Our Story

Amy Klebanow Marks Enriching Kidz Founder

Amy Klebanow Marks BSN,RN

Amy is the founder of Enriching Kidz, which she started in 1993.  She started her career as an RN working in cardiac care. The best part of her job was teaching patients and families the skills needed to live a healthier lifestyle in her role as a Cardiac Rehab nurse.  While a nurse, she started teaching CPR and First Aid classes to area nursing students, factory workers, dental offices, and more which led to her love of teaching.  

The class Better Baby Sitters was born when a co-worker asked her to create a babysitting class for her Girl Scout troop. She did so with the help of others, and the scouts loved the class! Amy was excited to be able to incorporate her CPR and First Aid knowledge in the class along with her knowledge of childhood growth and development, empowerment and marketing skills.  Amy took this class to other area schools and scout troops and then started creating other classes such as Kidz Home Alone, Empowering Girls with Confidence, a Manners class, a class teaching problem-solving and decision-making, and so many others.  She has added other classes to her offerings, such as Pottery Wheel 101, Stitch and Sew Kidz, Discovery Pride Kidz, Discovery Pride Parents, and Stress-Less Kidz. 

In 2016, Amy wanted to help kids learn these skills from all over the country, so she started offering some of her classes online using Zoom. She LOVES creating and teaching classes that teaches kids life skills that will last a lifetime!

She is married to her very supportive husband Robert, and the mom to three wonderful sons, Alex, daughter- in-law Lindsay, Jack and Eli.

 

Amy's interests include traveling, the arts, hiking, reading, and hanging out with friends and family.

 

Breanna Ellison graduated from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a minor in Medicine and Society. She and her husband moved back to Ohio after her graduation to be closer to some of their family.   She enjoys working with youth to teach them life skills and is very excited for every class! She has two adorable cats that are most definitely spoiled. And she enjoys crafting, reading, gaming, and spending time with loved ones when she gets the chance!  Teaches: Kidz Home Alone, Better Baby Sitters

Breanna Ellison graduated from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a minor in Medicine and Society. She and her husband moved back to Ohio after her graduation to be closer to some of their family. 

She enjoys working with youth to teach them life skills and is very excited for every class! She has two adorable cats that are most definitely spoiled. And she enjoys crafting, reading, gaming, and spending time with loved ones when she gets the chance!

Teaches: Kidz Home Alone, Better Baby Sitters

 

Darcie Davis Enriching Kidz Teacher

As a pottery wheel teacher and maker of all things clay, Darcie Davis likes to say she's enjoyed having dirty hands for years! Her favorite students are elementary school-aged kiddos who happily show their amazement at the process of making their own bowls! Plates! Cups! Spaceships! Sea monsters! To infinity and beyond!

Teaches: Pottery Wheel 101 classes 

 

Emily Cline Enriching Kidz Teacher

Emily Cline is a ceramic artist, educator, and founder of Daphnia Ceramics, living and creating in Columbus, OH. She is known for her functional ceramic work that combines hand drawn screen printed patterns with clay, using a fusion of techniques that make her trademark style.  She is an enthusiastic arts educator, who has over 10 years of experience teaching art to children and adults alike.  To learn more about her or her work go to  www.daphniaceramics.com and @daphniaceramics on facebook and instagram.

Teaches: Pottery Wheel 101 Classes

Giselle Siegel

Giselle Siegel is a Theater Artist & Educator who is fiercely passionate about confidence and creative expression. Raised in Toronto, Canada and Portland, Oregon, Giselle spent many years performing in children's theater and teaching drama to kids in New York City before moving to Columbus, Ohio with her family. She has an abundance of experience working with kids, teaching Drama in classrooms, directing after-school creative programs, and running summer camps. Inspired by her Nana, a talented seamstress, Giselle loves sewing her own clothes and working on costumes for local theaters. She also loves exploring nature, reading a good book and dancing with her family. 

