Our Team
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Sam and Cindi Buckley
Owners & Founders
Sam and Cindi Buckley had a vision of what early childhood education and childcare should be and they decided to share that vision with the world. Cindi started with an in-home preschool and daycare in 2002. It wasn't long before she needed more space to accommodate the waiting lists as her dream quickly blossomed into a full grown preschool just up the street from where we are now located. So in 2014, new location and all, they established Kool Kidz LLC and started to take on more teachers as their preschool grew.
Cindi knew that what she and Sam had started could bless more families and children than just those preparing for Kindergarten, so she began to look for ways to get back into the world of childcare. In May of 2019 they purchased a daycare center, bringing their passion for learning and compassion back into the world of childcare. The atmosphere of preschool and childcare blends well. That's how Kool Kidz Adventure Academy was born. From there, a culture and brand has grown to be a company that feels more like a family community than a business.
Christy
Director
Christy or “Chrissy” has worked in childcare for almost 18 years. She is our awesome Director here at Kool Kidz. She is most drawn to working with children “knowing I will make a difference in young minds and the co-workers I work with.” Other than being a stay at home grandma, she feels she is currently doing her dream job right now. She says “I feel everyone inspires me in some way” and uses that perspective to bring out the best in us all.
Jessica
Assistant Director
Jessica or “Jess” brings over 16 years of childcare experience into our center and is our Assistant Director. She loves all things Lilo & Stitch and has quite the collection of memorabilia. Her dream job is to be a teacher, which she technically is. Jessica is drawn to this profession because “I love to teach and watch as they learn something new.” She most especially enjoys “the pure love and care that children have” which definitely is present in childcare.
Shawnsi
Assistant Director
Shawnsi has been teaching kids for over 10 years. That experience has lead her to where she is today as our Assistant Director. She completed her Child Development Associates 3 years ago and has never looked back! She has a family of her own 6 kids, 3 dogs, 4 chickens and 4 ducks. She married her high school sweetheart! She loves going fishing,
camping and just being outside! Welcome, Shawnsi!
Emily P.
Program Manager
Emily or “EmilySuePoopoopalou” boasts 5 years of experience in the childcare setting. She recently completed and earned her Child's Decelopment Assiciate. She is our Programs Manager and is most drawn to this profession and children as she enjoys “watching them become little geniuses.” She often shares funny stories and experiences, such as: “in elementary school, I hugged a tree and almost got suspended.” You'll have to ask her the rest of the story when you meet her.
Melissa
Emotional Behavior Specialist
Melissa or “Teacher! Teacher! Teacher!” has an impressive 22 years experience in childcare and teaching settings. Her new role as Emotional Behavior Specialists has her working with each class and any child in need of support or further help with Social Emotional Development. What draws her most to this profession is her love of the children and “being able to teach.” She's a boy mom, meaning all 4 of her children are boys and she knows the ins and outs of daily adventures.
Sara
Marketing & Social Media &
Food Program Manager
Sara, our llama loving, Lorax watching, cherry coke drinking champion has been in childcare for 3 years now. She enjoys working with children and most especially, she adores “their little personalities.” She is a boy mom to two young boys who keep her busy and fill her days with many firsts. She's worked in a number of classes and ages. Now she is over our Facebook, Instagram and other marketing. She is our Food specialist and works directly with our food program.
Dawn
Cook
Dawn has been with us two years now. Dawn has an affinity for working hard to make the best of every situation. She's most proud of “turning all my hardships into fuel for positive change” and brings that kind of motivation with her to the workplace. She love the “positive atmosphere, connection and loving people” side of childcare. She takes the time to get to know each child.She is our loving cook and shares her passion with us all on a daily basis.
Kaylyn
Infant
Teacher
Kaylyn is going on 13 years being in childcare, 8 years here with us. She has her Child Development Associate specializing in Infants & Toddlers. Kaylyn is patient and softspoken and our littlest ones do very well in her care. Her dream in life is to have her own children, so for now she lets the kids here be her own. She says “I love kids; they are my motivation!” She is our resident Harry Potter and Disney expert, which is perfect for childcare.
Li
Infant &
Toddler Teacher
Li is over 3 years in childcare now. They are most drawn to work with children because “no one is as honest and pure as kids.” Their favorites seasons are those of change: fall and spring. Creativity is a strong point for Li and they enjoy doing arts and crafts and celebrating individuality. Li can be found in their free time with a cup of coffee reading anything mystery. They are currently working on their Child Development Assiciates.
