MEET OUR STAFF

Jodi Dawes joined the co-op in 2008 as the teacher of the Elephant class. She also taught the afternoon Kindergarten Complement class from 2014 -2018. In 2019, Jodi stepped into the role of the director but continued to teach the Elephant class for a few years.  Currently she teaches a combine class of Elephants and Hippos on Fridays in addition to being the director. Jodi has a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Bucknell University and a Master of Education in Elementary School Counseling from West Chester University.  Jodi worked in a variety of school settings before coming to the co-op.

Heidi Ballas first came to the co-op in 2022 as a parent. In 2023 she started subbing. In 2025 she became the lead teacher for the Elephant Class. Heidi first worked professionally with children as an instructional aide for a preschool classroom in special education during the summer in college. She has a degree in theatre from the University of Southern California and used it for a few years to work with children, directing and stage managing at a children and youth theater in Los Angeles County. When her son was born in 2017, she went back to working as a special education aide, this time as a substitute for Beverly Hills Unified School District.

Stephanie Dykes has been involved with the co-op since 2007, first as a parent and member of the Executive Committee. Later she joined staff as a gym and music and substitute teacher. She is currently the teacher of the Giraffe, Hippo and afternoon Kindergarten Complement classes. Prior to working at the Co-op, Stephanie worked as a nanny, a teacher’s aide, and lead teacher of both an infant group and two- to three-year-old toddler group. During her teaching hiatus, Stephanie worked for an Educational Software Company researching websites for children. Stephanie has her associate degree in early childhood education from the Delaware County Community College.

Sam Mirante joined WCNS as the Play School Hippos aide in 2014. She has worked in a few of the classrooms, and she currently is the assistant in the Elephant classroom. Sam graduated from West Chester University with a degree in Psychology. She has many years of experience working with children including being a nanny, doing Lego club, helping with summer camps, and being an assistant teacher to a kindergarten class.

Olivia Miller first joined the Co-op in 2007 when her oldest son started pre-school.  In 2018 she became the on-call substitute teacher, filling in wherever needed.  Since 2021 Olivia has worked as the assistant in the Giraffe class and the regularly covers early bird and lunch bunch.  Olivia graduated from DCCC with an associate degree in science.

Amanda O’Brien first joined the co-op community in 2021 when her oldest of four daughters entered the Kindergarten Complement class. She soon got involved with the school as the Executive Committee vice president. She started her employment as a substitute teacher and now works as teacher’s assistant in the Hippo classroom. Before becoming a full-time mom, she earned her B.S. in Hospitality Management and built years of experience in the service industry, as well as in elementary school classrooms before her first daughter was born.

Katie Crawford joined us in 2019 as the teacher of the 4- and 5-year-old Lion class, which meets three or four days a week. Katie is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Swarthmore College with a Spanish major and a minor in Education and some graduate classes under her belt. Katie taught 3 rd /4 th grade at Swarthmore Rutledge School as well as a pre-first class and first grade bilingual class in the School District of Philadelphia. In addition to teaching, Katie has held several leadership roles on various boards in her community, and her first novel was selected as one of the Best Indie Debuts by the Kirkus Review 2016.

Jeannie Wynn obtained her master’s in early childhood education from Boston University and was a kindergarten assistant in Cambridge Public Schools.   Before children she taught in various pre-k and kindergarten classrooms. In 2003, she joined the co-op as the Zebra teacher when her son started in the threes. When her daughter was born in 2006, she took time off to stay at home. From 2011-2014 she worked full time at Christ Church Preschool in Media but in 2014 her son suffered a brain injury and Jeannie took time off to care for him.  In 2018, Jeannie re-joined the coop as an aide in the Zebra class and 2019 stepped back into her role as head teacher of the Zebra classroom.

Kami Rose joined the co-op in 2014. She worked as an assistant in several classrooms and is currently an assistant in the Zebra classroom. Prior to coming to the co-op, she gained education experience testing and substitute teaching. Additionally, she has worked as an accounting clerk and office manager. Kami has a Bachelors in Elementary Education from West Chester University.

