Scott and Jodi Thomason - Owners
Scott and his wife, Jodi, began their journey with early childhood in 2001 as a small in-home daycare in Peoria. Their vision has always been to provide the Peoria area with unique, top-notch childcare experiences that challenge the status quo. After moving and expanding their in-home daycare in 2004, they have been very fortunate to continue fulfilling this vision through the openings of The Wonder Playschool and the acquisition of A+ Children's Academy. They take pride in each of their centers and are grateful for the opportunities to ensure unparalleled care for the children entrusted to their care.
Kelsey - Culture Director
Makenzie - Logistics Director
Kara - Adventurers Lead Teacher
After graduating high school, I attended Bradley University and majored in nursing. While in college and after graduation, I worked in home care, caring for elderly clients with dementia. I then began nannying and found a huge passion in childcare. I was a nanny for a year and a half. Bonding with children, watching them learn and experience new things, and seeing the small things that they find joy in is what makes me feel fulfilled in working with children and it shows me how beautiful the small things are in life that I otherwise may overlook.
Crissy - Adventurers Support Teacher
Doina - Investigators Lead Teacher
Kristi - Investigators Support Teacher
Nicole - Explorers Lead Teacher
Debbie - Support Teacher
Hello, my name is Debbie. I was born and raised in Peoria. I have two daughters and two grandchildren. I love to read and spend time with my family. I started working with children 28 years ago. During that time I also ran an in home daycare. I have also taken classes at ICC to become lead qualified. I love children’s honesty, curiosity, and innocence! I love to work with children and hopefully make a difference! My hope is that the world will be a better place because we were important in the life of a child.
Tonya - Support Teacher
Hello! My name is Tonya McPhail. As a proud mother of four children and a grandmother to two, I have spent many years nurturing and supporting children. While raising our children, our house became “the hang out house” and was often filled with other kids from the neighborhood. In 2012 we moved to China where I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer at the Wuzhong District Orphanage. We also served as a foster family for a two-year-old during our time in China. While I worked fourteen years as a facility director, my time spent raising my own children and caring for children in other capacities gave me a love for seeing children learn. I love watching their faces light up as they learn or understand something new!
Nancy Hinnen - Early Childhood Consultant, Teacher Mentor
As a lifetime educator, I am honored to serve alongside you and the Wonder Playschool team, to notice your child’s moments of “awe,” and together, capture their wonder and craft learning experiences that open their minds to cognitive connections and new discoveries. Throughout my lifetime, I have been fortunate to learn from many impactful leaders. Starting with my parents, who exemplified diverse community problem-solving, to growing alongside colleagues, children and families through years of classroom teaching, administration, directing, training, coaching and consulting through the Peoria County Regional Office of Education and Heart of Illinois United Way, and locking elbows with experts in the field of child growth and development, education, and leadership. Angela Andrews (Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics Distinguished Life Achievement in Mathematics Award, author of Little Kids – Powerful Problem Solvers), Howard Gardner (Multiple Intelligences), Judy Jablon (Co-author of Powerful Interactions), Sanford “Sandy” McDonnell (Former chairman emeritus of McDonnell Douglas Corporation and CHARACTERPlus), Sam Meisels (Authentic assessment, President of Erikson Institute), Wess Stafford (President Emeritus of Compassion International, author of Too Small to Ignore), and Harry Wong (Educator and author of First Days of School – How to Be an Effective Teacher) have each given me the gift of learning through the lens of honoring children. As Harry Wong taught me, “You see in children what you look for.” Thank you for allowing me the privilege of extending my lens even further by kneeling among your children, pausing to capture their “wonder,” engage in powerful interactions, and “look for” the amazing thinking within the minds of those who teach me the best.
Choosing your Peoria daycare facility is an important decision, and we look to make it as easy as possible. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have, just give us a call (309-412-6083) or schedule a tour.
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 7:00am - 5:30pm
1711 W Detweiller Dr
Peoria, IL 61615
309.412.6083