Wichita - Kansas

Erica earned her A.A. in Early Childhood Education from Wichita Area Technical College in 2001.  Erica started in child care in 1993, at Hesston Community Child Care Center as an Assistant teacher for two year olds.  She moved to Sunshine Academy in her hometown of Newton, KS, where for 5 years, she worked as a Lead Teacher with the Pre-K children and had part time duties as Assistant Director.  After being a stay at home mom for a few years, she found her way to Open Arms where for almost 4 years, she was the Lead Teacher for the Preschool Two class.  She was promoted to Assistant Director of Open Arms in the summer of 2007.

Erica believes that children respond best to consistency.  In the classroom, routines are key.  When the children know what to expect and what is acceptable, the discipline takes care of itself.  It is also very important that each child and teacher feel valued and accepted. Modeling kindness and respect are tools to achieve these goals.

In the classroom, Erica likes to create an environment where each child can excel on their own level and at their own pace. 

Erica enjoys spending time with friends and family.  She enjoys catching the latest flick and checking out new, local restaurants.  Reading and sudoku are her favorite quiet time activities. 

Awards & Certificates

• Who's Who Among American Teachers - 2005
• Who's Who Among American Teachers - 2006
• Love & Logic Training - 2007

Michelle's education is in Business Administration, but she spent 7 years working with mentally handicapped adults as a Case Manager.  To make a career change, she returned to college and took the necessary classes to obtain her Directors License.  She became the Business Manager for Open Arms in the summer of 2007.

Michelle believes that every child has great potential and it is our responsibility as adults to nurture their potential to the greatest extent.  She believes we also have a responsibility to teach not only children, but anyone who doesn't have knowledge of Jesus and how he changes lives.

Michelle enjoys teaching Sunday School to 3, 4 & 5 year olds.  She is also a member of the Ascension Bell Choir.  Michelle is married to Cris and they have a daughter and a son who are actively involved in ice skating at Wichita Ice Sports.

Adriana has been with Open Arms for 5 years.  Prior to serving the children of Open Arms, she worked for La Petite Academy in Kansas and Arizona for 9 years and was a stay at home mom for 14 years. 

Adriana believes that children just want to be loved.  Love for children is spelled T-I-M-E.  She would love to design a special art class where children learn to work with all mediums of art.  Acrylics, oils, clay, pottery, paper mache, etc.  Adriana provides a special service to the children here at Open Arms, she is our music teacher, and she visits with the children teaching them songs and music.

Adriana has been married for 25 years to a pilot from Kentucky and they have 4 kids and 2 grandchildren.  She enjoys the theater, movies and music which she shares all of those loves with her children.

Libby began her career with children at Sunshine Academy in Newton, Kansas.  She worked with toddlers at the time.  Libby joined the Open Arms family in March of 2004 as a toddler lead teacher.  During her many employment she has been assigned to many classrooms.  She loves children and enjoys all ages.

Libby believes every child is an individual.  Children all learn differently and at their own pace.  She believes in encouraging the children to learn in all aspects of their day.

Her goals include getting the children she cares for ready for the future.  

She enjoys spending time with her nieces and her son as well as her English bulldog Poncho.

Nichole has been with Open Arms since it opened in 2002 and was the Employee of the Month for July of 2008.  She is currently taking classes in Early Childhood Education, working toward her Bachelors degree as well as getting her Directors License. 

Nichole believes that even as adults, we all learn and react in different ways, so we should not expect children to all act and learn the same way.  They need to be risk takers and successful for themselves, not what we believe they should achieve to be successful for adults.  She feels it is important to remember that children are all unique, and in our environment, we will get more accomplished and be more successful, if we are open to different teaching styles.

Nichole's daily goal is to keep Open Arms the best child development center in Wichita.

Nichole is married to Isaac, a Sergeant in the United States Army and they have daughter and son who enjoy spending time with family and friends.  They are also very involved in ice skating at Wichita Ice Center.

Bonnie believes that all her experience comes from her on-the-job training she has received from her own children.  Being a mother has given her a personal confidence in what she does and how she cares for all the children.  She believes in treating them all with the same love and respect she gives her own children.

She believes in supporting a child's growth and development in the classroom, encouraging family involvement which includes a partnership for all caregivers - to prepare respectful, responsible, caring, skilled and life long learners through a curriculum that nurtures individual strengths and talents in a safe environment.

She has high personal expectations for herself.  She desires to learn as much as she can and has decided to go back to school to receive a second bachelors degree in Education. She believes in the high standards of nurturing the children, and to love and care for, teach and lead the children to know the love of God.  Bonnie is the Webmaster for Open Arms and has created this site for us.  She loves to take pictures and considers herself a pretty good amateur photographer.  She also volunteers as the website coordinator for the local chapter of Mothers & More.

As a parent of children in a Child Development Center, you always wonder "Will they love my baby, will they care for my child the way I do?"  That answer at Open Arms is MOST DEFINITELY.  The staff and teachers here are dedicated to the well being of every child.  Providing a safe, loving home-away-from-home is what they do best.

Awards & Certificates

• Biltmore's Who's Who Among Professionals - 2009
• Love & Logic Training - 2008

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