Our Administration

Lauren Widmer graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2010. There, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development upon completion of a thorough, hands-on, practicum experience working directly with young children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. After graduating, she has held positions such as a Child Care Teacher and a Quality Specialist where she provided support and helped to improve quality to many child care centers throughout the Peoria area.

Lauren believes in a hands-on, play based approach to learning and development for children of all ages. She carries this belief in her home, as well as here at Zearing. Lauren enjoys assisting the staff by helping them grow through continued learning and implementing new ideas with them. By doing this, everyone gets to relish in seeing the children thrive in their classrooms. Lauren appreciates being part of a program that offers amazing family partnerships and activities for children, in addition to an incredible staff.

In her home life, Lauren is a wife to Ryan, and a mother to her three children, Westyn, Tanner, and Rylee, and their fur baby, Copper. The Widmer Family enjoys all things outdoors, including camping, canoeing, and traveling to Lake of the Ozarks with family.

Nicole Sampson has been employed at ZCEC since August 2000. She began her teaching career in the center’s Infant room and then moved to the Toddler room until moving to her current position as Assistant Director.

She received an Associate in Arts Degree from Illinois Valley Community College in 1999. Nicole’s goals are to meet each child’s individual needs in support of their overall development; as well as to develop a close, loving and caring relationship with each child. She carries this same philosophy into her current position with the focus on the families and hopes to build a stronger relationship with each one.