The Teaching Team at Mt. Airy Daycare & Learning Center
(Fall 2025)
Staff Biographies
Michelle Rippeon – Director
Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in child development from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in Elementary Education from George Mason University. She taught elementary school for six years before starting a family. Michelle has 4 children of her own. Michelle has worked in early childhood education since 2014, including teaching the Preschool 3’s and PreK 4’s. Her hobbies include spending time with her family, cheering for her children at sporting events and exercising. She has completed the Orton- Gillingham program. This is a multi-sensory approach to phonics and early literacy. Michelle is excited for a fun year ahead!
Patti Hill – Administrative Assistant
Patti has been a resident of Mt. Airy for the past 14 years. Retiring after 30 years from Montgomery County Public Schools in support staff positions, she is excited to now have the opportunity to work with preschoolers. Patti loves spending time with her dog Ash, going on walks and playing with her, attending events in downtown Mt. Airy and in Frederick. She has spent the past 8 years pursuing her associate degree in early childhood education and child development and is proud to have finally received her degree. Her greatest joy is seeing the world through the eyes of children.
Room 1 – Pre-K 4’s:
Haleigh Piccolo - PreK 4's Teacher
Haleigh grew up in Mt. Airy and now lives in Libertytown. She attended Shepherd University where she got her degree in Early Childhood Education while playing college lacrosse. She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham Multi-Sensory approach to phonics and has a passion for early literacy. She enjoys running half marathons, coaching lacrosse and spending time with her puppy. This is Haleigh’s fourth year in the classroom. This year will be teaching the Preschool 4’s, and she is excited for the year ahead!
Suzanne Green - Aide (MWF)
Suzanne holds a bachelor's degree in Family Studies from the University of Maryland. She has lived in Mount Airy for nearly 20 years with her husband and 4 children. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, crafting, cooking, and especially loves watching her children play baseball and softball.
Paige Doffmeyer- Aide (TTH)
Ms. Paige is a recent graduate from South Carroll High School. She graduated with the Early Childhood Education Completer Program and is continuing her education at Carroll Community College to receive her associates degree. She believes in children learning through play and wants to provide the best possible experience for children in their early years. In her free time she enjoys playing softball, hiking, art, and spending time with her dog, Honey.
Room 2 –Preschool 2’s:
Nikki Davis – Teacher
Ms. Nikki grew up in North Carolina. She moved to Maryland 15 years ago and settled in Frederick County to raise her son. Nikki has been working in early childhood education since her son started kindergarten in 2015. She has an AA degree in general studies, her 90-hour Early Childhood Education, and her 45-hours in both Infants and toddlers and preschool certification. Nikki also has numerus other certificates all for early childhood and was recently Credentialed at a Level 5 through the Maryland Child Care Credential Program. Her son Alex is starting 10th grade this year and is an avid baseball player, so the majority of her free time is spent on the bleachers cheering him on. Nikki is also the Dragon Momma to Mushu, who is the class pet in room 2. Moosh loves spending time under her warm light, watching friends play and learn! When she has extra time, Nikki enjoys spending it curled up with her cat Georgia and a Book.
Christine Christner – Teacher
Christine grew up in College Park MD and lived in Montgomery County prior to moving her family to Carroll County in 2006. Christine has three children. Christine began working with school aged children, K-8, in the public school system (CCPS) more than 10 years ago. She was a paraprofessional in the BEST program at the middle school level, and in the autism program at the elementary level. Christine decided to change lanes and expand on her love of teaching children, deciding to leave the public-school setting and begin working in the early childhood education industry. Christine has continued her education over the last few years to achieve her 90 hours in child growth development and preschool curriculum, as well as her 45 hours in infants and toddlers. In her spare time, Christine enjoys photography, loves the beach, hiking and spending time with her family.
Michelle May – Aide
Michelle May graduated from South Carroll High School. She started Carroll Community College in the fall and is working towards an Early Childhood Education degree. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys playing video games and watching Marvel movies.
