Michele DeNiro Rosser

Director of Administration

Michele, Ready Set Grow's Director, holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and comes to us with a decade of administrative experience in leading one of Cincinnati's top early childhood development schools. In that position, she supervised every operation of the center; from personnel management to lesson plan oversight, along with inventory and supply. She has taken on a similar range of tasks here at Ready Set Grow, coordinating the entirety of center operation, and has done so ever since construction started on our New Albany site. She doesn't mind her considerable responsibilities, because with them come without question the greatest reward of Michele's career: working with bright, curious children.

 

Shanda Pierce

Co-Lead Preschool Teacher (Language Arts)

Ms. Shanda comes to Ready Set Grow with a degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences from Ohio University in Athens. She joins RSG with three years of experience teaching toddlers and preschool. She lives in German Village, but secretly longs for the beach life.

 

Lesa Claar

School-Age Teacher

Ms. Lesa has been working with young and special-needs children for many years now, and is currently working toward a degree from Columbus State University. She is planning on starting a family of her own, and pleaded with us not to mention her shopping addiction. Oops!

 

Dhyana Graham

Assistant Toddler Teacher

Ms. Dhyana first began working with children while studying Human Development and Social Relations at Earlham College. She spent her summers helping to direct a bridge program for transition from preschool to kindergarten. Ms. Dhyana also studied in Northern Ireland for a semester, where she worked as a teaching assistant near Belfast. She received her B.A. with honors in 2001.

 

Misty Hall

Co-Lead Toddler Teacher

Ms. Misty brings diverse experience in teaching young children and children with special needs. Her plans for the future include seeking a masters degree in Early Childhood Development and starting a family of her own.

 

Linda Hardin

Co-Lead Infant Teacher

Ms Linda feels blessed to have had the opportunity to work with children of all ages, in a variety of settings, over her long career. She enjoys sports, music, travel, crafts, family and friends, as well as watching children develop, grow, explore, and learn.

 

Kelly Hatfield

Co-Lead Preschool Teacher (Art)

Ms. Kelly is in the process of earning her degree in Early Childhood Education and hopes to graduate within the next year. She comes to RSG with teaching experience in another early childhood development center. Ms. Kelly has also served as a counselor for sixth graders. Her interests include animals, music, and shopping.

 

Holly Hutchins

Lead Infant Teacher

Having worked with advanced preschoolers, toddlers, and currently infants, Ms. Holly obviously enjoys children of all ages. A Cum Laude Bachelor of Arts graduate from Ohio State University, she also plans to attain her masters degree in Education. Ms. Holly lives in New Albany with husband Steve, and spends her free time hiking, reading and watching movies.

 

Jennifer Lovsey

Co-Lead Infant Teacher

Ms. Jen has dedicated her life to caring for children. She operated a daycare out of her home for 8 years prior to joining RSG. She says she loves to watch her students develop into independent little people. She and her husband, Matt, have two children, Tommy and Kylie. She and her family enjoy camping, water sports and riding their jet skis on the Ohio River.

 

Amy McElya

Lead Kindergarten Teacher

A "calling" is how Ms. Amy describes her decision to leave a career in Human Resources and Corporate Communications and begin working with children. She started by teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten in Texas before moving to central Ohio and joining RSG. Ms. Amy earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas. She and her husband, Keith, now live nearby with their three children.

 

Kelly Michels

Co-Lead Infant Teacher

Ms. Kelly brings four years of experience caring for infants to RSG. She is married and has two children of her own, Carly and Christopher.

 

Marie Pallone

Lead Toddler Teacher

Ms. Marie has been mastering the art of caring for many small children simultaneously since her own childhood. Hailing from a large family, and having a sister that is rearing quintuplets, means that Ms. Marie is well versed in challenging curious young minds. She has taught young children for many years and looks forward to continuing her formal college education at OSU. She enjoys working with all the families and children of RSG.

 

Jennifer Power

Co-Lead Preschool Teacher (Music and Drama)

Ms. Jen is happy to say that she has been helping to care young children her entire life. Her parents served as foster parents, and this early exposure to the needs of children has inspired her career direction. She is a 2000 graduate of Gahanna Lincoln High School and is currently majoring in Social Work at Ohio Dominican College.

