Our Team

THE NEST

Cindy is a Durham native with over 20 year in the early childhood education field. She has worked with children from infancy up to five years old in the preschool setting. Cindy joined Our PlayHouse Preschool in 2013.

In her spare time Cindy enjoys reading, decorating, walking, bingo and spending time with her family.

THE NEST

Hello, I'm Alicia. I am married to my husband Ryan and have two children, Brayden, 14, and Nora, 6. We live in Mebane with our two dogs and two cats. I enjoy spending time with my family, playing games, and adventuring outdoors. Being near water brings me joy, whether it's a creek, a waterfall, or swimming in the ocean. I obtained my Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education in 2011 and am pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Family and Community Services with a concentration in Child Development through ECU's distance education program and have plans to graduate in May 2025.

I grew up in the foothills of NC, where I was privileged to have a loving family and a happy childhood. My path to a career in Early Education began in high school when I was asked to plan for my future. At that time, different from many teens, I didn't want to grow up. I knew I wanted to play "forever" and decided that if I couldn't stay a child, I could at least work with children. I have been on this journey ever since. I have worked in several environments, including Montessori, Head Start, Religious Pre-K, Summer Camps, and NC Public Education over the course of 10 years. I first experienced implementing the Reggio Emilia approach in 2019. I have learned my philosophy for natural and child-led play most closely aligns with the Reggio Emilia Approach, and I am excited to serve families and children at Our Playhouse Preschool this year.

SPROUT HOUSE

Hi there! I’m Mia Jones and I’ve been local to Durham for the past 7 years and have come to really call it home. I have been working in early childhood education for the past 5 1/2 years, 3 years of that time I spent as a toddler teacher at another local center and the remainder as a nanny for an infant and toddler. I am currently working towards my Associates of Early Childhood Education and hope to graduate next fall.

I do love comics, art, and gaming, for the stories they tell, and for the community and culture they all create. More than anything though I love my daughter, Jade who turns one in October. And my husband, Tykai who I celebrate two years of marriage with this October. I’m so excited to be a part of the OPH community!

SPROUT HOUSE

Hello, I’m Teacher Vanessa. The 2025-2026 school year will be my first year as a lead teacher at OPH but I have been part of this community for many years. My son attended OPH starting in 2021 and his sister joined him the following year. Lucy will be completing her final year at OPH this year as I’m starting my first year! I was a substitute teacher throughout the 2024-2025 school year and also led the garden committee. I’m also a PTA board member at my son’s elementary school.

My husband Tom, our son and I moved to Durham seven years ago and our daughter was born here. Along the way we adopted two brother cats named Harry & Marv. I love to make art and have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. I also love to garden and be outdoors.

WILLOW HOUSE

I have lived in Durham since 2005. I grew up in a small town, just north of Flint, Michigan on a small farm and am the 2nd youngest of 11 children. (yes, eleven!) Today I am a proud mama of 4 beautiful children of my own.

With over two decades of experience working with children in professional settings, I have had the privilege of interacting with young ones of various ages, from as young as 6 weeks to late teens. My background and expertise in child development have equipped me with the skills and understanding necessary to nurture and guide young minds during their precious formative years.

Through my studies of various traditions and cultures from around the world, I have cultivated a profound passion for the emotional development of young children. I firmly believe that supporting children in their journey towards becoming flourishing, vibrant community members is not just a job but a calling. I am committed to creating a nurturing and enriching environment for your children and family.

I am greatly thankful for this opportunity to be part of your child’s life and development and look forward to watching them grow and learn.

CEDAR HOUSE

Lily’s from Burlington, NC and has lived in Durham since 2022. She’s loved the charming feel of the city and the welcoming community it offers.

Her love for early childhood education developed from five years of experience as a teacher’s assistant. During that time, she worked with grades Pre-K-3rd. She believes that all students are bright, capable, and creative. She’s thrilled to join Our Playhouse Preschool, working alongside staff members who strive to support their community and delight in their work educating students.

In her spare time, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking at the Eno River with her sweet dog, Charlie, and spending time with her family.

CEDAR HOUSE

Gretchen Nicholson grew up in rural Missouri 50 miles outside of St. Louis. As one of 8 kids, she enjoyed the variety that each day brought.

At Truman State University, Gretchen completed her BA in English with minors in Psychology and Child Studies. Much of her coursework focused on children's literature, positive psychology, and child development. However, loving random knowledge, she took full advantage of the liberal arts college and took additional classes such as tumbling and printmaking. 

