Dr. Sherri Danyali-
​Executive Director
Dr. Sherri Danyali joined the Timberline Learning Center family as Executive Director in December 2025, bringing more than 30 years of passion for early childhood education and a deep love for leading school learning communities.

Dr. Danyali earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Curriculum & Teaching from Nova Southeastern University, certificates in Instructional Leadership and School Management and Leadership from Harvard University, and is currently completing a Nonprofit Leadership certificate through eCornell. A lifelong learner and collaborator at heart, she loves connecting with peers through professional networks and conferences and has traveled to Reggio Emilia, Italy, where she visited the renowned Reggio Emilia infant centers and preschools — an experience that deeply shaped her philosophy and one she has been passionate about sharing with the educators and schools she leads.

​Throughout her career, Dr. Danyali has founded and led Reggio Emilia-inspired schools, directed early childhood divisions at nationally recognized independent schools, and guided teams of educators in designing rich, joyful, child-centered learning environments. Her leadership is defined by a commitment to servant leadership, meaningful relationship-building, and a steadfast belief in the potential of every child.
What drives Dr. Danyali most is the magic that happens when families, educators, and communities come together in genuine partnership around children. She is thrilled to be part of the TLC family and eager to listen, learn, and collaborate as she helps shape the next chapter of Timberline's excellence.

Dr. Sherri and her husband Joe are excited to put down roots in Breckenridge. As a hiker, skier, and cyclist, she is right at home in the mountains — and loves that their two young adult children, Zoie and Brett, are just down the road in Denver!
Picture
Krystin Taylor -
Instructional Coach / Pedagogista
​Originally from California, Ms. Krystin moved to Summit County, Colorado in 2022. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Child and Adolescent Studies from California State University, Fullerton, and holds a Multiple Subject Teacher Credential with a BCLAD Endorsement in Bilingual Classroom Strategies. Krystin brings over 9 years of experience in early childhood education, having taught in Head Start and public school preschool programs in California before transitioning to Kindergarten and 2nd grade classrooms in Colorado. Deeply rooted in Reggio Emilia–inspired practice, she is passionate about making children's learning visible through pedagogical documentation, emergent curriculum, and play-based inquiry. Throughout her career, Krystin has also served as a mentor and instructional coach for early-career teachers, facilitating collaborative planning and reflective practice. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she is committed to cultivating strong family partnerships and creating inclusive, child-centered learning communities.
Alyse Moulis -
​Seedlings Mentor
Ms. Alyse moved to Breckenridge with her husband in January 2013 after he shared his love for the area, having grown up visiting the mountains with his family. Today, they are proud to be raising their two children in the community they now call home.
After joining Timberline Learning Center, Alyse discovered the Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy and quickly fell in love with early childhood education all over again. She was inspired by the thoughtfully designed learning environments, the natural materials, and the deep respect shown to every child. She knew Timberline was where she wanted to build her career and felt confident that it was also the place where her own children would learn and grow.
​
As the Seedlings Mentor Teacher, Alyse feels privileged to be part of children's earliest learning experiences. She especially enjoys building secure, trusting relationships with infants and their families, celebrating developmental milestones, and watching each child's unique personality emerge. Alyse is passionate about creating a nurturing environment where every child and family feels safe, valued, and supported. She looks forward to continuing to grow as an early childhood educator while making a meaningful impact on the lives of infants and their families for many years to come.
Christina Adams -
Sprouts Mentor
​Ms. Christina joined Timberline Learning Center in February 2024 after being encouraged to apply by a family friend. She has completed coursework in Early Childhood Education and Developmental Psychology and has spent much of her career working with young children.

Her first job was as a ski instructor at a small resort on the East Coast, and since then she has continued supporting children through a variety of educational experiences. Christina loves the opportunity to rediscover the magic of the world through a child's eyes. She finds great joy in celebrating each milestone as children build confidence, solve problems, and make discoveries. She currently teaches in the Sprouts classroom and hopes every child leaves her care feeling curious, confident, and excited to explore the world around them.
Melissa Miersch -
​Acorns Mentor 
Ms. Melissa has been part of the Timberline Learning Center family since 2017 and has called Summit County home since 2010. A Colorado native, she grew up exploring the mountains and later earned her Bachelor's degree in Art History from the University of Colorado Boulder, along with her Colorado Early Childhood Level 5 Credential.

