Meet Our Team
our staff & volunteers.
Say hello to our caring, enthusiastic team!
We are proud of the diversity of our team’s social, educational & professional backgrounds and the array of talents they bring to Wildflowers Learning Center.
Our team is committed to reaching beyond required annual training and professional development. We encourage teachers to be creative with their continuing education so they can hone their skills and learn more about the subjects they are interested in and passionate about.
Teachers are up to date with CPR, First Aid, SIDS/SBS and Child Abuse & Neglect trainings & certifications. Our infant & toddler teachers complete additional training hours in “Fundamentals of Infant & Toddler Care.” In addition, we offer 90 hours focused on Introduction to the Childcare Profession and Skills & Strategies for the Childcare Teacher.
Please note, we respect the privacy of all our team members and at times our staff or teachers opt to not have their photo/bio included on our website and/or avoid sharing personal information.
Leadership
Angelica Quintero, Director of Operations
Who: Angelica, also known as Angi, has master's degrees in both Finance and Business Administration as well as a bachelor's in Engineering. Having previously worked in multi-national supply chains, Angi likes to keep things on schedule. What: Responsible for all operations. When: Has worked in childcare for 7 years. Where: Originally from Caracas, Venezuela. Why: Angi started working in childcare as a way to both work and be close to her children. She has loved leading our school with the mindset of a mother shaping her child's environment.
David Webb, Director of Finance/Marketing
Who: David has a master's degree in Business Administration and a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. David has a background in managing retail operations and has coached soccer for over 25 years. What: Responsible for accounting, finance, procurement and forecasting. When: David has been working with children for almost 30 years. Where: Originally from Madison, Wisconsin. Why: David loves creating an environment where children can be themselves . . . Wildflowers.
Vijaya Pitchumani,
Executive Director & Administrator
Who: Viji has a master's degree in Human Resource Management and a bachelor's in physics. With a background in IT, Viji is well suited for managing our ever-evolving online presence. What: Responsible for all daily operations and licensing compliance. When: Has worked in childcare for 5 years. Where: Originally from Chennai, India. Why: Having two children of her own (one of whom attended Wildflowers!) sparked her interest in pursuing a career that would allow her to stay connected to young learners. She is passionate about being a nurturing presence at the school and supporting our teachers in their development. She began her adventure with us in 2020 as a lead teacher.
Meghan Stecker, Assistant Director
Who: Meg has a bachelor's degree in Music Education. In their free time, Meg loves to sing, play piano and guitar, and perform in musicals in the Madison area. What: Meg supports in the classroom and also with operational duties. When: Has worked with children for 3 years. Where: Originally from Madison, Wisconsin. Why: Meg previously taught elementary general music in the public school system before deciding to shift their focus to a smaller and more personal teaching environment.
Santini Mejia, Assistant Director
Who: Santini earned a bachelor's degree in Communications. Outside of work, she enjoys hanging out with friends, dancing, exploring Madison and listening to music. What: She supports in the classroom as well as with administrative duties. When: Over 10 years of childcare experience. Where: Originally from Ensenada, Mexico. Why: Loves teaching Spanish and is passionate about working with babies, as she gets to see them grow and actively participate in their earliest developmental milestones.
Seedlings (Infants)
Sophia Flores, Lead Teacher
Who: Sophia enjoys playing the ukulele, going skating or dancing with friends. One of her favorite pastimes is composing and recording music. What: Plays and shares her love with the itty bitty babies. When: Recently began her professional career in childcare. Where: Originally from Mexico. Why: Sophia finds that supporting the first year of a child's life incredibly rewarding.
Sprouts (1 Year Olds)
Santini Mejia, Lead Teacher
Who: Santini earned a bachelor's degree in Communications. Outside of work, she enjoys hanging out with friends, dancing, exploring Madison and listening to music. What: Director of Daydreams in our one year old room. When: Over 10 years of childcare experience. Where: Originally from Ensenada, Mexico. Why: Loves teaching Spanish and is passionate about working with babies, as she gets to see them grow and actively participate in their earliest developmental milestones.
