Leeann was born in Monte Vista, Colorado and spent most of her school years in Leadville, Colorado. Leann has one grown son who is currently working and living in Northern Colorado. She enjoys fishing, camping, and hiking in our beautiful mountains and riding her road bike in such events as Ride the Rockies.

Leeann taught in the Archuleta County School District for twenty-nine years before retiring from teaching after 35 total years. After retirement, she decided to try her hand in early childhood education and make an impact! She has always believed that education is the stepping stone to a strong future and looks forward to helping young children achieve success. Leeann has been teaching at Seeds for 4 years. She has obtained her Colorado Early Childhood Professional Credential 3.0.

Miss Jennifer joined Seeds in August 2023. She moved to Pagosa Springs with her husband in February 2022. Jennifer holds a Bachelor’s in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Arizona State University. She holds a Colorado ECE credential – Level 3. She has worked in a preschool classroom for over a year, and has 20 plus years experience working with early intervention and Head start programs. She is knowledgeable about typical and atypical child development, and has used this information to coach teachers and parents in her positions with United Cerebral Palsy and Foundation for Blind Children in Arizona.

Jennifer believes every child deserves a safe, happy place to go and learn. She is excited to be a member of the Seed’s team!

Miss Debbie was born and raised in West Virginia. She has degrees in Physical Education and Library Science. Debbie has also taken several ECE courses. She and her husband Dan have been married 40 years. Together they have one daughter and two beautiful grandchildren. Miss Debbie has served as one of our awesome substitute teachers for many years and then joined the Butterfly class permanently as the Teacher’s Aide and hasn’t looked back.

She has been at Seeds since 2011 and feels truly honored to be able to be a part of the kids lives!

Ruby has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Chapman University and worked for the California Alisal School District and Monterey County in Elementary School.

Ruby is passionate about children and play-based learning. She has been with Seeds of Learning since 2009 and is looking forward to many more years with Seeds. Ruby was born in Farmington, NM and has resided in Pagosa Springs for the past twelve years. She is looking forward to her daughter growing up in the area as she loves the feeling of community in our little town. Ruby knows it takes a village to raise a child and her heart is with the education of our youth.

Miss Tanara has been a teacher’s aide here at Seeds since September 2022. In February 2024, she was promoted to assistant teacher. She has been living in Pagosa for about 2 years now, and has a 10 year old son. Tanara was working as a manager in a restaurant, and decided she wanted a change in careers. She loves children and is excited to learn more about their development. She aspires to obtain her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education, and has completed three ECE courses through Pueblo Community College and Fort Lewis College. She recently obtained her Colorado Early Childhood Professional Credential 3.0.

Miss Susan started at Seeds in September 2021. She has over 30 years experience working with children including private nannying, and being a children’s pastor.

She moved here from New York, but she is originally from Missouri. She loved watching Broadway shows in New York, but is excited to be here in the mountains. In her free time, Susan enjoys counted cross-stitch, watching movies, and making stuff for children in the classroom. Susan is excited to continue taking Early Childhood courses, and has 2 ECE courses completed. She recently obtained her Colorado Early Childhood Professional Credential 3.0.

Melissa has been with Seeds for 12 years. She left for a short time to return to New York, and we are excited she is back. She was previously employed at Our Savior Lutheran Preschool for four years, where she worked with children ages 3 to 5 years. She joined the Seeds of Learning team in January of 2010. She is originally from Buffalo, NY, but has lived all over the country. Melissa has two children. She obtained her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education in May 2016 and her BA in Early Childhood Education in May 2019.

Ms. Melissa enjoys spending time outdoors in our beautiful town.

Ms. Whitney started as a Teacher’s aide in September 2022, and was promoted to Assistant Teacher in May 2023. She and her Fiancé moved to Pagosa from Texas. She has over 8 years experience working with young children. She worked for 5 years as a lead teacher for 2 and 3 year olds in a preschool classroom.

She is excited to be a part of our Seeds team, and has taken three ECE courses at Pueblo Community College and Fort Lewis College to advance her knowledge of child development. She aspires to finish her Associates degree in Early Childhood Education, and become a lead teacher. She recently obtained her Colorado Early Childhood Professional Credential 3.0.

Ms. Jenniffer joined us in June 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and is a certified teacher. Most recently, she has been a 1st and 4th grade teacher at Pagosa Elementary. She has previously taught elementary level at Valor Academy and several other schools in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas. She holds a Colorado ECE credential – Level 4. Ms. Jenniffer also worked with children with special needs as a registered ABA therapist. She has been a 2 year old teacher in a child development center, and a private nanny for young children. While residing in Germany, Jenniffer was a certified home child care provider.

She enjoys reading, baking, crafting, gardening, and spending time outside hiking or snowshoeing with her husband.