Early Foundations Academy
Meet Our Team
Executive Director
Kerri Thomas
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Director
Rebecca Leonard
Becky Leonard serves as the Director of Early Foundations Academy, bringing over 25 years of dedicated experience to our early learning community. With a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Indiana University of Pa, Becky is passionate about creating nurturing environments that foster social, emotional, and cognitive growth.
Throughout her career, Becky Leonard has specialized in early learning, ensuring every child receives a well-rounded foundation for lifelong learning. Ms. Leonard believes in building strong partnerships with families and mentoring a team of educators who share a vision for excellence. She is committed to fostering a supportive culture for both staff and students, ensuring every child has the best start in life.
Outside of the center, Becky is the proud wife and mother to Doug and their 6 beautiful children. With strong faith, she enjoys camping, gardening, and spending time with family.
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Director of Preschool Education/KEP
Lauren Savinda
Lauren Savinda is the Director of Preschool Education and teacher for the 5 year old Preschool, and KEP program at Early Foundations Academy, bringing over 10 years of experience working with children to her role. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Inclusive Education, and is deeply passionate about supporting each child’s individual growth and development.
Lauren loves getting to know her students and their families, and believes that strong relationships, patience, and encouragement are the foundation of successful learning. She strives to create a nurturing, engaging classroom environment where children feel safe, confident, and excited to explore new ideas.
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending quality time with her family, watching her children play sports, visiting the beach, and traveling to Disney World.. These experiences inspire her both personally and professionally. Lauren’s goal in the classroom is for her students to develop confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning that continues long after they leave Early Foundations Academy.
Lead Preschool Teacher
Erin Read
Erin Read is the Lead Teacher for the 3s and 4s Preschool classes at Early Foundations Academy. She holds a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Science Degree in English with a concentration in Literature. Erin brings both passion and dedication into her classroom each day, creating a supportive and engaging learning environment for her students. Erin is the proud mom of a 19 year old son serving in the Air Force and a 9 year old daughter who attends EFA. She loves coming to a job that feels so rewarding it doesn’t feel like work, and truly enjoys being part of the Early Foundations family alongside such caring children and staff. In the classroom, Erin focuses on helping children build confidence, emotional awareness, and a love for learning through hands on activities, meditation, and deep breathing exercises. Her goal is to support each child’s social, emotional, and academic growth while creating a calm, nurturing space where students feel safe, valued, and excited to learn. Outside of school, Erin enjoys spending quality time with her daughter and their dog. She feels grateful to be part of each child’s early learning journey and strives to make every day meaningful for her students.
Kindergarten
Anna Frieze
Anna Frieze is the After Kindergarten Teacher at Early Foundations Academy, where she brings enthusiasm, creativity, and a caring heart to her classroom each day. Since joining EFA in the summer of 2022, Anna has enjoyed building strong connections with her students and creating a positive, welcoming space where children feel supported and excited to learn.
Originally from the local area, Anna continues to live in the community and is proud to work with the children and families she grew up around. Anna enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially her teenage sister and her 8 year old brother, who she is very close with. Outside of the classroom, she spends her time playing video games and spending time with her best friend, Miss Kendyl, and her cat, Finchel.
Anna is passionate about creating a fun and supportive environment where children feel encouraged to learn, grow, and be themselves.
Admin/School Age
Kendyl Baughman
Kendyl Baughman serves as the Administrative Assistant and School Age Teacher at Early Foundations, where she has brought creativity, dedication, and care to both her classroom and administrative roles since the fall of 2022. Currently enrolled at WCCC, Kendyl continues to grow her knowledge and skills while supporting children and families each day. Local to the Penn Trafford area, Kendyl enjoys being part of the community she serves. Outside of work, she spends most of her time with her partner, her cat; Pickle Marie, and her best friend Miss Anna. Kendyl loves video games and is especially passionate about art and animals. She is committed to creating an independent, organized environment where children feel confident in themselves, and are encouraged to learn.
