Preschool Director

Pamela Valenti - Preschool Director

This is Pam's third year with Building Blocks. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education, as well as her B.A. in Applied Behavioral Science.  Pam has worked in many Early Childhood settings in her twenty plus years in the field. She is married to John and has three grown Children: Dan, Katie, and Michael, and one grandson, Luke. In her spare time Pam loves spending time with her family, including her pets (three dogs and a cat). Pam loves reading, eating out, going to movies, and decorating her home.

Toddler One Teachers

Dina Krotin - Lead Teacher

This is Dina's eighth year with Building Blocks. She has a degree in Elementary Education and over twenty years of teaching experience. Her dream job is to work with kids! She has participated in the Missouri Department of Education's program Project Construct*. Dina also likes to cook and spend time with her two children.

Early Preschool Teachers

Taira Price - Lead Teacher Early Preschool

This is Taira's fifth year with Building Blocks. She has a degree in Elementary Education and Certification in Early Childhood Education. She also holds her Master's degree in Reading Instruction and Communication and has nine years of teaching experience. Taira likes to get to know the children in her class by reading and laughing with them. She also likes to workout and design invitations for her company. Taira has three children and her two youngest are students at Building Blocks.

Lisa Li - Assistant Teacher

This is Lisa's eighth year with Building Blocks. She has a degree in Accounting and she really enjoys working with the children on arts and crafts projects. Lisa has also participated in Project Construct. In Lisa's spare time she teaches Chinese at the Daniel Boone Library. Lisa also likes to read and cook with her two children.

Preschool 1 Teachers

Susan Mayer - Lead Teacher

This is Susan's fifteenth year with Building Blocks. She has a degree in Gerontology and has participated in training in Project Construct. Susan likes teaching because she likes the children's excitement when they discover something new. Susan is a member of Good Shepherd. She also likes to exercise and shop. Susan is married to Dave and has three daughters: Christine, Lauren and Elisabeth.

Preschool 2 Teachers

Angie Bekebrede - Lead Teacher

This is Angie's ninth year with Building Blocks. She has a degree in English from Truman State University and a Certification in Early Childhood Education from UMSL, and she has participated in Project Construct. Angie enjoys working with the Pre-K class and helping them get ready for Kindergarten. She likes cross-stitching and spending time with her two young girls who both attend West Ridge Elementary. Angie is married to Brad and has one dog named "Riley".

Discovery Room Teacher

Janis Halsey - Lead Teacher

This is Janis' seventh year with Building Blocks and her eighteenth year in teaching. Janis has a teaching certificate and a Masters in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Reading. She has participated in Project Construct training, including the math and science components. She enjoys the children's sense of fun and excitement about learning and doing new things. Her goal is to help the children to see that the Discovery Channel is not the only place to learn about the wonders of the world. Janis is a member of Good Shepherd. She participates in mission trips and enjoys volunteering whenever she can. She also like to work on family geneology. She is married to Mark and has two grown children and a Dachshund.

Music and Movement Teacher

Kathy Rebholz - Music and Movement Teacher

Kathy is the Music and Movement teacher and has been with Building Blocks for two years. She obtained her Bachelor's and Masters degrees in Elementary Education. Before she came to Building Blocks, she taught elementary school in the Parkway School District for many years. She enjoys her students' enthusiasm and the information they share with her. This drives her teaching. Kathy uses many musical instruments and motor activities to develop the music in every child. She also uses music to teach early literacy and math skills. Kathy has seven-year-old twins and a four-year-old boy who attends Building Blocks. She like to exercise and spend time with her family.

 * Project Construct is the Missouri Department of Education's Curriculum training for teachers of children in Early Childhood Education Programs.