We pride ourselves in having experienced and highly educated staff members at our center.
Seattle Learning Center employs lead teachers that have the work experience and educational background related to early childhood education. Most of our teachers have bachelor’s degrees or a CDA (Child Development Associate Credential).
The leaders and administrators of the school have master’s degrees in education and extensive child care work experience. Our leaders and administrators are trained and skilled in managing early learning teachers. They actively support teachers, students and parents each day. They champion providing a high quality early learning program.
SLC sets the bar high in ensuring that we employ instructors who see the field of early childhood education as a career. We believe maintaining a highly educated and experienced staff is essential to providing an exceptional early learning environment.
All staff members participate regularly in continuing education and professional development trainings. SLC staff is required to complete a Child First Aid & CPR certification, background and reference check, TB test, blood borne pathogens training, 30-hour childcare basic training, and other annual trainings required by the Department of Children, Youth and Families.
In reviewing the information below, note the extensive experience of our staff. We pride ourselves in having low turnover with our teachers and admin!
LILY TALLEY – Owner and Executive Director – Founded SLC in 2009
Miss Lily has worked with children for over 20 years. Her experience includes working with infants to high school-aged students. She is a state-approved early education trainer and an adjunct faculty member at Seattle Community College where she teaches behavior guidance, infant/toddler development, and special education courses. Miss Lily has a master’s degree in education from University College London, a diploma in business administration, and is currently working to complete her doctorate in education. She also holds degrees in education, history, and economics from De La Salle University, Philippines. Miss Lily is a certified teacher in the United Kingdom and Washington state. She is very passionate about early learning. Working with children is her life’s work. Miss Lily has a daughter who is a graduate of SLC, and her husband Brandon helps run SLC’s Montlake location.
KELSEY GROOTSKY (formerly GUSTAFSON) – Executive Assistant (2020 to present)
Miss Kelsey has a bachelor’s in literature and cultures with a minor in writing from UC Merced. She worked in office positions in the fields of engineering, technology and insurance for 7 years. But her whole life she has cherished any time spent with children through family and friends, volunteer opportunities and organized playgroups. Miss Kelsey was a teacher in the Maple classroom for 2.5 years after completing practicum hours at SLC and has earned her ECE Initial State Certificate. She loves experiencing the world alongside the joy and energy of kids and guiding them towards the best life each individual can live. Miss Kelsey likes reading sci-fi and fantasy novels, going on walks with her husband and playing with their 10 year old tabby cat.
Queen Anne Staff
TERRI BURNEY- Rainbow Lead Teacher (2016 to present)
Miss Terri has worked with infants and toddlers for over forty years. She has acquired a Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate and continues to complete various courses about early learning. She loves children of all ages and has worked at multiple highly accredited centers both as a teacher and an administrator. Miss Terri strives to create strong bonds with the children in her care and encourages family involvement as much as possible. She recently became a children’s book author and published her first book, Long and Tall.
SAVANNAH YOUNG – Garden Co-Lead Teacher and Administrative Coordinator (2021 to present)
Before SLC, Miss Savannah worked with early learners at a play-based learning facility on the east side of King County since she moved to WA in 2018. She has a bachelor’s of science in behavioral health and a master’s of science in early childhood education and special education. She lives in the Fremont neighborhood, loves exploring Seattle, visiting the coast and crafting with her partner. Miss Savannah is grateful to work with early learners and be a facilitator who guides them through critical stages of their development. When working with children, her goal is to help them hone their natural desire to learn in a loving and safe environment.
RENU SHARMA – Treehouse Co-Lead Teacher (2021 to present)
Miss Renu has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in sociology from India. With over six years of experience working in a structured preschool, she also operated a family child care in California for five years. She enjoys working with children, motivating and stimulating their learning and learning from them, as well. She loves spending time with her students and supporting their curiosity and love of learning.
NIKKI VICTA – Garden Co-Lead Teacher (2022 to present)
Miss Nikki is a lead teacher for our Garden classroom and we are so happy to have her. She has a bachelor of psychology from University of Washington and has made an instant connection with all of our students. She is a positive force in SLC and inspires love, laughter and curiosity in the children she works with.
MATEO CUADROS – Support Teacher (2022 to present)
Mr. Mateo is currently a Seattle Pacific University student working on his bachelor’s in clinical psychology and counseling. He has five years of experience in an elementary classroom setting and finds joy in learning about what makes each child special and unique, there is always something we can learn from them!
RACHEL RODRIGUEZ – Sunshine Lead Teacher and Program Coordinator (2023 to present)
Miss Rachel has a bachelor’s in public health from Texas A&M University, a master’s in healthcare administration from University of Texas, as well as multiple ECE credits from UW and John Logan College. She has over five years of experience working in the childcare field as an infant and toddler teacher and was recently an assistant director in a large childcare center in Illinois before moving to Seattle to join her sister. She enjoys spending time at home crafting and exploring what her new city offers.
JAIDEN HOYT – Co-Lead Treehouse Teacher (2023 to present)
Miss Jaiden has a bachelor of arts in human development with a concentration in early childhood from California State University. She has 3 years experience working with children and is very excited to be back in the classroom! She loves how children express themselves in so many different ways and enjoys supporting them as they explore their own development. Miss Jaiden likes sewing, caring for her plants and hopes to adopt a cat in the near future.
BRITTNEY MUNS – Garden Assistant Teacher (2024 to present)
Miss Brittney has a bachelors in digital arts and is working towards her CDA. This is her first year of teaching but has nanny experience and a two year old daughter. Miss Brittney loves children’s imaginations and enjoys their zest for life and humorous perspective on the world. She currently lives in Burien with her husband, daughter, and pets. In her free time she enjoys hiking and camping with her family, as well as sewing crafts.
