as-red-flower Jeannette Mayes, Owner Jeannette has always been interested in the development of young children. She spent her summers as a child exploring the San Juan Islands with her extended family, many who reside in the town of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. After attending high school in Scottsdale, Arizona she finished her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona in 1991. Jeannette worked in the Fashion Industry in Merchandising Management in New York City, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Seattle for several very well known fashion houses. In 2001 Jeannette returned to Friday Harbor to start her family. She had her first child, Bailey, in 2003 and founded Alphabet Soup Preschool three years later in 2006. Since opening the Preschool Jeannette has completed her Certificate in Early Childhood Education. Her second child, Finnegan, was born in 2006. She feels extremely privileged to have had the opportunity to spend time participating in the growth and development of so many children.
as-yellow-flower Jenn Owen, Lead Preschool Teacher Jenn is thrilled to be joining the Alphabet Soup family as a Lead Teacher. She was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky and attended Northern Kentucky University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre. Jenn has traveled all over the country with several children’s theatre companies teaching kids from ages 4-18. She has been a lead preschool teacher for the last 6 years at Sweet Pea Cottage-Preschool of the Arts, and before that she worked with special needs kids at The Children’s Institute for Learning Differences in Renton. Spending her days with small children is what keeps her feeling young and she is excited for the new adventures ahead! Jenn loves Michigan football, massages, reading cookbooks, and exploring the food scene in Seattle with her partner, Matt!
as-blue-flower Allyson Johnson, Teacher Ally has loved working with and being around children since a young age. Growing up in a small town in Colorado, she spent many years babysitting for various children and worked in her church Preschool for 4+ years. She moved to Seattle in 2005. Children are still just as important to her, spending as much time as possible with her new nieces and nephews. Ally has also been a nanny to a family with two small children for the past year and has been going to school for massage. She is planning on being certified in pregnancy and pediatric massage once graduating and getting her WA massage license in Fall 2013.
as-blue-flower Stevie Holyfield, Teacher Stevie was born and raised in the San Juan Islands. She has always loved caring for young children. She started working at Alphabet Soup Preschool in high school as an intern in 2007. Since then she has taken numerous early childhood courses and spent time as a lead teacher in both our toddler and preschool classrooms. She is extremely happy to be joining our Phinney Ridge location and getting to know our littlest students in our Toddler classroom. Stevie enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends and family.
as-yellow-flower Marnell Witte, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Teacher Marnell has been working with children for over 15 years. She has a wealth of experience in children’s theater, family photography, childcare, and preschool. She is currently working on finishing her ECE Degree and has had 250+ hours of state approved training.
Marnell is the mother of two grown children, and grandmother to her preschool aged granddaughter, Hailey. Her experience as a mother and grandmother has given her an especially patient and nurturing spirit which makes her the perfect match for Preschoolers!