Teacher

Hi, My name is Durga! I was born and raised in India with 25 members. I have a beautiful family with two princesses and a lovely husband. I worked as a Math teacher for five years. I have been with AcademyOne since April of 2019. I am one of the teachers in the Infant A room and it brings me so much joy to see your little ones smiling and in great care. I love being with children. I love drawings, paintings, arts and crafts, 3D Animation and I love sweets. I am so excited to be here at AcademyOne and meet all of you families.

Hello, my Name is Nikki Magers. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to help the children of AcademyOne grow and explore the world around them each day! I have been in the childcare field for 15 years and have worked with all ages. I’m from Newark and have one brother and one sister. I also have 3 nieces and a great niece and nephew. I went to Utica High School and Joint Vocational school for Early Childhood Education. I love anything outdoors, football and softball. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you. I have been with the AcademyOne family for many years at the other New Albany location. I can’t wait to build friendships with these children and relationship with these parents.

Hello, My name is Kelly Goble. I have been in Early Childhood education field since 2016. I enjoy the children’s reactions to all things, the way they learn and interact with us. I enjoy my job and believe that some of the most important skills to have when working with little children is patience, flexibility and love. I am married and have 2 beautiful daughters and one dog. I also have to granddaughters now! I enjoy light gardening and entertaining.

AcademyOne has become a second home since February 2018 and I look forward in taking care of each and every one of your children.

Hi, I’m Maja. I came from a beautiful small country called Macedonia, located in Europe, with my husband and our four children. I studied to be a teacher and had the opportunity to work with children for four years. Doing that, I realized how much I want to work with them, they make me happy. It is a great pleasure for me to see them grow and learn new things every day!

Hello, my name is Danna Wellman and I am the Center Director at AcademyOne in New Albany. Early Childhood education field has been my home since 2014, I really enjoy being around all different ages and enjoy learning alongside them. I love that everyday I get to see each child grow in their own way. My biggest joy is that I get to work with each teacher, help them with curriculum implementation, and share with them all the fun, love and learning that is so important to each child. These are the most precious years of their lives and I love to have our teachers be a part of those memories. I am so happy to have this opportunity here at AcademyOne. I also have two amazing children, Josie and Brody, and they both attend AcademyOne.

I look forward in building strong and loving relationships with each family and watching their beautiful children grow in our school.

Hello, I am Imani and I am so happy to be a part of the AcademyOne family! My career in childcare started in 2013 and it is something that I really enjoy doing. I believe that this school is a wonderful spot for your child to begin their education both academically and emotionally.  We are a great team with incredible passion for each individual child.  I feel very proud and lucky to be part of such a great group of teachers.  

Outside of work, some of my favorite things to do are to go to the movies, go to festivals, and spend time with my friends and family. Welcome to AcademyOne!

Hello! My name is Dominique Guess and I have been working in childcare since 2014. I took almost 2 years off to have my daughter and watch her grow her first year. I attended The Ohio State in 2004 and Columbus State in 2006. I knew I wanted to work in childcare because I thoroughly enjoy  working with kids and watching them grow and learn. Their smiles bring joy to my heart and brighten my day. I’m just happy I can be a small part of their growth here at AcademyOne.

Hello AcademyOne families, my name is Kara. I am a mom of 6 and a wife to Anthony. My children are Kayla, Nate, Tyler, Kari, Carter, & Hayden. I grew up in Whitehall with my four brothers. I graduated from Whitehall Yearling HS and went to Columbus State. I love Pete the Cat! I love festivals specifically the Celtic, Scottish, Irish & Renaissance & Viking! I love bag pipes, camp, bonfires, hanging out with my husband, children, and friends. I have 25+ years’ experience in Child Care, and have been with AcademyOne since June 2015. I love spending each day being a part of your child’s life; I love seeing them grow and learn!

Hey, I’m Ashleigh! I was born and raised on the Gulf coast of Florida. I moved to Ohio a few years ago and currently reside in Johnstown with my husband Kyle and our 3 children. We have 2 boys, Zachary (10), Xander (6), and 1 girl, Ysabella (3). All three of them are their own unique individuals and I find that fascinating. This is the second childcare center I’ve worked for and I’ve learned that infants are my passion. I just can’t get enough of their snuggles and I’m looking forward to caring for them the way I cared for my own. Thank you so much for sharing your babies with me, I know how precious this time is. I can’t wait to get to know you all better and watch your children grow!

Greetings! I’m Ms. Ila Liff, serving as the Curriculum Director at AcademyOne. Residing in Columbus with my devoted husband and four wonderful children – Emery, Leo, Ellis, and Lucas, I embarked on my journey with AcademyOne in 2020, initially in the Infant classroom. Over the years, I’ve evolved from being an infant, preschool, and kindergarten-prep educator to my current role as an administrator. My aim is to transform AcademyOne into not just a childcare facility, but a home away from home for families. It’s a haven where students are enveloped in safety, love, and endless opportunities for curiosity and learning. I firmly believe that for students to thrive and reach their full potential, they require an environment where they can express and navigate their emotions effectively. I’m excited about the journey ahead, alongside AcademyOne and our remarkable families!

