Our Team

THE NEST

Cindy is a Durham native with over 20 year in the early childhood education field. She has worked with children from infancy up to five years old in the preschool setting. Cindy joined Our PlayHouse Preschool in 2013.

In her spare time Cindy enjoys reading, decorating, walking, bingo and spending time with her family.

SPROUT HOUSE

Hi there! I’m Mia Jones and I’ve been local to Durham for the past 7 years and have come to really call it home. I have been working in early childhood education for the past 5 1/2 years, 3 years of that time I spent as a toddler teacher at another local center and the remainder as a nanny for an infant and toddler. I am currently working towards my Associates of Early Childhood Education and hope to graduate next fall.

I do love comics, art, and gaming, for the stories they tell, and for the community and culture they all create. More than anything though I love my daughter, Jade who turns one in October. And my husband, Tykai who I celebrate two years of marriage with this October. I’m so excited to be a part of the OPH community!

SPROUT HOUSE

Hello! My name is Leah Jones. Born in Chapel Hill and raised in Durham...GO HEELS! I've been in Early Childhood Education for about 2 years, teaching toddlers along with babysitting for family and friends since I was a teenager. Over the years I've developed a passion for teaching and hope to obtain my degree in the near future.

In my free time I love to read, travel, cook, and spend time with my family and friends. I also have a passion for baking. I studied baking and pastry arts at the Chefs Academy in Morrisville NC. I have a 10 year old son named Xavier. I love him more than anything in this world. The best moments are when we travel together and when I get to teach him new things. I'm truly excited to join the OPH family! I can't wait to meet you all and grow with your children!

WILLOW HOUSE

I have lived in Durham since 2005. I grew up in a small town, just north of Flint, Michigan on a small farm and am the 2nd youngest of 11 children. (yes, eleven!) Today I am a proud mama of 4 beautiful children of my own.

With over two decades of experience working with children in professional settings, I have had the privilege of interacting with young ones of various ages, from as young as 6 weeks to late teens. My background and expertise in child development have equipped me with the skills and understanding necessary to nurture and guide young minds during their precious formative years.

Through my studies of various traditions and cultures from around the world, I have cultivated a profound passion for the emotional development of young children. I firmly believe that supporting children in their journey towards becoming flourishing, vibrant community members is not just a job but a calling. I am committed to creating a nurturing and enriching environment for your children and family.

I am greatly thankful for this opportunity to be part of your child’s life and development and look forward to watching them grow and learn.

WILLOW HOUSE

Hello, I'm Alicia. I am married to my husband Ryan and have two children, Brayden, 14, and Nora, 6. We live in Mebane with our two dogs and two cats. I enjoy spending time with my family, playing games, and adventuring outdoors. Being near water brings me joy, whether it's a creek, a waterfall, or swimming in the ocean. I obtained my Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education in 2011 and am pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Family and Community Services with a concentration in Child Development through ECU's distance education program and have plans to graduate in May 2025.

I grew up in the foothills of NC, where I was privileged to have a loving family and a happy childhood. My path to a career in Early Education began in high school when I was asked to plan for my future. At that time, different from many teens, I didn't want to grow up. I knew I wanted to play "forever" and decided that if I couldn't stay a child, I could at least work with children. I have been on this journey ever since. I have worked in several environments, including Montessori, Head Start, Religious Pre-K, Summer Camps, and NC Public Education over the course of 10 years. I first experienced implementing the Reggio Emilia approach in 2019. I have learned my philosophy for natural and child-led play most closely aligns with the Reggio Emilia Approach, and I am excited to serve families and children at Our Playhouse Preschool this year.

CEDAR HOUSE

Lily’s from Burlington, NC and has lived in Durham since 2022. She’s loved the charming feel of the city and the welcoming community it offers.

Her love for early childhood education developed from five years of experience as a teacher’s assistant. During that time, she worked with grades Pre-K-3rd. She believes that all students are bright, capable, and creative. She’s thrilled to join Our Playhouse Preschool, working alongside staff members who strive to support their community and delight in their work educating students.

In her spare time, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking at the Eno River with her sweet dog, Charlie, and spending time with her family.

