Our team creates a fun and nurturing environment that enables children to learn through play and discovery
Christina Raffoul, Director of Little Seedlings
My name is Christina Raffoul, and I am currently the director of Little Seedlings of Bloomfield, Birmingham, and Livonia. Prior to my job with Little Seedlings, I received my Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. I also was an elementary teacher in the Bloomfield Hills school district, right before becoming a teacher at the Birmingham location in 2018. In 2019, I became the licensee at the Beverly Hills location and just fell in love with everything about the job! In my spare time, I love to read, cook, go for walks, and hang out with friends and family. I truly love my job and spending my days with your precious little ones and our fabulous team of teachers!
Michaela Charfauros, Director of Little Seedlings
Hi! I’m Michaela Charfauros and I am currently the director of Little Seedlings of Beverly Hills, Grosse Pointe and Little Acorns of Bloomfield. Previously, I was the licensee at the Beverly Hills location for about 2 years. I started working at Little Seedlings back in 2017 and always came back every summer. During the school year, I taught Kindergarten at Fraser Public Schools for 3 years. In 2021, I made the jump to return to Little Seedlings full time and haven’t looked back since. Outside of Little Seedlings, I enjoy traveling with my fiancé, reading and playing with our 2 dogs, Nala & Riley.
I just love being a part of the LS community we have worked so hard to build and watching the children learn and grow.
Olivia Hack, Licensee at Little Acorns of Bloomfield
My name is Olivia Hack, I am currently the licensee of the Little Acorns location! Before my position here at the Little Acorns house, I worked at the Birmingham location for a little over a year! In 2020, I graduated from Rochester University with my bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. I absolutely love watching children grow and achieve new things!
Iman Bazzi, Licensee at Little Seedlings of Birmingham
My name is Iman Bazzi, and I am currently the licensee at the Birmingham location. Before entering the great community of Little Seedlings, I worked as a lead teacher at 3+ childcare centers. I have over 11 years of experience in childcare. I was lucky enough to begin this path my freshman year of high school when the director of the childcare, which was connected to my high school, offered me an early spot as an assistant teacher since my two older sisters were also her assistants. Working with kids has been a lifelong passion of mine. In my spare time, I love to be active, like biking and going on long walks. Spending time with my friends and family is something super important to me. I am so grateful to be a part of this community and for you to trust us with your precious little one.
Amanda Bilan, Licensee at Little Seedlings of Livonia
My name is Amanda Bilan, and I am the proud licensee of the Little Seedlings of Livonia: Children of Castle Gardens location. Prior to my job with Little Seedlings, I worked for the state of Michigan with special needs children in home settings. This work helped to integrate children into society and with community inclusion. Aiding to help with their individual achievements and future goals with striving to help their independence and productivity each day.
I started working for Little Seedlings of Livonia last summer and fell in love with the job. I loved the job so much I was honored to be able to become the licensee of the Livonia location last month in September. I love being able to spend my days helping to enrich and watch each child learn.
In my free time, I love to cook, hike/spend time in nature, and spend time with my family and friends. I love my job so much, and I am so thankful I get to spend my days with your amazing children and work with an incredible group of women!
Jessica Garnett, Licensee at Little Seedlings of Grosse Pointe
My name is Jessica Garnett. I’m 49 years old, and I am the mother of 4 wonderful grown children. I’ve been in the childcare profession for many years. I was a childcare director for 5 years before joining the Little Seedlings team. I have also taught preschool for many years. I love working with all ages of children, and child development is my passion. My favorite activity is hiking and being out in nature discovering new things. I love sushi, quality espresso drinks and acoustic music. I look forward to making friends with you, and your precious little ones!
Shelby Matusiczky, Licensee at Little Seedlings of Berkley
My name is Shelby Matusiczky, I am one of the loving teachers/Licensee at Little Seedlings of Berkley. I originally started at the Birmingham location where I got to know and love everything about Little Seedlings, then I moved on to be the licensee at the Beverly Hills location. I accepted the position at Little Seedlings in November of 2022 but for the last 5 years I have worked full time in early childhood settings. I have been passionate about childcare since I was 12 years old, beginning with caring for babies that attended our family’s church. I graduated with my Associate’s degree in 2019 and began taking classes for my Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood right away. This past year, I took a break from college classes while I was planning my wedding but I am so excited to get back into classes to finish that degree! In my free time, I enjoy cooking, reading, shopping with my 3 sisters, bike riding, camping, and hanging out with my husband. I am so excited to have started this journey with Little Seedlings and love everyday I get to nurture all the children!
Antonia Barthlow, Licensee at Little Seedlings of Beverly Hills
Hi! My name is Antonia Barthlow. I am the licensee at the Beverly Hills location! I have worked in child care for over 8 years! I worked for an elementary school doing before and after care. I’ve also worked at two daycare centers, and was a nanny for four children under five years old !
Fun things I love to: Traveling, nature walks, sports games and spending time with friends and family! I am so grateful to be apart of the Little Seedlings family!
Jill Sadler, Teacher at Little Seedlings of Birmingham and Bloomfield
Hello! My name is Jill Sadler. My daughter Emerson and I live in the Birmingham area with her dad, Chris, our dog, Panda and cat, Ben. My degree in Early Childhood Development taught me what to focus on and the best techniques for getting the most out of my time with children, but my twenty-ish years nannying and teaching pre school established my understanding of what they need and how to make them feel safe. The families I have nannied for in the past have since become a much larger extended family for me, as I cherish those relationships dearly.
Thank you for sharing your children with us- every single one of them is a delight and I am very lucky to spend their early childhood with them. It is a very important time in their life (and yours) and I take that very seriously.
