Meet Our Staff

Excellence Starts with Our Staff

We put as much care into selecting our staff as we do taking care of your child

Nycole Followell

Director

Nycole has 21 Years’ in the early childhood education field, with experience in every age group. Her specialties are Infants and Toddlers. She holds a The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ with Level II Director Credential. She also holds a Basic and Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification

Fran Neale

Owner

Fran has a Bachelor’s degree from University of London England and postgraduate certificate in education from Cambridge University. She has 36 years’ experience as owner and operator of preschools in Pinellas County. She holds a The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ with Director Credential.

Emily Neale

HR & Food Program Manager

Emily received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Miami. She has 25 + years’ experience in the child care field, including teaching art to ages K-5. She oversees our Childcare Food Program, which includes our commercial kitchen.

Crystal Kiefer

Assistant Director

Crystal Kiefer has been at Write Start since 2009. She has an Associates Degree in Arts. She holds The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ with Level II Director Credential. She is currently the Assistant Director.

Brooke Smith

Lead Teacher - VPK

Brooke Smith has been at Write Start since 2013. She holds a The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™. She is a Staff Member in Charge.

Kathie Gentry

Lead Teacher - Infants

Kathie Gentry has been in the childcare field for 29 years. She holds a National CDA and has a certification as an Infant/Toddler Specialist. Kathie is a lead teacher in our infant classroom.

Erin Hegedus

Lead Teacher - VPK

Erin has been with Write Start since 2017. She holds an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has over 16 years of experience in the Early Childhood Education Field and is an outstanding VPK Teacher.

Lishuang Zhou

Lead Teacher - 2 Year Old's

Lishuang Zhou has been at Write Start since 2000. She holds a The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™.

Ranita Laramee

Lead Teacher - 2 Year Old's

Ranita Laramee has been at Write Start since 2014. She holds a The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™. She works primarily with the twos and threes age groups.

Natalia Manuele

Lead Teacher - 1 Year Old's

Natalia Manuele has been at Write Start since 2015.She has an Associates Degree with Specialization in Early Childhood Education. She works primarily in the one year-old age group.

Elissavet Makris

Lead Teacher - VPK

Elissavet Makris has been at Write Start since 2002. She holds a The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™, and an Associate Degree in Advanced School of Business Management. She is a VPK lead teacher.

Tina Giordano

Lead Teacher - Infants

Tina Giordano has been at Write Start since 2011. She holds a The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ and a Diploma from Teachers Training School. Tina works primarily in the infant room.

Ariel Hollis

Lead Teacher - Older 1 Year Old's

Ms. Ariel is our Older One's Lead Teacher. Ariel has an Associate in Arts degree from St. Petersburg College. She has her DCF credentials and First Aid/CPR certification. Ariel has been with us since 2021 and has had extensive training in the one year old classroom.

Tyler Kaufman

Lead Teacher - 2 Year Old's

Ms. Tyler is one of our 2's Lead Teachers. She has her DCF credentials and First Aid/CPR certification. She is working on a degree from St. Petersburg College. Tyler has been with us since 2020 and has had extensive training in the two year old age group.