About the Founder & Your Spokane Instructor
The founder of Alligator Steps has a BS from the University of Florida in Exercise and Sport Sciences with a specialization in Fitness and Wellness. She holds a Certified Child Development Associate Degree with Directors Credentials, obtained from St. Petersburg University and is currently obtaining her Masters Degree in Elementary Education. She is also a certified Baby Sign Language Specialist through Kindersigns and Baby Signs. She was the Director of My Gym Children's Fitness Center in Tampa, FL and later was the Director and co-founder of a Mega Edutainment Center in Palm Harbor, FL. She loves working with young children!
The Classroom
Alligator Steps provides an environment where children are free to move, play and explore safely. The room was created with the needs of young children in mind. Soft tumble mats reach from wall to wall to provide the most comfortable setting for you and your child. All equipment and materials utilized throughout the class are age appropriate and designed to stimulate your child's cognitive development. Alligator Steps uses high quality educational materials purchased through Lakeshore.
The Beginning
It all began with a new mom! Living in Okinawa, Japan in 2008, her first child was only 5 months old when she discovered that there were very limited structured Parent & Me programs for babies and toddlers. So, she decided to utilize her knowledge and experience and opened Okinawa's first and only edutainment program for children 5 and under. She has since moved to Spokane, WA where she plans to open another Alligator Steps this May.
About Your Okinawan Owner/Instructor
The owner and instructor of Alligator Steps in Okinawa graduated from Okinawa International University. Her major is English Education and her sub-major is Japanese Teaching to Foreigners. She has her Teachers Licenses for pre-school through high school as well as a Japanese Teachers License for Foreigners. In addition, she has many years of experience with children from around the world to include her home country of Japan, Canada and China. She previously interned at a Montessori school in Toronto, Canada and has taught Japanese at the University of Macau in China. She loves working with children and owning/operating an Alligator Steps is her dream come true!
