Team Bios
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Natasha
I would like to take a moment to thank you for choosing Children's Tree House for your child. As a mother of two beautiful children, I truly understand what it is like to find a provider that you trust to care for your child. You will have that peace of mind with your child enrolled within our program. I am Natasha and I am the owner/director of Children's Tree House Preschool and Childcare, LLC. I graduated from Winona State University in 2005 with my bachelor degree in elementary education. I found my passion in early childhood education right out of college and I continue to grow and explore new ways in making every child's experience at the center a memorable one! My love for children drove me to open a center in the area with loving staff and a comfortable place to bring your child, giving you peace of mind while your child is in our care. I live in Onalaska with my husband, Rob, and our two children, Breckyn, who was born in 2006 and, Talyn, who was born in 2010. In our free time we love to spend time with our family and friends and work and play around our home. I can honestly say that I have AMAZING staff and I know that this center would not be as remarkable as it is without each and every one of them making a difference in your child's life! It's my obligation to you to find staff that are dedicated, caring & educated to care for your child. Several of the staff have been a part of my “family” here at the center since we opened in 2007, I've had the pleasure of forming lifelong friendships with so many within the center. My hopes are that this gives you a little insight into our “home” and the comfortable, loving atmosphere that the children grow and engage in on a daily basis. We would love to hear from you or have you visit us and all our little friends at our Tree House! |
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Jackie
Hi, I'm Jackie. I am the Administrative Assistant here at Children’s Tree House. I have worked here since 2007 and in childcare since 2000. I have taught in various age rooms, from infant to school-age, spending the majority of my childcare experience in the 2 1/2 year old classroom. I get to open the daycare each morning and enjoy being able to “sub and float” to each classroom spending time with all of the children at the center. My position here lets me work with families right from the start, doing tours, enrollment and children’s files. I love this aspect because I get to form amazing relationships with the families of the center. I also am in charge of setting up field trips and center visitors. Here at Children’s Tree House we believe that children learn from their experiences, so we try to offer a wide variety of fun and educational activities. I live in Onalaska on Brice Prairie with my husband, Darryl and my teenage daughter, Gwenny. I enjoy spending my spare time outside; biking, kayaking and hiking. My family loves taking camping trips to Wisconsin’s many State parks. Over the years, Children’s Tree House has become my second home. I really enjoy working here; it's a fun, loving, clean and safe environment. All of my co-workers are helpful and understanding. Everyone here truly loves each child. All of the staff, parents and children have become such an important part of my life, they are my family. |
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Shawna
Hello families! My name is Shawna and I have been employed at CTH since 2009. I have always had a passion for working with young children. One of the greatest feelings is showing our parents that their children are in great hands when they have to be at work and can't be there themselves to take care of them. A little bit about myself. In 2006 I married my husband Matt. We have two sons together, Braylan, born in October of 2007 and Kamyn born in October of 2012. I also have two step-daughters, Madalynn and Hayley. When I am not at work, I enjoy being outdoors. My husband and I enjoy playing volleyball, going on walks with the kids and spending time with my friends and family. One of our most favorite things to do is watch our kids play sports. And that's just a little about me! |
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Melissa
Hi, my name is Melissa. I am a lead teacher and went to Western Technical College for Early Childhood Education. I have been working at Children’s Tree House since 2014. I am from Holmen. I grew up with one sister, who is younger than me. I babysat a lot when I was growing up and I loved it, so I know that childcare was right for me. I have many things I like to do in my free time. In the summer I like to go on the river, swim and go tubing. In the winter I like to go snowboarding. I always love to go shopping, paint and hang out with friends and family. Thanks for reading about me. I can’t wait to get to know your families! |
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Brianna
Hello, my name is Brianna and I have been working at Children’s Tree House since September 2011. Before coming to work here, I had 7 years of previous experience working with kids of all ages. At CTH, I am a lead teacher ... and I love it! I really enjoy being a part of their daily lives and sharing their excitement with each new accomplishment. My absolute favorite part about working in childcare is the learning that happens. Not only do the kids learn from me each day, but I find myself learning just as much from them! I was born here (in La Crosse), but raised in Northwest Iowa. After graduating high school, I went to the University of Iowa and my family moved back here. I am a huge Hawkeyes fan and firmly believe that the midwest is Hawkeye Country. Outside of work, I like to do anything that gives me a reason to smile! I spend time with family and friends, get tattoos, go to concerts/music festivals, go shopping and I love learning the artistry of makeup! I’m a creative person, so I also enjoy crafting and do-it-yourself projects. Last, but not least, my favorite holiday is my birthday and I love dress-up days here at the center ... because I like wearing tutus! I look forward to meeting you and hopefully welcoming your family into our Children’s Tree House family! |
