PRESIDENT

Kelly is the current President. It is her responsibility to oversee all Board matters and the day-to-day operations of Parents' Place.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Kelly moved to Morgantown to attend WVU in 2003 and has called it "home" ever since. In the late 2000s, she spent a few years teaching PK3 at Parents' Place. Now an adoptive mom of 3, Kelly is an avid reader in her spare time and also enjoys stained glass as a hobby.

"Parents' Place ended up being the community of support I didn't realize I so desperately needed! Fostering through the pandemic and parenting children with traumatic histories left me feeling very isolated. Parents' Place has allowed for meaningful connections for both my daughter and I that I will always be grateful for!"

parentsplace.morgantown@gmail.com

TREASURER

Lindsay is our treasurer. She oversees the financials of our organization, making sure we are operating within our budget, submitting deposits and ensuring expenses and taxes are being paid. She works closely with all members of the board to ensure we are transparent and traceable as a nonprofit organization.

Lindsay lives in Morgantown where she works as a labor and delivery nurse. She is kept occupied outside of her parents place duties by her husband, two children, and menagerie of pets.

“We joined Parents Place in Fall 2023 in for a social outlet for my son (and myself). I came in with my 2 week old and immediately felt welcomed. My toddler has blossomed and has overcome his separation anxiety. We both now come to school excited to see our friends!”

parentsplacetreasurer@gmail.com

ENROLLMENT CHAIR

Emily is the Enrollment Chair. It is her job to collect applications, create class lists, and communicate with families regarding their placement and tuition.

Emily is originally from Vienna, VA and came to Morgantown in 2016 with her husband, Jason. She has two boys, William and Jonathan. Outside of Parents' Place, Emily enjoys running, reading, and cooking.

I love coming to Parents' Place with my children. With two pandemic babies, I felt very isolated as a new mother. As soon as we started attending Parents' Place when my oldest was 2 and my youngest was an infant with me, I felt I had found the community that I had been missing. My children and I have all found friendships we treasure and have all had opportunities for growth - them in the classroom and me through serving on the Board.

enrollment.parentsplace@gmail.com

FUNDRAISING CO-CHAIR

Kelsey is the Fundraising Co-Chair. It is her responsibility with Marie to find fundraising opportunities for the school and families to help support school operations, group necessities, and budget’s for children’s and parents’ programming.

Originally from Parsons, WV, Kelsey now calls Morgantown her home for the last 8 years. Kelsey has two boys who currently attend Parents’ Place. When she’s not at Parents’ Place or her job, shes with family and friends trying to enjoy life and make every moment count.

“I originally joined Parents’ Place over two years ago as a way to help socialize my oldest and help him to gain language skills. We have always felt a sense of community, support, and connection to other families. We love attending the many play dates, and after school activities that Parents’ Place has to offer. My boys are gaining skills, socializing, and excited to attend each week and I have connected with other parents. Ultimately this place has become like a second home”

morgantownppfundraising@gmail.com

FUNDRAISING CO-CHAIR

Marie is the Fundraising Co-chair. It is her responsibility with Kelsey to find fundraising opportunities for the school and families to help support school operations, group necessities, and budgets for children's and parents' programming.

Originally from Wheeling, WV, Marie now calls Morgantown home since her college days and relocating back to the area six years ago. She spends time outside of work and Parents' Place with her daughter, two dogs, and spouse.

"I have felt a supportive community since the first day of Parents' Place. My daughter and I look forward to our time with Parents' Place from regular hours during the week to the numerous special events and activities planned. She is making friends, learning valuable socialization skills, and developing in a great environment. Being a part of Parents' Place has made our family feel connected to others and each other as a family."

morgantownppfundraising@gmail.com

TEACHER CHAIR

Christina is a teacher liaison (TL). As a TL, it’s her responsibility to communicate with and assist teachers as necessary. Sometimes this means providing them with an extra set of hands during a particularly fun or messy craft, or some extra comfort and reassurance for attending children when coping with separation anxiety. She will substitute on occasion if a teacher needs to absent from the classroom.

Christina was born and raised in New York. She met her husband while attending WVU. She is a stay-at-home mother of four children, three of whom have been a part of the Parents’ Place community. Currently, her youngest attends in the preK 2 room.

