About Us
All of us who teach and guide the programs at Pembroke Kids are college educated teachers with years of experience and a passion for working with young children. Our commitment to early childhood education is expressed in many ways. We take pride in our lovely environment, the quality of our curriculum, and the welcoming atmosphere that encourages parental involvement. Ours is a safe and nurturing environment of discovery and learning for young children. Pembroke Kids is owned by Steve & Andrea Caris of Avon Lake. Their very first family dog was a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Charlie. His boundless enthusiasm and happy spirit was the inspiration for the name of our school.
Andrea Caris has a Master of Arts in Teaching and is permanently licensed to teach Nursery through grade 6 in New York State. She has also held two education administration positions. The first position was as an Education Director at a Title 9 Kindergarten-Head Start Program in New York City, and the other was as a Lower School Admissions Director for an independent school in Connecticut.
Steve Caris has a Masters Degree in Learning Disabilities, and is permanently licensed in New York State as a K-12 Special Education teacher. He also has a Sixth Year Diploma in the teaching of Computers and Technology. He has taught for 30 years, and for the past 15 years he has developed innovative technology education programs in independent schools. He is the former Director of Technology at Lake Ridge Academy in North Ridgeville. Steve is Director of the Digital Discovery Center in Avon Lake.
Christy Vish graduated magna cum laude from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Middle School Math and Science. As a former special education teacher’s assistant, a former nanny and a current Pembroke Kids’ parent, Christy has worked with many different age groups in a variety of settings.
Sue Becker has taught preschool in Westlake for many years. She has helped develop a preschool summer camp and brings a wealth of hands-on experience with young children to our program.
Theresa Whitmore has more than 20 years of experience teaching preschool. She has a Associates Degree from Owens Technical College and is continuing to work on her Early Childhood Degree. She has experience working in a Reggio style classroom.
Tiffany Kurtz is a graduate of Miami University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. She is licensed to teach Pre-Kindergarten through third grade. Tiffany has also tutored students in kindergarten through third grade.
Kelly Whitmore is a graduate of the The Ohio State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences as well as her Masters of Education in Early Childhood Education. She has a three-year-old through third grade teaching license. Kelly has experience in Preschool, Kindergarten, and Second grade classrooms as well as in after school programs.
Jennifer Chamberlain, our First Grade Teacher, is a graduate of Cleveland State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree and graduated Cum Laude. She is licensed to teach Pre-K through Grade 3 and is a Red Cross certified Water Safety instructor.
Sarah Vayo has a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education from Monmouth College. She also earned a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Cleveland State University. Sarah is licensed to teach early childhood through third grade, and has experience teaching kindergarten through third grade as both a classroom and French teacher. Additional experiences include working as a tutor for children with Autism, and as a reading tutor.
Elena Sayers graduated from Ashland University from which she received her B.S. Degree in Middle Childhood Education. She currently holds a 5-year Ohio license, and has taught in grades 1st through 10th.
Krista Deemer, our Kindergarten Teacher, is a graduate of Kent State University where she received a BA in Early Childhood Education. She has taught for 7 years, and has experiences in inclusive classrooms and early childhood assessment. She is working towards her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Intervention at the University of Toledo.
Jeffrey C. Lefèvre II holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art & Technology from The Ohio State University and is licensed to teach Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade Visual Arts. He currently teaches in the Digital Discovery Center with children in Kindergarten through 6th grade. Jeff also holds a minor in Film Studies and enjoys creating art in several mediums including clay, digital media, glass, photography, printmaking, sculpture and video.
Susan Vance-Koch taught Spanish and is currently the Choir Director for the Avon Middle and High School. She taught elementary music in the Avon Lake Public School system for 29 years. Susan teaches Early Childhood Music, guitar, voice, and piano lessons in addition to performing with the True North Chorale. She graduated with a double major from Heidelberg University, Tiffin, OH in both Music Education and Spanish. She received her Masters in Music from Akron University, and is certified in Kodaly and experienced in Orff-Schulwerk and Dalcroze.
Margie Shea-Turner is a reading and writing specialist and literacy curriculum consultant to Pembroke Kids. An Adjunct Professor of Early Childhood Education at John Carroll University, Hawken School, Lyndhurst, Ohio, Margie has designed and taught Early Childhood Courses for John Carroll’s Graduate Intern program, and has many years of Early Childhood teaching and consulting experience.