Before joining Timberline, Melissa spent ten years as a ski instructor working with children ages 3–6 at Keystone Resort. She currently serves as the Acorns Mentor Teacher, where she has spent the past eight years—four of them as a mentor teacher. Melissa loves seeing the wonder, excitement, and curiosity children bring to each day and says they continually remind her to find joy in life's everyday moments.
Sydney Elliot -
​​Meadow Mentor
Ms. Sydney joined Timberline Learning Center in April 2021 after falling in love with the mountains while visiting family in Fairplay. She studied Music Education and Musical Theatre at Colorado Mesa University and is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education through Colorado Mountain College.

​Her journey working with children has included teaching toddler dance classes, becoming a Fairy Godmother-in-Training at Disney's Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and serving as a Skipper on Disney World's Jungle Cruise. Since she was five years old, Sydney has dreamed of becoming a teacher, and she has spent nearly her entire career working with children.

​As the Meadow Mentor Teacher, she enjoys nurturing meaningful relationships with older infants while helping lay the foundation for their future learning and development.
Sophia Privette -
Pinecones Mentor 
 Ms. Sophia joined Timberline Learning Center in 2022 after moving to Breckenridge following college. She holds bachelor's degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology, as well as a master's degree in Psychology, bringing a thoughtful and well-rounded perspective to early childhood education.
​
​As the Pinecones Mentor Teacher, Sophia loves watching children grow and thrive. She believes that creating a safe, loving environment is the foundation for meaningful learning and discovery. She is excited to be back with the two- and three-year-olds and looks forward to continuing to grow alongside them for years to come.
Mark Siegert -
​Little Grove Mentor
Mr. Mark first joined Timberline Learning Center in 2021 and returned to the team in February 2026, having previously worked at the center from 2021–2023. He moved to Breckenridge in November 2018 and began his early childhood career working in childcare at the mountain before continuing his passion in local preschool programs.

​Mark holds an Associate of Arts degree and has completed more than 30 accredited hours in Child Development. His experience working with children began as a summer camp counselor with the YMCA, and through his college coursework and classroom observations, he discovered his passion for early childhood education and the preschool years.
​
As one of our Preschool Mentor Teachers, Mark supports classrooms throughout the preschool wing, helping children strengthen their social-emotional development and build safe, respectful communication skills. He loves the excitement and unpredictability that each day with children brings and enjoys learning and playing alongside them. For Mark, working with young children provides a strong sense of purpose, connection, and community.
Ashley DeGrouchy -
​Big Grove Mentor
Ms. Ashley joined Timberline Learning Center in 2014. Ms. Ashley studied Elementary Education with a concentration in Art Education. Over the years, she continued her professional growth through coursework in Early Childhood Education at Colorado Mountain College.  She moved to Summit County from Goodrich, Michigan in the fall of 2013 and began working at the Keystone Children’s Center as a stepping stone toward both living in this beautiful community and building my career in early childhood education. She is now a long-term local and a proud homeowner in Frisco, deeply connected to and invested in our mountain community.

She began her journey as a co-teacher in the Pinecones classroom with older toddlers, and later stepped into the role of mentor teacher. In 2020, Ms. Ashley moved up with a class into the younger preschool classroom, Little Grove, as a mentor. For the past three years, she taught and mentored in the oldest preschool classroom, Big Grove (currently Aspen Grove). She has spent many years mentoring teachers at Timberline Learning Center, and truly loves the work that she does. Supporting fellow educators and contributing to a strong, collaborative teaching community is something she values deeply. Looking ahead, she is excited about opportunities to support the school on a larger scale—whether through mentoring additional teachers, assisting with fundraising efforts, or supporting our administration in meaningful ways. Looking ahead, she is exploring business and finance programs that support early childhood organizations, and is interested in contributing to programs at a broader organizational level.
​
One of her greatest passions is building meaningful connections with families. Ms. Ashley strives to truly know students and their parents, creating strong, lasting relationships along the way. She aims to be a resource and an advocate for each child and their family.  Ashley finds watching her students grow and continue on as members of our community over the years incredibly rewarding and meaningful.
Ava Gosnell -
Infant Co-teacher
Ms. Ava first joined the Timberline Learning Center team in the summer of 2025, working in the Meadow classroom while home from college. After graduating, she was excited to return to TLC and continue supporting children and families in the infant program. Having been born in Frisco and raised in Breckenridge, Ava feels especially grateful to work in the community she has always called home.
​
Ava recently earned bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Educational Studies. During her college years, she also played women's hockey for all four years, developing leadership, teamwork, and perseverance both on and off the ice.

