Chipmunk Cottage

Pre-K

Some people believe kindergarten readiness means memorizing facts or demonstrating certain academic skills. While those are valuable, we believe readiness is about the whole child. It means your child can step into school with enthusiasm, resilience, and joy in the learning process. So while we do believe in focusing on academics, it is not our goal for the classroom.

Chipmunk Cottage is a place where children will be able to safely take risks, have support through all the feelings and explore the environment to their hearts desire and that is because we believe a solid foundation of social-emotional growth and a love for learning will carry them much further than rote skills alone. Our goal in Pre-K is to nurture a love for learning so your child enters kindergarten feeling confident, curious, and capable.

In our classroom, play is at the center of learning. Through open-ended exploration, children will have daily opportunities to create, discover, and grow. Some days your child may come home with a project to share, while other days their learning may not be something tangible—but always meaningful. Alongside early academics like letters and numbers, we place a strong emphasis on social and emotional growth. Our goal is for every child to leave Chipmunk Cottage confident, capable, and excited for the next step in their learning.

WELCOME TO CHIPMUNK COTTAGE!

Meet the Teachers

  • LEAD TEACHER

    Hi! My name is Mikayla, and I am the lead teacher in Chipmunk Cottage.

    From as early as I can remember, working with children has been a passion of mine. I joined Little Acorn in 2013 as an assistant teacher while also working as a full-time nanny and from my very first days there, I felt a genuine sense of belonging. The warmth of the community, the shared dedication to children, and the supportive environment made it clear that Little Acorn was where I wanted to grow, contribute, and build my career.

    Since then, I’ve had the privilege of serving in many roles—including assistant teacher, office support and lead teacher. Each experience has been meaningful and has shaped me into the educator I am today. I recently completed two certifications at Clark in Early Childhood Education and plan to obtain the last certification this next year.

    In 2017, I stepped away from the classroom to spend six wonderful years at home with my three children. That season of motherhood has deeply shaped who I am as a teacher. Watching my own children grow—each with their own personalities, strengths, and challenges—has reminded me that no two children learn or experience the world in the same way. This has strengthened my belief that teaching begins with truly knowing each child for who they are and meeting them with understanding, patience, and care. I believe every child deserves to experience the joy of learning, and one of my favorite reminders is, “Progress is not linear.” I carry this with me every day as I create an environment where children feel confident, valued, and excited to learn as their authentic selves. My hope for Chipmunk Cottage is that every child who walks through our doors experiences a year full of fun, discovery, and belonging.

    On a personal note, I’ve called Washington home for the past 12 years. Not long after moving here, I met my husband, and we recently celebrated our ten-year anniversary! He fully supports our mission at Little Acorn and often jumps in to volunteer wherever he’s needed. Together we have three spunky, vibrant children—Wylee (8), Junie (6), and Goldie (3)—all of whom have been part of the Little Acorn community. Our household is lively, with two French bulldogs, Bingo and Biggy, and two cats, Patsy and Joey. As a family, we love riding bikes, reading books, and spending time at our beach property.

    I know entrusting your child to someone else is never easy, and I want you to know that I deeply respect and honor that trust. I am truly excited to get to know your family and to share a year filled with learning, play, special memories, and lasting friendships. Thank you for being a part of our Little Acorn family!

  • ASSISTANT TEACHER

    Hi I’m Maria!

    I began my Little Acorn journey last year in the Bunny Burrow Class and before that, I had the incredible privilege of being a stay-at-home parent for 8 years.

    Joining Little Acorn has been so fulfilling and I feel incredibly honored to be a part of a child’s preschool experience.

    This year, I am so excited to be joining Teacher Mikayla in Chipmunk Cottage. She has created such a warm, welcoming, and fun environment and I look forward to supporting her and the class as best as I can.

    On a personal note, my husband Jared and I have been together for 16 years. We have two daughters, E and Ari, who love being a part of the Little Acorn community.

    We enjoy spending time together outside, watching movies, reading books, eating yummy food, and filling our home with music.

    One value we hold close as a family — inspired by Grammy winner Harry Styles — is simple but powerful: Treat People With Kindness.