Meet Our Core Staff
Ms. Whitney Greenidge, Director
Ms. Whitney has had a passion for and been involved with the education of children for many years. Growing up you could always find Ms. Whitney babysitting for various families or helping in her church's nursery. In high school she was involved in the Guaranteed Start program where she got two years of teaching experience in elementary school. This led her to pursue her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. She graduated in 2009 from Concordia University. Following her graduation she became a substitute teacher for a local preschool teaching all levels wherever she was needed. Ms. Whitney then became a teacher for Portland Public Schools where she taught fourth grade for five years.
Some things that Ms. Whitney enjoys in her spare time are spending time with her Husband and family, singing, and playing basketball. |
Mrs. Courtney Temple, Operator & Administrator, and Float Teacher
Mrs. Courtney attended George Fox University and graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication. This led her into the beauty education field as an Education Manager for three and a half years where she was responsible for hiring/training employees as well as handling brand relationships for trainings and in store events. While working in the beauty industry, Mrs. Courtney spent her spare time as a nanny for various families and also volunteered at Ms. Whitney's school teaching music.
Mrs. Courtney and her husband, Julius, just celebrated their six year wedding anniversary and are enjoying every day with their daughter, Violet, and son, Christopher. In her spare time, Mrs. Courtney enjoys spending time with her family, singing, acting, and beautifying Oregon one face at a time! |
Deborah Greenidge, Music Teacher
Deborah Greenidge was born and raised in New York City. She is the seventh of eight children. Pastor Deborah graduated from George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Communication Arts and a minor in Music.
Upon her graduation, she worked in the insurance industry for six years then went on staff at New Hope Community Church in Portland, Oregon where she eventually became the Director of Music Ministries. In 1991 Pastor Deborah joined the staff of Turning Point Christian Center where she developed the music ministry and served as Worship & Arts Pastor for a short time Interim Pastor. Pastor Deborah was licensed and ordained a pastor in 1997 and considers that a defining moment in her life as well as her call to music ministry and pastoring. For two years she was on the adjunct staff of George Fox College where she directed the CrossLight Choir and also served as Choir Director at Vancouver Christian High School for 3 years. Today, she continues to serve in music ministry at Tigard Covenant Church, OR. |
Mrs. Mary Johnson, Head 2's class & Summer School-age Teacher
Ms. Mary has spent most of her life working with children. When she was in high school she volunteered in the toddler children's church classroom. She went to school at Concordia University Portland where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Social work in 2012. During college she volunteered at a neighborhood elementary school providing after school education.
Mary has had the privilege of working with all different aged children but her passion is the younger kids. She has previously worked at a day treatment center and a charter school. In her free time, Mary is a high school dance team coach. She loves to sing, dance, bake, and read. But most of all, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Kit, brand new baby girl, Hailey, and their puppy, Ruby. Mary and her husband just celebrated their four year wedding anniversary and are looking forward to their future together. |
Ms. Katie Olsen, 2's Classroom Teacher
Ms. Katie is in the process of finishing her associates degree in Early Childhood Education. She has always had a passion for working with children. She has had two years of experience working as a Teacher’s Aide prior to working at TCPD.
Ms. Katie enjoys the outdoors in her free time, playing basketball, and spending time with friends and family. |
Ms. Deana Westby, Substitute
Mrs. Deana has always had a passion for working with young children. She graduated from Mt. Hood Community College in 2012 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Since then she has worked in daycare environments, she has fostered a couple of children all while working at Costco. Deana has 3 kids of her own 2 of which go to TCPD.
In Deana's spare time she likes to spend time with her family, having family game nights and watching movies. She loves being outdoors with the kids and going camping. |
Ms. Sasha Hershey-Lomax, Preschool Teacher
Ms. Sasha has always loved working with children. Since the day her sister was born she's been helping her mom take care of and raise her.
