Our Staff

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 My child looks forward to arriving at school and being greeted by Stay and Play's friendly staff and teachers.  The teachers do a fantastic job of creating an atmosphere that is engaging and encourages learning through play and exploration.  We are so grateful for Stay and Play and the care and attention they've given to our family over the years.  - Christina McDonald

Laura Seeley, Director
814-237-1154
[email protected]

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2024/2025 Stay and Play Staff - (Equal Opportunity Employer)

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Fabulous Foxes

Shaina Knoffsinger - Lead Teacher

• Married with 2 children
  •Lives in Bellefonte 
  •Graduated from Clarion University with a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education
  •Previously taught Pre-Kindergarten for 6 years
  •I love spending time with my family, camping, kayaking, and going to the beach.
  •"The day you're willing to veer off the lesson plan, follow a kid's lead, and learn with your students is the day you truly become a teacher."

Morgan Marshall- Assistant Teacher & Adventure Afternoon Transition Teacher (T/TH)

•  Lives and is from State College 
• Graduated from Mercyhurst University with a degree in Early Childhood education and Special Education
•  I love to spend time with family and friends, baking, art, yoga, and coffee!
• I’m so excited to join Stay and Play this year. I've always had a passion for teaching others and can’t wait to play, learn, and make memories with this great group of kids!
• Favorite quote: “ By doing what you love, you inspire and awaken the hearts of others”- Satsuki Shibuya

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Rainbow Raccoons (M-F)

Gretchen Seyler- Lead Teacher (M-F)

• Graduated from Elizabethtown College with a degree in early childhood and special education.
• Received my masters in literacy from Wilkes University, and am a certified reading specialist
• Grew up in Happy Valley
• Married with two children, two cats, and two dogs
• Has taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels as well as experience working with infants and toddlers
• Coached swimming for 13 years
• I love to spend time with my family, read books, run, swim, and all things Disney
• Favorite quote: “Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious… and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” -Walt Disney
  

Tricia Swisher – Assistant Teacher (M/F)

• Married with 3 children, all attended S&P and then Ferguson Township.
• Grew up in Western PA
• Graduated from Penn State with a degree in Economics
• Have Lived in State College for over 15 years and love raising my family here.
• I love to read, bake, sing, be outside and spend time with family.
• "I can't wait to help your child learn and grow this year as we play, read, laugh, draw, dance, and find joy every day."

Heather Lowe - Assistant Teacher (T/W/TH)

• ​Graduated from Lock Haven University with a degree in Elementary Education
• Married with 2 children
• Originally from Eastern PA but has lived in Happy Valley for over 13 years
• Has taught at the elementary and preschool levels as well as working with infants and toddlers
• I love to spend time with family and friends, travel, cook, and read.
• "Always remember you are BRAVER than you believe, STRONGER than you seem, SMARTER than you think, and twice as BEAUTIFUL as you've ever imagined!" ~ Dr. Seuss

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Wonderful Wolves

​Valerie Anderson – Lead Teacher
(Also Lead Teacher for Adventure Afternoons)

• Has 2 adult children of her own
• Lives in Howard on the family farm
• Has a B.Ph. in Dance with a minor in Education
• Been teaching preschool for many years –Taught at Saint Andrews before joining the Stay and Play family
• Also teaches at her own dance studio for both children and adults
• “Children are my passion. I love being able to be part of helping them develop into well-rounded little individuals.”

Chris Hunsberger –
​ Assistant Teacher

• Married with 3 children
• Lives in Boalsburg
• Master's of Social Work: experienced in clinical behavior and mental health for children & their families.
• ​Love to run and spend time outside hiking, camping & skiing.
• "Surrounding myself with children thriving and developing new skills in a classroom setting is such a challenging and rewarding experience."

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​Terrific Turtles 

Zsuzsanna Reimherr – Lead Teacher

• Married with 3 children (1 in final year at S&P)
• Lives in State College
• Background is in mathematics and early childhood education
• Enjoy teaching from infants to college students - there are a lot of similarities!
• ​Enjoys anything & everything Star Wars, snuggling my pets (very young dog and very old cat) and coffee!
• ​Favorite Quote: "For Children play is serious learning.  Play is really the work of childhood." - Fred Rogers

Hayley Cassel - Assistant Teacher & Adventure Afternoon Transition Teacher (M/W/F)

• Married with 2 children, we have been a stay and play family for 4 years and at PFE. 
• Grew up in Eastern Pennsylvania
•  I attended Penn State with a focus on Psychology/ Rehabilitation and Human Development Family Studies. 
•  State College has been home for me and my family for 8 years.
•  I love to read, baking, singing and spend time with family.
• Favorite Quote:  "Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children." - W. Disney
• Adventure Afternoon Transition Teacher M/W/F

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Darling Deer

Chrissy Fritton –Lead teacher (M/W/F)

• Married with one daughter (who attended S&P)
• Lives in State College
• Graduated from Penn State with a degree in recreation park management – therapeutic recreation.
• Avid runner, volleyball player, sports and fitness enthusiast.
• Big animal lover – also a mom of 2 dogs and 2 cats.
• “I love watching the children develop and form special bonds with them!”

Candi Parsons – Teacher - Lead teacher (T/TH)

• Married with 2 children (both attended Stay and Play)
• Lives in Spring Mills
• Graduated from Penn State with a BS in Human Development and Family Studies, Early Childhood option
• I have been a part of the S&P family in one form or another for over 15 years.
• I enjoy being active outdoors, sunshine and camping with my family.
• "Your value does not decrease based on someone else's inability to see your worth."​

Eushema Wilson  - Assistant Teacher  (M-F) & Adventure Afternoon Transition Teacher (M/W/F)

•  From West Haven, CT
• Currently a junior at Penn State studying kinesiology 
•  I love going to the gym, dancing, and spending time with my sisters and friends 
•  I am excited to work at Stay and Play because I have always had a love for working with children and helping them grow in so many ways! Before Penn State, I was a babysitter and a children’s coach at a gym. I’m very thrilled to be here with amazing kids!
•  Favorite Quote: "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." -Mother Teresa

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ADVENTURE AFTERNOONS

Valerie Anderson - Lead Teacher M-F 
​(See above under Wonderful Wolves)​

Chrissy Fritton - Assistant Teacher M-F (See above under Darling Deer)
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Eushema Wilson - M-TH ((Adventure Afternoon Transition Teacher- see above under Darling Deer)

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SUBSTITUTES 

Suzie Webster

Elizabeth Richardson

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Bianca Dellanno

Rachel Stockdale

Sarah Sylvester

Becky Wagner

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Administration

​Laura Seeley – Director

• Married with 3 children all attend S&P
• Lives in Bellefonte
• Graduated from Rider University with a Bachelor Degree in Sociology and a minor in Social Work & History 
• I love spending time with my family, visiting the beach, football GO PSU & NY GIANTS!
• "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." Jane Goodall

Dianna Danko - Assistant Director

• Married with 3 children (2 still attend & 1 did attend S&P)
• Lives in Bellefonte
• Graduated from Lock Haven University with a degree in Communications
• I love spending time with my family, camping, playing softball, broadway shows & the beach!
• As an Advisory Team member for the last 6 years, I am so excited to officially be a part of the Stay and Play family!
• "They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel!" 

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Music

Alanna Leicht – Music Teacher 

• Married with 2 children
• Lives in State College
• Also worked as a teacher for both the 3’s & 4’s classes at Stay and Play before starting to teach music here.
• Elementary Ed. degree and loves teaching music!