Teaches: Stitch and Sew Kidz & Acting for Kidz

Hadley Lewis Enriching Kidz Teacher

Hadley Lewis has had many years of babysitting experience!  She will be attending the University of Cincinnati next year in Neuroscience Psychology. She loves teaching the Kidz Home Alone and Better Baby Sitters classes and kids really relate to her youth and experience!

Teaches: Kidz Home Alone, Better Baby Sitters

KAthy Manzer Enriching Kidz Teacher

Kathy Manzer has taught for over 20 years. She went to Mt. Vernon of the Nazarene University to receive her BA in Education and received her Master's Degree in EducationMiami University as a graduate assistant to receive an MA.

It is a privilege to teach children new concepts and skills. She enjoys teaching, painting, reading, and being with her grandchildren. She has lived in several states, such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Indiana, which has been a blessing to teach in a variety of communities and schools.

Teaches: Better Baby Sitters, and Kidz Home Alone classes 

 

Kelsey Flynn Enriching Kidz Teacher

Kelsey Flynn is a teacher with 12 years of classroom teaching experience and loves working with kiddos, especially in the middle grades (3rd-6th).  She has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Transylvania University and a Master's degree in Reading from Xavier University. She has taught a little bit of everything, with her favorite subject being Social Studies.  In addition, she has been a sewist for almost 20 years!  It all began with a high school art elective and has grown to become a huge creative outlet for her.  She likes to quilt and make gifts for people, and has has started sewing clubs at the schools where she has taught.  She was also a summer nanny for many years   

Kelsey and her husband have two beautiful kiddos who she is lucky enough to be spending time at home with!  When Kelsey isn't busy chasing her kiddos around or making sure the dog doesn't steal their dinner, she loves to be in her sewing room or sitting outside reading.     

Teaches: Stitch and Sew Kidz 

Laura Whitfield Enriching Kidz

Laura Whitfield has been working for Enriching Kidz for nine years.  She began as a teacher and then became the Administrative Assistant. 

And she says, "Like you, I am a parent.  I believe that these experiences help me understand the needs of both sides of Enriching Kidz, the parent–student side and the teacher–operations side."

 

She and her husband retired to Lake Norman, NC, in 2015. With Amy’s trust, a computer, and a telephone, she can continue to do what she loves – work for Enriching Kidz!

Lynelle Czarnecki Enriching Kidz Teacher

Lynelle Czarnecki has been a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist for 30 years. She received her Bachelor's in Recreational Studies with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation from Ohio University. Lynelle has been practicing Recreational Therapy for 30 years, with the majority of her career in the fields of adult and adolescent psychiatry. She has worked at The Drake Center, Deaconess Hospital, the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and the Lindner Center of Hope. In the past, she did contract work for Cincinnati Children's Hospital in the department of adolescent psychiatry. Lynelle also has experience teaching Spinning and TRX fitness classes. She and her husband have three adult children between the two of them. Lynelle enjoys exercising, walking/playing with her three dogs, riding her bike, spending time in Chicago, and growing orchids.

Teaches: Stress-Less Kidz, Kidz Home Alone and Better Baby Sitters Classes

Michelle Scheiman Enriching Kidz Teacher

Michelle Scheiman has an Undergraduate and Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. Also is a certified teacher for grades Pre-K - 3.  She was a second grade teacher in the Forest Hills School district for 9 years before she decided to stay home with her children. Since she have been back to work,  she has worked at Cincinnati Children's Hospital as a child life assistant, Madeira Elementary as a reading intervention tutor, and an at home education tutor. She is currently a Preschool Teacher at Immaculate Heart of Mary and teaches after school cooking classes with New Leaf Kitchen.  

She has two teenage children who keep her busy! She enjoys music, art, reading, traveling and nature.  As long as she can remember, teaching children has been her passion. She looks forward to teaching your children and making a difference in their lives.

