Leslie Bosserman, M.Ed., CPCC, has a long-standing professional background in education and leadership. As an entrepreneur and mother, she runs The Makers Place™ and Lead With Intention® and is actively involved in the Greater Sacramento community. Her background in Early Childhood Education and passion for supporting parents and families is only paralleled by her love for local coffee and hosting events that bring people together. As the Preschool Director, Leslie supports the administration of our Mini Makers™ Preschool, including admission, enrollment, hiring, and training.

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Joel Bosserman, M.A., BCBA, has over a decade of professional experience supporting children and families as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst working in early-intervention for school districts and in-home programs. He recently joined our teaching team full-time in our Mini Makers™ Preschool where he focuses on teacher training and creating innovative classroom environments. Joel also works on a consultative basis when families need more behavior support and parent training. In his free time, he enjoys distance running, CrossFit, karaoke, and playing board and card games with his family and friends.

Madylin Stewart, B.A. has her Bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development at Sac State. She completed her supervised fieldwork hours in our preschool program in Spring 2023 and was such a great fit she has joined our professional teaching team! Mady has a passion for working with children and making an impact on their lives and plans to return to school to purse her teaching credential. In her free time, she loves to travel, explore nature, and go on walks with her dog.

Amy Afoa is a dedicated early childhood educator from Sacramento with a lifelong passion for working with children. She spent 14 years as a nanny before transitioning into teaching, where she finds joy in watching kids grow, explore, and discover new things. Amy is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Child Development at Sac State. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and caring for her two dogs and two cats. As a mom to a lively two-year-old son, Amy brings both personal and professional experience to her nurturing approach to early learning.

Taylor Browne, B.A., graduated from Sac State with her degree in Music Education. She has experience working with children of all ages, from infants to school-age, and finds joy nurturing young minds and fostering a love for learning while encouraging children to expand their creativity and imagination. As a mother, Taylor understands the importance of providing a safe and supportive environment where children can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically. She spends most of her free time with her daughter and their three pets, and enjoys listening to and writing music, reading, and doing arts and crafts.

Kathy Almanza has been taking undergraduate courses at Sac City College in Early Childhood Education and is working toward pursuing her career to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. She originally joined our team as part of the Thousand Strong Program and has served as a Caregiver, Teacher’s Aide and Assistant Teacher. Kathy also organizes our monthly Parents Night Out event and also serves as a substitute teacher. In her free time, she loves to read, do puzzles, and hang out with her cats.

Laurie Mamola has a lifetime of experience with young children, raising 10 children over the past 4 decades! She is currently part of the American River College’s ECE Apprenticeship Program and is serving as our opening Teacher’s Aide and also as an Assistant Caregiver in our Mini Makers™ Studio. Laurie is kind and empathetic and is passionate about offering loving, quality care for children. Her favorite pastime is watching her daughter pitch on her softball teams and hanging out with her nine perfect grandchildren.

Ruby Farrens, B.A., recently graduated from the University of Oregon with her degree in Psychology. She is passionate about working with children and plans to eventually pursue a Master's Degree in Child Development. With several years of experience working with young children, Ruby finds the opportunity to watch them discover the world, grow, and develop their individual personalities to be incredibly rewarding. In her free time, Ruby enjoys crocheting, going on bike rides, hanging out with friends and family, and spending time outdoors.

Sophia Molina is studying Early Childhood Education at American River College in the ECE Apprenticeship Program. After she completes her program, she hopes to further her education and gain the necessary experience to pursue a career as an educator. She is very musical and plays guitar, tenor saxophone, and most percussion instruments. In her spare time, Sophia enjoys reading, writing, playing with her dogs, and listening to music. She is excited to support our Mini Makers as they learn, grow, and develop along with her!