Candace
Infant &Toddler Teacher
Candace says her “love for kids and getting to watch them learn and grow” is why she knew that this was her dream job. She feels inspired by her own children because they push her to be a better mom and person. She can be found enjoying a coke and Hawaiian pizza while watching a Disney movie. If you walk by her classroom you will see her dancing with the children as they learn together. She is currently CDA Certified.
Hope
Toddler & Twos Teacher
Hope has just joined our childcare family this Fall. She has fallen in love with working in our Infants and Toddlers here at Kool Kidz. Her idea of what success looks like is "working hard until I get old and can retire." This works well here because that kind of work ethic is exactly what we try to foster and build in our teachers. She describes herself as a "caring and loving person" which we can easily see in her as she works with our little ones.
Tana
Tana has over 3 years of experience in childcare. She's come back to this vocation a few times, finding that she really is drawn to working with children. Over her time here she has worked with all ages of children from our School Age class down to our infants. She has built strong relationships with all of the children. She currently is in our Ocean Room working with our two year olds. She enjoys eating pizza while watching any Disney movie. Tana is quiet but once you get to know her you will smile every time you see as she really does brighten everyone's day. We're so glad to have Tana as part of our Kool Kidz Team!
Toddler & Twos Teacher
Mia
Bio coming soon
Threes
Teacher
Natalie
Threes & Fours Teacher
Natalie comes to us with over 19 years of experience. Natalie has her Child Development Associates and is putting it and her many years of experience to good use here at Kool Kidz. She has made connections with her class from the moment she walked through the door on her first day here at Kool Kidz. She gives off that grandma vibe (she has 28 grandkids) and the kids here adore her for it. What draws her most to working with children is their honesty in telling the "truth about everything."
Christine
Fours & Fives Teacher
Christine comes to us with 17 years of experience working with children in childcare. She is currently teaching our four year old children along with the Kindergarteners. She is currently working on her Child Development Associates. She feels that success looks like "accomplishing goals I set for myself both at work and at home." Christine can often be found sipping iced coffee or ice tea while binge watching Gray's Anatomy.
Jill
Fours & Fives Teacher
Jill loves art and enjoys encouraging creativity in the classroom. She loves going thrifting so if you need a thrifting pal, she's your gal! Jill describes herself as "pretty quiet until I actually know people." Though she is quiet, she has a way with getting to know the children in her class and taking the time to listen and build them up. This is natural because her love language is quality time and that makes her a great fit here at Kool Kidz.
Jasmine
School Age Teacher
Jasmine is our School Age teacher and our floater during the day while the older kiddos are in school. Jasmine loves dark chocolate, spinach and artichoke dip but not all together. Her hobby and expertise is bowling. She's in a competitive bowling league and excels at the bowling alley. Her dream is to one day be a surgeon. This year she graduated in May, which means there will be a lot of new chapters written in her life story. Stay tuned!
Maykali
Maykali is new to our team! She is our dynamic classroom specialist who works in a variety of our classes each week. She comes with 3 years of experience and is hoping to further her experience and expertise in the childcare arena. She's a new mom and is enjoying all the many firsts that come with motherhood. You may find her sipping a Dr. Pepper or possibly shopping at Hobby Lobby. A favorite hobby is riding dirt bikes! She also enjoys wrestling and received many awards and commendations. She even lettered in wrestling! Some of her favorites are peanut butter M&Ms and Beef Jerky.
Classroom Specialist
Lizzy
Bio Coming Soon
Assistant Teacher
Xochitl
Teacher/
Floater
Xochitl started here with us in November 2022. She brings a huge artistic ability and hopes to one day be an artist/illustrator for movies and books. You will see her creativity around the center from time to time! She is most drawn to childcare because it's "never boring. Children remind me how exciting things can be and I love being able to be the one who can expand their world and give them what they deserve." As you can tell, we're lucky to have her added to our team!
Alley
Bio Coming Soon
Assistant Teacher
Our Academic Preschool Team
Brianna
Preschool Program Manager and Teacher
Brianna is our a semi-fluent German speaking, 4th of July born, crazy dreaming, novel writing, Dr. Pepper Zero drinking, paracording, portrait drawing, canvas painting preschool teaching guru with over 9 years combined of teaching and childcare experience. She has a BA in English and her Childcare Development Associate. She loves the “magic moment” that happens when she's there with the kids and they “get it.”
Tina
Preschool Teacher
Tina brings over 12 years experience as a preschool teacher. She felt drawn initially to teaching preschool because "I love the ah-hah of kids figuring it out and watching/helping them learn." She's worked with children and adults with a variety of special needs and brings that insight into the classroom on a daily basis. "I feel like I make a positive difference in the world." She says she's doing her dream job of teaching. We're so lucky to have her!