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Our Teachers
We are embarking on a wonderful school year. Our philosophy is "the end depends upon the beginning." We, the teachers of Little Seedlings, and you are the beginning of the school experience for your children. What we do together this year will give the students their outlook on school for the future.
Together we will make this year GREAT!
~ Lynn Duff ~
Lynn E. Duff is our Director. Mrs. Duff has twelve years teaching preschool. Mrs. Duff has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education along with an assortment of early childhood courses. She attends the yearly Reggio Emilia workshop/tour at the World Bank to help stimulate new ideas. Mrs. Duff is constantly in touch with other Preschool Directors both in St. Mary’s County and nationwide to gather new ideas and exciting teaching skills to add to our wonderful program. When she is not with us at school, Mrs. Duff is a participant in the Southern Maryland Early Childhood Team. This is a tri-county group of leaders who are working hard to make it possible that every student is prepared for Kindergarten. (Little Seedlings is the only private Preschool/Kindergarten represented on this prestigious committee.) The ECT published the “Summer Fun with Your Little One” booklet for summer activities to do with your young child in St. Mary’s County. She serves as Vice President on the Boards of the Wildewood Neighborhood One Association and the Pastoral Counseling Center. She is the Historian for the Major William Thomas Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution as well as their coordinator for the Good Citizenship Medals presented at the schools each year. Mrs. Duff serves on the Altar Guild for St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. She is currently involved in forming a Directors’ Summit with all Directors of Preschools and Child Care Centers in St. Mary’s County to exchange ideas and information. She was active in helping build Project Playground at the Governmental Center and has over 1500 hours volunteer time in teaching children of all grades. She lives in Wildewood with her husband, John, and her daughter, Sarah (a student at Earlham College). Mrs. Duff is looking forward to a fun filled healthy school year! Mrs. Duff directs Monday thru Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
~ Therese "Rese" Bergen ~
Therese “Rese” Bergen will be teaching the Four Year-Old Monday/Wednesday/Friday morning class. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mary Washington College in Geography. Mrs. Bergen completed in 2008 two additional college classes in Early Childhood Education with a 4.0 GPA. For many years, she has been volunteering in her children’s schools and for the past three years she has been a substitute teacher in the St. Mary’s Public School system. Mrs. Bergen has taught for years Sunday School at Christ Church in Chaptico and now, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. She brings to us a strong background in Geography which we will be able to use in our teaching Social Studies/ Geography to the students. Mrs. Bergen is an avid tennis player (you may see some of the tennis balls she uses adorning our chairs) and loves to read. Mrs. Bergen lives with her husband and two children in Avenmar, Leonardtown. You may reach Mrs. Bergen at school on Mon/ Wed/Fri from 9 a.m. until 12 noon.
This page was last updated: May 8, 2009
~ Brenda Miller ~
Brenda Miller will be teaching both the Three Year Old Tree House Class on Tuesday/Thursday morning and the Four Year Old Tree House Class on Monday/Wednesday/Friday morning this year. Mrs. Miller began teaching at Little Seedlings during the 2005-2006 school year filling a vacancy in the Three Year Old morning class. Mrs. Miller holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Marycrest College with a minor in Psychology. In 2004, Mrs. Miller completed the St. Mary’s County Public School Substitute Teaching class and has been a substitute teacher for the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes in the public school system. (Mrs. Miller adds to our wonderful program by sharing what she teaches in the Public Schools.) She has taught Sunday School at St. Paul’s for seven years and is currently the Children’s Ministries Team Lead on the Church Council. Mrs. Miller worked as a teacher with the Mother’s Day Out program for five years on Monday and Wednesday. She enjoys reading, listening to music, and volunteering in her children’s schools. Mrs. Miller resides with her husband and two children in Callaway. You may reach Mrs. Miller at school Monday - Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon.
~ Jennifer Collier ~
Jennifer Collier teaches the Three Year-Old class on Tuesday and Thursday. This is Mrs. Collier’s fifth year with Little Seedlings Christian Preschool and Kindergarten. She has taught the three year old class the past 2 years and taught the afternoon 3&4 class in 2003-2005. Mrs. Collier possesses a Masters in Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Family and Child Development and Biology. She currently holds a teaching certificate in the state of Maryland to teach K-8. Mrs. Collier was a Sunday School Teacher for the 3 and 4 year olds as well as for 2nd graders. From 1994-1997 Mrs. Collier taught at Margaret Brent Middle School as a biology teacher and served as the Supervisor of the Student Council. After leaving the full-time teaching position to become a full-time Mom, Mrs. Collier became a Home Hospital Teacher for the St. Mary’s Public Schools. Mrs. Collier lives in Leonardtown with her husband and three children. Mrs. Collier is energized to teach the Three Year Old class! You may reach Mrs. Collier at school on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon.
