Meet our Teachers

Director

Hello and welcome to DiscoveryLand! I am Polly Johnson and I have had the privilege of being the Director of DiscoveryLand Child Development Center since we opened in September 1989. Each new day I feel blessed to get to spend the day with young minds and hearts that are open to learning everything they need to know to be triumphant, creative, and kind! I have always believed that a child’s early years and experiences set the stage for their adult lives. We want those years to be filled with wonder and opportunities! When I am away from DiscoveryLand, my best times are spent with my family! I treasure each moment I spend with my granddaughters! I often find myself planning activities for a group of young people from church. Performing skits and reader’s theatres provide considerable joy to all involved. When I find a moment, I enjoy walking in nature, gardening, reading, crafting and traveling. I love welcoming new families into our closely connected DiscoveryLand community. You are more than welcome to contact me with questions or to request a tour.

Penguin Teacher and Assistant Director

Hi, I am Becky. I absolutely love teaching and have always had a passion for kids with varying needs. Both my undergrad and master’s degrees are in Child Development and I have a post graduate certificate in Early Education Leadership. I have had the opportunity to teach in India, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Haiti and still DiscoveryLand is my favorite school in the whole world. Some of my hobbies include spending time with my nieces, reading, cooking, paddle-boarding, and traveling.

Little Lamb Teacher and Program Coordinator

My name is Teacher Selina. I love working at DiscoveryLand. When I’m not here or playing with my two kids. I love reading or working in my garden! I can’t wait to meet you and your little one!

Otter Teacher

Working at DiscoveryLand, I feel very blessed. I really enjoy and love working with children and their families. I have a good relationship with my coworkers too. When I’m not at work, I like to go out with my family to the beach or the river, and when I’m out alone, I like to ride my bike.

Otter Assistant Teacher

My name is Julie. I love to read, work with children, and learn about outer space. Outside of work, I like to play both video and board games with friends.

Chipmunk and Busy Bee Teacher

I’m originally from Colombia and came to the U.S. ten years ago with my husband to serve in ministry. I’m a Graphic Designer by trade and a Preschool Teacher at heart. I love helping young children grow and learn. I’m also a proud mom to Timothy (7) and Matthew (4), and motherhood has deeply shaped me with lessons in patience and love. In my free time, I like Bible journaling, scrapbooking, and painting (just like the flower mural in the hallway!). I believe every child is a gift from God and feel blessed to support them in their early learning journey.

Classroom Assistant and Technical Expert

I work with technology and in the classroom at DiscoveryLand. I am passionate about early childhood education and currently applying to medical school. I value clear communication and making a difference. In my free time, I enjoy golfing, hiking, and backpacking.

Classroom Assistant/Janitor

Richard Johnson has been with DiscoveryLand full time since he retired from an Automotive career in 2009. There is very little he doesn’t do for us. He gives our breaks, does our laundry, buys our groceries, and keeps DiscoveryLand scrubbed, mopped, and vacuumed. We appreciate him so very much! He also keeps us informed on a daily basis with little bits of trivia! We miss learning something new any day he is not here! Away from DiscoveryLand, Rich is a bit of a car fanatic. If it has to do with cars, he is interested. He thoroughly enjoys going to an old car show, but his favorite car event is drag racing! He also adores his grandchildren and loves taking trips to Hawaii with them! If you find him during a spare moment, you will find him reading a newspaper!

Volunteer

I retired in 2019 after a 42-year career as a registered nurse. I am the mother of four children and the grandmother of five. Two of my grandchildren are graduates of DiscoveryLand. The youngest grandchild is a current student. I enjoy my time as a volunteer. I love seeing the children grow and learn. Their smiles make my day!