Our Staff

The Open Arms Staff

At the core foundation of our school is a commitment to providing our students with a Lutheran based education through the instrumental instruction of excellent educators, administrators and support staff. We hire experienced, trustworthy, devoted, and highly qualified individuals who value providing our students with exceptional education and care.

Parents can have peace of mind knowing that their child is always being taken care of with complete attention and dedication to their emotional, spiritual and educational journeys.

We integrate faith-based teachings with play and exploration, allowing children to learn and grow at their own pace. The curriculum is designed to be developmentally appropriate, fostering creativity and critical thinking while rooted in Christian values. The focus is on nurturing the whole child—spiritually, emotionally, socially, and academically.

Administrative Team

Our administrative team work behind the scenes as well as with families and in the classroom with teachers and children.

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Carrie Jiridly

DIRECTOR

Email Carrie

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Holly Berry

Assistant Director

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Kristen Colananni

Enrollment & Family Experience Manager

Email Kristen

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Tina Bailey

Classroom support

Email Tina

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Taylor Kahre

Administrative Coordinator

Email Taylor

Teachers

Our classrooms are managed by co-lead teachers who are responsible for planning lessons and activities for their students. Teachers are provided with ongoing professional development and support from the administrative team. They also make sure parents stay involved in their child’s progress, through daily updates on FAMLY, class newsletters and emails, and invitations to participate in special class activities.

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Heba

Young Infants
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Gabriella

Young Infants
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Jade

Older Infants
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Autumn

Toddlers
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Michelle

Beginning preschool
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Annabel

Beginning preschool
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Savi

Beginning preschool
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Flora

Beginning preschool
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Amy

Beginning preschool
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Jinju

INTERmediate preschool
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Ashley

INTERmediate preschool
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Erin

INTERmediate preschool
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Lindsey

INTERmediate preschool
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Sheila

Beginning preschool
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Katherine

Kindergarten Prep
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Rani

Kindergarten Prep
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Jillian

Kindergarten Prep

Yenny

Kindergarten Prep
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Valerie

Kindergarten Prep
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Heather

Kindergarten Prep
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Shanti

School Age & Summer Camp

Specialty Teachers

These teachers offer instruction in Bible and Physical Education. Classrooms go to chapel once a week and have weekly Bible lessons. Each class spends daily time in our “Big Room” with large movement activities led by our Physical Education teacher.

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Kadie

Director of Christian Education
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David

Physical Education | School Age & Summer Camp

Rotating Teachers

These teachers rotate throughout the day, providing planning times for teachers, covering lunch breaks, and standing in for teachers who might be out ill or on vacation.

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Julie

Floater

Kitchen & Housekeeping Staff

Our kitchen staff delivers nutritious snacks and hot lunches daily. A morning and afternoon snack is served to children in their classrooms, and warm lunches are served to full-day and extended-day classes. Our Day Porter performs many of the functions necessary to keep our school running smoothly. They are on-hand and available to clean up the messes that happen so often with little ones.

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Alejandra

Day Porter
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Ivonne

Kitchen
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Qaisar

Kitchen