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Childcare
Amy Rugh
Amy Rugh brings over 25 years of experience in Elementary and Special Education to her role. She currently serves as the Before Care Teacher at Early Foundations and works as a Special Education Teacher and Behavior Specialist for a Cyber Charter School in the afternoons. Amy earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education from Edinboro University, then went on to complete her Master’s Degree in Special Education at Seton Hill University. Her greatest accomplishment is her family. She lives in the Penn-Trafford School District with her husband, Ken, their two boys, Kenny and Ryland, and their dog, Luke Skywalker. Amy loves every minute of working with children and watching them grow into the young people they are meant to become. She feels honored to be a part of each child’s journey.
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Childcare
Shalini Paliwal
Shalini Paliwal is a Childcare Teacher at Early Foundations Academy, where she brings warmth, creativity, and a genuine love for teaching into the classroom each day. She completed both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in English Literature, and enjoys using her educational background to support language development, storytelling, and a love of learning in young children.
Shalini truly loves working with children and feels grateful to be part of their early learning journey. Outside of work, Shalini enjoys listening to music, reading books, taking long walks, shopping, traveling, and trying new foods. In her free time, she loves spending quality moments with friends and family, making memories, and exploring new experiences.
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Assistant Preschool Teacher
Alyssa Faulconbridge
Alyssa Faulconbridge is the Assistant Teacher in the 3s preschool class at Early Foundations Academy who enjoys working with children and supporting their daily growth and development. She is a graduate of Hempfield Area High School and brings a positive, kind approach to her role. Alyssa enjoys reading mystery novels, organizing events, coloring, and crafting. Outside of work, she spends her free time with her husband and their dog. Alyssa strives to help create a welcoming classroom environment where children feel comfortable, supported, and encouraged to learn.
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Assistant Preschool Teacher
Karee Botti
Karee Botti is the 4’s Preschool Assistant Teacher at Early Foundations Academy, bringing over 10 years of experience in childcare and preschool settings to her role. A graduate of Penn Trafford High School, Karee brings energy, patience, and a hands-on approach to her classroom, creating meaningful learning experiences for children each day. Karee loves helping children learn and discover something new every day and truly enjoys getting down on their level to play, explore, and connect. She believes that learning happens best through hands-on experiences and strives to create a fun, supportive environment where children feel confident, curious, and excited to grow.
Outside of work, Karee enjoys spending time outdoors camping and boating, making memories with her two nephews, and taking her Goldendoodles to the dog park. Karee feels grateful to be part of each child’s early learning journey and is passionate about making every day positive, engaging, and full of smiles.
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Bus Driver
Kelly Oates
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Kelly Oates is the Bus Driver at Early Foundations Academy, bringing over 22 years of bus driving experience to her role. With a strong commitment to safety and care, Kelly helps ensure children arrive each day ready to learn and head home safely with smiling faces. Kelly is a proud mom of four and is also a local Girl Scout leader, where she enjoys mentoring and supporting children in her community. She truly appreciates the flexibility Early Foundations Academy has brought to her life and treasures the extra time she gets to spend with her family. Outside of work, Kelly enjoys making memories with her children and staying active in the community. She loves being part of the Early Foundations family and takes pride in playing an important role in each child’s daily routine. Kelly feels grateful to help create positive beginnings and safe journeys for every student she transports.
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Custodian
Barb Clark
Barb Clark is the Custodian at Early Foundations Academy, bringing many years of experience in school maintenance to her role. Barb takes pride in helping keep the building clean, safe, and welcoming for students, staff, and families each day. Having worked in schools for many years, Barb knows many of the children and enjoys seeing familiar faces as well as building new connections. She loves being part of the Early Foundations community and appreciates getting to watch the children grow throughout the school year.
Outside of work, Barb enjoys spending quality time with her family and making special memories together. Barb is grateful to play an important behind-the-scenes role in supporting the learning environment and helping create a comfortable space where children can thrive.
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