Meet the Staff

Administration/Leadership:

Mandy Burt - Business Owner

Mandy has her NYS B-2 teaching certification, a BS in interdisciplinary studies: human development/education, is pursuing an MBA in Human Resource Management, and started The Treehouse out of a desire to support and encourage parents during their child rearing journey. She is an army veteran and the mother of six young children.

Gabbie Baker - Executive Director

Gabbie is a mother of two energetic boys. She has her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education and is pursuing a NYS teaching credential. Gabbie has worked in childcare for 13 years and started at the Treehouse in August of 2017.

Candy Shaw – HR Manager

Candy Shaw has been a part of the Treehouse family since May of 2015, when the full time center first opened its doors. She ran her own in-home daycare for 8 years prior to her employment with us, and she received her Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential in June of 2016. She puts so much love and positivity into everything she does! For seven years she lead in the infant room, and she is now in charge of training, onboarding, and ensuring our staff are successful at their jobs. Candy has been happily married for over 30 years and is a mother of 3 children, and has 2 grandchildren.

Autumn Weaver - New Life Location Director

Autumn has been with us since 2018, and has grown from an assistant teacher, to a lead teacher, to now part of our administration team ensuring quality within our classrooms. Autumn is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She has been married for 2 years and has a young son who attends our infant class!

Hannah LaFlamme - New Life Location Office Admin

Hannah has been with us since the beginning of the school year of 2023. She has a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Masters Degree in Special Education. Hannah returned to Upstate New York last year and enjoys spending time again with her family. Hannah looks forward to a healthy future.

Jesenia Johnson - Ohio Street Location Office Admin

Seeds Infants:

Jenna Hughes - Lead Teacher

Jenna has been at The Treehouse since April of 2022. She is the Seeds Infant Lead Teacher and she absolutely loves her job. She has an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.

Rylee Dombach - Assistant Teacher

Arlyz Armador Jimenez - Assistant Teacher

Roots Infants:

Aleah LaFlamme - Lead Teacher

Aleah has worked in childcare for 6 years. She is the mother of one little girl. Aleah has attended college and has completed early childhood courses. She strives to continue her education in early childhood development and build her family over the next few years.

Emily Stepkovitch - Assistant Teacher

April Harding – Assistant Teacher

April grew up in Southern California, but have lived all over including overseas being a military spouse for almost 16 years now. She is a mother to 3 girls; two teens and a 7 year old. She has worked on and off in childcare in between being a stay at home mom. She plans to work towards getting her CDA before her husband retires from the Army in a few years.

Seeds Toddlers:

Elizabeth Dingman - Lead Teacher

Elizabeth has been with The Treehouse since February 2022. She absolutely loves it here and she hopes to be here for as long possible.

Havyn LaCerte - Assistant Teacher

Hannah Lawrence - Assistant Teacher

Hannah has been with The Treehouse since June of 2022. She is currently the Assistant Teacher in the 4pk classroom. She was a former Pop Warner Tiny Mites coach and she loves being a part of young lives, especially giving them new educational things to carry with them in life!

Roots Toddlers:

Kacie Burdin - Lead Teacher

Kacie has been with The Treehouse since January of 2022. She is currently the Assistant Toddler Teacher in the Thrive room. She is from Cazenovia and moved to Watertown last October. She is also a licensed cosmetologist of 5 years. She loves to golf and hunt as well as kayaking. She has always had a passion for kids!

Brianna Sibley - Assistant Teacher

Kai’leigh Reeve - Assistant Teacher

Thrive:

Liz Wilby - Lead Teacher

Dove Owens - Assistant Teacher

Anya Murphy - Assistant Teacher

Sprouts:

Lisa Goutremout - Lead Teacher

Nikki Williams - Assistant Teacher

Dawn Rennhack - Assistant Teacher

Dawn has been working with children for 24 years. She has 5 children of her own and has lived all over the country. Dawn has worked at the Treehouse since July 2019.

Flourish:

Mackenzy Parker - Acting Lead

Tessa Mae Teodoro - Assistant Teacher

Katie Mellnitz-Assistant Teacher

Ohio Street Location: Continuity of Care

Terrah Widrick- Lead Teacher

Misty Hess - Assistant Teacher

Morgan Medaris - Assistant Teacher

Ohio Street Location 4PK

Brittany VanDewalker - Lead Teacher

Kirsten Streeter - Assistant Teacher

Ava Moser - Assistant Teacher

Food Service:

Emily Tatosian- Food Program Manager

Bethany Main

Beth has worked in the early childhood education field for 16 years. She has been married for 32 years and has 3 wonderful children and is a local of northern New York. Beth has been working at the Treehouse since September of 2019, and has been helping Darby prepare delicious meals in the kitchen!