Our Team - Making a difference one child at a time!
Reichel Ainsworth
Preschool Director
For as long as she can remember, Ms. Reichel has always wanted to work with children. She worked as a legal secretary for eight years, but in her heart, she knew that teaching children was her true passion. Determined to pursue her dream, she earned both her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Early Childhood Education.
Ms. Reichel has over five years of experience teaching in all preschool-level classrooms. Before joining The Academy of PDCPC, she ran her own home daycare, which she operated for three years until she and her husband welcomed their three children: Lilly, now 23, Katelyn, 18, and Blake, 17. She took on the rewarding role of a stay-at-home mom until her youngest child reached preschool age and began attending The Academy.
Ms. Reichel has served as the Director of the Academy for the past 12 years and is deeply committed to early childhood education and continues to bring her passion, expertise, and love for children to her role every day.
Ms. Kory earned an associate degree in Liberal Arts (Social and Behavioral Science) in 2019. In previous years, she has assisted her aunt in her preschool/kinder class in Mexico every summer since middle/high school, which led to Kory wanting to earn an Early Childhood Education certificate as a Teacher’s Assistant in 2020-2021. She began working at The Academy in 2021 as a 2-year-old assistant teacher. This year she is lead teacher for the young 2’s class. and it has been a great opportunity and an amazing experience. Kory says, “It has been a great opportunity and amazing experience working with such an extraordinary group of women who encourage you to do your very best while uplifting and teaching you along the way!”
Ms. Larissa has earned an AA in Early Childhood Education from College of the Desert and is currently working on a Bachelor’s degree at Cal State University San Bernadino. Her true joy is working with children and creating special bonds and relationships with each child. In the classroom, Ms. Larissa loves reading stories, doing fun crafts and seeing the children grow each day. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crafts, country music, Disney and coffee.
Ms. DeAnn has been with the Academy for 18 years. She has worked as a teacher in the 3-year-old and Pre-K classrooms as well as a music teacher and Chapel leader. DeAnn loves that every day is a new adventure! She has been married to her husband John for 30 years and has two adult sons. This year she was blessed with a new daughter-in-law. In her free time, she enjoys singing, cooking, reading and watching sports. She is a lover of country music and chocolate! DeAnn’s favorite thing about the Academy are her students. She loves watching them grow both socially and academically during their time with her and beyond. DeAnn truly loves being part of the Academy family and strives to ensure every student and their families feel at home here too.
Ms. Robyn has been teaching preschool in the desert for many years. Most of those years have been here at The Academy as (Assistant Director, Interim Director, music teacher, classroom teacher and chapel teacher) She enjoys teaching math and language through music activities and group games and literature. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and exploring the outdoors, playing the piano and spending time with her 3 children, 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Robyn says, “When I am here at The Academy, I feel HOME!”
Ms. Crystal has taught preschool for about 19 years. She has worked with all ages from toddlers to school age throughout the years, but truly enjoys working with 2-3 year olds. Nothing makes her more happy than receiving great big hugs from her little ones every day. Throughout the years she has worked in all forms of preschool from family based to private and children's ministry. Crystal currently has an AA in Early Childhood Education and hopes to continue her education in the future. She’s a happily married mother of three daughters. As a family, they enjoy camping, hiking, visiting national parks and seeing new places. Our goal is to see all the states and national parks within the future.
Ms. Rebecca earned an AA degree in Early Childhood Education from College of the Desert and has been with the Academy for 5 years. She started as an assistant in a 2-year-old room, then lead teacher in a 3-year-old room and currently a lead Pre-K teacher. She loves teaching through science and art.
Rebecca was born and raised in Toronto Ontario Canada and tries to visit as often as she can. She enjoys watching movies and hiking with her 3 beautiful children, ages 12, 9 and 5 and her husband.
Maria has an AA in Child Development and is currently working on her Bachelor’s in Speech and Hearing. She enjoys reading and spending time with family camping or traveling.
Ms. Darrel is the TK/Kindergarten teacher at the Academy. She graduated from College of The Desert in 2021 with her AA in Early Childhood Development and she is currently enrolled at Cal State San Bernadino working on her BA in Early Childhood Development. Ms. Darrel loves children’s books and enjoys including a writing activity or craft to follow. When Ms. Darrel is not in the classroom, she loves to spend time with her family, read books, hiking, and watching movies.
Ms. Valerie graduated from California Baptist University with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Studies. She enjoys growing and learning alongside the children. This is her 2nd year at the Academy working with 2-year-olds. Ms. Valerie loves Starbucks, Disneyland, traveling, scrapbooking and shopping.
This is Ms. Allyson’s first year at the Academy and she is super excited to be working with the 2 year olds this year. She recently earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Cal State San Bernardino. Ms. Allyson enjoys crafting and creating activities and stories to share with students. Some of her favorites include knitting, drawing and painting but most of all of friends here at The Academy!
Ms. Noemi graduated from College of the Desert with an AA in Early Childhood Education. This is her 2nd year working at the Academy in the 3-year-old classroom. She enjoys traveling, painting, hiking, being outdoors and spending time with family.
This is Mehwish’s first year at the Academy. Her philosophy of child guidance centers on respect for a child as a complete individual. She will try to earn children’s trust by being kind, inviting, reliable, engaging, fun and compassionate. She believes that it will be her honor to spend some time with children and help them develop into socially responsible members of our society. Mehwish enjoys spending time with her three children ages 15, 12 and 8 and my husband. She loves cooking, watching Disney movies and making her family happy.
This is Ms. Ariel's 2nd year at the Academy as the school cook. She trained in the CAFE Academy at Rancho Mirage High School and has always had a love for cooking. She loves sharing what she makes with others and tries new and creative ways to make food approachable and yummy for young children. Ms. Ariel enjoys painting, reading, collecting crystals and cool rocks.