Meet The Preschool Educators

 

 


Preschool Director, Cheryl Evans has a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Northern Arizona University as well as a B.S. in Elementary Education and an A.A. in Child Development.  Cheryl comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience from across the United States.  Her passion is early childhood education and has focused on parenting and special education as well.  Cheryl was a parenting educator with the Forty Carrots Parenting Program.  She is now excited to continue her passion in the Forty Carrots Family Center preschool environment.

 

 

Alexis LeRoux-Dupont has her B.F.A. in Art Education from Tufts University and also has her State of Florida art teaching certification. She is a new teacher in the Dart Classroom teaching the two and three year old children. Alexis has taught and worked with children in Florida, Massachusetts and India. She is ready for the fast-paced environment that goes hand-in-hand with toddlers and is excited to begin working with such a qualified team.

 

 

Amanda G., B.S. in Elementary Education (K-6) with a specialization in PreK/Primary (ages 2-5) from Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, FL.  Amanda not only received the Chappie Jame Most Promising Teacher award but was also awarded the highest honor receiving the Outstanding Graduate Award in the Department of Education in her graduating class ('00). Prior to working at Forty Carrots, Amanda was a stay-at-home mom while her children were young serving and also served as Varsity Chearleader Coach at Riverview High School.  Amanda became part of the Forty Carrots team in 2008 and has taught in both the Chadwick and Davis classrooms.  Currently, Amanda teaches 4  & 5 year olds in the Chadwick Classroom.  Her passion for fun in the classroom makes her teaching style unique.  Amanda also volunteers at Tatum Ridge Elementary and is a team mom for her son's soccer team.

 

Ashley K., B.S., M.A. is a new teacher in the Dart room teaching two and three year olds. Her degrees are based in Elementary Education and Curriculum and Instruction from the University of South Florida. She has been teaching and working with children in and out of the public school system for the past 8 years. She enjoys hands on activities that encourage children to become more curious and creative. Ashley has a love for art, her family and friends, boating and watching young minds grow.

 

Ashlyn D., B.A. in English & Political Science, M.A. in Education from Boston University, has been with Forty Carrots since the Spring of 2012.  She currently teaches the PreK classroom. Ashlyn's love for teaching young children and "getting back to the kids" motivated her to leave a six year advertising and marketing career in New York City and return to Sarasota.  Ashlyn comes to Forty Carrots with five years teaching experience from Incarnation and Out-Of-Door Academy. She also was a coach for the Cardinal Mooney High School Volleyball team. Ashlyn has a two year old daughter who is  currently enrolled at Forty Carrots. When she is not working, she loves spending quality time with her family.

 

Debbie, C.D.A. Child Development Associate. Debbie was born in Ohio and moved to Florida in 1980. She has been with Forty Carrots since it opened in 1993 and tells us she “feels so very blessed to still be a part of their family.” Debbie has a special interest in speech and occupational therapy. She has worked with all ages and finds each special and unique in its own right. Debbie been married to her husband Gary for 36 years. They have 2 grown children, a son who lives in Atlanta and a daughter who lives in Sarasota with her husband and daughter. Debbie says, “It will be an honor for me to watch my granddaughter become part of the Forty Carrots family.”

 

Eshy F., B.S. in Human Services with a minor in Elementary Education from Southeastern University and has Pre-Kindergarten/Primary Education Florida Teaching Certification.  She is a new Forty Carrots Preschool teacher in the three year olds classroom, but has a great deal of experience with 2's and 3's from Florida to Illinois.  Eshy comes from a long line of teachers in her family.  She has a passion for interactive activities and craft projects to engage young children in critical thinking and literacy development.  She values creativity in the classroom.  Eshy loves spending the days at the doggy beach with her husband Jim and two Chihuahuas, Cupcake and Moose.

 

Jan, M.S. School Counseling and Guidance from John Hopkins University and a B.A. in Elementary Education. Jan taught elementary school for 10 years in MD. She moved to Sarasota in 2001 with her husband and two children. Instead of returning to the clasroom, she created her own at home. Jan homeschooled her daughter for six years and enjoyed the challenge of designing her own curriculum. Now her daughter is in high school and her son a freshman at Auburn University.  When she wasn't teaching, Jan continued working with children by volunteering in her children's schools and with the YMCA School Links program.  Jan is active in the community assisting with Manasota Track Club events. She loves to run long distances and has met many fabulous fellow runners along the way. Reading is her favorite pastime along with scrapbooking.  Jan is enjoying the fun and innocence of three year olds, after the complexities of teenagers!

 

Lauren, B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida in Sarasota. Lauren has been with Forty Carrots since January 2009, and teaches three and four year olds. Lauren also works as a tutor in the elementary schools, as well as being a member of NAEYC. She enjoys getting messy while exploring and creating wonders with her students and is just beginning guitar lessons, so she can incorporate it into her classroom.

 


Lisa, C.D.A. Child Development Associate. Lisa works as a preschool teacher at Forty Carrots and has for 10 years. Lisa grew up in Las Vegas, and has made Sarasota her home since 1989. As a teacher of 4 to 5 year olds, Lisa enjoys helping children in her care feel secure and enjoy themselves while developing their emerging skills. She tells us, “Raising my own three children and working with children at Forty Carrots are two of my greatest joys.”

 

Sarah, B.S. in Elementary Education. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Memphis. Sarah has taught for 5 years in Tennessee and has recently moved to Sarasota with her husband and two English bulldogs, Cupcake and Biscuit. She is passionate about engaging children in hands-on, challenging learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom and is excited to be a part of Forty Carrots. In her spare time Sarah enjoys acting, singing, reading, shopping and being outdoors.

 

Shawna, A.A. degree from the State College of Florida. She is currently working on her B.S. degree in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in ESOL. Shawna has been involved with Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County teaching adult English Language learners. She and her husband are also Forty Carrots parents. Teaching and learning are Shawna's true passion. Her and her family enjoy doing educational activities as well as many outdoor sports such as running, tennis and biking. Now she is ready to put all of her experience, passion and knowledge to work in the Daisy classroom teaching the Pre-K class.

 

Susan, A.A. in Early Childhood. Child Development Associate, Director's Credential. Susan has worked as a preschool teacher at Forty Carrots since 1998.  She has taught all ages and is currently in her seventh year teaching the 2 year old class.  In addition to her work at Forty Carrots, Susan has been a presenter at The Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota's annual conference and is currently working towards an additional degree in Early Childhood Education.