JAN RIDENOUR - 43nd year at Bellwood Preschool.  
Jan has a BS in Recreation Education from Penn State University. She worked in the Recreation Department at Oakland's VA Hospital and at Beaumont Army Hospital in Texas. Later, she ran a small preschool on an Army base in Germany. When her sons were in preschool, she was a board member for their school and worked closely with their staff. She began to teach at Bellwood Preschool in 1969. A three week summer workshop at an innovative Connecticut preschool and a lot of reading about early childhood education resulted in the development of the various areas and philosophy at Bellwood Preschool today. Jan has been an active member of both the North Area Environmental Council and The Pine Creek Land Conservation Trust. She has 7 grandchildren.

LINDA MOSER - 36th year at Bellwood Preschool.
In addition to her duties as lead teacher in the AM and PM, Linda is also Co-Director of Bellwood. Linda has a BA in Art Education from I.U.P. and more recently has accumulated credits in Reading Education. She taught Elementary Art in the North Hills School district. She and husband David were Bellwood parents in 1975 when their daughter attended preschool. Linda began teaching at Bellwood in 1976, took time out when her son was a baby and began teaching again when he was a Bellwood student. She has been teaching the Pre-K program (K-Kids) for 24 years. As the lead teacher she coordinates the curriculum and development with the other teachers and uses her creative energies in all areas. She has a passion for propagating small animals (usually rabbits) and later finding homes for them! Linda has two grandchildren.

LISA PAYTAS - 33nd year at Bellwood Preschool as an AM and PM aide.  
Lisa has a diploma from North Allegheny Cumberland High School. She helps the children during snack time, assists teachers where needed and enjoys being with the children in the Gross Motor Area. Lisa is always ready with a cozy lap and welcoming arms when a little one needs a hug.

DAN HILL - 32st year at Bellwood as an AM and PM assistant teacher.  
Dan has an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from C.C.A.C. He has enjoyed working with the children at Bellwood and is especially helpful in the large motor area. Coaching baseball and basketball for the Challenger League of Ingomar/Franklin Park Athletic Association has been one of Dan’s passions for many years. Dan enjoys gardening, making his own greeting cards and is an avid runner. Dan has a most difficult role as the only adult male at the school... but he loves it!

JUDY GIDDINGS - 27th year at Bellwood Preschool as a teacher in the AM and PM sessions. Judy has a BS+ in Art Education from Edinboro University. She taught in the North Hills School System with Linda. (Back in the sixties!) She and husband John were parents at Bellwood for six years when their daughter and son attended classes. She served on the Board as President, Treasurer, Building and Grounds chair (when we researched building a "solar school" but found it cost prohibitive) and Church liaison for two years. She then began her career as a Bellwood teacher. "I love the Art Show. Providing lots of materials and helping the children express themselves is a joy. Bellwood allows great freedom for artistic creation - the children's and mine!” Miss Judy has a gift for bringing out the artistic talents in each and every child that spends time with her in the Art Room. She is a new grandmother.

GAYLE KIVLAN - 23nd year at Bellwood Preschool as a teacher.  
Gayle attended Slippery Rock University and has a degree in Biology. She received her certification in Respiratory Therapy and for many years served on the staff at AGH. Gayle has a special interest in promoting the sciences and our relationship to the environment. (Yes! She’s a tree-hugger!) She shares her enthusiasm with her students by making science FUN! She has recently completed classes in digital processing. Gayle and her husband have three children: a Physical Therapist, a Physical Education Teacher and therapudic PTA, and a college student. Gayle has three grandchildren.

ANNETTE KING - 19th year at Bellwood Preschool as a teacher.  
Annette received a BS in Math from Grove City University. She worked at PPG in Computer Systems. Later she taught in the Cypress Children's Montessori Center in California where her daughter attended school. She is an authorized instructor of "Parent Effectiveness Training". She taught Positive Parenting classes for Children's Hospital. Annette has a certificate for digital processing. She and husband were parents at Bellwood in 1990 when their two sons attended classes. She served as Registrar on the Bellwood Board and as a substitute teacher for the school. “I enjoy listening to the conversations of the children and also enjoy talking with them." Annette's has a wonderful talent for engaging the Bellwood children in math related activities. And... she is a licensed Raike Master!

SHARON ABRAHAM - 15th year as a teacher at Bellwood.  
Sharon has a BS in Elementary Education with a Master's Internship in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh. She taught for five years at the Community Day school in Squirrel Hill and one year at the Keshet Preschool in Atlanta, GA. She was a Bellwood mom, Board Secretary and Book Club/Book Sale coordinator while her children were here. She lives in Sewickley in the midst of five wooded acres (you’ll never find her!) with her husband, three children, and 2 dogs. She has a passion for children, gardening, decorating, and travel... in that order. Sharon is a master story teller. She keeps the children spellbound as she shares her love of children's literature.

SUSAN FLANDERS- 2nd year as a teacher at Bellwood.
Susan is certified in Elementary Education and as a Reading Specialist. She was employed for 12 years by the Quaker Valley School District, where she taught kindergarten and first grade. Susan is married to Ron, and they have three daughters. Katie (10) and Grace (9) attend Ingomar Middle School and Emma (6) attends Ingomar Elementary. Susan and her family joined the Bellwood family when her daughters attended Bellwood. Before joining Bellwood as a teacher, Susan was a guest reader countless times, often acted as a substitute teacher, and served as Publicity Chairperson on the Parent Board. However, she is probably best known for her role as the beautiful Native American Princess Bluebonnet, who made a visit each year at Thanksgiving.

TONI KAINAROI – 6th year at Bellwood as a teacher.
Toni attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where she earned a fine arts degree in Visual Communications. Realizing the dramatic effect art can have on children and adults with disabilities, Toni returned to school to persue an additional degree in Art Therapy at Carlow College. She took time from her college to raise a family. She lives near Potter’s Pond in Ingomar with her husband, 2 daughters and son. The Kainaroi family also has two dogs plus assorted turtles, fish and whatever else wanders into the house. While raising her family, she did freelance graphic design from her home for Mt. Lebanon Magazine and SAE in Warrendale. She was very active in the Ingomar Elementary School community where she served as a parent volunteer. Toni became part of our staff following her daughter's Bellwood experience. The children responded to the warm and sincere way she communicated with them and enjoyed her creative approach to learning.

DEB TAYLOR - 1st year at Bellwood Preschool.  
Deb has a BS from Penn State in Individual and Family Studies and an MA from University of Colorado in Early Childhood/Special Education. In Colorado, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh, she worked as a developmentalist on home and center-based interdisciplinary early intervention teams, with children ages birth to 5 years old and their families. In Los Angeles, where she began a new program, she served as director and lead teacher on the team. Following her work at Easter Seals in the late 1990s, Deb came to Bellwood to teach from 2000­–2004. For the past 8 years, Deb focused her efforts on program administration. She is very excited to return to Bellwood and the joy of the preschool environment! She has a daughter in medical school and a son in college, and she lives in Wexford with her husband and two golden retrievers. She enjoys family time, cooking, singing, traveling, and community service work.