Wesleyan Faculty
Gina Munkers
Director
Gina joined Wesleyan Preschool and Kindergarten program 16 years ago as a classroom teacher and was promoted to director for the 2022-23 school year. She has 21 years of teaching experience in education and early childhood development. Past experiences include teaching at an art-based charter school, a private elementary school, and developing an in-home childcare program. Her son is also a past Wesleyan graduate. Gina has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in reading and has a K-8 Idaho State Teaching Credential.
Patti Valenzuela
Assistant Director
Patti joined the administrative team in 2019 after 13 years as a classroom lead teacher at Wesleyan. She has 18 years of teaching experience in private preschool and kindergarten education programs and has been a leader at Wesleyan and KASP for many years. Patti has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Master’s in Counseling and Elementary Education, and a K-8 Idaho State Teaching Credential. Patti is also the assistant director for Kids Are Special People (KASP).
Dawn Wood
3/4's Classroom Teacher
Dawn is in her 10th year with Wesleyan and is the lead co-teacher in the Beetle classroom. She has over 23 years of teaching experience in education and early childhood development. Past experiences include teaching in both public and private high-quality infant, toddler and preschool programs in Hawaii, California and Washington. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development, Specializing in Early Childhood Education/Infants and Toddlers.
Jen Carlile
3/4's Classroom Teacher
Jen Carlile returns to Wesleyan this school year as the 2-day teacher in the Beetle Classroom, as well as a school-wide substitute teacher. She has two children that graduated from Wesleyan and have been a part of the Wesleyan community for over 6 years. Jen received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Western Washington University and previously worked in the accounting and financial planning sectors.
Joslyn Bernhardt
3/4's Classroom Teacher
Joslyn returns to Wesleyan for her 3rd year as a co-teacher in the Beetle 3-day classroom. Joslyn has ten years of teaching experience in elementary education. Her past experiences include teaching third grade at a school of the arts and teaching small group intervention for mathematics. She has two children who formerly graduated from Wesleyan and one child who is currently enrolled in the Transitional Kindergarten classroom. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Arizona and holds a K-8 Idaho teaching credential, with a K-8 mathematics endorsement.
Shayla Diaz
4/5's Classroom Teacher
Shayla joined Wesleyan as a parent in our 3/4's class last year. Shayla is now part of our teaching staff as the lead teacher for the Ladybug class.
Shayla grew up on a farm in southern Idaho. She graduated in 2012 with her bachelor's in early childhood education and school-age child development from San Francisco State University. After graduation, Shayla taught PE in various schools in Redmond City, with students ages kindergarten to 5th grade. Shayla took a teaching break while raising her four children and home-schooled them during the pandemic. She returned to the classroom in the last three years to volunteer to teach art in her children's kindergarten, first, and second-grade classrooms.
Last year, with her son in the Beetles class at Wesleyan, Shayla made pretzels with the children. This stirred her desire to step back into the classroom soon after pursuing becoming a substitute by acquiring her CPR/First Aid certification and a Boise Child Care license. Shayla started the school year as a Wesleyan sub, and this fall, she became one of the Brown Bag teachers.
Seth Hurtado
4/5's Classroom Teacher
Seth joins Wesleyan for his first year, but has been a teacher at KASP, our sister program for over a year. He was born and raised in Nampa, Idaho and studied Elementary Education at the College of Western Idaho. Seth has previously worked in multiple K-5 schools as a lead and assistant teacher and is adamant about providing a safe and encouraging learning environment. Seth’s hobbies include traveling, playing music, and spending time with his huskies.
Colleen McDonald
Classroom Teacher
Colleen is back at Wesleyan University for her third year as the Extended Day teacher for the 4/5's and Transitional Kindergarten class. She has over a decade of experience teaching elementary and special education. She has previously taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, as well as served as an Extended Resource Room teacher in public elementary schools. Both her son and daughter graduated from Wesleyan. Colleen holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with minors in mathematics and science, a Master of Science in Special Education, and a K-8 Idaho State Teaching Credential.Colleen is back at Wesleyan University for her third year as the Extended Day teacher for the 4/5's and Transitional Kindergarten class. She has over a decade of experience teaching elementary and special education. She has previously taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, as well as served as an Extended Resource Room teacher in public elementary schools. Both her son and daughter graduated from Wesleyan. Colleen holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with minors in mathematics and science, a Master of Science in Special Education, and a K-8 Idaho State Teaching Credential.
Sydney Cosso
4/5's Classroom Teacher
Sydney Cosso will be the new lead 4/5's Dragonfly teacher, and while she is new to Wesleyan, her early childhood experience is expansive. Her past experiences have been working as an early childhood special education teacher for public schools and co-teaching a 4/5-year-old classroom at a private preschool. Sydney is also an adjunct professor for Boise State's College of Education. (I will teach my fourth course this fall, 2023!) Sydney has her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Early and Special Education and my Idaho teaching certificate in Exceptional Child Generalist and Blended Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education.
Traci Wilson
4/5's Classroom Teacher
Traci joins our team as the co-teacher in the 4/5's classroom. She has ten years of experience in elementary education. Most recently, she taught 1st grade at a public school in Seattle, Washington. She has her bachelor's in psychology from Gonzaga University, Masters in Teaching from Antioch Seattle, and National Board Certified in Early Childhood Education. Traci’s oldest son is a Wesleyan graduate, and her youngest son will be attending Wesleyan for his second year.
Abigail Holland
Transitional Kindergarten
Abigail recently moved to Boise this past month with her husband and will be joining Wesleyan as the Transitional Kindergarten teacher. Abigail's teaching experiences include working at a nature-based preschool, teaching two classes, a 3/4's class and a 4/5's class. She has a bachelor's degree in Early Child Development and currently enrolled in the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence. Abigail enjoys spending time outdoors, planning trips, seeing and learning about animals, and spending time with her family.
Courtney Bolton
Transitional Kindergarten
Wesleyan is excited to welcome Courtney Bolton as the new co-teacher for the Transitional Kindergarten class. Courtney recently graduated from Boise State University with a degree in elementary education and has a wealth of experience teaching preschool and working in Montessori. When she's not in the classroom, Courtney enjoys spending time with her family and their energetic rescue dog. On sunny days, she can be found on the golf course or relaxing with a good book at the neighborhood pool. Her love of sports is evident in her dedication to catching every BSU football game.
Madaline Anderson
Parent and Tot Teacher
Madaline returns to Wesleyan for her 2nd year to offer the Parent and Tot class again! This class opened this past January with eight children and their caregivers. Madaline is a past Wesleyan parent with a Psychology, Early Childhood Ed, and Special Ed degree. She is also a certified Children's Yoga Instructor. Past teaching experiences have been at BSU Children's Center and The Children's School 2/3's creative movement class.