Kiddie Academy^® of Des Peres

We can't wait to meet you

• Ms. Elyce, Academy Director

  

  Ms. Elyce has been with Kiddie Academy since 2016. She earned a​ bachelor of arts in elementary education, with an emphasis in special​ education, and an ​associate degree in nutrition.​  "If a child...   Read More

  Ms. Elyce, Academy Director

  Ms. Elyce has been with Kiddie Academy since 2016. She earned a​ bachelor of arts in elementary education, with an emphasis in special​ education, and an ​associate degree in nutrition.​  "If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn" - Ignacio Estrada

• Ms. Adrianna, Assistant Director/ Academy Support Coordinator

  

  Adrianna has received her Child Development Associate Credential, (CDA) and plans to continue her education in ECE. She was born and raised in...   Read More

  Ms. Adrianna, Assistant Director/ Academy Support Coordinator

  Adrianna has received her Child Development Associate Credential, (CDA) and plans to continue her education in ECE. She was born and raised in Rockford, IL and moved the St. Louis area to pursue a career in the Early Childhood Education field. She started at KA in 2021 as an Assistant Teacher for the two-year-old program and has continued to grow within the company. Adrianna says the most enjoyable part of her job is having the ability connect families to an education program that supports the development of the whole child while building a sense of community.

• Ms. Candace, Assistant Director/ Curriculum Coordinator

  

  Candace has been teaching with Kiddie Academy of Des Peres since August 2019 & holds a Bachelor's in Social Work & a...   Read More

  Ms. Candace, Assistant Director/ Curriculum Coordinator

  Candace has been teaching with Kiddie Academy of Des Peres since August 2019 & holds a Bachelor's in Social Work & a Child Development Associate.

• Ms. Kim, Food Service Manager

  

  Kim started her professional cooking career more than ten years ago in a part time position that led to a Kitchen Supervisor role for...   Read More

  Ms. Kim, Food Service Manager

  Kim started her professional cooking career more than ten years ago in a part time position that led to a Kitchen Supervisor role for the Department of Corrections in Missouri. She has also working in another childcare setting as kitchen manager. In my spare time, Kim volunteers with the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Pacific and Festus, MO.  She and her husband travel a lot with the FOE and have met many wonderful people who share their passion of "People Helping People". Other hobbies of Kim's include camping and time outdoors loving nature. She has an adult daughter. Kim is very excited to be with KA. The children call her “eat, which she adores. She loves helping them grow with nutritious meals and some fun!

• Ms. Melissa, Food Service Management Supervisor

  

  Ms. Melissa has been cooking at Kiddie Academy of St. Louis since February 2016 & holds her Missouri ServSafe Manager Certificate. "One...   Read More

  Ms. Melissa, Food Service Management Supervisor

  Ms. Melissa has been cooking at Kiddie Academy of St. Louis since February 2016 & holds her Missouri ServSafe Manager Certificate. "One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well." - Virginia Woolf

• Ms. Gina, Operations Director

  

  Gina started teaching with Kiddie Academy of St. Louis in November 2014 & holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology & Education....   Read More

  Ms. Gina, Operations Director

  Gina started teaching with Kiddie Academy of St. Louis in November 2014 & holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology & Education. "Every child is "GIFTED"; they just unwrap their packages at different times."

• Ms. Elayne, Director of Education

  

  Ms. Elayne has been with Kiddie Academy of St. Louis since February 2014 & has 30+ years of experience wearing several hats...   Read More

  Ms. Elayne, Director of Education

  Ms. Elayne has been with Kiddie Academy of St. Louis since February 2014 & has 30+ years of experience wearing several hats within the world of Early Childhood Education. Elayne won Kiddie Academy's National Director of the Year Award in 2016!

• Yuree Jeong, Recruiting Manager

  

  Yuree has been recruiting for Kiddie Academy of St. Louis since May 2021. Yuree has been in the education industry for over...   Read More

  Yuree Jeong, Recruiting Manager

  Yuree has been recruiting for Kiddie Academy of St. Louis since May 2021. Yuree has been in the education industry for over 15 years between the US and Korea. “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” -Albert Einstein

• Mrs. Leah, Instructional Coach

  

  Leah has been teaching with Kiddie Academy since June 2020. She began as a lead preschool teacher before becoming an assistant director...   Read More

  Mrs. Leah, Instructional Coach

  Leah has been teaching with Kiddie Academy since June 2020. She began as a lead preschool teacher before becoming an assistant director in our Chesterfield location. Today she serves as an Instructional Coach for all three academies where she is the chess instructor for the JK program, maintains and grows usage of our educational technology and provides teaching/training to our team on several aspects of curriculum delivery.  In 2019, she graduated Cum Laude from Maryville University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.   “Children are not things to be molded but are people to be unfolded.” ~ Jess Lair

• Tom Keller, Managing Partner

  

  Tom is a father and grandfather who knows what it’s like to have a little hand reach for his, and loves to...   Read More

  Tom Keller, Managing Partner

  Tom is a father and grandfather who knows what it’s like to have a little hand reach for his, and loves to hear the inquisitive questions asked by young children. He has been asked on many occasions why he has chosen to go into the child care business. His response is because early childhood education is where children begin developing their foundation for how they will live as lifelong learners. Professionally, Mr. Keller was CEO and President of Keller Laboratories, Inc., a dental laboratory group with offices and manufacturing in Missouri and four surrounding states. He is a firm believer in continuing education through professional leadership and personal development. A University of Kentucky graduate, Mr. Keller has participated in numerous leadership development programs and has been invited to speak at professional conferences. He lives in West St. Louis County with his wife, Marsha. They have two children and five grandchildren.

• Laura Eads, Operating Partner

  

  Laura loves observing the activities, interaction and learning of young children. Their curious minds and robust spirits are a joy to nurture....   Read More

  Laura Eads, Operating Partner

  Laura loves observing the activities, interaction and learning of young children. Their curious minds and robust spirits are a joy to nurture. She especially enjoys a delightful conversation over the meaning of a favorite book or the virtues of growing a garden. Her personal experience with a structured and educationally-based pre-school and the positive experience that process created for her family, is something she wants to duplicate at Kiddie Academy. “The opportunity to impact young children with the resources of the Life Essentials program is very exciting to me.” As a working parent, she understands the level of responsibility the academy has to provide a nurturing environment to our families’ most precious assets. She will work hard to meet the whole family’s needs and will build relationships that last well beyond the preschool years. Laura has participated with PTO boards and programs throughout her children’s education. She has taught religious education at the elementary school level and helped create a weekly faith program for families. Laura has worked in professional and leadership training and human resources for more than 20 years, ten of which were with Tom at Keller Laboratories. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of Colorado and resides in Wildwood. She is married and has two adult children.