January National Teacher of the Month

Teaching is by far one of the more noble and influential professions on the planet. Special teachers can and do make a difference every day in the lives of children and families.

The process of choosing just one teacher each month is beyond difficult, but we are pleased to announce that our 2020 January National Teacher of the Month is Ms. Niki of Little Sunshine’s Playhouse and Preschool of Willowbrook, IL.

Ms. Niki has been with LSP Willowbrook since we have opened and she is such an amazing teacher! Ms. Niki is full of so much knowledge and really rocks the Infant 1 Classroom. She does a fantastic job implementing Reggio curriculum and has so much fun with her babies. Ms. Niki has made many great connections with all of her families not only in her classroom but throughout the whole school. Did I also mention she is the queen of puns?! Need a pun, go ask Ms. Niki! Niki has also done a fantastic job training her new co-teacher and passing along all the tips and tricks she has learned during her time here at LSP. We are so thankful for everything Ms. Niki does for LSP and we appreciate all the hard work she puts in every day. She brings so much positivity to all of our students and staff.

Here is some fun information about her and what makes her such a standout!

What age group do you teach?
Infants

What is the name of your classroom?
Land of Oz

What do you love most about the age group you teach?
I love watching them reach new milestones every day. One day a baby might be rolling, and the next they’re army crawling. Plus, seeing how their personalities form at such a young age is amazing. Some of them are already so sassy and it is absolutely adorable. The cuddles are always a plus too!

What is your favorite curriculum project you’ve ever done in your classroom?
My favorite project was a recent one we did with the Music and Movement unit. We used pots, pans, and a whisk to make music. Some of the babies threw the whisk behind them multiple times but just watching them make music and the faces they made when they realized they were making music was so silly.

What do you enjoy most about working for LSP?
I think the company is a great company. There is a lot of opportunity for growth. Teachers are supported by one another and leadership. The educator passion bucket is a really cool feature because it allows all the teachers to interact and learn from one another.

Who and/or what inspires you?
Seeing a child’s face when they learn something new is such a great feeling. Their face lights up and it is an amazing feeling to watch them grow each and every day. The children get so excited and being a part of that, is just an amazing feeling.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love taking our dog out, going to concerts, and watching movies with my fiancé! I am super excited to get married this July.

Tell us one special fact about yourself that no one would expect.
I’ve watched all seasons of the office at least 10 times. It is my favorite!

We also want to say congratulations to all the nominees who are listed below. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication!

Cortney H. – Alpharetta

Savannah M. – Broomfield

Arin K. – Chesterfield

Mike D. – Colorado Springs

Amanda B. – Franklin

Reya F. – Gilbert – Val Vista

Romii M. – Gilbert – Higley

Sara C. – Granite Bay

Stephanie J. – Lakeway

Brittany A. – Leawood

Natalie M. – Littleton

Stella G. – O’Fallon

Aerial K. – Overland Park

Amy P. – Ozark

Sophia H. – Rogers

Sara D. – San Antonio – Dominion

Denhi R. – San Antonio – Stone Oak

Tina E. – Scottsdale

Victoria S. – Southlake

Betty L. – Springfield I

Mikayla G. – Springfield II

Darrah B. – Springfield III

Kari H. – The Woodlands

Tatyania G. – University City[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]