Meet Our Staff

At Celebration Kidz we strive to provide a creative, caring and consistent environment for your child.  Our experienced staff really enjoys getting to know each child and helping them reach their goals while preparing them for their next educational experience.  We are currently updating this page, so not everyone is pictured.


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

My name is Connie Armer, this is my husband David Armer.  I have been married to this wonderful man for 39 yrs.  We have traveled and lived in many different states and Korea for one year ministering. I have two boys and two sweet grandsons. I have a wonderful family. They are my world!

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

My name is Linda Catchings. I have been married to a wonderful man for over twenty years and together has raised 5 amazing kids.
 
My passions are family, children and cooking. After being a stay at home mom and volunteering at my local church as well as spending my free time engaged in child-like activities, I made the choice to pursue my career in Early Childhood Education. 
 
It is fulfilling for me to inspire children, not just to teach them.  What motivates me as a teacher is not just giving knowledge but learning how to empower them to believe that they can accomplish anything possible.
 
Matthew 19:26
With God, ALL things are possible 

~Ms. Linda

Ms. Kathleen, Preschool Assistant
I graduated from Western Washington University in 1990 with a teaching degree, and have been involved with children ever since. I owned and ran my own childcare business, was a Para Educator for the Puyallup School District, and was heavily involved with the PTA and volunteering in the classroom while my kids were little.  I’ve been Ms. April’s assistant at Celebration Kidz for a total of 8 years and I absolutely love it!  I’ve been married 32 years and have three wonderful Boys. Zachary (24) Braden (22) and Andrew (19). I’m so looking forward to meeting our amazing families this year! 
 
~Ms. Kathleen
 
 
Ms. Gina, Pre-K Enrichment Teacher
My name is Gina Campbell.  I have been married for 34 years...I am a mom of 5 and a grandma of 3!  My oldest is 34...and my youngest is 11.  I started out as a parent of a preschooler, when my youngest attended Celebration Kidz!  I started volunteering and loved it so much, I became a sub....which led to becoming an assistant in the pre-k class...then to lead teacher of the pre-k enrichment class!  I have always loved being in my kids classrooms (I have been a volunteer every year for the PSD since 1994), whether it's volunteering to help, chaperone field trips or teaching an art class....  My passion is helping kids learn, succeed and prepare for life ahead of them.  Children are a gift....and the more we pour into them as teachers...the more outpouring greatness we receive from them as individuals.  I love my time with the kids in my class...their energy, creativity, willingness to learn...every day brings new blessings. I learn so much from them every day! 

~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
Hello! I am Heather McBee and I am the Kindergarten Teacher here at Celebration Kidz! Kindergarteners are my favorite little people! I have taught Kindergarten before and am so looking forward to being back in the classroom.

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
Hello! My name is Tara Bostain. My husband Chris and I have 7 kids together, ranging from 19 down to 7 years old. Jett is my youngest and is in the 1st grade class at Celebration Kidz. I enjoy watching my kids participate in their many activities that mostly include, competitive dance, soccer, ninja warrior training, basketball and track. When we get a chance to relax, we like to travel. Heading to sunny spots like Disneyland and Arizona. I have spent countless hours, more like countless years, assisting and volunteering at Cascade Christian Schools, primarily in Kindergarten & 1st grade. Looking back, there has clearly been a plan that is greater than I, that has led me down this path at becoming the 1st grade teacher.  I am beyond excited to help the kids to expand their knowledge, be excited about learning and have fun while doing so. Cheryl Dahl (my mom), will be partnering with me, mostly working on Fridays. She has tons of experience and knowledge. She comes highly recommended, as I have known her my whole life....literally. 😃 We will be working together to make sure there is a seamless transition on the Fridays she is in class, keeping the same routines and expectations. 

~Mrs. Bostain

Mrs. Dahl, First Grade Co-Teacher

I am excited to begin my role at Celebration Kidz as a co-teacher for 1st grade.  It is a privilege to assist my daughter, Tara Bostain, who is teaching 4 days each week.  I have worked with kids in some capacity since I was 16. I taught Sunday School (still do) and volunteered in my kids' classes.  For the past many years I have worked at Cascade Christian School in pre-school through 2nd grade. I really enjoy kids and love to watch them learn and be part of that process.  My husband is a veteran of 22 years who served in Viet Nam, Desert Storm, and Lebanon.  We enjoy spending time with our kids and grandkids (4 kids...13 grandkids...4 great grandkids!). We also love to travel (especially on our trike)! He golfs while I read and play the piano.

~ Mrs. Dahl
Ms. Amber, Elementary P.E. Teacher & Staff Support
Hello to all! My name is Miss Amber,
 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