Ms. Sasha started her psychology degree at OSU. While working at Tigard Covenant Preschool and Daycare, she continues to take classes to further her education and work in the field of Childcare. Ms. Sasha loves spending time with her friends and family. You can often find her getting coffee at Primo Espresso, hiking, walking her dog, and serving it up on the Volleyball court. |
Jackie Bohlmann, Infant/1's Teacher
Ms. Jackie has been working in early childhood for over 5 years. She took Early Childhood Education classes at Western Oregon University. Her experience expands into working with kids of all ages including children with special needs. While Ms. Jackie has worked as a teacher in the classroom, she has also had the opportunity to act as Assistant Director.
In Ms. Jackie's free time, she loves making memeories with her husband and son. She also helps run a charity cosplay group that helps raise awareness and money for different charity organizations. |
Shalena Phillips, Infant/1's Co-Teacher
Ms. Shalena has a passion for working with children. She started working and volunteering with kids at the young age of fifteen through church and family friends children. In 2017 she started working in an Early Childhood center as a float, but mainly in the baby classroom.
Ms. Shalena loves many things such as ice skating, hiking and hanging out with her friends and family, traveling and attending her church. Her favorite season is Winter, but she occasionally enjoys Summer! |
Crissy Jones, Float Teacher
Ms. Crissy has always had a passion for teaching children. She graduated from high school in 2017 and her plan is to become a teacher in the future.
She has attended Tigard Covenant church for the last Four years and has been able to teach the Sunday Toddler Class. Ms. Crissy also has experience watching her brother and sister. Along with caring for children, Ms. Crissy loves to take her dog for walks, hang out with her family and friends, go swimming, and relax at home. |
Rachel Grover, Reading & Float Teacher
Ms. Rachel absolutely adores children and admires their sense of wonder and their genuine pure joy. Her naturally nurturing spirit aids her pursuit of a career in childcare and has devoted the last 5 years to working as an experienced Nanny and Babysitter. Born and raised in Oregon, she graduated Tigard High in 2014 and currently attends PCC part-time to earn an Associates in Science. She also had joined Tigard Covenant Church with her Mom and Dad when she was 12 years old. Rachel dreams of opening her very own in-home daycare someday.
Ms. Rachel enjoys spending time with her two dogs, listening and singing along to music, exploring the outdoors, meditation, and cooking her favorite foods. |
Becca Martin, Co-Teacher
Mrs. Becca has always had a strong passion for teaching children, and really enjoys watching them blossom and grow. During high school, she worked at an elementary school in Tigard High’s preschool while also coaching a youth softball team for Tigard Little League. She was able to coach the same group of girls starting from when they were five until they were ten. Becca’s favorite part of working with children is watching them develop their own unique personalities. After graduating from Tigard High in 2014, she had various jobs working with children including instructional aid at an elementary school, nannying for various families, and kid’s club supervisor at a local gym. She had a strong desire to coach again, so she decided to coach a girls youth basketball team for two years for Tigard Basketball Association. In 2019, she graduated from Portland State University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology. Her next adventure will be obtaining her Master’s in Early Childhood Education with the hopes of becoming a daycare/preschool director one day.
When she’s not at work or studying, she enjoys relaxing with her husband and playing with their two hyperactive dogs in the backyard, Blue and Moose. Finding time for anything else can be a challenge, but she wouldn’t change it for the world! |
Sierra Smith Lapp, School Age Teacher & Teacher's Aide
Ms. Sierra has always loved spending time with children, and the joy they bring to everyone's lives. Since the age of 16 she has devoted her time to babysitting, nannying, and studying early childhood education. Currently she is attending PCC to obtain an Associates in Paraeducation. Her previous job before working at TCPD was at Templeton Elementary where she worked with kids K-5.
In her free time she enjoys kayaking, camping, and spending lots of time with her friends and family. You can always find her with caffeine in hand and a smile on her face. |
Amber Boylan, Float Teacher
Ms. Amber has been an Oregon girl since the day she was born. She grew up in McMinnville and moved to downtown Portland in 1993. She worked as a Children's World teacher for a year, nanny-ed for a year and then took time off to take care of her three handsome boys who are now teenagers. Her love of working with the younger generation has brought her here to teach at TCPD.