Ava's passion for early childhood education grew through child development courses she took in college. Learning about how children develop and the unique ways they experience and understand the world deepened her interest in supporting young learners during their earliest years. She has always loved working with children and looks forward to continuing her career in early childhood education.
Outside of Timberline, Ava enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and taking advantage of everything Colorado has to offer by spending as much time outdoors as possible.
Maria Cervantes Ortega -
Infant Co-teacher
Ms. Lupe joined the Timberline Learning Center team in April 2026 after calling Summit County home for the past five years. Her path into early childhood education came after working with adults and realizing that her true passion was supporting and caring for young children.

What Lupe loves most about working with children is their natural curiosity, their joyful smiles, and the enthusiasm they bring to each day. She enjoys building meaningful relationships with the children in her care and helping create a warm, nurturing environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive.
​
Lupe currently spends most of her time in the infant classroom, where she enjoys supporting our youngest learners during their earliest stages of development. Looking ahead, she hopes to one day work with preschool-aged children and continue growing her career in early childhood education.
Lauren Aiello -
Infant Co-teacher
Ms. Lauren joined Timberline Learning Center this summer. ​With a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Sonoma State University and a certification in yoga instruction, she has a natural interest in and inclination towards human development and emotional well-being, something that has shaped both her personal and professional path. Over the past few years, she has studied nervous system regulation, co-regulation, and how early experiences shape a child's sense of safety and self. That framework informs how she observes and responds to what individual children need in a given moment.

Working with children in various capacities for close to two decades, from babysitting and four summers as a camp counselor to homeschooling, has given Lauren a strong foundation. Growing up in a large family added to that early on. Lauren also completed coursework in early childhood development, which deepened how she thinks about the work.

Lauren brings steadiness, genuine curiosity about who each child is, and the ability to adapt quickly to what each moment calls for. The Reggio Emilia approach resonates deeply with how she already thinks about children and their development, and she is eager to contribute to our school community and the families we serve.
Laura Reyes -
Toddler Co-teacher
Ms. Laura joined Timberline Learning Center in March 2023. She graduated from high school in both Colombia and the United States and brings warmth, enthusiasm, and a natural love for children to the classroom.Although she had not previously worked in a childcare setting, Laura quickly discovered that early childhood education was a wonderful fit. She loves teaching children new skills, playing alongside them, and watching them develop confidence and curiosity as they grow.
Ms. Kayla has been part of the Timberline Learning Center team for nearly a year and is a lifelong Summit County resident. She is currently taking courses in Early Childhood Education and has been caring for children since she began babysitting at just 11 years old.

Before joining Timberline, Kayla taught horseback riding lessons to children at a local stable, an experience that strengthened her passion for working with young learners. Today, she is a co-teacher in the Acorns classroom, where she loves watching toddlers learn, grow, and experience the joy of discovering something new every day.
Kayla Smith -
Toddler Co-teacher
Ms. Amber joined Timberline Learning Center this summer. She graduated from Summit High School and brings four years of experience as a babysitter and nanny, working closely with infants through toddlers.
​
​Amber has a special passion for storytelling and a gift for explaining complex ideas in simple, engaging ways. Known for her patience and calm demeanor, Amber loves working with young children and finds joy in supporting their growth every step of the way.
Amber Barela -
Toddler Co-teacher
Luz Blanco Suarez -
Toddler Co-teacher
Ms. Luz joined the Timberline team in April 2025. A native Spanish speaker, she has a natural gift for connecting and building close relationships with children and adults alike, bringing a warm, effervescent personality and positive spirit that fills the room with joy, nurturing, and a sense of belonging.
​
She holds degrees in health administration and dentistry earned in Colombia, has completed early childhood education coursework at Colorado Mountain College, and brings six years of babysitting experience to her work with children. Luz's warmth and genuine care shine through in every interaction, helping children and families feel welcomed, valued, and at home.
Carly Valko -
Preschool Co-teacher
Ms. Carly joined the Timberline Learning Center team in June 2026 after moving to Summit County to continue her passion for working with preschool-aged children. She first relocated to the area in 2023 to teach youth ski lessons and has built a career centered around helping children learn, grow, and explore.

