STAFF
Melissa Shanaman – Educational Director
Melissa was born and raised in Phoenixville PA, but currently live in Royersford with her husband and daugther. She has her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Education. Melissa has been with Stepping Stone since 2008 when they opened the doors to the new center, and enjoys watching each and every child grow and learn through everyday experiences in the classroom. In her spare time I love to spend time with her family and friends.
610-933-7710 director@steppingstoneeducation.org
Chris Cobb – Operations Coordinator
Chris Cobb was born and raised in California. He moved to Pennsylvania in 1998 and currently lives in Spring City with his wife, April, and their four children. Chris is a volunteer with Coventry Soccer and enjoys spending time refereeing and being outdoors.
610-933-7710 info@steppingstoneeducation.org
Bonnie Lord – Teacher
Bonnie Lord was born and raised in Valley Forge and is a graduate of the Phoenixville Area High School. She and her husband, Josh, have three children, Josh, Stephen, and Emily all who have attended SSEC. She enjoys spending quality time with her family and also her family pets which include a horse, dog, and a cat. Bonnie attends Neumann University and recently received her CDA (Child Development Associate). She enjoys working at SSEC and sharing a lot of fun times with the children.
Ashley Bellevou – Teacher
Ashley was born and raised in Boyertown, PA but currently lives in Royersford with her husband. She graduated in 2011 from Kutztown University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Early Childhood. In her spare time she enjoys time with her family, and fixing up her new home.
Victoria Boles – Teacher
My name is Victoria Boles. Some of you may hear the kids call me ‘Mrs Boles” I’m the assistant teacher in the toddler classroom. I completed Penn State’s Better Kid Care Program and attended child care classes at CCOIC in WEst Chester, PA. Iam currently in the process of obtaining my CDA. Iam married and have a son, who is also a toddler himself! I enjoy working on creative and social projects with my students. In my spare time, I value being with my family and taking care of my son. I enjoy the field of child care, because I appreciate helping children grow and succeed!
Eva Swymelar – Teacher
Eva Marie is a resident of Phoenixville, with her family – husband Jeff and daughters Jenna and Mia Brynn. Eva Marie has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and 80% of her Master’s in Social Work completed both from Temple University. She has a 16 year career serving children and families with disabilities and/or mental illness as a Behavioral Health social worker specializing in children. After the birth of her oldest daughter, Eva shifted her career to Early Childhood Education and has been working in ECE for over 3 years. She is excited for her youngest daughter, Mia Brynn, to become a future graduate of SSEC. Eva Marie and her family enjoy family outings to Philadelphia, visiting their large family (Eva is the oldest of 6 children! ), seeing all of their aunts, uncles and cousins and making pancakes on Sundays while singing and dancing to Tony Bennett classics!
Tara Miller – Teacher
Tara was born and raised in Port Providence PA, but currently lives in Phoenixville PA. She graduated from Phoenixville High School in 2011. She also works at the Phoenixville Hospital as a dietary aide, She has been working there since 2010. Tara loves spending time with her family and her dogs. She is very interested in pursuing an education in early childhood.
Brittney Walters - Teacher
I’m Brittney Walters and I work in the infant and toddler classroom in the afternoon. I graduated from Phoenixville Area High School in 2012. I’m currently attending Montgomery County Community College with a major in Early Childhood and Education. In the summer I am a counselor at a girl scout camp. After Iam finished at montgomery County Community College I plan to transfer to West Chester University to continue as an Early Education major.
Kaitlyn Watson - Teacher
I graduated from Perkiomen Valley High School in 2008. Iam currently studing education in the early years at Montgomery County Community College. Iam a very art oriented person, I love drawing, painting and do some photography on the side. I have a younger brother and have been babysitting since I was 12. I’ve babysat and have nannied the past couple of years.
BOARD
Nancy Batzel – Board Member
Nancy and her husband, Kerry, live in Schuylkill Township. They have a grown daughter and son who attended SSEC many years ago. Currently, they are raising three of their grandchildren. Two of their grandsons have already “graduated” from Stepping Stone, and their granddaughter is already signed up to attend next year. Nancy was on the Board of Directors when SSEC was KAT CLUB. She returned to SSEC 5 years ago when her oldest grandson was old enough to attend.
610-933-0194 batzelkerry@msn.com
Jen Cole – Treasurer
Jen joined the SSEC Board in March 2008. She and her husband Andy have two boys; both of whom attended Stepping Stone. Raised in Houston, Texas she graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Social Sciences and taught pre-kindergarten at St. Paul’s School for several years. She currently works for Petroleum Chemicals, a small oil company based in California. She is committee chair for the pack 73 cub scouts and assistant den leader. In her spare time, she enjoys running, history, archery and kayaking.
484-832-1508 jenkcole@comcast.net
April Klotzbach – Board Member
April was born and raised in Sanatoga, before coming to Phoenixville in 2001 to take a job with National Penn Bank. A mother of two, Brynn and Morgan, both of whom attend SSEC, she still works part time with National Penn Bank, but focuses mostly on her family and community service. April also does what she can with her husband at the family funeral homes. She is a member or involved with the Soroptimist Club of Phoenixville, the Kiwanis Club of Phoenixville, the Phoenixville Regional Chamber of Commerce and the March of Dimes. For the past three years she has chaired the Relay For Life of Phoenixville and Bark For Life events. In her spare time she enjoys being with her family, Zumba, trips to OCMD, and shopping.
610-496-7550 Aklotz12@aol.com
Kathii Murtagh – Board Chair
Kathii has been a member of the SSEC Board since 1993 and is currently Board Chair. She and her husband, Bob, are the proud parents of three Stepping Stone alumnae. Kathii is a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Phoenixville. She has a degree in Social Work from West Chester University and for twenty years has directed and operated her own child care business.
610-935-0560 murtaghs@comcast.net
Lew Osterhoudt - Vice-Chair
Lew is SSEC’s Vice-Chair. He is the Vice President/General Manager of the Keystone Filter Division of Met-Pro Corporation. He is the father of two grown Stepping Stone alumnae. Lew holds an engineering degree from Lehigh University. He has served also an elder, deacon, and Sunday School teacher at the First Presbyterian Church of Phoenixville.
610-935-3502 lewoster@comcast.net
Heather Rabold – Board Member
Heather is the mother of a past Stepping Stone student and a current student. She moved to Phoenixville in 1998. She grew up in Narberth and went to Lower Merion High School and then to the University of Pittsburgh and graduated from Temple University with a degree in American History and Art History. She worked at Calico Corners in Wayne, for 3 years and learned she loved interior design, so went back to school at Philadelphia Textiles and Sciences for her degree in Interior Design. In 2000, she married her husband, Brad Rabold in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. In 2004, their first daughter Hannah was born and in 2005 Emerson was born. She currently lives in Spring City, although still thinks of herself as a Phoenixvilleian. She joined the board in October of 2009, to take the place of her father, Skip Lawrence, who was an influential part of the board when they moved into the new school building. She is very glad to be helping in any way she can to make this school stronger and loves to see all of the children so loved at the school by our amazing teachers.
484-369-8159 rabold.heather@gmail.com
Meg Fetter – Board Member
Meg has lived in Phoenixville her entire life and is an alumnae of Stepping Stones. She began her career in education six years ago while she attended college. She graduated first with an Associate’s degree from Montgomery County Community College and now holds a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education from Ashford University. Meg also recently completed a fellowship with DVAEYC on ECE advocacy and continues to advocate throughout the state about the importance of education for all young children. She currently works in the child care field as a two year old teacher and administrator.