In Ms. Amber's spare time you can find her in the garden, playing with her dogs and cats or making use of her Esthetician's license. |
Reilly King, Float Teacher
Ms. Reilly attended OSU-Cascades and graduated in June as part of the first Freshman Class with a bachelors in Human Development and Family Sciences. While in school she volunteered with After School Buddies, an after school program that aimed to provide support for at-risk 4th and 5th grade girls as well as held the position of Student Body president in her senior year where she worked to establish advocacy programs for underserved communities on campus.
In her time since graduation she has worked at Blackrock Coffee Bar where she can feed her love of coffee and working in a team. In her free time she loves taking her dog Ben on adventures, working on her Spanish skills, and planning her next international travels. |
Trace Striffler, Teacher's Aide
Mr. Trace is a Johnson high school graduate from San Antonio, Tx. He moved back to Portland a couple months ago to live closer to family. Due to his love of children, Mr. Trace decided to join the TCPD team to work closely with his Aunties (Courtney and Whitney) and his baby cousins.
Mr. Trace enjoys drawing, going on adventures with his family, and sleeping. He usually enjoys quiet contemplation alone, but taking care of children brings out his outgoing side. He's a proud Cuncle (cousin uncle) and looking after his two baby cousins allows him to exercise his imagination as well as a great deal of experience with children. Mr. Trace is a foodie and loves going out to eat with his grandpa as well as playing Video games when possible. |
Dasha Hershey, Summer Teacher's Float
Ms. Dasha Hershey is a Tigard High School Graduate! She has worked at TCPD for the last four years during summers and it has made her realize her love in childcare. While attending Tigard High School she was able to work in their daycare and preschool. That experience furthered her interest in working with children. She is now attending George Fox University with a full ride scholarship!
Outside of work and school, Ms. Dasha's interests include, volleyball, choir, and being involved in her high school's leadership program. She can't wait to wrap up high school and pursue her dream career. She thanks TCPD for sparking her interest in working with children. |
Elizabeth Temple, Summer Teacher's Aide
Ms. Elizabeth Temple is a Sophomore at Jesuit High School! She is very involved in her academics as well as different sports. This is her second year at TCPD working as an aide.
She wants to be a pediatrician or work in Women's health care. Outside of work and school, Ms. Elizabeth's interests include, volleyball, basketball, and spending time with her friends and family. |
Mackenzie Striffler, Summer Teacher's Aide
Nahir Perez, Substitute Director and Teacher
Ms. Nahir Perez was born in Panama City, Panama and moved to Portland, OR at the age of 8. Upon her arrival to the US, she attended Beach Elementary and was enrolled in ESL classes because she did not speak any English. Having gone through an ESL program herself to learn English, she personally understands the amount of work it takes to acquire a second language. Throughout her schooling she worked very hard to perfect her English and keep up with her schoolwork. At home her mother wanted to make sure she would never forget her Spanish and her culture. During the weekends and on other school breaks, she had to practice her reading and writing and was only allowed to speak in Spanish to her mother, which she still does to this day.
Throughout middle school and high school she did a lot of babysitting for her neighbors and was a volunteer at her younger sister’s school for many years. Following high school,Ms. Nahir earned her associate’s degree in science and went on to work as a medical assistant for two years. After getting laid off, she realized that she really missed working with children. She volunteered at a local preschool and also at a private school where she was offered a position as a preschool teacher assistant. Meanwhile, she went back to school and received her Bachelor’s in Human Development from Warner Pacific in 2011. She just graduated from PSU Summer 2017, with her Master's in Bilingual Education. In the fall she will be a Bilingual Spanish and English Third Grade teacher for Portland Public Schools. Ms. Nahir is very excited to have the opportunity to substitute when she can and to share her love for the Lord and passion for teaching with the little ones here at TCPD. |