Meet Our Staff

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Qualified Professionals

The staff at Awesome Kids Preschool and Summer Fun at Awesome Kids meet rigorous screening, education, and experience qualifications. Each teacher is provided with continuing education to broaden and increase skills to make a unique and positive contribution to the education of your child.

Great care is given in the selection of our staff. Each teacher is a loving, trustworthy servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, who meets or exceeds all requirements for the State of Kansas and is dedicated to educating young children.

Leadership

Director

Bonnie Traynor

Bonnie has worked in Early Childhood Education for over 30 years; teaching ten years and being the assistant to the Director at Kidslink Christian Preschool, Wichita, KS for four years. Owned, operated, and taught for five years at Bonzo’s Zoo Daycare, in Osage City, KS. She had the honor of creating and designing Awesome Kids Preschool. Bonnie served two years on the Board for Kansas Family Daycare Providers in Topeka, KS. She is a member of Association of Christian Schools International and the Kansas Association of Young Children. She has served on the board of the Christian Early Childhood Association. She is a certified trainer for the Love and Logic program for ages birth to 6 years old. Bonnie and her husband Warren have two grown children, Kip and Stacey (both married). She loves being a “Meema” to her five grandsons, and one granddaughter. Her hobbies are: cooking, sewing, reading vintage mysteries, and playing with her grandkids and her dog Dave.

Assistant to the Director

Kelly Stein

Kelly is in her 14th year at Awesome Kids Preschool. Kelly and her husband Paul have two children who are young adults now. Keat is a Senior at the University of Kansas and Claire is a Sophomore at the University of Arizona. Her children both attended Awesome Kids. Kelly also works for our multisite office as our Human Resources Administrator. Kelly enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and her dogs Latte and Lola.

Busy Bees (2 1/2 Year Olds)

Lead Teacher

Kay Ginther

Kay is co-teaching alongside Mrs. Newberry in the Busy Bees class. Kay graduated from Wayne State College with a degree in Public Administration. She and her husband, Scott, moved to the area several years ago. Their son Nathan is 17 years old and a Junior at Blue Valley High School. Kay enjoys being with family and friends and traveling.

Lead Teacher

Tina Newberry

Tina is co-teaching alongside Mrs. Ginther in the Busy Bees class. She earned a teaching certificate in Early Childhood Education from an Indiana Junior College. Tina was the Assistant Director at a Christian Preschool / Day Care for two years. This is her 20th year with Awesome Kids Preschool. Tina and her husband Jim have 3 daughters, Her twins Bayli and Mallory (24) and BreAwna (31). She is a grandma to Kyah and Talyah. Tina’s hobbies include walking, traveling (especially back home to Indiana), and spending time with her family.

Friendly Frogs (3 year olds)

Lead Teacher

Deb Wilson

Deb is the Lead Teacher for the Friendly Frogs. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in elementary education. Deb has taught preschool, second, and third grade. This will be her 14th year at Awesome Kids Preschool teaching in the Friendly Frogs Class. Deb and her husband, Tim have two daughters, Jessica (19) a Sophomore at Pittsburg State and Kaity (17) a Junior at Blue Valley. She enjoys reading books, family fun nights, walking, and working with kids!

Assistant Teacher

Molly Bieker

Molly is the assistant teacher in the Friendly Frogs on M-W-F with Mrs. Wilson. and has a degree in Elementary Education from Ottawa University. She is married to Scott and they have two grown children; Adrienne and Cole. In her spare time, Molly loves to travel, read and relax with her family.

Assistant Teacher

Lydee Loepp

Lydee graduated from Kansas State University in Elementary Education and taught both first and second grades. She and her husband, Roy, have three daughters. She is a grandma to Lillian (Lili). She enjoys traveling and hiking.

Gentle Giraffes (3 year olds)

Lead Teacher

Dawn Anderson

Dawn is the lead teacher in the Gentle Giraffes. She grew up in Des Moines, IA, and graduated from Iowa State University with a BS in Elementary Education. She has taught 4th and 6th grades and was a Parent Educator for Parents as Teachers in Olathe. This will be her 6th year teaching preschool. Dawn and her husband, Tim have two married daughters, Sarah and Emily and three grandsons. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, biking, and doing Bible Study.