PHOEBE MARTIN – Garden Assistant Teacher (2024 to present)
Miss Phoebe has a bachelors in fine arts from UW and over 2 years of experience as a nanny. She likes working with children because of the special connections she developed with her own teachers over the years and she enjoys the rewarding opportunity to make a real impact on her students’ lives. Miss Phoebe loves being outdoors for hiking and rock climbing and enjoys many types of arts and crafts like painting, printing and collaging.
SOPHIA DURAND – Treehouse and Rainbow Assistant Teacher (2024 to present)
Miss Sophia has a bachelors in English with a psychology minor from Seattle Pacific University. She has experience working and volunteering with children through her church for 4 years and multiple summer camps in various age groups. Miss Sophia loves watching kids explore and discover their world in unique ways. She appreciates their open curiosity about nature and the different ways each child shows love and affection for those they feel safe with. In her free time, Miss Sophia loves to read, play video games and go on adventures with her boyfriend.
ANUSHRI PRAKASH – Sunshine Assistant Teacher (2024 to present)
Miss Anushri has a degree in pharmaceuticals and taught university students in India. Then she discovered her love of working with children to make learning fun and enjoys being around their excitement and amazement for everything. Miss Anushri has experience working with kids in a Montessori center and has worked with all ages from toddlers through early grade school. In her free time, Miss Anushri likes to sing and dance.
Montlake Staff
MARISSA HERRERA – Assistant Maple Teacher and Cook (2014 to present)
Miss Marissa has been with SLC for over 10 years! She is the reason why the children at SLC are well fed with healthy food. Every meal is made with love and made from scratch. She also has a strong knack and magic with calming down babies. Her early morning greetings and high fives are every SLC kid’s fond memory. She is an SLC treasure! Miss Marissa grew up in the Philippines and she speaks Filipino. She has three adult children and two grandchildren, her family resides all over the world. She worked as a cook in various restaurants before working at SLC. She loves to travel and cook.
RAQUEL RELATADO – Maple Co-Lead Teacher (2019 to present)
Miss Raquel has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Mindanao State University and an early childhood certificate from Edmonds College. She has been with SLC for over 5 years! Miss Raquel moved to Seattle in the summer of 2019. Before that, she lived in the Philippines and owned and operated her fish, rice, and fruit farm. Miss Raquel lives in Central Seattle with her husband and two teenage children.
AUBREY MCCANN – Willow Assistant Teacher (2023 to present)
Miss Aubrey is originally from New Jersey. She has a degree in fashion studies from Montclair State University and has over 8 years of experience working with children. Through that time she has been a kindergarten and pre-k teacher. Miss Aubrey loves working with kids because they are fun and creative. She enjoys supporting their growth and learning.
KANDA KANNASUT – Assistant Teacher (2023 to present)
Miss Kanda has a bachelor’s in psychology from Brigham Young University, Hawaii and has over 5 years of experience working with children as an assistant preschool teacher. She is originally from Thailand and according to her, can cook the best Thai food! She loves working with children and enjoys hiking and watching movies.
RENEE AREVALOS – Willow Co-Lead Teacher (2024 to present)
Miss Renee lives in Crown Hill with her husband and son who will be graduating in 2024 at the University of Washington. Miss Renee brings over 20 years of experience to SLC. She has a bachelors in early childhood education and has recently worked with toddlers while she has experience working with all age groups. Miss Renee enjoys working with young minds because of their authenticity, curiosity, lightheartedness and unbounding joy.
KENDRA JAMISON – Maple Assistant Teacher (2024 to present)
Miss Kendra is originally from South Africa and speaks English and Afrikaans. Miss Kendra has 6 years of experience in the childcare setting and has been working as an au pair for the last two years. She loves working with children because of their curiosity and infectious energy. Miss Kendra is newly married, has been in the U.S. for a little over a year now and she has a golden retriever dog that she adores.
TIMISHA ROBINSON – Assistant Teacher (2024 to present)
Miss Misha is currently studying for her bachelors in interdisciplinary visual arts at UW and has over three years of experience in childcare. Her favorite thing about working with kids is getting to watch them learn new skills and ways to communicate with each other and interact with the world. In her free time, Miss Misha loves to paint, play instruments, attend concerts and go on road trips.
TAMMY LAM – Support Teacher and Enrichment Instructor (2018 to present)
Miss Tammy worked for SLC as an infant-toddler and preschool teacher for over 3 years. She has a BS degree in child development and a master’s in special education. She has returned as a support teacher and provide weekly Mandarin lessons with our students! Miss Tammy loves sharing her knowledge of cultures and language, and inspiring children to pursue their curiosities and interests. Miss Tammy lives in Federal Way with her husband and enjoys traveling in her free time.
ADDIE SCIAMMAS – Intern (2022 to present)
Miss Addie is currently working on her bachelor degree at the University of Washington. She has a background working with children as a mother’s helper, swim instructor, volunteer in her church nursery, as well as babysitting. Her goal is to work in speech pathology and she enjoys working with young children.
BRANDON TALLEY – School Administrator and Support Teacher (2014 to present)
Mr. Brandon is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He has worked in the banking and financial industry until he decided to work at SLC full-time. Brandon is in charge of managing SLC Montlake’s administrative paperwork and book keeping. He also takes care of the school building’s maintenance. Brandon is married to Miss Lily and they have a daughter who is a graduate of SLC. He loves to bike, hike, read books, and have fun in the outdoors.