With her love of working with children, Gretchen volunteered/worked with mentor groups, childcare, and elementary schools. Her favorite thing about working with kids is their honesty and watching them grow into their own person. In her free time she loves trying new food with her husband, cooking, crocheting, and reading.

HICKORY HOUSE

Victoria is a Durham native. She has five years of experience working with children aged infants through fifth grade in various settings such as swim lessons, school out camps, summer camps and preschool. Victoria spent the last three years teaching preschool children ages three to five . She received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Queens University of Charlotte.

In her spare time, Victoria enjoys camping, hiking, reading and board games. She also enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews, and friends outdoors.

HICKORY HOUSE

​​Hello! I'm Heather Richards and I grew up in New Orleans. I graduated from LSU in Political Science, but am working towards obtaining my Teaching License. I've lived in Carrboro for the past 7 years and love the area! I have been in education for 9 years, working with mostly preschool and kindergarten as a Teacher's Assistant. I am married, with no kids and we are looking to permanently move to Durham. I love creating a classroom community filled with empathy and curiosity. I've spent many summers as a Camp Instructor, focusing on STEAM projects. My hobbies include reading, writing, cycling, hiking and swimming. I went to a summer camp in Hendersonville from middle school through high school and fell in love with the Blue Ridge Parkway. I try to get out to the mountains at least 4 times a year!

THE MAPLE HOUSE

I earned my degree in Art Therapy at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I have taught art classes to children ages one through twelve at a community center in Beacon Hill, Boston, MA. In addition to teaching, I ran the summer camp programs, weekend workshops, and community events for the greater Boston area at the community center. I have worked with children of all ages and backgrounds for 16 years in both one-on-one and classroom environments.

My passion for teaching comes from my family of educators and from always being around and working with children. Having spent over a decade teaching and working at camps, I love giving children the tools to express themselves and discover new and exciting things about the world around them. I am thrilled to be back at OPH for my 6th year and truly appreciate working in a Reggio Emilia–inspired school where children can learn, play, and grow in an environment well suited to meet their developmental needs. I have a true passion for the arts and am excited to incorporate that into the classroom.

In my free time, I love to travel the world with my husband and visit my family in Boston, especially my niece and nephews. I also enjoy a good book, puzzles, and any craft I can get my hands on.

MAPLE HOUSE

Josh is thrilled to be in Maple House for his 5th time this year! He has been working with early childhood for over 25 years and holds an AAS in Early childhood education from Durham Tech, as well as a Level 1 nature-based educator certificate from the Eastern Regional Association of Forest and Nature Schools. He is passionate about play-based, nature-focused, open-ended, appropriate-risk learning. Originally from Northern Virginia, Josh moved to Durham in 2011 with his dog, Lily. Outside of work, he enjoys singing in a local community choir and attending musical theatre events at the DPAC and Playmakers, as well as hiking trails along the Eno river.

SPRUCE HOUSE

Laura grew up in the mountains of North Carolina exploring the woods, looking for frogs, playing with spiders, and making mud pies. Her third grade teacher told her that she would become a naturalist one day. Natural history has always had an important place in Laura’s teaching. She encourages children to explore natural materials, work together, investigate, observe, and record what they see throughout the seasons. She believes children develop creativity, critical thinking skills, and self-control when they have unstructured play time and opportunities to make choices in cooperative settings.

Before coming to Our Playhouse Preschool, Laura taught preschool and kindergarten in Durham. Previously she was the baker at Wellspring Grocery, later Whole Foods, and a preserve monitor for The Nature Conservancy.

Laura enjoys reading, baking, hiking, birdwatching, photographing insects, watching things grow, and chatting with her mom on the phone. She has two adult daughters. Laura holds degrees in botany and elementary education. She lives in Durham with a small black rabbit.

SPRUCE HOUSE

Hello! My name is Sarah Prince. Though I'm a Chapel Hill native, I'm still constantly discovering what our local communities have to offer. I've worked in Early Childhood Education for over a decade, now, and have recently completed my M.Ed. in Policy and Advocacy in early childhood education at UNCW. For the past two years I have worked here at OPH, and I love its sense of community and shared purpose!

Beyond teaching, I enjoy reading, traveling, and hiking with my Very Good Dog, Maysie. I'm an avid hobby collector, and art supplies are slowly but surely taking over my living space. One of these days I'll wake up in a bed of notebook paper, covered in a fresh coat of watercolor, shackled comfortably in yarn. Until such a time, I intend to continue making dumb sweaters for my dog, baking bread, and enjoying the local theater scene.