Assistant Teacher

Autumn Early

Autumn is the assistant teacher with Mrs. Anderson in the Gentle Giraffes class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a BS in Physical Education and Health Science K-12. Autumn and her husband, Andy have been married for 16 years. They have four children; Briley 14, Baylor 11, Finley 8, and Atticus 6. She enjoys reading, exercising, yoga, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Assistant Teacher

Darlene Babineaux

Darlene is the assistant teacher with in the Gentle Giraffes class on Tuesday/Thursday.

Brave Bears (Pre-K)

Lead Teacher

Jody Matthews

Jody is the lead teacher for the Brave Bears class. She graduated from Calvary Bible College with a Christian Camping and Biblical Counseling degree. This is Jody’s 20th year at Awesome Kids. She is married to Pete and they have two adult children; Breanna and Tyler. They have a dog named Samson. In her spare time Jody loves to work in her garden and spend time with her family and friends.

Assistant Teacher

Jessica Baldwin

Jessica is the assistant teacher with Jody Matthews in the Brave Bears. She is a graduate of Kansas State University. She and her husband Ryan have three children: Ella (14), Emmy (11) and Cade (9). Jessica enjoys spending time with her family and friends, outdoor activities with her kids, and running.

Mighty Monkeys (Pre-K)

Lead Teacher

Allison Phillips

Allison Phillips is the lead teacher of the Mighty Monkeys. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She has four boys. Mason is a junior at Kansas State University, Walker a senior, Carson, and Porter. She enjoys going to the movies with her kids, reading, and walking her dogs, Lincoln and Annabelle.

Assistant Teacher

Allison Nigro

Allison Nigro is the assistant teacher in the Mighty Monkeys.

Lovable Lions (Pre-K)

Lead Teacher

Cindy McNiel

Cindy is the lead teacher for the Lovable Lions. Cindy graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Elementary Education. This will be her 19th year at Awesome Kids Preschool. Cindy and her husband, Mike just celebrated their 38th Wedding Anniversary. Her family includes Kadie, Andrew, and our new grandson Titus, Jake, Kelly, and our new granddaughter Hallie, and Maggie and Kurt. Cindy loves teaching, spending time with her family, and walking her dogs Kobe and Tully.

Assistant Teacher

Konnie Price

Konnie is the assistant teacher with Mrs. McNiel in the Lovable Lions class. She has worked as an assistant preschool teacher for 20-plus years. For half of that time, she has worked in Blue Valley’s preschool special education program. She is married to a wonderful man, Wayne. They have 5 beautiful adult children between them and just added three grandbabies. She enjoys spending time with family, and friends, reading, and watching movies.

Substitute Teachers

Substitute Teacher

Nikki Bobbe

Nikki graduated from Southwest Missouri State University in Marketing. After graduation, she flew for Southwest Airlines until becoming a stay-at-home mom. She and her husband Brett, have two children Stella and Elliott both former Awesome Kids students. In her free time she enjoys traveling, working out, and spending time with family and her pups Beaux and Aero.

Substitute Teacher

Jennifer Gilroy

Jennifer is the substitute teacher.

Substitute Teacher

Blythe Goldberg

Blythe graduated from the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College with a degree in Business Insurance. She and her husband Lonnie have two children Jaden and Jaxon. She enjoys skiing, running, reading, and spending quality time with her family.

Substitute Teacher

Michelle Voreyer

Michelle and her husband Joe moved from the San Fransico Bay Area in 2016. She fell in love with Awesome Kids when her three oldest John, Rosie, and Lilly attended the school. Her youngest Raegan is currently a student. She enjoys baking, kayaking, reading, and spending time with her family and her cat Mr. Mo Jingles.

Substitute Teacher

Mary Woody

Mary previously worked in the Lovable Lions Classroom as an Assistant teacher from 2006 – 2010, and is so happy to be back. She is a native of Chicago, Mary and her husband Richard have lived in the Overland Park area on and off since 1988. They have three grown children, Meghan (who recently got married to Davyd), Lauren, and Ryan. Recently retired from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Mary loves to travel, read, have family dinners, and is volunteering at the University of Kansas Health System and Kauffman Performing Center.