Our Staff
Star House (2 years)
Former New Yorker Bobbie Jaeger adds a background in speech-language with her masters degree in speech-language pathology from UNC-Greensboro. Bobbie brings an appreciation of different cultures from visiting different parts of the world and working with so many different children. Bobbie has used a Reggio approach when working with her students in therapy and when raising her two children. She is thrilled be a member of the knowledgeable staff and to be working with the children, both of whom have been teaching her so much. On days when she is not at Our PlayHouse, Bobbie enjoys spending time with her children and husband, playing sports, cooking, and traveling.
Jasmine McKewen joins us from the Comparative Literature Program at UNC. Fascinated by language acquisition and emerging social relations, Jasmine is delighted to be teaming up with Bobbie to teach the young 2s in the Star House. She loves that the Reggio approach values relationships as important places of learning and growth, and she is amazed by the variety of languages children use to observe, discover, and create! In her free time, Jasmine enjoys spending time with family, reading Henry James, and gardening.
Comet House (3 years)
Anna Berry joins us from Northern California where she studied Early Childhood Education and worked in a Reggio Lab School teaching toddlers and preschoolers. She also has a B.A. in Chemistry from North Carolina State University. Anna is amazed at the many languages children use to learn through play. She enjoys implementing many different activities to engage children, such as exploring science through nature and cooking. Her hobbies include painting, yoga, ballet, hiking, and reading.
Gretchen Becknell began her career with children in 1998 when she started working as a Nanny. Over the years, she had the pleasure of working with four wonderful families and seven remarkable children, from birth to age 6. Gretchen enjoys being part of a child’s growth and development, and believes it keeps her youthful, creative, and energetic. Her commitment to children has taken her back to school to earn a degree in Early Childhood Education. Gretchen is thrilled to be part of the amazing staff at Our Playhouse! Outside of school, she spends her time with her husband and daughter. She enjoys baking, hiking, canoeing and photography.
Moon House (4 years)
3-4 year old teacher Brittany Giacolone is extremely excited to start a new chapter in her life with her husband in Durham, NC. She moved here from Connecticut, where she was a 3-4 year old master teacher for three years in a Reggio Emilia inspired pre-school. She earned her B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Sociology at Southern Connecticut State University, and she currently possesses a State of North Carolina Professional Educator’s License for birth to sixth grade. She is enthusiastic about working with the students and teachers at Our PlayHouse. Brittany enjoys singing, arts and crafts, spending time with family and friends, and playing with her Holland Lop bunny, Oscar.
Director and 3-4 year old teacher Beth Whitaker moved to the Carrboro area after relocating from her hometown in Wisconsin. She received a BA in Early Childhood Education from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and spent the past 10 years teaching in a variety of classroom environments. Beth has a strong background in the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education and believes a supportive community of learners encourages each child to explore their unique interests and develop a richer understanding of the world around them. Within the classroom, Beth enjoys collaborative storytelling, emergent writing and drawing, woodworking, and explorations of the natural environment. Outside of school, Beth enjoys camping, sewing, and exploring the great outdoors.
Sun House (Kindergarten)
Diana Tursi graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in Child Psychology in 2005. Since graduating, Diana has taught in both preschool and special education classrooms, as well as working as a developmental play therapist. Diana believes in the importance of early childhood education, and allowing children to explore their interests to foster a love of learning. In the classroom, Diana especially enjoys literacy and art activities, as well as exploring nature and science. Diana lives in Durham, where she enjoys photography, and spending time outdoors with friends, family, and her dog, Sawyer.
Floater Teacher
Danielle Oldziey has a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance from Winthrop University and has been teaching dance to all ages for over eight years. She has lived in Seattle, Washington, where she performed in a dance group that educated public school children about how to heal social ills. She also lived in Belize, Central America where she taught virtues classes to local children. She has her child development certificate and is currently pursuing a Masters in Education with a focus on Early Childhood at UNC. She is thrilled to be serving the children at Our PlayHouse and so honored to be working with such amazing teachers. Every day has been such a growing experience.
Administration
Director
Director Beth Whitaker is passionate towards preserving the wonder of childhood. In addition to teaching in our 4 year old classroom, Beth strives to educate others in the principles of the Reggio approach. As a member of the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance and the National Association of Young Children, Beth regularly attends conferences and workshops to strengthen our curriculum and connect with educators across the country. Beth looks forward to growing the roots of Our PlayHouse for years to come.
Owner & Executive Director
Danielle Sunde moved to Chapel Hill with her husband Jay in 2003. She and Jay both grew up and went to college in Virginia — Jay to Virginia Tech, Danielle to Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, where she studied Political Science, minoring in Spanish and US History. Before Our PlayHouse, Danielle was a licensed Customs Broker, working in the apparel industry. She later moved into marketing as a project manager which sharpened her organizational skills. Danielle is a member of the North American Reggio Alliance, as well as the Komondor Club of America. Jay, Danielle, their three boys, and dog Fischer love all things outdoors, including gardening and hiking together. When not busy with family — which is almost never — Danielle enjoys spending time in her garden, reading and sewing.
