Meet Our Staff
Ashley Alligator- Toddler teacher
Ashley attended Seward Child Care as a child. She then volunteered and read to the Penguin classroom for 10 years until she graduated from high school. While she was attending college she substitute taught at SCCC and also worked at an on-campus child care center. Her field experience and student teaching were at Lyndale Community School and Minneapolis Public School’s ECFE Program. Ashley earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Early Childhood Education and is licensed to teach birth-grade 3. She has been a teacher in the Teddy Bear room since 2018.
Frieda Frenchfry- Lead Preschool Teacher
My name is Frieda Byrd. I live in New Hope with my husband Tony and our four beautiful children, oh let’s not forget our little fur babies Maximus, King, and Milo. I have a huge passion for spending time with my family, extended family, and friends! I have been working with children since the age of 16. I have attended countless workshops, and training courses, and recently completed training on the High Scope curriculum. I also have experience working with children with special needs as an assistant at Earl Brown Elementary, teaching preschool and teaching toddlers. I love having the opportunity to guide and teach little minds. There is no better feeling than knowing you have helped to brighten a child’s day and seeing their faces and expressions while they experience and learn new things. I have worked in the Polar Bear Room since 2017.
Johanna Jellybean- Preschool Teacher
Johanna holds a Bachelor of Science in Family Social Science and a Bachelor of Art in Child Development from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She joined the SCCC community in 2018. Johanna has a variety of experience working with kids including participating as a big sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters, as a volunteer in the Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul in the Child Life Department, and as a Clinical Program assistant at Fraser working with toddler and preschool aged children who are on the Autism Spectrum. Johanna is an active member with Kids Count on Us, advocating for transforming our childcare and early childhood education system into an equitable and just system. She has completed the Childcare Advocates Ready to Emerge (CARE) Fellowship. Johanna currently serves on the State Advisory Council on Early Education and Care. Some of Johanna’s favorite activities to do in her classroom includes going to the pool, making popsicles, and screen printing shirts! Her favorite topic to teach her students is about how babies and families grow and the many different types of families. When Johanna is not working at SCCC she likes to spend her time coaching dance, going to fairs and festivals, and watching spooky movies.
sUZY sUNFLOWER- Preschool Teacher
Suzy received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She brings over six years of experience teaching diverse groups of learners in a variety of environments, including public school classrooms, camps, and online in virtual settings. Suzy is passionate about fostering social-emotional development as a foundation for building respectful, empathetic communities. She looks forward to growing alongside the SCCC community and contributing to the growth of each child. Outside of teaching, Suzy enjoys spending time with her partner, Wes, and their cat baby, Yuki. From enjoying live music, diving into a book, or creating art, Suzy continually seeks out experiences that expand her perspective.
Emily ENCHILADA - Preschool Teacher
Emily grew up in the Longfellow neighborhood and live there still with my wife, our young son and our black and white cat Breaker. Emly lives close to extended family and love spending time together. They have dinner every Sunday as a big group – 11 in total, as well as celebrate all special occasions and holidays together. They love to cook, sing, spend time outside, travel, and celebrate together.
Emily is passionate about working with children and has been doing so in a formal setting for almost 20 years! Emily has worked with children in a variety of settings including being a nanny, working for the Roseville Area School District, working for Minneapolis Public Schools in the Teen Parent Service program, working for Fairview hospital’s former child care and working for Ebenezer in their intergenerational child care program. Emily has a BAS in Early Childhood Education with experience with all age groups- but her passion is preschool, especially 4-5 year olds! Her favorite thing about working with children is the lightbulb moment that happens when they have been working on something and they finally get it! Their perseverance and pride in themselves is the best! Some of her favorite things to teach about are bugs, insects and butterflies, cooking activities, anything about the autumn season, songs, and how to take care of each other.
“I love making connections with children and families and building relationships that foster positive learning experiences. We all have a role to play in a child’s development and when we work together we make the greatest impact. I am very excited to join the SCCC community and am looking forward to many exciting new adventures.”