"I love being a part of Parents’ Place. The flexibility of the program has allowed my children and I to attain the perfect amount of time apart for independent socialization and personal growth. My son is so excited to spend time learning and playing with his teacher and classmates each morning we attend. I, as well, am so grateful to be surrounded by so many wonderful, supportive families during my time in the parent room."

PUBLIC RELATIONS CHAIR

Jessica is the PR Chair. It is her responsibility to maintain and update the website, to create brochures and other informational materials, to put together a monthly calendar and newsletter for current members, and to maintain an online presence through social media. She also creates graphics as needed and handles anything else PR-related for the organization.

Jessica has always lived in the greater Morgantown area. She works full-time and can work while attending Parents’ Place. She is married and has two kids. Outside of Parents’ Place and work, she enjoys attending WVU sporting events, reading, and traveling.

“Parents’ Place is truly a unique preschool opportunity. The non-drop off method has been great for my son who was born shortly after the pandemic began. The friends and connections we have made have been wonderful for the both of us. Parents’ Place is more than just a school, it is a supportive and beneficial community for children and caregivers.”

PARENT PROGRAMMING CHAIR

Bayleigh is the Parent Programming Chair. Her job is to organize activities, speakers, potlucks, and all things fun and informative for our parents. She also coordinates with childrens’ programming to host play dates and works with organizations in our community to give back where we can.

A native of Elkins, WV, Bayleigh spent 13 years in Morgantown where she graduated from WVU, met her husband, and started her family. She now resides in Latrobe, PA, but her family will continue to attend Parents’ Place. She is currently a stay-at-home mom, but taught kindergarten for 6 years prior to having her son. Beyond her Parents’ Place and mom duties, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

“As a first time and stay-at-home mom, I was looking for a place to socialize my young son and myself. We found the perfect fit at Parents’ Place. We felt at home from the first day. The teachers have been so comforting and patient when teaching and interacting with my son, and he genuinely loves school days. His social skills, speech, and overall learning has grown in the year and a half since we started here. We have both made lasting friendships and connections in this community.”

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING CHAIR

Anita is the Children’s Programming Chair. Her job is to plan and organize activities for the children that we serve. Many of these activities come in the form of themed playdates. She often works with members of the Morgantown community to facilitate events.

Anita, her husband Dean, and two sons, Harrison and George, live in Morgantown. You can normally find them park-hopping around town, starting* projects at the WOW Factory, or playing in the creek.

“Being in the parent room gives such a realistic balance to what I see online. I’ve found solidarity and support. It’s really helped me embrace and celebrate this chaotic season of life.”

SILENT AUCTION CHAIR

Erika serves as the Silent Auction Chair. It is her job to oversee the organization of the silent auction along with the fundraising co-chairs. She helps to solicit organizations, gather donations, and effectively form presentable and desirable packages to place for auction. She also helps members with ideas on how they can contribute.

Born and raised in Thomas, WV, Erika moved to Morgantown to attend WVU to pursue degrees in elementary education, gifted education, and preschool special needs education. This is where she stayed and accumulated over 25 years of teaching experience and spent 10 years serving as a board member in different associations. She loves spending time with her three children, husband, friends, and family.

“Parents’ Place has been an incredible place for my son and me to socialize, learn, and have fun! Being part of this program has been a gift from day one and I love that I have the opportunity to give back to it by volunteering in this position.”

HOSPITALITY CHAIR

Whitney serves as Hospitality Chair and is a dedicated stay-at-home mom. As Hospitality Chair, Whitney coordinates Diaper Drives to support families welcoming newborns and Meal Trains for those facing difficulties. Additionally, Whitney ensures that snacks offered are allergen-free and maintains the supply of cleaning and school essentials.

Whitney finds immense joy and fulfillment in nurturing her family as a stay-at-home mom. With a passion for understanding and helping others, Whitney brings knowledge and experience from her previous career as an LICSW therapist. Outside of her responsibilities at home, Whitney's adventurous spirit finds joy through her love for nature, an active lifestyle, traveling and experiencing different cuisines. She also enjoys unleashing her creativity through crafting.