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Chelsey
Hello I'm Miss Chelsey! I have been working at CTH since June 2014. I look forward to coming to work everyday knowing my little kiddos will have something new to teach me. In the classroom, I love singing different songs to the kids, teaching colors and friends’ names. I love spending time doing many different art projects; the kids love to get messy anyway they can! I try and get the kiddos outside as much as possible when it is gorgeous out.I love playing with the kids outside on the playground. I was born and raised in the La Crosse area. I have three pet bulldogs, their names are Rocky, Reba, and Rebel. I am very passionate about anything that involves the outdoors; I love to waterski, have bonfires, hunt, fish and go tubing. I especially enjoy doing these things because it gives me an opportunity to spend time with friends and family. My family is all super close and we basically have a family reunion every weekend. Before I started working here at Children’s Tree House, I attended Fox Valley Technical College and received my Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education. Other than working at CTH and student teaching, I grew up babysitting and would help take care of my younger brother, Preston and cousins, Kaia and Oliver. Knowing I work well with children I knew this is what I wanted to pursue a career in. Also, my brother was a huge inspiration on me! I graduated from Fox Valley Technical College in May 2014. |
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Kelli
My name is Miss Kelli, and I have been with this wonderful center since May 2014! I have loved working with kids ever since I started babysitting at 12 years old. The reason I love working with kids so much is because they always give me a reason to smile. My senior year in high school, I was given the amazing opportunity to tutor in elementary schools for 2 hours out of the day. I spent time in both 1st and 2nd grade classrooms tutoring. I loved every minute of it, and I would do it again in a heartbeat! Needless to say, I love my job and the kids I get the great opportunity to work and play with each and every day. I love how I can call my co workers my family and how much I can rely on them. I was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and my family moved here when I was 8 years old. I absolutely love living here! I went to high school in Holmen and graduated in 2014! Right after graduation, I started working here at Children’s Tree House. In the spring of 2015, I adopted a boxer, shepherd husky mixed puppy and named her Akuta. In my free time, I find myself spending time with Akuta and my family, because family is the most important thing. I also babysit if I’m not busy! Jill
Hello. My name is Jill Gross. I've been with Children's Tree House since July 2012, and in childcare since 2004. I graduated in 2004 with an associates degree in early childhood, and have taken many classes and courses since. I love working with children. The best part is hearing the funny stories and things that they say, seeing all of their accomplishments, and knowing that I played a part in each child’s life. I live in Onalaska with my husband Nick, our daughter Hennli, and our son Jax. In my spare time, I like to go on adventures with my family. We spend a lot of time on the river, playing outside, and the occasional surprise vacations. I also enjoy crafting, and participating in local run/walks with friends. Nicole P.
Hello families, my name is Miss Nicole. I am originally from Maple Grove, Minnesota, but I call La Crosse my home. I have been married since July 2013. Since then, my husband, Justin, and I have moved all around the state of Wisconsin, but we are happy to be back in the area near both of our families! I completed my Bachelor’s degree at University of Wisconsin-Stout, my degree is in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Psychology. Through my travels, I worked at a daycare in Illinois for 2 years and more recently ... a daycare in Racine. I am very happy that Children’s Tree House is now my home! Through my years of working with children, I’ve worked with all ages. I love working with the young 3’s, it is an exciting age to be with because they’re full of learning and discovery! In my spare time, I love to hang out with my friends and experience fun, new adventures with my husband. I also enjoy traveling around the States and seeing/learning about new things! I am looking forward to getting to know you and your family! Chrissy
Hello families! My name is Chrissy and I am a Lead Teacher. I have been working at Children's Tree House since September 2009. I studied Early Childhood Education at Western Technical College and graduated in 2011. Being such a big part of a child's everyday life is very rewarding; I enjoy every minute that I get to spend watching the children grow and learn in his/her own way. A little about me: I live in Onalaska with my son, Rylan and our dog, Maggie. Being a mom is so much fun, as well as very time consuming - so most of my free time is spent with my son. Some other things I enjoy are cooking, crafting, traveling, bowling, camping and almost anything outdoors. Thank you for taking the time to learn a few things about me. I am looking forward to getting to know you and your family! |
