Meet Our Faculty

Kim Benedict

Kim is the owner and director of The Learning Tree Preschool. She handles our two-year-old and three-year old play groups. She believes that kids learn better when they are given opportunities for experiences, which is why the curriculum she created for The Learning Tree greatly involves experiential learning.

Elementary Education Degree from FAU in 1991. I’ve been working with Early Childhood children since then and bought The Learning Tree Preschool in 2000. I’m originally from new Jersey. I have two teenage children of my own, one boy named Kamden and one girl named Kallie. I love coming to work everyday…where can you sing, dance, play and give a lots of love all day long.

Larissa Leander

Larissa is experienced in handling The Learning Tree Preschool‘s infant care class. She is well-loved by kids and trusted by parents to watch over their child during the day. She has extensive experience in an infant care center with a degree in Early Childhood Education that allows her to competently facilitate Learning Tree’s unique Infant Care program.

“I have worked at The Learning Tree Preschool since 1998 in this time I earned my CDA in Early Childhood education. I work with the Baby/Toddler class where I get to watch my students discover something new each day. I love children and take a lot of pride in my work.”

Ayme Plasencia

Ayme is our Toddler Class teacher. She is fun-loving and loves to handle lots of activities for kids. Knowing that toddlers can be naturally curious and will tend to explore their environment, she prioritizes the safety and comfort of the kids in her class. She makes sure that their learning environment is secure and will be conducive to the learning processes that are part of the Toddler Group curriculum.

“I graduated Medical School in 1992 and I was a general practice doctor for my town of Pinar del Rio, Cuba. I came to the United States in 1999 and started working in Early Childhood Education, in 2006 I started working at The Learning Tree Preschool as a toddler teacher. Since then I have earned my CDA in early childhood education. I love working with children and watching them grow.”

Kallie Benedict