MEET OUR STAFF

• Director

  Jodi Dawes has served as the director of the co-op since 2019.  She joined the co-op in 2008 as the teacher of the Elephant class and taught that class until 2023.  She also taught the afternoon Kindergarten Complement class for several years. Jodi is a graduate of Bucknell University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education.  She then went on to West Chester University to obtain her Master of Education in Elementary School Counseling.  Jodi worked in a variety of school settings before having children then staying at home until her youngest was in kindergarten. 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Meerkat Morning Out Teacher

  Emma Clauser-Schwartz came to the co-op in 2013 when her oldest child started in the Elephant class. She joined the faculty in 2015 as the teacher of the Playschool Hippos.  In 2023 she startedas the head teacher the Meerkat classroom. 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 also taught at the United Methodist Childcare Center.  After graduation, Emma was hired as the lead teacher of classroom for three to five-year old’s 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.

 

• Play School Hippo Teacher

  Stephanie Dykes has been involved with the co-op since 2007, first as a parent and member of the Executive Committee and then employed as the gym and music teacher as well as the full-time substitute teacher.  Stephanie became the lead teacher of the Giraffe class in 2015 and then resumed her position as the gym teacher from 2016-2019. Stephanie also teaches the Hippo and the afternoon Kindergarten Complement classes. Prior to working at the co-op Stephanie worked as a nanny, a teacher’s aide, lead teacher infant group and toddler groups and worked for an Educational Software Company researching websites for children. Stephanie is the director for summer camp and extended day options. She has her associate degree in early childhood education from the Delaware County Community College.

 

• 3-4 Year Old Teachers

  Stephanie Dykes (see above)

  Allison Constable joined the co-op as a parent in 2017, substituted in 2021 and officially as staff in 2022 as the lead teacher in the Meerkat Morning Out class. In 2023 she moved to teacher of the Elephant class.  Allie obtained her master's degree in education with a concentration and teachers’ certification in Early Childhood Education from West Chester University. She has worked in early childhood her entire career. She worked at Elwyn in their preschool and childcare programs in integrated classrooms for several years before working for Pennsylvania's Quality Rating Improvement System. At the University of Delaware she worked, in their Early Childhood Professional Development System and as an adjunct faculty for five years before returning to Pennsylvania as full-time Education Faculty at the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP). She currently teaches early childhood courses to pre-service teachers at the CCP.

  
  
  
  
  

• 4- 5 Year Old Teachers

  Katie Crawford joins us in 2019 as the teacher of the Lion class, 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 3rd/4th 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 becoming a parent, 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 in 2019 was thrilled to step back into her role as head teacher of the Zebra classroom.

 

• Kindergarten Complement Teachers

  Stephanie Dykes (see above)

  Shelley Pellegrini started as an on-call substitute and officially joined the Co-op staff as an aide in the Lion class in 2018. She is currently the teacher in the AM Kindergarten classes and also the aide in the PM Kindergarten class. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Portland State University and worked as a Title1 teacher in grades K-3 in New Hampshire for 5 years before moving to the area.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Jess Trout first came to the co-op as a parent and was involved from 2009-2016. She camp 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 and is now an aide in 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.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Classroom Aides

  Ms. Alison Schilero Schaffstall began at WCNS as a student with her mom as a teacher. She has worked as an aide in many of the classrooms at the school and is currently an aide in the in the Meerkat’s Morning Out class. In addition to being staff, she is also a parent. She has many years of experience working with children of all ages through summer camps and babysitting.  She studied at DCCC.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  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 aide in the MMO room.  After a short absence, she returned to the Meerkat Class as an aide.  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 with her son.  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 aide in the Meerkat Morning Out (MMO) 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.  Hilary spent much of her early adulthood babysitting and nannying and is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with children once again.

   

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Ashley Drane first joined the co-op as a parent in 2017 when her oldest of four daughters started preschool. She served on the executive committee starting in 2019 first as Secretary and then serving as Treasurer for several years before starting her role as an aide in the Hippo classroom.  She has a B.S. in Mathematics and a minor in Education from Lehigh University.

   

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  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.  This year she is working as the aide in the Giraffe class and the regularly covers early bird and lunch bunch.  Olivia graduated from DCCC with an associate degree in science. 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  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 aide 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.

   

   
  

   

   

   

  
  

  Kami Rose has experience testing, substitute teaching and has worked as an accounting clerk and office manager before joining WSNS in 2014.  She worked as an aide in several classrooms and is currently an aide in the Zebra classroom. 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 aide 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.

   

  
  

   

• Specials Teachers

  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.  
  Arianne graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and has previously worked as an adult educator of aerospace software.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Laurie Moyer received her degree in Education/Spanish from the University of Scranton and her master’s degree in educational leadership from Neumann University. She worked for Springfield School District, where she designed the curriculum for the elementary school Spanish program and taught for 12 years. Additionally, she has worked as an adjunct professor in early childhood education at Neumann University for Language Development and teaching English Language Learners. After having her 3rd child, she left full time teaching to start her own Spanish language program for local libraries, preschools, and private lessons. Her lessons are immersion based and built on the belief that young minds learn when they are having fun! Songs, games, and movement are all part of the Spanish program she brings to Wallingford Co-op each week.