Room 3 – Preschool 3’s:
Gina Fitz- Teacher
Gina has been a resident of Westminster for the majority of her life. Gina holds a bachelor's in psychology from Grand Canyon University. She began working with children in high school through babysitting and later entered the early child development field in college. Ms. Gina has completed her 90 hours Infant & Toddlers and Preschool courses and is ADA and CPR certified. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, reading, baking and spending time with her friends, family and animals.
Morgan Verdin – Aide
Ms. Morgan used to live in Mt. Airy with her dad, brother and 2 dogs. She recently moved to Westminster at the beginning of the year with her boyfriend, 2 friends, a black lab, and a slightly overweight cat! She has been working as an aide for a little over 3 years now here at MADLC and she has enjoyed and loved working here. She is also a server at Libatores in Westminster. She has worked with children in child care ever since her junior year of high school where she took Child Development classes. She has also been a babysitter for a little over 10 years. Starting in September Morgan will be going to Carroll Community to start her path in becoming an Early Childhood Education Teacher and earn her A.A. If she is not at MADLC or her serving job, in her free time she likes to relax at home, hang out with her boyfriend or friends, and snuggle with her animals!
Joan Zimmerman- Aide
Joan recently retired from teaching in Montgomery County Public Schools. During her career, she taught general education in grades one through five, English for Speakers of Other Languages in grades kindergarten through five and worked as a Staff Development Teacher. Her husband is also a newly retired teacher, and they are empty nesters, having raised two grown sons. Joan enjoys reading, going for walks, and solving puzzles. She's an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
Room 4 – Pre-K 4’s:
Lynne Colantoni – Teacher
Originally from New England, Lynne now calls Carroll County her home. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Business with a concentration in Accounting. She worked in accounting and finance for several years before starting a family. Since that time, she has become interested in early childhood education. She completed the MSDE Child Care certification coursework and continues to take classes to further expand her knowledge in the field. Lynne is excited to be teaching PreK 4s this year. In her free time Lynne enjoys reading and watching her children in sports.
Sandy Strunk – Aide
Ms. Sandy has been at MADLC since 2004. She has completed the 90 hours, the Infant and Toddlers course and the medical administration course as well as many other classes. In her free time she enjoys reading, photography, crafting and is a huge Disney fan.
Room 5 – Preschool 3’s:
Laura Gilliam- Teacher
Laura was born and raised in Howard County, MD. She attended Towson University and graduated in 2012 with a BS in Family and Human Services. She has worked in the Special Education field for 5+ years, also working with younger children in a childcare setting. She enjoys spending time with her family and two children. Her son is 5 and her daughter is 9. She enjoys going to Lake Anna in Virginia, the beach and going to the gym.
Jennifer Vona – Aide
Jen lives in Mount Airy with her husband and 3 children. She enjoys spending time with her family, snuggling with her dog Libby and playing with her family’s parakeets! Jen is currently continuing her education in Early Childhood. She loves spending time in the classroom and recognizes the need for a supportive and accessible education for all children and their individual needs. She hopes to help make preschool a fun and rewarding experience for each child she has the privilege of working with.
Aide – All Classrooms
Margie May – Aide
Ms. Margie has worked in the Early Childhood field for over 20 years. She has experience with all age groups, but her absolute favorite is the infants and toddlers. She is married and has 2 children, whom she loves to spend time with. Margie volunteers at her church for many functions that they have throughout the year, as well as working in the nursery with the children. Ms. Margie believes that when she works with children, she wants to make sure they have the best day by providing them with a positive experience. She believes that children learn through play, and she wants to provide a loving and nurturing environment for them to grow.
Sydney Knauss - Aide/Sub
Sydney graduated from Glenelg High School in Howard County. She is an Aide at Mount Airy Daycare and Learning Center and I love it!! I am pursuing my dream of being a teacher at Howard Community College and hopefully will continue my studies at the University of Maryland.
