Teachers and Staff

Marilyn Canole, Lead Teacher - Bears

Marilyn has been making an impact on children’s lives for over 34 years. She joined the team in 2007 and has been an integral part of the CDC family by teaching the Bear class and preparing them for Kindergarten. When she’s not at CDC, Marilyn enjoys traveling, taking cruises, and spending time with her husband.

Michelle Pons, Lead Teacher - Stars

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Michelle Pons has worked in childcare for about 27 years. She is currently the lead teacher in the Stars Room, teaching 3 and 4 year old children. An avid lover of all living things, Michelle takes great pride in her classroom pets. Michelle’s extensive background in early childhood education brings top-notch pedagogical practices along with an innate ability to help children socialize.

Alissa Shoemaker, Lead Teacher - Bees

Alissa joined the CDC team as the lead teacher for the Bee Room in June 2018 and has been loving every minute of it. Alissa first discovered her passion for teaching preschool at a Montessori school in early 2018 but has worked with kids for as long as she can remember. Alissa studied Social Work at University of Missouri and in addition to her passion for teaching, she has a strong interest in working with refugees and learning other cultures and languages.

Krista Riggs, Lead Teacher - Bees

Krista is a student at the University of Missouri studying child development education. She hopes to make a difference in the lives of children facing illness in hospital settings in her career. Krista was drawn to CDC from the emphasis placed on learning through play here at the center and the inspiring teachers and staff.

Katie Britton-Mehlisch, Assistant Teacher

Lee’s Summit native, Katie has always had an interest in working with children, but decided she wanted to become a teacher her senior year of high school. She is a student at Mizzou studying elementary education with a minor in psychology. Her favorite part of teaching is when a child’s face lights up when they finally grasp a concept. In her free time, Katie loves to travel. As an aid, Katie helps all the teachers in whatever they may need throughout the day.

Madison Ponciroli, Classroom Aid

Madison came to Columbia from St. Louis and is studying math education at Mizzou. Madison was inspired to go into education from her love of working with children and watching them grow through the years. When not working or going to class, Madison enjoys working out and hanging with family and friends. As an aid, Madison works with the children in the morning, helping with parent drop off and breakfast.

Claire Hazelton, Classroom Aid

Claire came to CDC at the beginning of her college career as a classroom aid in 2018. She is a pre-nursing major at Mizzou but has loved working with kids since as long as she can remember. She started babysitting in middle school and every time she is home in St. Louis she continues to foster the relationships she has with the families and children she has known for so long. As an aid, Claire helps with organizing and helping children learn and grow.

Frances Cheatum, Custodian

Frances started working at the Child Development Center during the 2018-2019 school year. She has had many years of prior experience working in daycares and preschools throughout Columbia. Her previous experiences make her the perfect person to help all the children at lunch and makes the center spotless for them every evening. She says she is so blessed to be able to work with the staff at children at the Child Development Center.

Hannah May, Marketing Coordinator and Classroom Aid

Hannah joined CDC in the fall of 2018 and has loved every minute of it. She has spent her last four summers nannying and continues teaching children’s gymnastics back home in St. Louis. Although Hannah is a strategic communication major with a minor in business and psychology at Mizzou, she will always have a big place in her heart for kids. She loves seeing the CDC’s students’ smiling faces and hearing their funny stories everyday

Colleen Ostercamp, Music

Colleen brings the gift of music to our young learners’ lives every week. Always a song in her heart, Colleen brings so much joy to the children at the Child Development Center.

Ed Rollins, Liaison Pastor between CDC and FBC

Ed’s role as liaison pastor means he gets to work with both the church community and the preschool. Being the Associate Pastor for Music at FBC means he is able to show the kids all the different instruments the church uses, including the handbells which he lets them play during the holiday season.