Meet Our Staff
Ms. Katie, Director
I am a member of Celebration Center Church and have a deep-seeded passion for children and learning! I grew up in Puyallup and graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Minor in Theater in 2003.
My previous jobs include serving as Children's Pastor for two years at Bethany Open Bible and working in the Child Watch Center at the Mel Korum YMCA where my three toddlers could be at my side. While at the YMCA, I developed a curriculum for and directed "Kids Activity Time", which was a daily session of structured activities for children ages 2-6. This is where I gained interest in working with Preschool aged children. With the help of an incredible group of mentors, I opened Celebration Kidz Preschool in September 2009. Since then, I have watched the Preschool grow and flourish. In 2016, God placed it on my heart to add a Kindergarten and it has been exciting to watch Celebration Kidz expand into new territory. I absolutely love my job here!
My three boys are now 19, 17 and 16 years old and my life revolves around their school, sports and extra curricular activities! My husband of 23 years provides wonderful support for my dreams and passions for this school. I thoroughly enjoy being part of the Church Staff at Celebration Center! The Pastoral Staff and Governing Board have offered so much support along the way and Celebration Kidz would not be where it is today without them!
Celebration Kidz was developed out of a deep passion that God placed on my heart. I have an enthusiasm for this program and a desire to help kids prepare for their next educational experince at their individual levels. I look forward to meeting you and your child!
I'm so blessed to get to work with such an amazing group of ladies at Celebration Kidz...read below to get to know a little bit about my incredible staff...
~Ms. Katie
(Updated 9/2023)
Ms April, Preschool Teacher
This is my 11th year teaching at Celebration Kidz Preschool, although I have worked with kids for many more years. I have been married for 23 years this year and have 2 amazing boys. Kyle is 20 and Ethan is 18. I am so blessed to be doing my dream job. Each year my heart grows to love all my new students. Once I have them in my class they are always in my heart.
~Ms. April
(Updated 9/2023)
Ms. Connie, Pre-K Teacher
I have worked at Mel Korum YMCA for 11 years where I also taught the preschool class in the summer. Children are my passion!
It’s always exciting to see the preschoolers grow!
We attend Celebration Center church and I love working at Celebration Kidz preschool! I been assisting and teaching at Celebration Kidz preschool for 6 years. CKP has been a blessing to me and my family. I love working with some wonderful staff!
~Ms. Connie
Ms. Linda, Pre-K Enrichment Teacher
~Ms. Linda
Ms. Kathleen, Preschool Assistant

~Ms. Kathleen

~Ms. Gina
(Updated 9/2023)
Ms. Merrilee, Pre-K Assistant

“Allow your passion to become your purpose and it will one day become your profession.”
– Anonymous
My name is Merrilee Rumsey and I have been married for 32 years with two grown children and a mischievous Beagle named Crimson. This year, I was excitedly blessed with my second grandchild!
I have spent the bulk of my career co-owning a construction business. I have also had the privilege of working and volunteering in a multitude of facets for the Puyallup School District. Over the years, I have held numerous positions for the Parent/Teachers Association (PTA) and enjoyed serving as a Girl Scout leader. My passion lies in volunteering for children and education, and I have always loved being actively involved in my community and surrounding schools. I adore developing great relationships with staff and students and I am truly honored by the opportunities provided.
For personal recreation, I most recently have found great joy in participating in monthly 5K walks/runs supporting local communities and causes in our areas! In the past year, I have participated in over ten (10) walks!
I am ecstatic for the next school year and continuing to establish significant connections and create positive impacts at Celebration Kidz.
~Ms. Merrilee
Mrs. McBee, Kindergarten Teacher

I have been married to Ryan for 18.5 years and we have 3 children- Jackson who is 16 and a junior this year, Olivia who is 12 and starting Jr. High and Emme who is 9 and in 4th grade. My girls both attended Celebration Kidz in pre-school and the pre-k enrichment programs.
We are an Air Force family and have moved all over in the last almost 20 years, my husband will retire late this year and we are excited to be back in Puyallup- where we consider home.
We have spent the last 3 years in England, where we were able to travel and explore much of Europe. We are excited to be back in Washington and grow deeper roots in an area we already love so much!
~Mrs. McBee
(Updated 9/2023)
Mrs. Bostain, First Grade Co-Teacher

~Mrs. Bostain
Mrs. Dahl, First Grade Co-Teacher

~ Mrs. Dahl

I am the PE teacher as well as the staff support. I have been with Celebration Kidz since 2019 and before that I volunteered for several years when my own kids attended celebration. I have loved watching all the kids grow and my passion is definitely to be involved with everyone’s kiddos. I love seeing the happy faces and listening to the voices of all the kids that come to school here! It just makes my heart happy to be a part of this growing community! So a little bit about my own family. I am the mom of three beautiful children. Mikhail is my oldest at 14 and then Ethan is my 11-year-old son and I have a beautiful daughter Fiamma, she is nine! We have also three handsome dogs, Stuart, Hudson, and Chewie and two adorable cats, Chloe and Snowbell, can’t forget our Japanese fighting fish, Mr. Sunset! 😂
This is my happy little family and I can’t wait to meet yours!!
~Ms. Amber