~ Brenda Miller ~
Brenda Miller will be teaching both the Three Year Old Tree House Class on Tuesday/Thursday morning class and the Four Year Old Tree House Class on Monday/Wednesday/Friday morning class this year. Mrs. Miller began teaching at Little Seedlings during the 2005-2006 school year filling a vacancy in the Three Year Old morning class. Mrs. Miller holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Marycrest College with a minor in Psychology. In 2004, Mrs. Miller completed the St. Mary’s County Public School Substitute Teaching class and has been a substitute teacher for the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes in the public school system. (Mrs. Miller adds to our wonderful program by sharing what she teaches in the Public Schools.) She has taught Sunday School at St. Paul’s for seven years and is currently the Children’s Ministries Team Lead on the Church Council. Mrs. Miller worked as a teacher with the Mother’s Day Out program for five years on Monday and Wednesday. She enjoys reading, listening to music, and volunteering in her children’s schools. Mrs. Miller resides with her husband and two children in Callaway. You may reach Mrs. Miller at school Monday - Friday from 9:30AM-12:00PM.
~ Virginia (Ginger) Latyak ~
Virginia Latyak (Ginger) is teaching the Three & Four Year-Old Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday morning class. She comes to us from New Jersey. Mrs. Latyak had been teaching preschool with Our Savior Lutheran Nursery School in New Jersey since 1981. She served as Head teacher for the two and half year old program, the three year old program, and the four year old program. As Head teacher she set up curriculum and activities along with annual progress reports for the three and four year old students. She served as Preschool Director from 1994-1997. Mrs. Latyak attended the Central Technical Institute receiving a certificate in Business Automation; William Patterson College attending programs in continuing education; and the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association conferences and seminars in early childhood education. Mrs. Latyak works as the Co- Sunday School Superintendent/Teacher; she is on the Board for Rays of Light Pre-School, and a Member of Stitching Saints, Choir, and Vacation Bible School art coordinator at Good Samaritan Lutheran Church. Mrs. Latyak is looking forward to teaching. She likes to read and enjoys her grandchildren. She crochets, sews, does crafts and enjoys cooking. Mrs. Latyak makes some of the outfits that our “Door Goose” wears during the year! She moved to Wildewood with her husband in August 2006 to be near and be able to enjoy her daughter & son-in-law and grandchildren. You may reach Mrs. Latyak at school on Mon/Tues and Thurs/Fri from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
~ Cyndi Scheffler ~
Cyndi Scheffler will be teaching the Four Year-Old Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday morning class. (Mrs. Duff met Mrs. Scheffler when she was teaching her daughter at Hollywood Elementary School.) Mrs. Scheffler has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Chico. She went on to California State University, Fullerton to receive her Teaching Certification for Preschool thru 12th grades. Her husband had been in the military (and is retired) and she traveled extensively with her family and taught at various schools during his duty stations such as Virginia Beach. She and Mrs. Latyak are co-superintendents of Sunday School at Good Samaritan Lutheran Church. Mrs. Scheffler teaches Sunday School and is active on various committees in her Church. She has most recently begun taking classes in pursuit of a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Scheffler has two daughters that attend college at Northeastern University in Boston. Mrs. Scheffler resides in Wildewood with her husband and two daughters in College. You may reach Mrs. Scheffler at school on Mon/Tues and Thurs/Fri from 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
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~ Tammy Gaddis ~
Tammy Gaddis is very excited to be joining the Little Seedlings team and working with Mrs. Geyer. She will be teaching the three and four year old Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday afternoon Farm Room class. Mrs. Gaddis has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education (K-8) from Oklahoma State University. After college, she moved to Dallas and taught 3rd grade for 5 years. After getting married, she and her husband moved to Wilmington, DE where she taught Kindergarten for 4 years until the birth of her daughter. Mrs. Gaddis especially loved teaching the younger children and found it very rewarding to watch them progress through the year. The Gaddis family “temporarily” relocated from Delaware to Southern Maryland in 1999 and they have been here since. As a full time mom, Mrs. Gaddis has been an active volunteer in her daughter’s elementary school classroom for the past 5 years and has also helped with the school PTA. She is part of the church family here at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and is actively involved in a small Bible study group. Mrs. Gaddis has volunteered for several years with the VBS program, has taught Sunday school, and substituted for the Mom’s Day out program. She enjoys traveling, scrapbooking, and spending time with her family and friends. Mrs. Gaddis lives with her husband and two daughters in Leonardtown
