Our Teachers

Greetings! My name is DeWayne Kittrell. I’ve been a part of the Funshine family for over 20 years, 18 of which I’ve been the Pre-Kindergarten teacher. I received my degree in Early Childhood Education through Ivy Tech and continue to expand my knowledge of Early Childhood Education by attending trainings throughout the year. I enjoy collaborating with other professionals in my field to ensure the best experiences and education possible for my students. My goal for each student that comes through my classroom is to make a positive difference in each of their lives. The Pre-Kindergarten program focuses not only on academics, but on teaching the children independence, curiosity, confidence and helping the children develop a lifelong love of learning.

Hello, my name is Ms. Wendy Rinehart! I moved to Carmel from South Bend 5 years ago and have taught preschool for the past 15 years. I have my Associates in Early Childhood Education and enjoy working with children of all ages. I have three children, two boys ages 30 and 27, and my daughter is 24. All are Butler grads, Go Dawgs! My goal for my students is develop a strong love of learning and to help them grow into kind and joyful individuals. I especially love to play games with the kids, perform science experiments and talk with them about their interests.

My name is Marina Babaian. I have had the joy and pleasure of teaching at Funshine since 2012. My goal has been and always will be to teach, nurture, and motivate my students to reach their full potential. I’m inspired to empower them to find their voices and talents through enriching and engaging activities. My hope, with your collaboration, is to instill empathy and compassion in my students to develop their personal character. A little about me, I was born and raised in the Middle East and come from an Armenian descent. I am a passionate and inquisitive learner and am multilingual. I enjoy spending quality time with my family, cooking, learning about health and wellness, and taking nature walks. I look forward to our continued partnership and being an integral role in your child’s life.

Greetings! My name is Ms. Claudia. I have been a teacher at Funshine since 2015, and have been in preschool teaching for over 20 years. I moved to Indianapolis from a small coastal town in California where I was born and raised. I do not have children of my own, but I love children of all ages and enjoy teaching two year olds!

Hello! My name is Ms. Amal. I am from Algeria, and I graduated from a technical institute with a degree in Education, specializing in French. I have taught with that degree for more than 20 years. I have been working in Montessori schools and Early Childhood Education programs for eight years. My teaching philosophy is about learning through play, and I always display love and warmth towards the children. I am excited to be a part of Funshine!

A little bit about myself, I am originally from the Dominic Republic and I moved to the U.S. in 2005. I am a mother of three wonderful children, 2 boys and 1 girl. I started my path in child care in 2014, the same year I moved to Indiana from Orlando. My first job in childcare was as a teacher’s assistant. I can say that working with kids is an amazing job! I have learned how to care, love, and teach children throughout my experience thus far. Teaching has taught me so much and it has helped me in my personal life as far as parenting my children at home and how to be a better person. I have always said “Children should always come first.”

My name is Ms. Rosana, I am from Peru and I have over six years of experience here at Funshine working with children and I love caring for them! I have a college degree in Business Administration. My goal working with your child is to make them feel like this is their second home. I have three children of my own ranging from college aged to middle school, and I have two granddaughters and they mean the whole world to me. I enjoy weekends with my whole family taking trips or just having a good dinner at home. Family means everything to me. My hobbies are cooking and arts and crafts.

Hello, my name is Ashaki Stoner! I am enthusiastic and responsible, and taking care of children has been my passion. I have a big heart for children! I love watching them grow, explore, and learn new things. The reason I love to teach is because I can make a difference in each child’s life. I love to be able to establish a positive relationship with each child. My favorite thing to do is arts and crafts, inside and outside of school. I am excited to be a part of the Funshine Family!

Hello there! My name is Ms. Linda! I am from New York. I have been working with children for the past 5 years, and have always had a passion for kids. I love working with children because I enjoy watching them grow. Knowing that my job is to help kids achieve their full potential, to help them feel happier and better brings a huge smile to my face. Just seeing the spark on a child’s face is the most rewarding feeling. Being a part of Funshine Children’s Center is extremely rewarding for me because that passion is fulfilled every day. I am very grateful to get to know every student and be a part of the Funshine Family!

Hello! My name is Abby. I am from the Phillippines and moved to Indiana in 2008. I graduated from Noblesville High School in June and now I am studying Criminology at Ivy Tech. I’ve been in childcare for the past two years and plan on working in this field for many more years. I am excited to be a part of the Funshine family! If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

I began working with children at the age of 16 teaching preschool gymnastics. I enjoy working with children because there is never a boring moment. Their honesty and curiosity towards everything inspires me every day. As a wife, mother of three, and grandmother, “MiMi”, I look forward to big family dinners and outing with friends and family. I am excited to be a part of the Funshine family!