Beth A. Reese
Program Curriculum Administrator
Instructor - PreK (1/2 Day Program)

Ms. Beth is a former physical therapist who retired to raise three children.  She has been working with young children since 1996 and has been at Our House since 1999.  She has obtained her PreK-Grade 3 State Educator’s Certification and Advanced Director Credential.  Ms. Beth also holds a Florida Child Care Professional Certification (FCCPC).  She has completed the 45-hour state training, 5-hour Early Literacy and VPK Standards training for VPK instructors.  She is also CPR and First Aid certified.

As Program Curriculum Administrator of Our House, Beth is responsible for overseeing curriculum content, reviewing lesson plans, monitoring class schedules, creating calendars, and ensuring that adequate and appropriate teacher resources are available.  The real challenge has been to incorporate the Florida School Readiness Standards, to assist in the NAEYC accreditation process, and to implement the DLM Early Childhood Express Curriculum for three, four, and five-year olds and the companion curriculum by Pam Schiller for infants, one and two-year olds.

Maria L. Schierer
School-Age Lead Teacher
Food Service Manager
 

Ms. Maria has been a member of the Our House family since its inception in 1999.  She has a daughter who currently attends Lake Sumter Community College pursuing a degree in Zoology.  Her son, Jason, enjoys fishing and listening to Mr. Dick’s stories.  She has experience working with all age groups. 

Ms. Maria has a CDL license and is responsible for transporting our school-age children.  Maria has also obtained her Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC) and Director Credential.  She has completed all state training classes and continues her education on a regular basis.  She is also certified in First Aid and CPR.

Ms. Maria has 14 years experience in early childhood education and enjoys it very much.  She feels this is where she was meant to be.
 

Megan N. Winkle
Infant Lead Teacher
VPK Instructor

Ms. Megan is a college student pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. She has worked at Our House since January 2004.  She is a lead teacher for the infant nurseries and also started a new position in August 2008 as a VPK instructor.

In her spare time she enjoys staying busy with friends and family and just having fun. She loves to read and experience new things!

Ms. Megan has completed the 45 hours of state mandated training as well as the classes required to meet the standards for a VPK instructor. She is also CPR and First Aid certified. In addition to pursuing her degree she has obtained her Childhood Development Associate (CDA) credential to become a better teacher and gain the knowledge she needs to mold young minds.

Heather Davis
One-Year Old Lead Teacher
 

Sherry Pruitt
Two-Year Old Lead Teacher
 

Ms. Sherry was born in Columbus, Ohio but has lived in Florida since 1985.  After working in the real estate title/mortgage industry for the past fifteen years, she decided to change direction to pursue a career working with children.  She has completed her 45 hour state training and is CPR and First Aid certified.  Ms. Sherry is currently enrolled in the Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program at Lake Technical Center pursuing her Florida Child Care Professional Certification (FCCFC).

Ms. Sherry has two very successful daughters, a four-year old grandson, and a three-year old granddaughter.  She is actively involved in her grandchildren’s lives and enjoys spending her spare time with them.  The time she has spent with them is partly why she is inspired to work with children.  She hopes that her patience and understanding as well as her experience in raising her own children will help her make a positive impact in other children’s lives.

Patricia R. Brantley
Three-Year Old Lead Teacher

For many years, Ms. Pat operated a home day care in South Florida.  In 1987, she earned her Early Childhood Certification from Sheridan Vocational School in Broward County.  The same year, she opened Gardens Christian School, a private school and childcare facility where she was the Administrator until moving out of the area in 1991.  After moving to Lake County in 1992, she received her Florida Child Care Professional Certification (FCCPC) from Lake County VoTech. 

Ms. Pat has been with Our House since 2001.  She has completed her 45-hour state training, the 5-hour Emergent Literacy, and VPK Standards training for VPK instructors.  She is certified in both CPR and First Aid.  Ms. Pat is currently attending Lake-Sumter Community College, working toward an AA degree in Early Childhood Education.

 

Ms. Melody has been in the field of Early Childhood Education since 1998 and with Our House since 2004.  She has completed the 45-hour state training, 5-hour Emergent Literacy, and VPK Standards training for VPK instructors. 

 She is certified in CPR and First Aid and also has her Director’s Credential.  She earned her AA from Lake-Sumter Community College in May 2000.  Ms. Melody is a Pre-K teacher by day and a full-time college student by night. 

She is currently enrolled at the University of Central Florida, where she is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.

 

Courtney Jenkins
Associate Director

 

Ms. Courtney has lived in Florida her entire life.  She and her husband, Chris, have been married since 1995 and have 2 children.  She worked in a preschool as a three-year old teacher for a year before moving from Lakeland, Florida to Orlando, Florida and then to Clermont, Florida, where she has made her home since 2000.  Shortly thereafter they became members of the Our House family in the parent role when their son, Colton, was enrolled.  In 2001, they welcomed their daughter, Caitlin.  She has been enrolled at Our House since she was 6 weeks old.

In the 12 years prior to becoming an employee at Our House, Ms. Courtney worked in the mortgage industry.  In 2007, she realized it was time for a change.  Her heart was no longer in the mortgage industry and she wanted to return to where she first began her life work, with children.  So far, she has completed her 45 hours of state training and VPK Emergent Literacy.  She is also First Aid and CPR certified, but she is not finished yet.  She is working toward her Directors Credential and hopes to have that accomplished by October of this year.