Teaches: Kidz Home Alone and Better Baby Sitters 

Naomi Davidson Enriching Kidz Teacher

Naomi Davidson received her education at Cleveland State University, granting her a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Anthropology with a minor in Religion. She has worked in the Mason City School District since 2017 and Enriching Kidz since 2018. Since 2020 Naomi has also been working with Arc of Ohio as a home healthcare aid.

Her hobbies and interests include traveling, being a foodie, crafting including crochet, pottery painting, painting, and jewelry making. 

Teaches: Kidz Home Alone and Better Baby Sitters classes

 

Niki Nestor McNeely Enriching Kidz Teacher

Niki Nestor McNeely is a retired 4-H Educator, having worked for The Ohio State University for 35 years in a variety of county, district, and state 4-H youth development positions. She has an undergrad degree from Rutgers University in Home Ec, a Master's Degree from the University of Kentucky in Human Development and Family Relations and earned her Doctorate from Ohio State University in Human Community Resource Development.

She learned to sew in 4-H at age 12 and has been quilting for 20 years. Niki loves to teach young people!  Her teaching interests include a plethora of topics, from rockets to crafts to games to camp counseling skills.  In addition to quilting, Niki enjoys Greek dancing, oldies, country music, and OSU football games.  She draws a great deal of joy from spending time with her two grandsons, Cameron and Cooper.

Teaches: Stitch and Sew Kidz classes and fills in for Better Baby Sitters and Creative Kidz Crafts

 

Art Teacher Ricki Rosen is an accomplished artist who exhibits her work at Art Access Gallery in Bexley. She is retired from the Pickerington Local School District where she taught students K-4. She has a degree in Renaissance Art History and a masters in Art Education. Her classes are designed to enhance whole learning and personal development. She creates open-ended projects that allow the students to develop their ideas as well as art skills She works with students in drawing painting collage and assemblage and more.  Teaches: Art with Ricki

Art Teacher Ricki Rosen is an accomplished artist who exhibits her work at Art Access Gallery in Bexley. She is retired from the Pickerington Local School District where she taught students K-4. She has a degree in Renaissance Art History and a masters in Art Education. Her classes are designed to enhance whole learning and personal development. She creates open-ended projects that allow the students to develop their ideas as well as art skills. She works with students in drawing, painting, collage, assemblage and more.

 

Teaches: Art with Ricki Rosen

Sarah Tuckers Enriching Kidz Teacher

Sarah Tuckers, or "Miss T," teaches the Better Baby Sitters, Kidz Home Alone & Artistic Expressions 4 Creative Kidz programs! She is currently studying psychology, art therapy, and studio arts at Miami University in Oxford. More of her interests in school are early education and development, mental health advocacy, and artistic approaches in social-emotional learning. A few of her hobbies include reading, painting, and spending time with family and friends.

 

Teaches: Better Baby Sitters, Kidz Home Alone, and Artistic Expressions 4 Creative Kidz classes

Wesley Strobel Enriching Kidz Teacher

Wesley Strobel is a college graduate of Otterbein University with degrees in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, English Creative Writing, English Literary Studies, and Religion, along with minors in Race and Ethnic Studies and Leadership Studies. 

Wesley has been working with Enriching Kidz creating content, teaching classes, and engaging with students. Wesley Strobel focuses his energy on helping your tween(s) and family discover, question, and be proud of their most authentic selves.

 

In his personal time, Wesley cuddles with his adorable cats, reads poetry & fiction, and spends much of his time writing.

 

Uma Raghavendran Enrihcing Kidz Teacher

Uma Raghavendran is a master seamstress. She owns a custom design and tailoring business in Mason, Ohio. She was the head of costumes for two local theater groups in Mason. She was also a former sewing instructor for Joann Fabrics and Crafts. She also worked as a pattern maker in the Fashion Industry in California.

Her hobbies include hiking, cooking with her kids, Embroidery, Gardening, and Reading

Teaches: Stitch and Sew Kidz classes