~ Sharon Geyer ~
Sharon Geyer is looking forward to teaching an exciting year with Mrs. Hines in the Three and Four Year-Old Monday/Tuesday & Thursday/Friday afternoon class. Mrs. Geyer has a 2 year Data Processing diploma from Centre County Vo-Tech. She has worked as a retail store manager, construction administration/purchasing agent, and a paraprofessional for pre-kindergarten and full-day kindergarten at Green Holly Elementary School. Her expertise in the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten gives us the information as to what is expected in the public school and to surpass those expectations with our own level of teaching. Mrs. Geyer volunteers at her daughter’s Elementary school on a weekly basis and is active at her church in Mechanicsville. Mrs. Geyer takes several hours of Continuing Education Classes during the school year to keep her Early Childhood knowledge fresh. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, scrap booking and gardening. She also keeps busy with her daughter’s after school activities. Mrs. Geyer resides with her husband Bill and daughter Juliana (a former student of Little Seedlings) in Mechanicsville. You may reach Mrs. Geyer at school on Mon/Tues and Thurs/Fri from 12 noon until 3:00 p.m.
~ Laura Swain ~
Laurie Swain is our Kindergarten teacher. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a concentration in Psychology and a Master of Science in Reading Education. Mrs. Swain just completed three more college courses in her field last year while working with us. Mrs. Swain has taught school for 20 years. Her teaching experience has ranged from New Hampshire, Maine, Alexandria, Virginia, and lastly the Hollywood United Methodist Church Preschool in Hollywood, Maryland. Mrs. Swain is educated in Language Development and Reading, Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading, Advanced Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading, and Contemporary Issues in Reading Research along with other knowledge in concepts related to reading. Mrs. Swain has a son who attends Leonardtown Middle School. She is married and lives with her husband and son in Breton Bay. Mrs. Swain is very energized to teach this class! You may reach Mrs. Swain at school on Mon thru Friday from 12 noon until 3:45 p.m.
~ Jennifer Chipman ~
Jennifer Chipman is the Paraprofessional in the Kindergarten class. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Resource Management from Virginia Tech. She has worked in Customer Service and was the Associate Director of a List Brokerage and Management firm before having her daughter. Mrs. Chipman had served as a substitute teacher in our afternoon classes in the school year 2005-2006. She enjoyed this opportunity very much and was thrilled to join the staff in a permanent position the following year. She finds her experience at Little Seedlings very helpful when volunteering at Banneker Elementary where her daughter, Chloe, is in second grade and also while serving as a leader for Chloe’s Brownie troop. She is excited to begin her third year working with Mrs. Swain in the kindergarten class! Mrs. Chipman resides with her husband and daughter in Breton Bay. You may reach Mrs. Chipman at school Monday thru Friday from 12 noon until 3:30 p.m.
~ Kristen Whittington ~
Kristen Whittington is the Music Teacher at Little Seedlings. Mrs. Whittington has a Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia University in Visual and Performing Arts. Mrs. Whittington taught Music for the St. Mary’s County Public School system before joining Little Seedlings. Music classes will have wonderful songs about God and the Bible along with songs of life. She has already brought to the school various musical instruments in the classroom for the enjoyment and exploration of the students! Your student will be arriving home with some toe tapping songs to sing for you. She is excited about our music program and is planning our pageants for Christmas and Easter! Mrs. Whittington resides in Leonardtown with her husband and three daughters. Her oldest daughter was in our preschool and kindergarten classes before leaving for the “big” school. Mrs. Whittington will be with us on Monday from 11:25-11:55 a.m. and on Thursday from 11:00-11:30 a.m., 11:30-12:00 a.m., 12:45–1:15 p.m. and 1:15–2:00 p.m.
Our Director
Kindergarten Class
3-Year-Old Tree House Class
4-Year-Old Tree House Class
3&4-Year-Old Farm Room Class
Music Class
4-Year-Old Farm Room Class
