Meet Our Staff
We are Kind, We are Passionate, We have Integrity, We are Progressive & We put our Communities and Families First
Our staff has over 50 years of combined experience
Ben Poswalk
Executive Director
Personal Info:
Title
Executive DirectorDegree
Kinesiology and Applied Physiology; Human PerformanceYears at Paradise Place
10My Hobby
Getting Outdoors: Skiing, Hiking, Camping.Gwyn Grier
Program director
Personal Info:
Title
Program DirectorDegree
Early Childhood EducationYears at Paradise Place
10My Hobby
Teaching Aerial Dancing, Skiing, Climbing, RunningAllison Poswalk
Lambs Teacher
Personal Info:
Degree
Childhood EducationClass Educator
LambsYears at Paradise Place
7My Hobby
Hiking, Skiing, SnowshoeingKaja
Lambs Teacher
My name is Kaja!
I just moved to Crested Butte and I’m so happy to be the new teacher for the Lambs! I am a singer and I absolutely love working with kids thanks to being an Aunt to my niece and years of early childhood experience. My techniques are inspired from gentle parenting, trauma-informed care, and keeping imagination alive. I believe in verbal affirmation with children to make them feel validated and valued. I love children and I really want to make a difference in young lives.
Personal Info:
Degree
Childhood EducationClass Educator
LambsYears at Paradise Place
7My Hobby
Hiking, Skiing, SnowshoeingMegan Willson
Lambs Teacher
Class Educator
LambsYears at Paradise Place
1My Hobby
Hiking, Paddle Boarding, Camping, Skiing, and Ice SkatingCarie Mitchell
Child Find Coordinator
Personal Info:
Degree
Childhood Childhood Special EducationYears at Paradise Place
4My Hobby
Hiking, Biking, SkiingAndreea Nisbett
Hi, I’m Andreea. Born in Eastern Europe (Romania) my desire for travel brought me to the states where I chose to further my passion for working and helping children grow and develop. In 2012 I began my career in child development. It has allowed me to gain the insight and knowledge to help grow young minds and influence them to be productive and inspirational leaders in the community.
I do believe that, even they will not remember me once they will become adults, my words will be stuck in their mind and actions forever.
Karen Jansen
Music/Spanish
One of my greatest joys is sharing my love of music with children! I have lived in Crested Butte over half my life, and have been a teacher of some sort the entire time. I began Munchkin’s Music and Dance (classes for the youngest musicians) over 15 years ago, and also run a successful private teaching business (where I offer classes in piano, guitar, and mandolin). I also enjoy teaching Spanish–I taught preschool and kindergarten in Costa Rica for a couple years, where I grew to love the language. Besides singing and playing music, I love to write and be outside hiking, biking or Nordic/backcountry skiing whenever possible.
website: www.musicincb.com
Mia Hill
Doves Teacher
Ally Kitkowski
Madison Spialek
Jessica Noll
Victor Ferri
Asya Stillo
Brooke
Myka Huddleston
Hello, My name is Myka Huddleston. I am a new member of the Paradise Place Preschool team. I was an Elementary teacher in Bryan Texas prior to joining this wonderful school. I have a B.S. degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Special Education. When I am not working with these wonderful students you can find me reading, hiking, skiing and playing with my three fur-babies named Korah, Bat and Sparrow. I am excited to be engulfed within this amazing community and cannot wait to see where the future takes me.
Degree: Kinesiology with a minor in Special Education
My Hobby: Hiking, Reading, Skiing, Dungeons & Dragons, and Scuba Diving
Philosophy: Children First. Always.