January 21, 2026
Welcoming Stephanie Rino as Our Director of Curriculum and Learning
At Little Sunshine’s Playhouse, curriculum is not something that lives on paper alone. It lives in the questions children ask, the materials they return to again and again, the moments of connection between teachers and families, and the quiet pride educators feel when they see learning unfold in unexpected ways.
That is why we are so excited to share a meaningful next step in our journey: the creation of a new home office leadership role, Director of Curriculum and Learning, and the appointment of Stephanie Rino to this position.
This role reflects a deep commitment to who we are—and who we are becoming—as a learning community.
A Role Rooted in Purpose and Passion
For Stephanie, this new chapter is deeply personal.
“As a longtime Reggio Emilia-inspired educator, I’m thrilled to take on a role that allows me to dive deeper into curriculum and learning. This truly feels like a passion project, and I’m honored to be doing this work.”
The Director of Curriculum and Learning role was created with intention. As Little Sunshine’s Playhouse continues to grow nationally, this position ensures that our educational philosophy, values, and expectations remain strong, consistent, and thoughtfully supported across every school, while still honoring the individuality of each community we serve.
In her role, Stephanie will lead the vision, development, and implementation of our proprietary Reggio Emilia–inspired curriculum, Creatively Shine®, guiding how it evolves and how it comes to life in classrooms every day.
Bringing Reggio Emilia to Life, Together
Reggio Emilia is not a checklist or a script. It is a philosophy built on relationships, reflection, and responsiveness. Stephanie’s work will focus on strengthening a clear pedagogical framework that supports project-based learning, play- and nature-inspired experiences, and developmentally appropriate practice across all age groups.
Just as importantly, her approach centers on collaboration.
“Building community and connection within each school—and throughout the company—is such a beautiful aspect of this philosophy. I look forward to collaborating and learning from our amazing school teams.”
This role is not about prescribing one “right” way to teach. It is about supporting educators with shared language, thoughtful tools, and meaningful guidance, so teachers feel confident adapting curriculum to the children in front of them.
Supporting Educators at Every Stage
A core focus of Stephanie’s work will be adult learning. She will lead the redesign of onboarding and professional development systems, ensuring they are intentional, accessible, and grounded in how adults learn best.
This includes:
- Strengthening onboarding and training experiences
- Creating a centralized digital learning portal
- Developing leadership and teacher trainings for all stages of growth
- Supporting teacher training weeks for new school openings
She will also oversee the development of monthly default lesson plans for each age group, providing consistency while empowering educators to personalize learning experiences in their own classrooms.
And perhaps most meaningfully, Stephanie is passionate about lifting up the work already happening in our schools.
“One of my goals is to highlight and celebrate the incredible work happening in our schools to inspire others. There is so much innovation, creativity, and care taking place every day, and I’m excited to help bring that work to the forefront.”
A Leader Who Knows Our Schools
Stephanie brings more than 25 years of experience in early childhood education, having served as a classroom teacher, trainer, program administrator, founding director, professional learning facilitator, and nonprofit advocate.
Most recently, she served as Program Director at Little Sunshine’s Playhouse of Colorado Springs at Briargate, where she led with thoughtfulness, strength, and a deep commitment to Reggio Emilia–inspired practice. In 2025, she was honored with the Loris Malaguzzi Performance Award, recognizing exceptional leadership and dedication to early childhood education.
Her academic background includes an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Family Studies, and completed coursework toward a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to grow, this role represents an investment in what matters most: children, educators, and the quality of learning experiences that shape early childhood.
Stephanie shares that excitement for what’s to come:
“I look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead as we continue to grow and collaborate in our company’s vision.”
We are honored to have Stephanie guiding this important work and cannot wait to see how her leadership supports educators, strengthens curriculum, and helps children across our schools continue to shine.
See what Little Sunshine’s is all about!