wisdom begins with wonder
Co-founder & Owner
Director of Education
Executive Director
Director of Admissions
Benjamin Franklin
Our teachers are the footsoldiers of our vision and are at the heart of what we do.
As a Reggio-inspired school, Aspen Grove teachers serve as guides to a child’s natural curiosity. They understand the importance of being little and bring optimism, nurturing and connection to their classrooms. Our teachers represent the world that our children will grow up in and many speak a second language. Our lead teachers are degreed in Early Childhood Education or in a related field and our assistant teachers are either degreed or have CDAs (Child Development Associate). Meet some of them:
I’m Diah! I am a mother of a 19 year old girl and 13 year old boy. I have a bachelor’s degree from Adibuana University Indonesia with a Major in Education. I have many ECE certifications and have been working with children for 9 years. I also speak Indonesian! I love working with children because I want to see their growth and to help them achieve their milestones. With my patience, love, and ability, I take care of my classroom children like they are my own.
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Hi, I’m Esther! I have been working in early childhood education since 2016. I hold a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and an Associate Degree in Tourism and Travel Management from Indonesia. I have been working in early childhood education since 2016. I enjoy working with young children because it brings me immense joy, as I cherish the opportunity to understand each child's unique personality, support their development milestones, and witness their growth and progress. I chose to be an educator at Aspen Grove because we are a nature-based learning school. We actively engage children with the natural environment and its elements as effective tools for learning. My favorite thing to do in nature is taking nature walks, which provide an opportunity to reconnect with nature and appreciate the beauty of my surroundings. I am a happily married mother of 2. I like exploring new places, travelling and making new friends.
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Hi, I’m Erica! I have been teaching in early childcare education since 2014 and counting. I enjoy working with young children because they make me laugh. I constantly feel loved, and they challenge me everyday to think fast and be creative. I choose to be an educator at Aspen Grove because it aligns with my own values. We value the importance of being little! I love that a core value is being a kid and living in the moment for as long as possible. Now that doesn’t mean they can’t be independent, it just means they can still enjoy being a kid and living life. We are unafraid to make mistakes and I always tell my nuggets that mistakes are a part of how we learn. My favorite thing to do in nature is to sit on my porch while it’s raining and a little windy. Listening to the rain fall and enjoying the breeze.
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I’m Tanya! I have a Masters degree in Child and Adolescence Developmental Psychology from Walden University as well as a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Associates in Human Services. I have been an Early Childhood educator for over 10 years. I take such joy in knowing I am truly making a difference in a child’s life. I believe in creating a fun, safe, caring and positive learning environment and my dream is that children in my classroom remember their learning experience here as fun!
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Hi, I’m Emma! I have been teaching since 2012, teaching Pre-k age students since 2017, and transitioned to Early Childhood full-time in 2021. I have a Masters of Education in Early Childhood Education and Certificate in Infant Toddler Mental Health from Arcadia University. I enjoy working with young children, not to be *too* cliche, but childhood really is a magical time. A 2018 NASA study showed that 98% of children are creative geniuses as opposed to only 2% of adults—2 percent! As we age, we gain life experience, but we lose our innate sense of creativity. Every day I get to come to work, learn from and be inspired by a brilliant group of people and experience their magic firsthand. I can’t imagine anything better. I chose to be an educator at Aspen Grove because of the school’s core values, particularly the importance of being little. As an Early Childhood educator, my goal is to provide young children with the time, space, and materials for meaningful experiences to take place and preserve their “being little” for as long as I possibly can, and hopefully inspire them to be lifelong learners. My favorite thing to do in nature is to just listen.
+ Sharon worked in the corporate world for almost 20 years before becoming an entrepreneur. A Philadelphia-based mom of 2, she was inspired to start The Aspen Grove School for her son. After many tours and long waitlists in search of finding a joyful learning environment for him, she decided to build one. Sharon works hands-on with the leadership team in bringing Aspen Grove’s vision to life. She believes in joy at the center of all learning and in the strength of an interconnected community.
Sharon has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, a Master’s Degree in Marketing Management and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. She is a member of NAEYC, North America Reggio Emilia Alliance and an Ambassador for the Association of Early Learning Leaders. Sharon is also the co-founder of Bhagya Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating girls in her hometown Bangalore, India.
Jade holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from Bryn Mawr College. She started her career as a Preschool and Toddler teacher and most recently served as a Center Director for 5 years. During this time Jade successfully managed enrollment, parent communication and community events. Jade is a lover of nature and nature-based learning and enjoys the joy and wonder that young children exude. When she’s not at Aspen Grove, you’ll find her exploring the many amazing green spaces and restaurants of Philadelphia.