Linda Hernandez, Lead Teacher
Who: Linda is active and loves learning and taking care of children. She enjoys traveling, make-up, music, and dance. She enjoys cooking and trying out new cuisines in the kitchen. What: Head of Hugging & Dancing with our one year olds as a lead teacher. When: Linda has worked with children for many years. She is a mother and has cared for her nieces and nephews. Where: Originally from Guerrero, Mexico. Why: She was previously a float teacher here at Wildflowers and she especially loves working with the infant and toddler age groups. Linda is also a Wildflower parent and she believes it is important to care for every child as if they are her own.
Saplings (1 & 2 Year Olds)
Veronica Sanchez, Lead Teacher
Who: Veronica is a mother of three. What: President of all the Pretty Things in our one & and two-year-old room. When: She has spent more than 12 years working with children. Where: Grew up in Queretaro, Mexico. Why: She enjoys working with children, caring for them, and helping them reach their next milestone. She especially loves seeing how quickly they grow and learn about the world around them.
Geraldine Saravia, Lead Teacher
Who: Geraldine holds a degree in psychology. She has two young children of her own whom she adores spending time with. In her free time, she likes to read and hang out with her family. What: Curator of Creativity in our one & and two-year-old classroom. When: She has been working with children for over three years and started with us at Wildflowers in 2023. Where: Originally from Nicaragua. Why: Geraldine believes young children are the foundation for the future and loves working with them and seeing them grow, learn and discover new things!
Blossoms (1 & 2 Year Olds)
Lamees Moustafa, Lead Teacher
Who: Lamees has a bachelor’s degree from Ismailia University. Outside of work, she loves to meet new people and learn about other cultures and lifestyles. She enjoys reading books about diversity and global citizenship. In her free time, she hikes, listens to music and cooks - she loves to try new recipes. What: Leader of Laughs in our 1 & 2 year old room. When: Lamees has 5 years of experience in early childhood education and worked for two childcare centers in Madison and Middleton. Where: Born in El Zagazig, Egypt. Why: Lamees loves working with children because she believes helping them (and their families) is the most rewarding job she can think of! She celebrates the little things every day. She also gets to be a part of the messy, amazing learning process and see so many smiles!
Bhargavi Siva Kumar, Lead Teacher
Who: Bhargavi, or Ms. B, holds a master’s degree in English Literature and a bachelor’s degree in Travel & Tourism. What: Technician of the Tiny in our 1 & 2-year-old room. When: With over five years of experience in administration and website content management, she was inspired by her mother, a teacher, to pursue a career in early childhood education. Where: Originally from Chennai, India. Why: She loves working with children and bringing smiles to people’s faces. Her passion for arts and crafts adds a creative touch to everything she does. Although newer to the childcare industry, Bhargavi is enthusiastic about making a positive impact on young minds.
Willows (2 Year Olds)
Pabi Basnet, Lead Teacher
Who: Ms. Pabi is a writer and poet with a background in mental & behavioral health. She speaks Nepali, Urdu, and English fluently. She enjoys eating, traveling, reading, and visiting art museums. What: Boss of All Things Bouncy in our two-year-old room! When: In the past she has worked as a teaching assistant, behavior support technician, and caregiver, and has experience working with children with disabilities. Where: Born in Nepal and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Why: She believes in purpose-driven teaching and the lasting impact of nurturing young minds. Educators are privileged with the opportunity to create, influence, and inspire change! To her, children are the roots of the earth, and she is the environment that helps them grow. She believes there is no greater reward than being a meaningful part of a child's life.
Laila Eleuterio, Lead Teacher
Who: Laila is the proud mother of two boys and one girl. She holds a Preschool Credential and a Supporting Dual Language Learners Credential. She loves creating art and bringing joy to children through creativity and play. What: Nurturer Extraordinaire in the two-year-old room. When: With more than a decade of hands-on experience in early childhood care, she has built strong, lasting connections with families and children alike. Where: Grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, after moving from Querétaro, Mexico. Why: Laila finds deep fulfillment in watching children learn, grow, and become confident individuals. Building bonds with both children and their families is one of the most beautiful parts of her work.