Carly earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont. Her journey into early childhood education began in eighth grade when she started nannying, followed by seven years managing a youth surf camp in New Jersey and three years teaching ski school at Copper Mountain. These experiences helped shape her love for supporting children's confidence, curiosity, and development.
​
As a co-teacher in the Little Grove classroom, Carly especially enjoys watching children explore their environment and apply the skills they are learning both inside and outside the classroom. Outside of Timberline, she enjoys swimming, hiking, skiing, cooking, and creating art.
Jillian VanVleet -
Preschool Co-teacher
Ms.  Jillian joined Timberline Learning Center four months ago and has quickly become a valued member of our team. She moved to Summit County at the beginning of 2024, where her brother also lives, and has enjoyed building a strong sense of community while living in the mountains.
Jillian attended Oregon State University, where she studied Marketing. She also spent three months in Valencia, Spain, as an au pair, an experience she describes as incredibly rewarding while caring for three wonderful children.
Jillian loves working with children because of their unique perspective on life. She believes they teach her just as much as she hopes to teach them. While she enjoys helping wherever she is needed throughout Timberline, she has spent most of her time in our Little Grove and Big Grove classrooms. She finds it especially fulfilling to watch the children grow and learn while building meaningful relationships with both the children and their families.
Karlia Tapia -
Support Staff
Ms. Karla joined the Timberline Learning Center team in February 2022. Although she was born in Frisco, she was raised in Mexico and always dreamed of returning to the mountains to reconnect with the community and culture that first welcomed her into the world.
​
Karla's passion for early childhood education began at home. Growing up with brothers, she was overjoyed when her younger sister was born, and caring for her inspired a lifelong love of working with infants and young children. Today, Karla says there is so much to love about teaching—from witnessing how quickly children learn and grow to experiencing their joyful curiosity and unconditional love. She believes there is nothing more genuine than the love of a child.
​
As a floater, Karla enjoys supporting classrooms throughout the center and building relationships with children of all ages. Outside of Timberline, she cherishes spending time with her two-year-old daughter, who continues to teach her just as much as she teaches the children in her care. Karla values the opportunity to grow both as an educator and as a parent, and she looks forward to continuing her journey with Timberline Learning Center for many years to come.
Nollaig Rydz -
Support Staff
Ms. Nollaig first came to Summit County in the early 2000s for the snow but stayed after meeting her husband. After working as a substitute teacher at Timberline in 2010, she returned to the team in 2023 as a part-time floater.With an Associate degree in Children's Services, a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of South Australia, and more than 26 years of experience in early childhood education, Nollaig brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion to every classroom she enters.

She has a special passion for infant and toddler development, respectful relationships, and creating environments where children feel seen, heard, honored, and free to grow at their own pace. Looking ahead, Nollaig hopes to earn a Master's in Social Work so she can continue supporting children, parents, and families in building meaningful, loving, and respectful relationships.
Alexandria Sells -
Support Staff
Ms. Alex joined the Timberline Learning Center team in April 2026 after moving to Colorado in 2024 to work as an advanced cook for the mountain. Bringing a diverse background and a genuine passion for working with children, Alex holds two Associate degrees—one in Arts and one in Science—and has completed multiple early childhood education certifications through a program in Kentucky. 

​Alex's journey into early childhood education began during high school while participating in the Upward Bound program. After hearing an inspiring presentation from the director of the Boys & Girls Club, Alex applied for a position that same day and spent nearly two years working with children. That experience, combined with being the second oldest of seven siblings, helped shape a lifelong passion for supporting and encouraging young learners.

What Alex loves most about working with children is that every day brings new opportunities to learn and grow—not only as an educator, but also as a teammate, lifelong learner, and individual. Alex values building meaningful relationships with children and helping create an environment where they feel safe, supported, and inspired to explore.

Outside of Timberline, Alex enjoys spending time with their partner and puppy, exploring the local community, cooking, traveling, and taking every opportunity to dance and sing.