Kids Junction Before and After School Care Teachers’ Bios, Madison
Ms. Tara – School Age Director
Education
I graduated from Beloit College in 2014 with a bachelors degree in biology and a minor in music.
Experience
Right out of college I began working at a camp leading various outdoor education courses for nearly 2 years. From there I worked at a childcare center in Mount Horeb for 1.5 years where I earned my lead teacher qualifications. I have been at Kids Junction since June 2020 where I have enjoyed hanging out with the school-agers and teaching music classes to the littles.
Personal
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter. Together we enjoy going for walks, spending time up north and playing in our yard.
Ms. Olivia – Interim School Age Planner
Education
I graduated from Middleton High School in 2019. I then attended the University of Iowa pursuing a degree in elementary education and an endorsement of literacy in the classroom for grades K-12. I recently transferred to the University of Wisconsin Madison to continue earning my degree in elementary education and minor in education policy.
Experience
Prior to working at Kids Junction my previous employment was centered around children. I babysat, nannied and had been a dance teacher to children ranging in age. I was hired at Kids Junction in May of 2021 and since then have worked in their summer program as well as after school.
Personal
In my free time I am an avid reader and writer. I also enjoy baking, skiing, volunteering and hanging out with my friends and family.
Ms. Sidney – Team Leader
Education:
I graduated from Madison Memorial High School in 2020. In Fall of 2021, I started my gen eds at Madison Technical College to further my aspiration and desire towards a major in Elementary Education. I plan to transfer to UW Madison in the Spring of 2024 to continue towards my degree in Elementary Education.
Experience:
My work has always been through child care since I was 12 years old. From 12 years old, to now, I have babysat for numerous families from ages newborn- 14 years old. Outside of babysitting, I worked at the Kids Club for Princeton Club Gym for 2 years. Then in June of 2020, I started my employment through Kids Junction and have been here ever since. Here at Kids Junction, I have worked with infants/toddlers, after school, and summer camp.
Personal:
In my spare time, I enjoy all sorts of outdoor based activities. Some of my favorites are deer hunting, fishing, hammocking, tubing, and spending the day on our family pontoon boat up north.
Ms. Nicole – School Age Coordinator
Education
I graduated UW River Falls in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Conservation Science and a Minor in Outdoor Adventure Education. In 2019 I got my license in Special Education and started the process to get my masters in 4-12 grade math & science with a marketing minor.
Experience
In 2009 I started working at local day camps and in 2014 that changed to overnight trip camps. I have worked for 7 different camps and lead trips both back and front country in over 15 states. In 2019 I took a break and taught math and science in high school. I missed the summer camp life so in January 2022 I relocated to Madison to work at Kids Junction.
Personal
In my free time I enjoy hiking, photography, fishing and spending time with my family.
Ms. Bailey
Education
I graduated from Plymouth High School in 2022. I am currently enrolled at Madison College in
the Early Childhood Education program and am learning a lot about childcare and the laws and
license requirements that go along with it.
Experience
I started baby-sitting my siblings when I was 9 or 10 and started babysitting other people’s
children when I was 12. I was the town babysitter as I am from a small town in northern
Wisconsin called Radisson, the population was around 300 people!! I was babysitting up until
my senior year of high school. In that same year I started working in Plymouth School Districts
childcare center as a classroom assistant.
Personal
What I like to do on my free time is watch tv and cuddle of my kitty Lily. Most of my time is
spent with my boyfriend and we do a lot of things together like shopping and going to see
movies.