Hello, my name is Corinne Burris. I grew up in the country in Somerset, Ohio. I am an only child and I am a fur-mama to five cats and one dog. In 2013 I graduated from Sheridan High School and from Muskingum University in 2019. I enjoy reading, and drinking lots of coffee is my guilty pleasure.

I have decided to make early learning my life’s work because I believe a child’s education is the most valuable thing in the world.  Knowledge is power and I recognize that the earlier it begins the better for the child.  To me the most amazing thing is to see or hear one of my students apply the skills that I have taught them and see the excitement on their face.

Hello, My name is SaMya Greathouse. I was born and raised here in Columbus with my three siblings. I have been caring for children since I was about 10 and ever since I have had a passion for children and early childhood education.   I enjoy every aspect of teaching and have realized in my years that children can teach us as much as we teach them.  This is one of my favorite things about being in childcare. In my free time I am coaching competitive cheer with Mystiq Jewels All-Stars.

I am so excited to be here at AcademyOne and I look forward to meeting your family and getting to know all of the children.

Hello, my Name is Taylr Pierce and I am so excited to be a part of the AcademyOne family! I have worked in childcare since 2014, and absolutely love and enjoy what I do. I went to Gahanna Lincoln High School,  have 2 kids of my own, their names are Braxton and Brielle. They are my world as well as our pups Dory and Nemo.

The thing I love the most about being a teacher at AcademyOne is the opportunity and privilege of watching children grow, being a part of their lives, and helping them learn through their play. I am looking forward to getting to know your little ones and helping them learn and grow everyday.

Hello! My name is Casey and I have been working in childcare since 2006! I graduated from The Ohio State University with my Master’s in Early Childhood Education. I enjoy creating an environment of love and support where it is safe to explore and ask questions, enjoy arts and crafts, and spending time with friends. I am excited to be a part of the journey here at AcademyOne and I hope that you and your family will join us!

Hi, I’m Maja. I came from a beautiful small country called Macedonia, located in Europe, with my husband and our four children. I love walking around in nature, classical music, ice cream, sushi, and a positive people around me! I had a beautiful childhood full of playing, reading books, and cooking in mom’s kitchen!  After high school, I went to college to be a professor of philosophy.  I studied to be a teacher and had the opportunity to work with children for four years. Doing that, I realized how much I want to work with them, they make me happy. It is a great pleasure for me to see them grow and learn new things every day!

Hello! My name is Norma and I am the Lead Infant A teacher here at AcademyOne. I have worked in the childcare setting since 2004. I love working with children. Watching them grow and learn is a great experience for me. I have four grandchildren, 3 granddaughters and 1 grandson. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends! I also love to play volleyball, read, and sew. I am very happy to be here at AcademyOne and look forward to meeting your little ones!

Hello Everyone! My name is Kayla and I have lived in Columbus for as long as I can remember. I love reading, watching movies, collecting rubber ducks, and spending time with my fiancé Scottie and our fur baby Momo! I have worked here at AcademyOne since October 2014. I love getting to know the children and watching them learn and grow. I look forward to meeting each and every family.

Hello, my name is Nicola Hughes but I do go by Ms. Nikki. I am from England. I have two children that are all grown up now. My children’s names are Lauren and Coner and I also have a Step Child named Gabriella. I recently married to my childhood sweetheart his name is Nigel, which has brought me here to Ohio. Not only is this my first job in the U.S it is also my first job working with children and I wonder why I have not done it before. I am very proud of my little ones every day and am very happy to be their teacher and to be given the opportunity to watch them grow. Originally I was a culinary chef for 25 years. I have been with AcademyOne since April 2019 and can’t wait to meet all of our AcademyOne families and watch their children grow within our school.

Hello, my name is Bojana Simic, and I am a proud Owner of AcademyOne Childcare & Preschool. I have been in the education field for 18 years, during which I have worked as a Teacher, Activities Coordinator, Director, District Trainer, NAEYC Advisor, and a Leadership Apprentice member. Education, safety, and positive experiences are very important to me, and I am happy to offer all three to your children while they are in our care.

Here at AcademyOne we have developed a community of extraordinary teachers, children, and families, and it is such a privilege to be a part of this astounding journey.

Hi, my name is Lauren Kerstetter and I am the director here at Academy One Childcare and Preschool of Gahanna. I have worked in childcare for over a decade and knew from the beginning that working with children was the path I was meant to take. For many years I was an infant teacher before finding my passion for working in administration. I absolutely love building relationships with not just the children but also with the families, teachers and staff. Academy One felt like home the moment I walked in and I am so grateful to wake up each morning to come to a place that I love. I live here in New Albany with my daughter, Halle and my son, Julian. In our free time we love exploring new parks, spending time with family and getting comfy and watching movies together! It is truly a blessing to be involved in the early learning experiences of the children here at Academy One.