 

Tonya Smith

Co-Lead Toddler Teacher

Ms. Tonya has over 20 years experience in caring for children in roles ranging from infant, preschool, and kindergarten teacher to day care director. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Child Psychology and Early Childhood Education, and has many continuing education hours with a focus on the care and development of special needs children. Ms. Tonya enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with her family.

 

Susan Strayer

Co-Lead Preschool Teacher (Science and Social Studies)

Ms. Susan earned an associate's degree in Early Childhood Development from Columbus State, where she developed her skills by teaching 3-year olds. Hailing from the Toledo area, Ms. Susan currently resides in Westerville with her cat, Sadie. She loves to read and enjoys anything that has to do with nature.

 

Rhianna Whitt

Lead Preschool Teacher (Science and Social Studies)

Ms. Rhianna comes to Ready Set Grow bringing with her numerous years of experience caring for infants, toddlers, and preschool children. For several years, she accomplished this while simultaneously maintaining a 4.0 grade point average at Columbus State. Ms. Rhianna has since completed her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Development. Ms. Rhianna finds her career very satisfying and plans to continue her education by working toward a master's degree in Early Childhood Development.

 

Diamond Crockett

School-Age Teacher

Diamond comes to us with an abundance of knowledge and experience with children of all ages. She has taught infants for the past three years. As one of the oldest in a family of 12 children, she has a wealth of experience in childhood development. Her interests include reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.

 

Jen Berger

Co-Lead Preschool Teacher (Music and Drama)

Jen attended Columbus State University where she studied Early Childhood Education. She has enjoyed being able to work with all ages of children at Ready Set Grow before settling into her preschool teaching position. In her free time, Jen spends time with her friends and new puppy.

 

Frances Crockett

Preschool Teacher (Math)

Frances is a mother of 12 children. They range in age from 7 to 29 years old. She obviously brings a wealth of experience to our preschool program. She has taught youth classes at her church for many years and enjoys reading and singing. Frances says she loves life and enjoys seeing the simplest things have an effect on the bigger things in life.

 

Melissa Lloyd

Lead Toddler Teacher

Melissa loves to be involved in what the children in her care are doing. She has two children of her own and cherishes every minute she is able to spend with them, her husband and their dog.

 

Jennifer Toth

Co-Lead Toddler Teacher

Jennifer graduated from Bradford in June 2002. She is married and has a little boy, Alex. Jennifer loves to spend all her free time with her family. One of her greatest passions is watching the young children in her care grow and develop.

 

Stacee Becker

Assistant Toddler Teacher

Stacee attended Baldwin-Wallace College and has a bachelors degree in Dance. She loves working with toddlers, watching them grow and develop loving, active, creative minds. In her spare time, Stacee teaches dance and leads a high school dance team.

 

MaryJo Revercomb

Lead Toddler Teacher

MaryJo has a passion for children. She has taken care of young children for the past 23 years. She says the greatest thing is interacting with them and watching as they grow. MaryJo loves spending time with her two nephews and two dogs.

 

Jenny Mason

Phonics Teacher

Jenny attended West Liberty State College in West Virginia, where she earned her bachelors degree in Elementary Education. Before joining the Ready Set Grow team, she taught Kindergarten and Fifth Grade children. She was also a substitute teacher for three years, as well as teaching a summer Language Arts program. Jenny enjoys exercising, singing, playing the piano and visiting her family in West Virginia.

 

Mary Geller

Co-Lead Preschool Teacher (Art)

May attended Ohio State University where she studied Early Childhood Education. She is extremely artistic and enjoys creating opportunities for children to develop their own creativity. Mary and her husband have one son, Jack, who also attends Ready Set Grow.

 

Jennifer Clary

Kindergarten Teacher

Jennifer attended Ohio State University and has a bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. Before joining Ready Set Grow, she taught at a military-based preschool program. Jennifer loves to encourage the children in her care to go above and beyond their expectations, and to see their imaginations soar!

 

Heather Crist

Co-Lead Preschool Teacher (Language Arts)

Heather attended Ohio State University and has a bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. She has been a substitute elementary teacher and has several years of experience teaching young children before joining the staff at Ready Set Grow.