reading, and education go hand in hand, with a large emphasis on children exploring and finding a love of books. After her time in school, she taught preschool at a different school before finding the ELC. She has many years of experience with kids and loves spending time helping them grow. Outside of the classroom, Maura spends a lot of time with her family. She has five nieces that she adores, and ten pets that she loves. She also likes to crochet, sew, and read in her free time. She is excited to work with, and meet all the wonderful kids at ELC! |
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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. |