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Nichole D
Hi, my name is Nichole Davis. I have been working here at the Center since September 2013. I was actually born in Madison, Wisconsin, but I moved to the area for school. I graduated from Mount Horeb High School in 2011 and then started my education at the University of La Crosse. I initially majored in Secondary Education of Biology, but after working with younger children I knew that was where I wanted to be! I ended up completing my degree at UW-L in Biology and Spanish in December of 2016. I then decided to take courses through the center to become Preschool Certified. That certification was completed in May of 2017. A bit more about me; I am an only child, but always grew up with a dog around the house. I have always been an avid soccer player. I started playing in kindergarten and never stopped! I also received my black belt in karate when I was 12. In my spare time you can find me reading, crafting, watching old Friends episodes, or babysitting. I really enjoy the time I spend with the children. Their constant laughter and smiles can make any day better. Watching them grow physically and academically is a true reward. I can’t wait to meet and get to know your child and family! |
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Angie
My name is Angie Hoefs. I am the Pre-K teacher, in the orange classroom. I have a Bachelor of Science degree. My major is Elementary Education and minor is Early Childhood. I graduated in 2006 from Edgewood College, in Madison. I am in the process of working on, and completing, my PDP. This will advance my license from initial educator to professional. It will be a lot of work but I am very excited to do this. I married my best friend in 2010. My husband's name is Vaughn. We have two amazing children. Paige was born in 2013, and is my sassy, fun-loving girl. Vaughn, who is a third generation, was born 2015. They are my life and we enjoy going for walks and love the outdoors. We like to relax and enjoy some downtime with books, puzzles, and coloring. I enjoy teaching and love this age group. I look forward to getting to know you and your child better when they enter preschool. |
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Erika P.
My name is Erika, I was born in Clovis, NM and raised in Onalaska. I am 20 years old and I am currently a Western TC student for Early Childhood. I am so happy that I found a job where I can help children grow, laugh, and learn all while playing all day. Books and arts and crafts are my favorite part of the day. It's so exciting to see the little ones being able to express themselves! I also love Tim Burton movies and anything made out of milk chocolate. |
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Meagan
Hello Families! My name is Meagan and I’ve been working at Children’s Tree House since October 2015. I absolutely love my job and all the families and kids I get to work with on a daily basis. Being a mentor to growing minds everyday is very rewarding. I enjoy watching them learn, grow and accomplish new goals. Being a teacher is truly amazing. Especially when I have such wonderful children to look after. A little about me, I was born in Chicago, but have spent the majority of my life living in LaCrosse. I have a wild amazing daughter named Arabella who is my pride and joy, we do everything together. I love the outdoors. I enjoy boating, hiking, swimming, being artsy, and spending time with my family. I love being a part of the Tree House family and getting to know each and every family at the center. |
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Krista
Hello families. My name is Krista. I am the chef at CTH. I have been the chef since March of 2015. Prior to working in the kitchen I was a float teacher. I started my job at CTH in December of 2014. My position as chef now allows me to use my knowledge and abilities that I learned in college. I graduated with a degree in Food Production Specialist in May of 2012 from Wisconsin Technical College. I grew up with 5 sisters and 1 brother. I attended some of the private schools in the Onalaska area. I loved to play sports. Now I live in La Crosse with my boyfriend. We have a dog and a cat. Some activities I enjoy doing are going out on the water in the boat, hiking, relaxing, and hanging out with my friends and family. Some of the best things about my job here at CTH are being able to watch each child grow into the person they are to become. I am also pleased to know that each child will get to enjoy a nutritious, hearty breakfast, lunch, and snack everyday! |
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Rachel
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Jesi
Hi, my name is Miss Jesi. I started my float position at Children’s Tree House in December 2016. I found my passion for working with children when I began babysitting at age 12. In high school I got to job shadow at a childcare center. I have worked in childcare since 2012. My favorite thing about working with children is watching them learn and grow every day.
I grew up in Reedsburg, WI and moved to Onalaska in 2012 where I currently live with my husband, Scott, and our dog, Sadie. In my free time I am always outdoors. I enjoy fishing, hunting and camping. I am so excited for my opportunity to work with all the amazing children, families and staff at Children’s Tree House!
