Director
Support Staff
Garden
Lake
Forest
Oak Valley Director Karin Nowak joined Gretchen’s House in 2007. Karin graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and received her M.S. in Early Childhood Studies/Education, Administration, Management and Leadership from Walden University. She is also a certified HighScope Trainer. She recently has become involved in advocacy for the field of early childhood. Karin has worked in both public and private schools and owned her own center for 12 years. She has four children and seven grandchildren. Karin enjoys spending time with her family, reading and attending sports events. | ![]() |
Office Manager (M,W,F) Heike Hampel has been with Gretchen’s House since 1997. She started as an afternoon teacher at Gretchen’s House-WISD before she came to Oak Valley. Heike is originally from Germany where she received her bachelor’s degree in Early Education. She also attended Washtenaw Community College for her Administrative Assistant Technology Certificate. Heike has two children and enjoys watching their soccer and hockey games, and other events. In her spare time she also likes going on walks with her dog and spending time with family and friends. | ![]() |
Office Assistant Elena Moossa-Zahab | ![]() |
Kitchen Manager Josh Nowak | ![]() |
BRT Holly Daniels | ![]() |
BRT Madison Millross | ![]() |
BRT Abby Lange | ![]() |
AM BRT / Afternoon Preschool Teacher Kennedy Lawson |
LAKE
Assistant Director Pam Preston graduated from Ferris State University after studying Early Childhood Education and completing her CDA. Pam is the Program Director for the Forest Pod here at Gretchen’s House as well as the Head teacher for the Morning Preschool program. In the summer months Pam coordinates the Summer Camp (Scamp) Program. Pam enjoys scrap-booking, gardening, running and cheering the Notre Dame Football team in her spare time. | ![]() |
FOREST Preschool | |
Forest PS Lead Teacher Stephanie Lingo graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Elementary Education in May 2010. Stephanie started teaching at Gretchen’s House in August 2010 and is very excited to be a part of our team. In Stephanie’s spare time she enjoys water skiing, rollerblading and spending time with her family and dog. | ![]() |
MEADOW Preschool | |
Lead Teacher Alyssa Hyde graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Michigan State University in 2012. She completed her year-long student teaching internship to earn her Elementary Education Certificate with a focus on Child Development & Language Arts in 2012-2013. She has worked at several different child care centers throughout her years of pre-teaching and one year post-grad. She has worked at Gretchen’s House since August 2014. Outside of work, she loves to read, watch musicals, and spend time with family and friends. She is also a very enthusiastic Spartan football and basketball fan and enjoys cheering for her teams! | ![]() |
Teacher Wenonah Vredeveld for thirteen years Wendy has pursued her passion of supporting families in various roles working with children from infants through school age. She worked as an assistant childcare provider in a home daycare for two years. Then in 2010 she pursued her associates degree in Early Childhood Development at Oakland Community College, graduating in 2012. In 2014, she graduated from Rochester University with a bachelor’s degree in the Early Childhood Studies program. While pursuing her degree she continued working in the early childhood education field. One of her favorite things about working with families is being a part of children’s discoveries and accomplishments and sharing in the joy with them and their families. In her free time, Wendy loves bike riding with her husband, playing card and board games with family, and doing arts and crafts with her nieces and nephews. | ![]() |
Prior to joining Gretchen’s House, Marsha Tam worked full-time with a nonprofit Christian organization where her focus was on mentoring college students and organizing events. Marsha worked as am After School Childcare Teacher as well as a Lead Preschool/PreK Teacher role at other centers. Marsha graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. English, with a concentration in Education and Communications. Currently, she is working to obtain a Preschool CDA credential. In her spare time, Marsha loves to explore and get lost in parks, trails, and forests. She also loves event planning and has found herself taking on small jobs like wedding planning, event coordinating, and working as a registrar/administrator for small and large conferences. | ![]() |
FOREST Infants & Toddlers | |
Lead Teacher Heather Motta has a bachelor’s degree in Family Community Services from Michigan State University. Heather gained 6 years of experience working with infants and toddlers prior to joining the Gretchen’s House team in the summer of 2011. In her spare time she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends. | ![]() |
Kori Hamby Vaunado has worked with children from infancy to preschool. She always wanted to work with children, and to create a positive impact. In May 2020, she graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Early Childhood Development and Learning. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends.” | ![]()
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