Redwoods (3 Year Olds)
Lorena Sabish, Lead Teacher
Who: Lorena is a dog mom who loves music and the outdoors. What: Leader of laughing in our 3 year old room When: Lorena has experience teaching children of a variety of ages in a language school in Spain. As well as, teaching in a Spanish immersion preschool program. Where: Grew up in New Holstein, WI. Why: She enjoys working with children because it’s so rewarding watching them hit milestones and make progress with learning.
Jackie Bleskacek, Lead Teacher
Who: Jackie is a proud dog mom and a passionate early childhood education professional. She finds joy in all things fall — especially leaves, pumpkins, and football. Jackie grew up in a small town in southeastern Wisconsin and double majored in Human Development and Psychology. She has worked closely with children with differing abilities and has held leadership and administrative roles in the early childhood education field. What: Leader of Learning and Laughter in our preschool program. When: Jackie brings years of experience in early childhood education, including specialized work supporting children with diverse needs and leading teams in nurturing, inclusive environments. Where: Raised in a small town in southeastern Wisconsin. Why: Jackie’s passion for working with young children comes from witnessing their excitement over the simplest moments. Those small sparks of joy remind her every day why she loves this field. Whether she’s supporting families, guiding staff, or planning enriching programs, Jackie is dedicated to creating environments where every child feels seen, supported, and celebrated.
Sequoias (4 & 5 Year Olds)
Maria Vasilev, Lead 4K Teacher
Who: Maria has a bachelors degree in Sport and Physical Education. She has been teaching yoga for over 6 years and practices it with our young yogis. She is also a youth gymnastics coach. What: Stretcher of Imaginations in our 4K classroom. When: Has been at Wildflowers (formerly the Well) for 7 years. Where: Originally from Romania. Why: Maria loves working with children and watching their confidence grow as they overcome obstacles and discover their potential.
Meghan Stecker, Assistant 4k Teacher
Who: Meg has a bachelor's degree in Music Education. In their free time, Meg loves to sing, play piano and guitar, and perform in musicals in the Madison area. What: Meg supports in the classroom and also with operational duties. When: Has worked with children for 3 years. Where: Originally from Madison, Wisconsin. Why: Meg previously taught elementary general music in the public school system before deciding to shift their focus to a smaller and more personal teaching environment.
Ms. Gabrielle, Assistant 4K Teacher
Who: Human Development and Family Studies major at UW–Madison, graduating December 2025 with certificates in French and in Global Cultures, Languages & Education. Cat mom to Naia and Tango and a vinyl collector. What: Leader of language-rich, interactive care. When: She began her professional journey in early childhood education while finishing her bachelor's degree. Where: Born and raised in Wisconsin! Why: She loves visible growth, like when a toddler learns a new word or an infant reaches a motor milestone.
Enrichment Learning & Support Team
Catherine Incremona Olson, Director of Music
Who: Catherine grew up in Minnesota in a musically rich family. Her mom was a piano teacher, and Catherine enjoyed piano as well as trombone. What: Catherine directs and teaches Music Together Madtown, a local program that's part of a worldwide music and movement program for kids birth through five. She attended the University of MN, Twin Cities and studied International Relations with a focus on Africa. When: After having her first child (24 years ago!), Catherine found a Music Together program to bring her baby to and has been a Music Together parent and then teacher ever since! Music + children is a most joyful and rewarding combination! Catherine's other passions include vegetable gardening, cooking, dogs, travel and hiking. Where: Originally from Stillwater, MN, Catherine has now lived in Middleton, WI for 18 years and has come to love it as home! The lakes, the hiking, the capitol square, the beautiful parks, the Chocolate Shoppe ice cream...it's a pretty sweet place to live. Why: Music Together Madtown is a part of a larger music making community (42 countries around the world!) with a passion for high quality and play based music education for young children. Each week, children are able to watch their teacher and caregiver model music making through song and movement. Children develop musical skills (tonally & rhythmically) as they watch, and then try what they've seen and experienced. Families who continue in the program over time both see their children grow in musical confidence and skill, and also have a new format as a family to experience the joy of musical family time!
