My name is Ciera Rill. I have been Learning Tree’s lead teacher since 2021. I earned my CDA (Child Development Accreditation) in October 2021, while continuing to earn my bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development at Central Michigan University. I’ve worked as a personal Nanny since 2014 for multiple families. Before that, I would babysit for families that I knew and grew up with. Children have always been the center of my life, and I’m so proud to be the start of their educational careers. 

 

My teaching philosophy is based on social & emotional development first. As the child's teacher, my number one job is to gain a trusting relationship with the children at the start of the school year. That is all based on my greeting, introducing them to feelings & letting me know how they feel each day before they enter school. This gains the child's trust. When they are with me, they understand that I'm a safe place while their grown up isn't there. Once that is established, the true academic challenges can begin. As lead teacher, I strive every day to connect with the children by one-on-one time and, through their own love language, music each day, helping them to understand what feelings are, and how to properly communicate how they feel. Preschool is the first place a child learns to love learning. I truly believe early childhood is where children can be themselves while learning through creativity and active play each day.