Kiddie Academy^® of Urbana

We can't wait to meet you

• Ms. Namita, Academy Owner

  

  Welcome to our school! I feel fortunate to have this opportunity to serve the Urbana community. My family is the reason I...   Read More

  Ms. Namita, Academy Owner

  Welcome to our school! I feel fortunate to have this opportunity to serve the Urbana community. My family is the reason I chose to work with Kiddie Academy. As a mother of two young girls, I understand the importance of early childhood education in a child’s life. Since expansion of our program from the Gaithersburg area to Frederick County, I continue to enjoy working alongside our hand-selected team of passionate, professional, and experienced educators and staff. I am a strong believer in the benefits of play-based learning and strive daily to implement age-appropriate, best practices through our program offerings. Our greatest strength here at Kiddie Academy of Urbana is that we always put the best interests of every student in our care at the forefront of every decision we make. We are committed to providing a professional working environment for our staff and educators, by extending training and continuing education. My hobbies include reading, practicing yoga and mindfulness, and traveling. I also love to cook. It is my honor and privilege to care for the children at our school. I invite you to see firsthand what makes Kiddie Academy a great place to be!

• Ms. Connie, Administrative Director

  

  Hi everyone, my name is Connie Schalik. I am the Administrative Director at Kiddie Academy of Urbana. I have over 15 years...   Read More

  Ms. Connie, Administrative Director

  Hi everyone, my name is Connie Schalik. I am the Administrative Director at Kiddie Academy of Urbana. I have over 15 years in the profession of Early Childhood Education. I have had a few occupation changes during my professional working career, but I always find my way back to my true passion, childcare. I started my career in Early Childhood Education as a Twos teacher and during my 15 years have been afforded the opportunity to work with all ages from infant to school age and most recently management.There are many roles and responsibilities that come along with management but my favorite is  welcoming new families to the KAU family. I chose Kiddie Academy for their Life Essentials Curriculum as well as their Educational Core Beliefs. As the Administrative Director of the center, I take great pride in knowing that Kiddie Academy strives for excellence and quality in the childcare they provide. I recently became a grandma and enjoy spending my free time spoiling my granddaughter.

• Ms. Brittni, Co-Director - Education and Enrollment

  

  I have known ever since I was little that I wanted to work with children. Giving children love and watching their curious...   Read More

  Ms. Brittni, Co-Director - Education and Enrollment

  I have known ever since I was little that I wanted to work with children. Giving children love and watching their curious minds grow gives me so much enjoyment. I want to give the quality care that I would want my child to have. I come to Kiddie Academy with over eight years of work experience and an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Development. At Kiddie Academy, I love the individualized curriculum for all age groups and being able to create individualized experiences for each child to be successful. I love being outdoors, spending time with my daughter, my family, and my dog. I also enjoy being crafty!

• Mr. Kyle, Assistant Director

  

  My name is Kyle Van Pelt, I have been working in the childcare field for over 20 years. I was born and...   Read More

  Mr. Kyle, Assistant Director

  My name is Kyle Van Pelt, I have been working in the childcare field for over 20 years. I was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, I graduated college at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. During my spare time, I enjoy exercising, running, disc golf, bowling, music, and spending time with family and friends. As a childcare provider, my mission is to make strong first impressions with the families and children that attend our program each day. My mission to help show and guide children on how to make the best choices in life as they grow and develop in their classrooms. The most rewarding part for me as a childcare provider is when families share with me how much a positive impact, I bring to their children each day. I learned with Kiddie Academy that the theme is the go forward each day, and when I fulfill my goals and missions, it helps me continue to motivate myself to continue to learn, to grow and to move forward.

• Ms. Riley, Regional Learning Coordinator

  

  Hi, my name is Riley! I have worked at Kiddie Academy since I was 18 years old! I have been in the...   Read More

  Ms. Riley, Regional Learning Coordinator

  Hi, my name is Riley! I have worked at Kiddie Academy since I was 18 years old! I have been in the Early Childhood Education field for more than 10 years. While working in the classroom, I primarily interacted with infants and toddlers, developing a love for supporting families as they create a strong foundation for their children. Kiddie Academy has given me multiple opportunities to learn, grow, and use my expertise to support the wonderful educators in our program. As a Regional Learning Coordinator, I manage the professional development, wellness program, accreditations, and social media for the schools.