Meet Our Staff

My name is Tressa Mendoza and I am so excited to introduce my family business to the community. We are a licensed preschool and infant center serving families with children aged 6 months up to 5 years old. Our mission is to enhance families’ work-life balance and promote high-quality education for our young learners. Creating a community where families have a place to call their second home is a vision that I have always had. As a preschool teacher for over 15 years and a mother of two, I wanted to continue my passion for teaching while keeping my kids close to ensure their happiness and development which led me to creating The Knolls Learning Studio. Their exposure to the outdoors, art, and the connections they make with friends and teachers are so incredibly important. I am determined that all Knolls students receive this same enrichment and give parents a feeling of relief and content knowing their child is safe and living their best life at The Knolls. 

Our school is a place where community is valued, and collaboration between parents and educators is integrated into these amazing programs that promote child-driven learning and outdoor education. Parent involvement is essential to every child’s success, and we want parents to be a part of their child’s learning experience, as a Reggio-inspired practice, relationships are at the very core of this school. We believe that every child is capable, competent, and creative and we strive to nurture children’s natural curiosities of the world and love for learning.

We welcome families to come and experience with their children and connect with other Knolls families, building a special community that we can all call our second home. From my family to yours, we welcome you to take your tour and get inspired!

Hello, Knolls Families!

My name is Ms. Chandlar, and I am honored to serve as the Assistant Director at Knolls Learning Studio. For the past two years, I have been grateful to be part of the Knolls family, working closely with children and families in both our Dandelion and Wildflower classrooms.

In my role as Assistant Director, I work alongside Ms. Tressa to support our school community as a whole. One of my greatest priorities is building strong, meaningful relationships with our children, families, and teachers. I truly believe that a warm, connected school community is at the heart of every child’s early-learning experience.

I am passionate about helping create an environment where each child feels safe, known, and encouraged; where families feel welcomed and supported; and where our teachers feel valued as they guide children through these important early years.

I feel incredibly grateful to be part of the Knolls community and am excited to continue growing alongside our wonderful children, families, and dedicated team.

Hello everyone, my name is Ms. Jen, and I am the lead Teacher in the Infant room. My passion for child development started in high school where I took my first class my senior year. I went onto working at the YMCA as a camp counselor and eventually started running the after school program and camps. I went back to school and studied child development, with my emphasis on infants and toddlers. I find it amazing, every day, to watch the world through their eyes. I have been educating infants and toddlers over the past 25 years with the exception of the time I took off to start my own family.

My husband is a chef, and we have 2 beautiful boys, Griffin and Ian. We have a crazy little poodle named Gary and most weekends you’ll find us at the baseball field! I love the color yellow, live music, sound baths, good food, flowers, plants and flowers catching court tv. The Knolls feels like my second home and I am so excited to meet you all and give you that same sense of comfort and balance for your family.

Hello, My name is Ms.Morgan and I am so looking forward to meeting all of you and welcoming your children into our Tulip Class! I’m excited to join The Knolls team as a fully credentialed early childhood educator with over two years of experience. My favorite part of teaching is building strong, supportive, and joyful relationships with my students.

 Outside the classroom, you’ll find me channeling my inner Renaissance woman: painting, dancing, and making jewelry. I love all things creative and I’m always picking up a new artsy hobby, so don’t be surprised if that creativity finds its way into our classroom too!

I endeavor to foster a classroom environment of community, where children can feel comfortable exploring and trying new things, and feel supported throughout their learning journey. Our classroom will be a place of safety, kindness, and inclusion, where all children are welcome and celebrated. We will treat each other with respect, and everyone will naturally grow at their own pace. 

I believe that strong family-teacher relationships pave the way to your child’s success. I’m always open to hearing from you. Please share anything you’d like about your child, or if you have any questions or concerns. I am happy to be your partner in your child’s learning journey, and I know that they will thrive the more we work together.

I appreciate you putting your trust in me with your children. I can’t wait to get to know them, watch them grow, and make lasting memories with them this year.

Warmly,
Ms. Morgan

My name is Ms. Kendal, and I am so excited to be a part of the Daisy Class this school year! I am incredibly passionate about working with infants and feel so lucky to be able to watch your little ones learn, grow, and discover the world around them. One of my favorite things about this age group is seeing the amazing growth that happens from infancy into toddlerhood. From first smiles and giggles to crawling, standing, communicating, and taking those first steps, every milestone is so special. It is truly a joy to be a part of these beautiful memories with your children and families.

In the Daisy Class, we follow a Reggio Emilia–inspired, hands-on approach to learning. I believe babies are naturally curious and learn best through exploring their environment, using their senses, movement, play, and meaningful interactions. Our classroom will provide opportunities for sensory play, music, art, movement, nature, and other hands-on experiences that encourage curiosity and development.

Most importantly, I want every child in our classroom to feel safe, loved, supported, and encouraged. I am so excited to learn each child’s unique personality, interests, and needs while building a loving and trusting relationship with them.

With love,

Ms. Kendal

My name is Ms. Jonnay, and I am so excited to welcome you to the Wildflower Class. I have been working in childcare for the past five years and have earned the qualifying Early Childhood Development credits needed to lead teach up through TK. Throughout my experience, I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of age groups, including toddlers, 3-year-olds, and children ages 4–5. Each age group has taught me something new and helped me grow as an educator.

While I truly enjoy working with all age groups, my favorite has been TK. I especially love helping children at this stage become more independent, confident, and prepared for kindergarten. Watching their growth and development during such an important time is incredibly rewarding to me, and I am passionate about creating a fun, nurturing, and engaging classroom environment where every child can thrive. The Wildflower classroom is  a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classroom inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. We believe children are capable, curious, and full of wonderful ideas. Throughout the year, our learning will be guided by children’s interests, hands-on exploration, creativity, and meaningful experiences. We will spend our days asking questions, investigating the world around us, building friendships, expressing ourselves through art and play, and developing the foundational skills needed for kindergarten and beyond.

Most importantly, our classroom is a safe haven where every child is welcomed, respected, and encouraged to learn and grow at their own pace. I strive to create an environment where children feel confident taking risks, sharing their ideas, and celebrating each other’s successes. Together, we will build a classroom community rooted in kindness, respect, and a love of learning.

Love,

Ms. Jonnay

Hello my name is Ms.Tyler and I am so excited to be teaching the Dandelion class this year! With more than 10 years of classroom experience, joining The Knolls Learning Studio truly feels like coming home.

After graduating, I pursued a career in entertainment—specifically musical theatre. I was fortunate to perform in several wonderful productions, including Annie at the Hollywood Bowl, Apollo 11 at the Rose Bowl, and multiple productions with 5-Star Theatricals.

After fulfilling many of my dreams on stage, I felt called to share my knowledge, creativity, and gifts with future generations. Teaching has always been an important part of my journey. I began as an assistant at my dance studio when I was 13 years old, and I quickly discovered how much I loved helping children learn, grow, and build confidence.

After welcoming my son in 2024, I decided to return to school to pursue my teaching credentials. No matter which path I have taken, I have always found my way back to education and supporting others.

I feel incredibly grateful to be part of The Knolls Learning Studio. I look forward to teaching, learning, laughing, and growing alongside your children throughout the year.

Love,

Ms.Tyler