Sara Rohs, Director of Dance
Who: Sara was a member of the Augsburg College Dance Team, eventually serving as their captain for three years and later as a coach for four years. What: Sara founded and directed the Ascending Star Dance Team. She was also an instructor for "Just For Kix" summer camps while performing with the Swarm Performance Team in the Professional Lacrosse League. Upon relocating to Madison, Sara pursued coursework at the UW-Madison Dance Department and danced with the Milwaukee Brewers Diamond Dancers for two seasons. She was also a member of the Madison-area SweatShop Hip Hop Crew. When: In 2022, Sara launched the Madison Contemporary Dance (MCD) Youth Program, providing student dancers with opportunities to learn, create, perform and cultivate community. Recently, she was honored with the Artist At Work Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Where: Originally from Minnesota. Why: Sara is the founder and director of MCD, which aims to create community through accessible arts experiences. She judges dance competitions across Wisconsin. Sara co-directs the Majestic Hip Hip Crew alongside Papa-Kobina Brewoo. Sarah and Papa-Kobina teach at Synergy Dance Academy, next door to Wildflowers.
Kim Hinkley, Director of Brand & Marketing
Who: Kim holds a bachelor's degree from UW-Madison and a master's degree in teaching from National Louis University. Her two sons attended Wildflowers! She loves playing pickleball, downhill skiing, birding, and going on adventures with her family. What: She's been a teacher, a preschool director and worked in development in Chicago and San Francisco for nonprofits that support education. When: Kim has worked in education for 18 years, and was the Program & Purpose Director at Wildflowers when it was the Well. Where: Originally from Oak Park, Illinois. Why: She is excited to manage the Wildflowers' digital presence and support a school that is very close to her heart! She is passionate about quality early childhood education and care, as she believes the first few years of a child's life lay the groundwork for their future.
Fernanda Barahona, Nutrition Coordinator
Who: Fernanda has two wonderful children and enjoys spending time with her family doing activities together. What: Celebrity Chef When: Fernanda has 4 years of experience working with kids from babies to 4-year-olds. Where: Fernanda was born in Honduras, Central America. Why: She is a creative, empathetic, patient, and responsible educator. She is passionate about working with preschool kids, preparing snacks that nourish their bodies and minds, and helping shape the future of our community.
Rylan Kennedy, Float Teacher
Who: Rylan is currently studying at Madison College. In their leisure time, Rylan enjoys listening to music and exploring the outdoors. What: Supports all classrooms as a float teacher. Where: Grew up here in Madison, Wisconsin. When: Rylan has dedicated over ten years to working with children. Their experience spans early childhood education, elementary summer camps, foster care, and supporting individuals with special needs. Why: Rylan is driven by a deep passion for play and connection.
Brooke Barakat, Float Teacher
Who: Brooke is currently a student at UW-Madison studying Elementary Education, focusing on teaching foreign languages with a minor in Business Chinese. During her free time, she loves to read anything she can get her hands on, learn languages, and try out new recipes she finds online! What: CEO of Flexibility. When: She has been working with children for over two years and teaches swim lessons during the school year and is a counselor during the summers. Where: Originally from Madison, Wisconsin. Why: Loves the children's laughs and giggles when they learn new things, and believes children are often underestimated when it comes to how capable they are!
Milagros Ledesma, Float Teacher
Who: Milagros (Miley) enjoys spending time with her family as well as dancing and playing volleyball in her free time What: Supports all classrooms as a float teacher. When: She has 2 years of experience working with kids Where: Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Why: Having a child of her own sparked her interest in working with kids. She enjoys watching them grow and learn new things while developing their own personalities.
Volunteers
Becky Leider-Heiking
Who: Ms. Becky was our Saplings lead teacher before her retirement. She has a grown son and daughter, three cats and a husband who enjoys biking and has played Santa Claus for Wildflowers at winter events! She also volunteers as a donation sorter for the Dane County Humane Society (which she says is very interesting!), loves making cards, scrapbooking and trying to upcycle and recycle anything she can. What: Volunteer extraordinaire! When: Before teaching here, she was with the Dane County Drug Court through Journey Mental Health. She has worked for the Wisconsin Alumni Association as an administrative assistant and event planner and hosted several overseas alumni trips and countless Bowl trips. She also worked at ARC Maternal & Infant Community Services. She has experience working with people from all walks of life and really enjoys helping everyone. Where: Originally from Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Why: She loves coming back as a volunteer for special events and classroom support!