Meet Our Staff

Chris Sullivan

I am the Director and Owner of A Step Ahead
Preschool and Childcare Inc. I have an Elementary Education Degree with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. I graduated from Central Washington University, which is near Yakima Washington, where I grew up. My goal is to provide children with a quality environment where learning is fun. I am so proud to have a great staff that has touched the lives of so many Treasure Valley children.
My husband, Kelly, and I moved to the Boise area in 1998. We have two fun daughters that keep us busy. In our free time, we like to water ski, snow ski, go boating, camp and travel. We also spend endless hours at our girls sporting events.

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Tawna Christensen

I manage A Step Ahead's Preschool program. I graduated from NNU with my Elementary Teaching Degree and an endorsement in early childhood education.

After teaching for 2 years in middle school, I began at A Step Ahead in 2000. This is definitely my dream teaching position.

My husband works for the Idaho State Police and is the love of my life. We have 4 beautiful daughters, a wonderful son-in-law, and one amazing granddaughter.

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Stacey Jones

I manage A Step Ahead's Childcare program. I graduated from Idaho State University with a Business Administration Degree and have worked in childcare since 2000. I started at A Step Ahead with the opening of our childcare program in 2010.
I am so inspired by working with children and being able to have an impact on such beautiful young lives.
My husband, Rustin, and I have been blessed with four incredible children. We are Idaho Natives and love everything about Idaho Outdoors. Our favorite activities are boating, camping, fishing, archery, cheering for our kids at sporting events, BSU football, playing in the snow and spending time with our family and friends.

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Kathy Zamora

I have a degree in Elementary Education from Boise State University. I worked in the Meridian School District for six years before I came to A Step Ahead Preschool. I have been with A Step Ahead since 2007.
I have been happily married to a wonderful man. We have two great kids, one in college and the other in high school. Boy, they really grow up fast.
I look forward to working with your children. I am always amazed at just how much they learn. I know this is going to be a great year!

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Kellie Arte

I am a Meridian Idaho native and a graduate of Meridian High School. I am the proud mother of 4 daughters and 1 son and currently live in Meridian. For 12 years I ran an in-home-daycare in the Meridian area until my children all attended school.
I started working for A Step Ahead Preschool and Childcare January of 2011. I look forward to helping develop and teach your children to grow into respectable and knowledgeable students for years to come.

Gillian Lee

I graduated from Boise State University with a degree in Elementary Education. After I graduated from BSU, I worked at a Montessori School for 2 years. I have been at A Step Ahead Preschool since January 2005 and I love it!

I live in Boise with my husband, Ben, and our two beautiful children. I am a native of Idaho and I enjoy all outdoor activities like hiking, snow shoeing, snowmobiling, jet skiing, and snow skiing. I also enjoy reading books, scrapbooking, and playing with my kids.

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Cristi Dean

I’ve been with A Step Ahead Preschool since 2010. I assist in both the preschool and childcare. I started working in a Pre K classroom in 2003 in California. I also spent 3 years working for the Meridian School District as a Special Ed Assistant.
I am happily married to my best friend, Chris. We have 2 amazing kids. And proving that you are never too old to go to college...I am currently wrapping up my AA in Early Childhood Education.
In my free time I enjoy the change of the seasons and the different sports each season has to offer. My children play year round sports that keep my family extremely busy. I love spending quality time with both my family and friends. I'm a huge fan of Pilates and I love meeting new people. I look forward to all of the fun adventures in academics this school year will bring.

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Jennie Page

I graduated from Whittier College with a degree in Child Development. I took the education courses required for a credential, which included working in a laboratory preschool. After student teaching in the elementary grades, I was moved into junior high! I taught the junior high level for a couple of years, moved back to Boise, and subbed for the Boise School District while working in corporate training for a division of Micron. I also worked for BSU teaching supervision courses for state agencies and private companies.
My husband and I have have two girls. We live close to family so there are lots of cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents around too! I am excited to be working with your children. I have been with A Step Ahead since 2008.

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Aisha Reed

I started with A Step Ahead and Childcare in August of 2010 as a Teacher's Assistant. I absolutely love being a part of the Step Ahead team! I coached college soccer at the College of Idaho for nine years, but decide to take a step back from that last year so that I could spend more time with my family.

I have a wonderful husband and three fantastic kids, two daughters and a son. We are an active family and keep busy with sports and family fun every weekend.

I really enjoy helping your little ones put their best foot forward. I am excited for another great year!

Samantha Sproat

I have been with A Step Ahead Preschool and Childcare since 2010, and I am looking forward to starting this new school year and to meet all my students! I graduated from Boise State University in 2010, with a degree in Elementary Education.
My amazing husband, Curt, and I are huge fans of Boise State Football and love nothing more than to go to all our teams home games!

