Our Staff

Melissa joined Zearing Child Enrichment Center in August of 2017. Her previous position was held at St. Louis School in Princeton as there Latchkey Director and Preschool Teacher’s Assistant. Melissa is currently working towards her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She has worked with children most of her life. She enjoys working with children because they are like sponges and “soak up” the knowledge that we teach them every day. In her free time she likes to read and spend time with family and friends. She looks forward to getting to know your children and working with them on a daily basis.

Elizabeth joined ZCEC in December 2021.  She is a lifelong Princeton resident who has always had an interest in Education. She has experience with afterschool programs and holds many Red Cross Instructor Certificates. Her favorite being a swim instructor. Building confidence, trust and watching their excitement as they make progress closely correlates with teaching young children which she has found to be the ultimate reward. In her free time, she can be found with her husband Chad and their three sons. Logan, Preston and Jake.

Janelle Barton has been with Zearing Child Enrichment Center since 2001. She attended Sauk Valley Community College and had 21 years of child care experience prior to coming to ZCEC.

Kristyn began working at ZCEC in January of 2022. She plans on continuing her education in Early Childhood Education at IVCC. Kristyn has always had a passion for working with children and loves watching them explore and learn new things. She is looking forward to making a difference in each of their lives. Kristyn enjoys spending her free time with her son, Jonah.

Lauren Eckberg has been with Zearing Child Enrichment Center since May 2013. Prior to her working at ZCEC she worked at Learning Ladder Early Childhood Center and has worked in the childhood field since August of 2008. Lauren has her Bachelors of Science in Psychology and continues with training that help her stay current in the Early Childhood Education.

Kelsey began working at ZCEC in January of 2020. She is currently studying Early Childhood Education at Oakton Community College and is working towards obtaining her CDA. She has previous experience working with children of all ages and has helped in various rooms during her time at Zearing. Kelsey has always had a passion for ECE and feels that her job is very rewarding and it brings much joy to her life. She believes it’s important to encourage creativity and to embrace each child’s own unique self. She lives in Princeton with her fiance, Jerry, and their two children, Rhylan and Greyson.  

Abby graduated from Princeton high school in 2019, and joined ZCEC in July 2020. She plans on furthering her career in the childhood field and loves how its going so far. Abby enjoys working with the kids and coming up with exciting activities to keep the fun of learning going and to keep those smiles on their faces.

Ashley has been a part of the ZCEC team since May of 2019. She has a love for learning and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work in 2019 and a Master’s Degree in Education in 2022. She continues to expand her knowledge in Early Childhood through additional courses and training opportunities. She and her husband stay busy with their only child, Camden, and two dogs, Lilah and Jax. While originally from Southeast Missouri, Ashley and her husband relocated to Illinois in 2016. Ashley values the experience of watching each child grow and learn in her care. She believes children have the opportunity to thrive when we slow down enough to watch, listen, and learn from them.

Teresa joined Zearing Child Enrichment Center mid August of 2022. She has graduated from Illinois Valley Community College with an associate’s degree back in 2019. After Community college she then continued her studies at Illinois State University in Bloomington Normal IL. For the past 3 summers she has worked at Echo Bluff as a lead Camp Counselor, working with children ages 4-12. She has decided to take a year gap while still working with children. However, she will be back to attend next fall of 2023 to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood education. Some of her favorite things include; cooking, hiking, and playing card games etc.

Patty began teaching in early childhood in 1984. She has an Associate Degree in Early Childcare Education. Patty feels fortunate to have a rewarding profession that allows her to see so many smiles each day as children development into their own and make so many strides as they grow along the way. Patty finds much reward in teaching young children knowing as teachers you can make a positive difference in a child’s life.

Victoria joined Zearing Child Enrichment Center in August of 2022. Her previous position was held at Children of America in Yorkville IL. There she was a Pre-Kindergarten Teacher. Victoria is currently still working towards her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has worked with children most of my life. She enjoys working with children because when they learn new things their imagination blooms more and more everyday as they grow and play. She enjoys long strolls through antique stores and spending time with her friends and family. She looks forward to getting to know the children and their families throughout  the school year.