CEDAR HOUSE

Gretchen Nicholson grew up in rural Missouri 50 miles outside of St. Louis. As one of 8 kids, she enjoyed the variety that each day brought.

At Truman State University, Gretchen completed her BA in English with minors in Psychology and Child Studies. Much of her coursework focused on children's literature, positive psychology, and child development. However, loving random knowledge, she took full advantage of the liberal arts college and took additional classes such as tumbling and printmaking. 

With her love of working with children, Gretchen volunteered/worked with mentor groups, childcare, and elementary schools. Her favorite thing about working with kids is their honesty and watching them grow into their own person. In her free time she loves trying new food with her husband, cooking, crocheting, and reading.

HICKORY HOUSE

Victoria is a Durham native. She has five years of experience working with children aged infants through fifth grade in various settings such as swim lessons, school out camps, summer camps and preschool. Victoria spent the last three years teaching preschool children ages three to five . She received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Queens University of Charlotte.

In her spare time, Victoria enjoys camping, hiking, reading and board games. She also enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews, and friends outdoors.

HICKORY HOUSE

Hi, I'm Roxy! I grew up in Raleigh but took some time for adventures in Wyoming and Louisiana for a few years. Since high school, I have worked with children as a camp counselor at summer camps, Miracle League, international mission trips, therapeutic horsemanship, and a preschool teacher. Early childhood education is my passion; my main focus is social and emotional learning. I want to guide young children through big feelings by offering them the help and support they need. I hope to grow and learn more as I work at Our PlayHouse Preschool. When not working, I love hiking with my dog, traveling to national parks, swimming with dolphins, and trying new foods!

MAPLE HOUSE

Bio coming soon.

MAPLE HOUSE

I am a North Carolina native who developed a passion for working with the youth from an early age. As a former Substitute teacher at The Hawbridge School, I have worked with students of all ages from K-5 through 12th grade. I am highly focused on developing relationships with my students that inspire authentic self-expression and deep respect for nature while striving to instill an excitement for learning. In addition to working as a Preschool teacher at Camp Chestnut Ridge in Efland, I have spent many years working with preschool-age children through child-led play.

I am an artist, writer, and lover of nature, music, and dance. I spend my free time with my teenage son Jaden exploring the natural world and cultivating outdoor skills—camping, hiking, playing music, kayaking, and traveling are some of my favorite things. I have spent time abroad studying the teachings of the Q’ero tribe in the Peruvian villages, accompanied by a fascination with Native American history and archeology.

I have been teaching since 2018, highlighting the benefits of creative expression and personal development with a focus on social and emotional skill-building techniques.  

SPRUCE HOUSE

Laura grew up in the mountains of North Carolina exploring the woods, looking for frogs, playing with spiders, and making mud pies. Her third grade teacher told her that she would become a naturalist one day. Natural history has always had an important place in Laura’s teaching. She encourages children to explore natural materials, work together, investigate, observe, and record what they see throughout the seasons. She believes children develop creativity, critical thinking skills, and self-control when they have unstructured play time and opportunities to make choices in cooperative settings.

Before coming to Our Playhouse Preschool, Laura taught preschool and kindergarten in Durham. Previously she was the baker at Wellspring Grocery, later Whole Foods, and a preserve monitor for The Nature Conservancy.

Laura enjoys reading, baking, hiking, birdwatching, photographing insects, watching things grow, and chatting with her mom on the phone. She has two adult daughters. Laura holds degrees in botany and elementary education. She lives in Durham with a small black rabbit.

SPRUCE HOUSE

Hello! My name is Sarah Prince. Though I'm a Chapel Hill native, I'm still constantly discovering what our local communities have to offer. I've worked in Early Childhood Education for over a decade, now, and have recently completed my M.Ed. in Policy and Advocacy in early childhood education at UNCW. For the past two years I have worked here at OPH, and I love its sense of community and shared purpose!

Beyond teaching, I enjoy reading, traveling, and hiking with my Very Good Dog, Maysie. I'm an avid hobby collector, and art supplies are slowly but surely taking over my living space. One of these days I'll wake up in a bed of notebook paper, covered in a fresh coat of watercolor, shackled comfortably in yarn. Until such a time, I intend to continue making dumb sweaters for my dog, baking bread, and enjoying the local theater scene.