Aimee Hodges first came to the Co-op first as a parent in 2016 with her oldest son. In 2023 she joined as an assistant in the Lion Class. Aimee has a dual certification BA in Special/Regular Education from St. Joseph’s University and a master’s degree in education from Temple University. Aimee worked in Ridley School District for 10 years, as a learning support teacher and a teacher’s aide with grades K-3. After having her second child in 2014 Aimee decided to stay at home with her children.

Stephanie Dykes (see above)

Jess Trout first came to the co-op as a parent and was involved from 2009-2016. She came back to WCNS staff as an Aide in the Meerkat Morning Out (MMO) classroom during the 2021-2023 school year. After a one-year hiatus, Jess returned to the co-op as an aide in the AM Kindergarten Complement class. In 2025 Jess moved into the head teacher role for the AM Kindergarten Complement class. Jess is a graduate of West Chester University with a BA in Psychology and minor in Spanish and has completed some graduate work in the field of counseling.

Arianne Allan first joined the Co-op in 2016 as a parent when her oldest daughter started pre-school. She served as Vice President on the Co-op Executive Board from 2021-2024. In 2023 she started as the gym teacher and as a substitute teacher. Once Arianne’s children were all graduated from the co-op in 2025, she began as the assistant in the afternoon Kindergarten Complement class. Arianne graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and has previously worked as an adult educator of aerospace software.

Mrs. Emma Clauser-Schwartz joined the faculty in 2015 as the teacher of the Play School Hippos class. Emma graduated from the University of West Chester with a BS in Education. While there, she was a member of the National Honor Society and taught at the United Methodist Childcare Center. After graduation, Emma was hired as the lead teacher of classroom for three to five-year olds at the ARC of Chester County. She taught children with multiple disabilities. After two years in this position, she was selected to open a classroom for children with autism. Emma taught for three more years before electing to work part time in a teaching support role, later electing to stay home with her children.

Theresa Burch first join the WCNS community as a parent of an MMO student in 2014. She began subbing for the school and then join the staff as an assistant in the MMO room. After a short absence, she returned to the Meerkat Class as an assistant. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Delaware and is a big fan of art time!

Hilary Lear came to WCNS as a parent in the MMO room in 2018 when her oldest enrolled. She was quick to step in as a volunteer and served on the Executive Committee in the role of secretary. She joined WCNS as an assistant in the Meerkat Morning Out class in 2023. Hilary graduated from Drew University with a double major in English Literature and French. She worked in publishing in New York for many years before moving back to the Wallingford/Swarthmore area to raise her family.

Alison Schilero Schaffstall is alumni of WCNS and well as the WSSD schools. She started working at the co-op in 2005 and has been an assistant in the Meerkat classrooms since 2007. She has many years of experience working with children of all ages through summer camps and babysitting. She studied at DCCC.

Arianne Allan (see above)

Fiona Murray has been an early childhood music educator 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing from the University of Vermont, with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies, and a Professional Certificate in General Music Studies from Berklee College of Music. Fiona is certified in early childhood education, music, social-emotional learning through music, trauma-informed teaching, and is a certified forest school educator. She also has extensive experience in adaptive music theory and working with neurodivergent learners. Fiona has taught preschool in other preschools as a lead teacher as well as a music teacher. She also teaches Piano, Voice, and guitar lessons to all ages! She joined the staff of co-op in 2025.

Dr. Jill Coleman joined the Co-op family in 2003 as a parent and served on the Executive Committee. She is a graduate of Swarthmore College, earned her PhD in Organic Chemistry from Indiana University, and worked at DuPont before retiring to be home with her children. Jill evolved into her current role of science special teacher over several years— she began by sharing science experiments with the classes her children attended and then developed a science program for the entire preschool beginning in 2006. Her goal is to help your children use their natural curiosity to explore the science that exists in the world around them. Jill has also worked as substitute teacher in the Souderton Area School District.