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Dani Frank

I have been with A step Ahead preschool since 2009
as a Teacher's Aide and absolutely love it! I am very familiar with A Step Ahead Preschool as my youngest son attended A Step Ahead for 3 years. He now loves school and is a doing great academically!

My husband Rod and I have 4 great kids, 3 sons and 1 daughter, and boy do we stay busy! We love to spend time together as a family, play board games, go camping, watch movies, watch BSU football, and spend time with extended family and friends.
I am very excited to be a part of A Step Ahead Preschool, watching each child grow and learn!

Amy Foley

I have been working for A Step Ahead Preschool since 2010. I work in both the Preschool and the Child Care, giving me the opportunity to know most of the great kids here at the center.
I graduated from BSU with my Elementary Education Degree and an endorsement in Early Childhood Education. I have been teaching since 2000 with experience in kindergarten, first, second and fifth grades.
I have two wonderful teenage sons, as well as two international students that live with us. In our free time we liked to float the Boise River, go to the cabin in Donnelly and take weekend trips to Seattle.

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Amanda Siwek

I started working for A Step Ahead Preschool in 2010 as a Teachers Assistant.  I am thrilled to be assisting “Miss Amy” this year in a three year old class.
We moved to Meridian in the summer of 2009 from Washington State and I absolutely love it here!  My husband and I have three terrific children, two sons and a daughter.  Additionally, we have a small menagerie of pets including cats, dogs, birds and a dragon! As a family we enjoy taking walks along the river, going camping, biking and geocaching.
My daughter attended A Step Ahead Preschool is a well adjusted and very smart student!  The curriculum and teachers at A Step Ahead truly prepare your child for 'the next step'. I am excited to get to know your child this year and I look forward to the many learning adventures we'll have!

Laura Welton

Bio coming soon!

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Karen Dillard

I have worked for A Step Ahead Preschool since 2011. I supervise the afternoon in childcare.
My husband, Cliff, and I have four wonderful children, Jessica, Calvin, Ali, and Mekina.

Teaching is my heart and soul. I am so excited to be working here at A Step Ahead Preschool and Childcare!

Miriam Espinosa

I grew up in Argentina where I married my wonderful husband John. We have two beautiful children together.
My life in Argentina was surrounded by lots of children and I enjoyed babysitting for young ones. I strongly believe children need to be nurtured properly and safely. I also believe it is best to implant skills when they are young so that they will grow as they should.
I started with A Step Ahead in 2010 in the toddler room. I will love your babies with all my heart and enjoy them in their growth along with you.

Debi Bowman

I have been a co-teacher in the 4-5 year old class and shuttle bus driver since August 2011. I have worked in a preschool in the past and have always loved working with children.
I am married with one son, Jackson. He is truly an amazing little man. I have also lived in Nampa all of my life. I feel that Idaho is a wonderful place to raise a family.
I love working at A Step Ahead Preschool and Childcare! The children and staff are all wonderful people!

Jessica Garcia

I began at A Step Ahead Preschool and Childcare in August of 2010. I am so lucky to be able to work with the youngest ones on the Childcare side of A Step Ahead. The children are so much fun and I can't help but love them. It is such a joy to watch them blossom before me.
My husband and I are also busy with four of our own children. Bringing up three brilliant little girls and one amazing little boy keeps us hopping! We spend as much time as a family as is possible. Together we all enjoy many outdoor activities and sporting events. We also love to cheer on the Boise State Football team together! Go Broncos!

Vicky Hain

I began working at A Step Ahead in 2011 and am looking forward to this year as a childcare provider for the three year olds.

My three children and I like to go for walks, swim and spend time with family in California.

Kelsie Worman

I began with A Step Ahead in 2011. I work with the one and two year olds in childcare and love every minute with their sweet gummy smiles!
I was raised in Nampa with my big family of nine and now have a child of my own.
I love spending time with my son and his Dad, rollerskating, riding bikes, four wheeling, fishing, boating, and just being together.

I am looking forward to a fun year at A Step Ahead Preschool and Childcare with all of you!

Amber Rollins

I have been working with A Step Ahead since January, 2011. I graduated from the University of California, Davis with a degree in Psychology.
I moved to Idaho on a whim in 2004 and married my husband in 2006. We now have two children that attend the A Step Ahead program; Taylor and Levi, we all love it here. We are a busy family and outside the everyday activities that keep us running, my husband and I train dogs, both for law enforcement careers and for companion life.
I primarily work with the 3 year olds in childcare, but it is not uncommon for me to be filling in anywhere there is a need. I look forward to getting to know all the new families here at A Step Ahead.