Our Team
Amber Blair
Co-Teacher
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Amber Blair is committed to creating safe, fun, and engaging indoor/outdoor environments for students. She is experienced in child-led, emergent teaching and also speaks Spanish fluently. Ms. Amber is excited to share her love of the Spanish language and LatinX cultures with her students. She will be completing her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education this year at Clark College, and then she plans to continue her education towards her Bachelor’s in ECE. Ms. Amber also enjoys traveling, kayaking, and gardening.
Kara Landry
Director
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Kara Landry has a Masters of Teaching and Learning with an Early Childhood endorsement and has been working with children and families for over 20 years. Kara is a caring, devoted, and enthusiastic educator. She brings a wide variety of experience to the Director position at St. Andrew Preschool. Her dedication to child-led, nature based learning is enhanced by her past work at Waldorf and Montessori schools and her own childhood in the woods and mountains of New Hampshire. In her free time Kara loves gardening, reading, running, hiking, and hanging out with her three kids.
Kayla Lehrman
Two & You Teacher
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Ms. Kayla loves child-led play and helping families learn about social and emotional development. She has her bachelors degree and teaching certificate with an endorsement in early childhood. She also has experience leading families in outdoor learning and nature play. Her favorite thing about teaching little ones is watching their face light up with a new discovery. Ms. Kayla believes even the youngest of learners are capable, creative and full of grit. She can’t wait to explore together! When she’s not teaching you can find Ms. Kayla chasing her 2 (who will be joining us in class!), 3 and 5 year old around. Ms. Kayla loves to be outside, especially near water, gardening, reading and going on walks with her family.
Danessa Manasco
Assistant Teacher
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Danessa Manasco started as a Teacher’s Aide last spring at St. Andrew Preschool and even attended St. Andrew herself as a child! She loves working at St. Andrew because she gets to see the kids learn and grow into themselves and explore their interests. She especially enjoys observing what the children are interested in and then providing ways for them to investigate those interests further. Ms. Danessa also loves her family, her dog Gunner, riding ATVs, spending time in the mountains, and the color purple.
Ms. S. (photo unavailable)
Co-Teacher
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Ms. S brings both experience and knowledge of early childhood education to the classroom. She loves to see children soak up information like sponges and use different methods to achieve a goal. She believes that each child has the innate ability to learn, create, and grow. When not in the classroom Ms. S loves writing and being outdoors.
Shanon McBride
Co-Teacher
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As a St. Andrew Preschool parent, Shannon McBride is very excited to be working in the classroom! She has a passion for early childhood education, and with her own young kiddos at home she brings an abundance of patience, empathy, and energy to our school. Finding ways to make education fun is what creates life-long learners, and to Ms. Shannon you are never too old or too young to learn something new! She will be finishing her undergraduate degree in elementary education next year and hopes to become an elementary music teacher. Ms. Shannon has traveled to seven different countries and loves all things musical theater and outdoor recreation. Rain or shine, you will most likely find her outside puddle jumping with her sons or enjoying a hike with her high school sweetheart.
Mary Wells
Co-Teacher
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Mary Wells is a longtime early childhood educator with over 20 years experience in the field. She has an Associate’s degree and is working on her Bachelor’s in Child Development. Mary loves to come alongside children as they explore the world around them, especially in the garden which she has always planted, tended, and learned from with her students. Mary believes that the classroom, both indoors and out, should be a safe, fun, and stimulating place that motivates each child’s development. When not at school, Ms. Mary loves to read, hike, and spend time at the beach and nearby lakes and rivers.