Mission Statement
We strive to provide high quality pre-kindergarten education for all students in an environment that is fun, safe, kind, and filled with learning activities. The education of our students is just as important as our teachers. All teachers are certified teachers, and have years of experience in a classroom. Our teachers strive to create age appropriate experiences to stretch your young learners minds.
Our Teachers
April Clayson
April started Step Ahead Preschool 17 years ago. It gave her the chance to continue teaching, but also be home with her own children. She has a degree in Elementary Education, and has worked 6 years in the public schools before teaching preschool. She spends her free time driving kids around, cooking, exercising, and working in her church. April has been married for 21 years, and has 5 children ranging in ages from 9 to 19. April loves her job teaching, and is grateful that she gets the chance to work with so many wonderful families.
Rachelle Tucker
Rachelle was born and raised right here in Pocatello. She earned her degree in Early Childhood Special Education. She has used her love to teach in many compacities over the years but her favorite job has been raising her four children. When Rachelle is not teaching preschool you can find her at the lake waterskiing, singing in her kitchen or cheering her kids on at a sporting event.
Rachelle is so excited to join the team of amazing teachers at Step Ahead.
Maggie Liljenquist
Maggie Liljenquist was born and raised in Vancouver, WA. After high school she attended BYU-Idaho where she graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree with emphasis in child development and early childhood education. She has 3 children, ages 18, 16, and 11. A few of her favorite things are reading, baking, cross-stitching, cruises and cuddling babies! Maggie has always loved working with young children, and after 15 years as a stay at home mom she began teaching at Step Ahead in 2021. After a short break she is excited to be back at Step Ahead Preschool! Maggie and her children recently returned to Pocatello after spending a year in New Mexico.
Holly Higgins
This is my 2nd year with Step Ahead Preschool. I have been married for 21 years. I have 4 kids, 16, 13, 10, & 7. I have 2 dogs and fish. I worked as a dental assistant for Kemp Dental for 12 years. The last 10 years I have been working with kids. I love to read, do puzzles, biking, camping, and spending time with my family! My family keeps me busy with soccer games and swim meets. I was born and raised in Utah. Holly works as our 3 year old aide, and we are so lucky to have her.
Julie Bollinger
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Julie was born and raised in Chubbuck,ID. Julie has always enjoyed working with kids and watching them learn and grow. She realized just how rewarding teaching can be while volunteering at her daughter's school. She enjoys baking, cooking and being a soccer mom. Julie is looking forward to being a part of the amazing growth from the kids over the course of the upcoming year. Julie is one of our amazing aides who helps in many classes.
What Each Class will Learn
3 Year Old Class
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Shapes
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Name Recognition
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Introduce Letters
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Numbers and counting to 10
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One to one correspondence
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Social Skills: Communication, Kindness, and Sharing
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Rules and Routines
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Fine Motor
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Scissor Skills
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Sorting
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Patterns
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Colors
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Self Care: Cleaning up after snack and toys, putting coat on, getting papers in back pack, etc.
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Manners: Please and Thank You
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Poems and Nursery Rhymes
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Seasons and Holidays
4 Year Old Class
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Upper and Lower Case Letters
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Number Recognition 1-20
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Counting to 20 and above
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Name formation
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Tens Frames
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Rhyming
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Word Families
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Sight Words
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Colors
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Shapes
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Fine Motor Skills
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Syllables
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Rules and Routines
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Communication
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Sorting
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Teamwork
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Patterns
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Scissor Skills
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Manners
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Seasons and Holidays
Our Classroom Schedule
When you drop your child off, we will have some activities on the tables for them to sit down and do. Each day our activity will vary. We want the kids to be able to come in and socialize for a few minutes and prepare for their day.
Calendar/Circle Time
During this time we focus on learning to sit still and actively listen, learn, and participate. During calendar time we sing songs, go over letters, numbers, colors, shapes, counting, tens frames, weather, days, months, and for the older kids sight words and word families. This is a whole group instruction time, and we try to incorporate movement into all of our activities.
Centers
This is the time we break the students up into groups, and focus on different learning activities. Students will be able to get direct one on one instruction during this time, and also learn to take turns. This takes up a good portion of our day, but this time is where we have so much fun.
Snack
Snack is an important social activity. Students learn to say please and thank you. They learn to wait patiently and also they enjoy the social aspect. We encourage the children to talk to their friends, and engage in conversation. We also encourage cleaning up after themselves and working on being more independent.
Free Time
We will always have free time each class period. This is an important time to allow the kids time to do dramatic play, or spend time with their friends.
Story Time
We will always read a story each class period. Our books will always go with our theme that we are working on that week.
Craft Time
During craft time we will do a fun activity that will go with our theme for the week. This might include cutting, tearing, coloring, or painting.
Music and Movement
We use this time to sing fun songs, get out our wiggles, and learn along the way. This is a fun time, and we hope your child comes home singing silly
songs to you.
Sensory Room
Our sensory room will be used every day. There is a sand/water table which will be changed often, an open ended craft area, play-dough, and many other activities that help children develop fine motor skills, and good social skills.