Left to Right: Beatriz, Ramona, Jennifer, Rhenan, LaDonna, Al, Carisa, Danielle, Jackie & Donna S.
Rhenan
I enjoy working with the babies in my room because I get to watch them grow and learn new things. Every child is special to me, it gives me great satisfaction knowing that I can make a difference in every child’s life that comes through our classroom door.

Beatriz
Making a difference in a child’s life is the reason I wake up every morning!

Jennifer
What better career to have! I get to play with babies all day! I get to watch them grow and develop. Each one is special in their own way. Thank God for the precious gifts He has given not only to their parents but to us as well!

Christina
I love babies and I am blessed to have the opportunity to spend my days watching them grow.

Rhea
I love working with children. It is very rewarding to help make a difference in their lives.

Al
It brings joy to me as a teacher to see a child smile.

Ramona
I enjoy being a teacher because the children are exciting and fun. I love being part of their life and making them feel special and good about themselves. I love my students very much!

Donna S.
It gives me great joy to be a teacher. I have been teaching for 15 years and I love children. I enjoy watching their independence and being a part of their growing years. I enjoy getting our children ready for the future and helping them succeed in life.

Esra
Positively impacting the education and general life of young children is truly a pleasure. Together we grow and learn. To share these special moments is just one of the many reasons I love to teach.

Courtney
I have worked with children my whole life. I love to see them smile and it excites me to see them learn new things. I love working with children!

Jackie
This is my 20th year in early childhood! I have never thought for a minute to leave my field. I simply love what I do. Where else can you get hugs all day long?!

LaDonna
I have been a teacher for two years and I love it! I love my job very much because the children always keep a smile on my face.

Carisa
I love working with children because there is nothing greater than when a child looks at you with nothing but love for you in their eyes.

Left to Right: Roberta, Misty, Lauren, Alicia, Lisa, Jessi, Jessica, Jamar.
Misty
I love to work with children because as a teacher you will never know the extent of your influence. It is motivating to fell I am making a small difference in the future of our world!

Lauren
There is no better way to start the work day than to walk into a room of 20 faces who all want to give you a hug! Children remind me what is important and it carries through to all aspects of my life. Watching a child figure out where a puzzle piece goes or realizing that they can draw a circle is a small glimpse of hopes realized; it’s inspiring!

Alicia
I love working with children because it keeps me young and energetic and it is never boring!

Jessi
I love working in Early Childhood because of all my students bright smiling faces & all the sweet little hugs I get. They are enough to brighten even the greyest of days.

Lisa
Working in preschool is a place where an adult can watch children grow and learn. You can play with toys and see the joy on their faces when they accomplish a new task.

Roberta
I enjoy seeing a child’s face when they have learned something new or mastered a skill.... priceless!

Jessica
I believe by teaching children I am bettering the community in which we live in.

Jamar
I love working with children. I enjoy educating them and building character that will carry them through grade school.

Left to Right: Jessica, Stephen & Pam
Stephen
I want to be able to leave my stamp on the future. I have so much fun getting down on their level and being a positive role model to them.

Pam
I love children with all my heart- every child is a precious gift from God. We should treat them just this way.

Jocelin
I love teaching because I know that every minute I spend with that child equals every minute that I’m changing that child’s future for the better.

Jessica B.
My students may forget what I said, but they will never forget how much fun they had and how much excitement I made them feel.

Donah
I love working with children because unlike adults children think outside the box. It doesn’t matter how crazy you act, they never treat you different or look at you weird, they just join in!

Left to Right: Stacie Ridgely, Frances Carrasco, Kim Mertens, Donna Jensen, Jocelin Jenkins

Donna Jensen- Director:
Donna is our owner and director. Donna was born and raised in Colonia, New Jersey, and began Kean College’s Elementary Education Program in Union, NJ in 1981. She relocated to Conway, SC with her husband Jeff in 1987. Mrs. Jensen is the proud mother of four sons, Jeffrey, Jason, Jacob & Jordan. She is very active at Carolina Forest Community Church and loves incorporating Christian curriculum at The Learning Station. Her career working with children began in high school and has continued to the present. She was an in home family childcare provider from 1987- 1993. In 1993 she founded and opened St. James Child Development Center in Conway where she was the director until April, 2000. In May of 2000 she opened Gymboree Play & Music in Carolina Forest and began a small preschool program, which quickly outgrew the facility and moved to Waccamaw Blvd. where The Learning Station was born! After outgrowing the Waccamaw Blvd. location The Learning Station moved to Singleton Ridge Rd in April of 2006. With over 27 years in the early childhood field, making a difference in a child or parent’s life is the most rewarding experience she has had. Donna’s dedication to providing your child with a caring, safe and fun environment will foster a love of learning to build a foundation for your child’s future social and academic success.

Stacie Ridgely- Director:
Stacie has been working with young children for 17 years as a teacher and a director. She has a B.S. in Home Economics with a concentration in Child Development. She is a member of the South Carolina Early Childhood Association and the Southern Early Childhood Association. She believes that children need lots of structure and love to thrive in today’s world as well as a belief that with God’s love and guidance, they can be successful at anything they do. In her spare time, Stacie enjoys reading and spending time with her son Sean, her dog Sable and her parrot Charlie.

Frances Carrasco- Director:
Frances Carrasco has been working in the early childhood field for over ten years. She has her Associates in Science and has tried the nursing field but always returns to the children. She loves teaching and being around children is what she loves most and what makes her happiest. Frances has been a teacher with every age group child and is a natural teacher. She has four wonderful children, Stephen, Jamar, Sade’ and Nikole and two beautiful grandchildren. Family is what motivates her and she is a wonderful role model to them. She considers all of the children at The Learning Station as part of her extended family. She has worked with Donna Jensen for over ten years in multiple facilities. She considers herself fortunate and is very happy to be working with Mrs. Jensen throughout their careers. Frances is originally from Atlantic City, New Jersey and has lived in South Carolina since 1993. She loves the south and plans to be here for life!

Jocelin Jenkins - Summer Camp Director:
Jocelin is a student at Coastal Carolina University. She is an avid bowler and an all around FUN person! She is instrumental in planning our after school and summer camp programs which are always a huge success.

Kim Mertens - Account manager:
Born and raised in New Jersey, Kim moved here several years ago with her husband Don, daughters Rhiannon (2nd grade) and Micaela (Kindergarten) and their college age daughter Danielle who is attending Coastal. They also have an adult daughter Brittney. Together they own a locksmith company (All About Locks). Kim is responsible for our ABC block grant program and our USDA food program as well as all tuition matters.