Employee Spotlights

We’re proud to recognize Shirley Durnan in this month’s Valley Preschool & Childcare Employee Spotlight! Shirley has been part of our team for an incredible 13 and a half years, sharing her creativity, warmth, and care with countless children and families over the years.

Outside of work, Shirley enjoys crafting and spending time with her family — passions that shine through in her thoughtful approach to teaching and creating meaningful experiences for our students.

We’re so grateful for Shirley’s dedication and the many ways she helps make Valley Preschool & Childcare a nurturing place to grow and learn.

We are thrilled to kick off December by celebrating Isabella Fuentes! Isabella is one of our fantastic High school Helpers and has been part of the team for just over two years!

Isabella does an incredible job connecting with both the children and our families. In fact, she is recognized as one of our best communicators!  Whether she is helping a child or updating a parent, she handles it with grace and clarity.

She is also incredibly reliable and always ensures her duties are done to the highest standard. We are so lucky to have her!

It’s time for our monthly Employee Spotlight! This month it is our amazing On-Site Coordinator, Kristina Lane!

She is the go-to person for our families, handling everything from the nitty-gritty of paperwork to the puzzle of daily schedules. She makes sure every family feels supported and organized!

Beyond the front desk, Kristina wears so many hats:

📍 LEADER: She manages our dedicated childcare staff, ensuring our team has everything they need to provide the best care for your little ones.

📍 TEAM PLAYER: She is more than willing to jump in and help wherever she is needed most, no matter the task. From helping cover shifts, to supporting the board in any tasks they may need assistance with.

📍 DEDICATED: Kristina has been a vital part of the Valley Preschool & Childcare family for over FIVE years—and we wouldn't be the same without her!

Kristina, thank you for your hard work, your "can-do" attitude, and the care you show our children and staff every single day. We are so lucky to have you on the team!

February Employee spotlight is going to someone who has ten paint-covered fingers, covered in glitter and has the biggest heart in the building, Courtney Miller! 🙌

Courtney is a veteran in our Toddler Room and has been with us for 5 years. In toddler-time, that’s about 4,000 snack times, a million high-fives, and endless creative projects! If you’ve ever stepped into our Toddler Room, you’ve seen her magic in action. 

We appreciate her amazing ability to turn any craft supply into a work of art. From finger painting to sensory bins, she is always hands-on and heart-first. Her dedication and endless energy is unmatched. It takes a special kind of person to keep up with a room full of toddlers, and it takes a superstar to keep up with them for 5 years straight.

Our latest Employee Spotlight is someone who starts every morning with a smile and a warm welcome: Melisa Lehmann!

Melisa has been with us for 4 years. As an essential floater between our Infant and Toddler rooms as a Staff member of the Childcare Center. She brings her magic wherever she’s needed most. Whether she’s rocking a baby in the nursery or jumping into a game with the toddlers, Melisa has a special way of making every child feel right at home.

We especially appreciate Melisa because she truly loves the kids like her own and is incredibly attentive to their needs. Her flexibility and heart-first approach to childcare make her a superstar in our book!

In April, we are honored to celebrate a pillar of the Valley Preschool & Childcare family, Kali Wenger!

Kali has been an integral part of our center for an incredible 15 years, serving as our Director and 4-Year-Old Preschool Teacher. When asked about her favorite part of the job, Kali shared that she loves being able to watch and help with milestones from birth all the way to her classroom. In a beautiful full-circle moment, she now even has the joy of seeing girls she once taught in preschool coming back to work alongside her at the center!

Beyond her classroom and leadership roles, Kali is widely known as the "keeper of our history." She deeply understands where our center came from and the "why" behind the ways we serve our families. As the go-to expert for the "rules of the land," she provides essential guidance to our staff and offers invaluable support to our Board of Directors.

Fifteen years of guiding our little ones and leading our team with such heart—we are so lucky to have Kali at the helm. Thank you, Kali, for being our steady hand and for everything you do to make our center a second home for so many families!