Sherrie Reed, Teacher at Little Seedlings of Livonia
Hi, my name is Sherrie Reed. I have worked in Child Care since 1998. Before I came to Little Seedlings, Livonia I was a Montessori Preschool teacher. And before that I was a lead teacher in Infants and Toddlers. I love working with every age group. Every stage is so unique and so fun!! Working at Little Seedlings is so enjoyable. I love the smaller class size, the personal attention I can give your children and the team of women we have is amazing. We all love what we do and work together to give your children the best care and experiences we can. Outside of work, I’m a wife and mother. My family keeps me busy. I love to spend time with them and our friends. I like to travel, go on outings and just enjoy life.
Emily Thanasi, Teacher at Little Seedlings of Grosse Pointe
Hello! I'm Emily. I'm a mom of 3 beautiful little girls ages 8, 5, and 2. Before joining this wonderful Little Seedlings team, I was a certified toddler teacher, an infant room assistant teacher, as well as an occasional substitute for Early Head Start. I've also nannied locally throughout the years. I have over 14 years of childcare experience. I grew up in a family of music educators, and I've always had a passion for early childhood development!
In my spare time, I've enjoyed volunteering in the children's nursery and helping out at my children's elementary school. My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the local library story times throughout the years. I love our local Neighborhood Club, Tot Lot, as well as the many waterfront parks. My husband and I both went to school here in Grosse Pointe, and now we're raising our own children in this community we both love so much.
My goal is to provide a safe, nurturing, and language rich environment for your children where they can learn through play! I know how important these early years are, and I am just so excited and privileged to provide the support needed for your little ones to grow!
Savanah Cramb, Teacher at Little Seedlings of Bloomfield
Hello families! My name is Savanah and I am a mom to a beautiful 6 year old daughter that just started Kindergarten this year. I also have two small dogs and used to have two lovebirds. Big animal lover! In my free time you can usually find me with my daughter at the park or somewhere else fun that the both of us can enjoy together.
I graduated from EMU in 2015 with a Bachelors in Literature/Creative Writing. I started working in the daycare/preschool setting in 2017 shortly after my daughter was born. It was a great opportunity to be with my daughter in the same place that I worked. I have worked with infants to preschool ages. I have been around children my entire life and started sitting when I was just 12 years old. I love interacting with kids and observing how they are learning and growing. I look forward to getting to know each child at Little Seedlings as well as you!
Emma Duncan, Teacher at Little Seedlings of Bloomfield & Little Acorns of Bloomfield
I am so proud to be a part of the Little Seedlings family. I have always had a passion for teaching children while helping them bloom in their own unique ways. I grew up on the east coast and am happy to call Michigan my new home. I am so excited to get to know you and your little ones. I take pride in always showing up with a smile on my face and a cheerful attitude! I value teaching all children empathy and kindness, with a patient and fun approach. I try my best to provide an environment that maximizes learning, where all children feel comfortable to adventure and start discovering their dreams! On the weekends, I love to go hiking with my two dogs and visit a local farmer’s market. I have lived in four states, traveled to 17 countries, and I am the only girl in a set of triplets!
Chelsea Jager, Teacher at Little Seedlings of Beverly Hills
My name is Chelsea Jager and I am excited to introduce myself as a part-time teacher at Little Seedlings of Beverly Hills! I am a wife and mother of two, a 13-year-old son, and a six-year-old daughter. I believe that a nurturing environment filled with love, creativity, and opportunities for exploration is the foundation for a child's success and I look forward to creating that safe space for your children. In addition to childhood education courses, I have had the opportunity to play an active role in both of my children's schools, building strong relationships with teachers and making lots of little friends along the way! Beyond my love of education, I have a sweet spot for baking. I own a cottage bakery that specializes in decorated sugar cookies and macarons; I aim to make every treat a whimsical collision of sugar and creativity! I am delighted to bring my passion to Little Seedlings and look forward to meeting all of your families and children!
Kassidy Dittmer, Teacher at Little Seedlings of Beverly Hills
Hello! My name is Kassidy, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as an experienced babysitter and nanny with over 8 years of dedicated childcare experience. Throughout my journey, I have had the privilege of caring for children of various ages, backgrounds, and needs, cultivating a deep passion for providing nurturing and safe environments for children to thrive. My journey in childcare began over 8 years ago, where I discovered my natural joy in caring for children. My top priority is always the well-being and happiness of the children under my care. I strive to create a nurturing and engaging environment where children feel safe, valued, and empowered to explore the world around them. I look forward to the opportunity to bring joy, laughter, and peace of mind to your family as we embark on this wonderful journey together!
Alison Frisby, Teacher at Little Seedlings of Grosse Pointe
My name is Alison Frisby. Before moving to Grosse Pointe Woods, in late 2022, I lived in Boston, MA for 20 years and was a private nanny for 17 of those years. I enjoy working with kids of all ages but especially love working with babies and toddlers. Childcare is my passion and I’m so excited to be doing what I love and to be a part of the Little Seedlings family!
In my free time I enjoy hiking, reading, gardening and am a houseplant enthusiast.
Samantha Fredette, Teacher at Little Seedlings of Birmingham
Hello! My name is Samantha Fredette, I recently moved here from Germany and I am so glad to be a part of Little Seedlings. I completed 3 years of school and have a certificate in childcare. After that I worked as a teacher at Educcare for 2 years, were I spoke english with the kids (6month-3years). Working with this age group is amazing, to watch and help them grow! To be in these kids lives is the best part because we learn from them just as much as they learn from us. In my free time I love doing crafts for my small business like crochet, knitting, sewing, t-shirt printing and jewelry making.
Amanda Bennett, Teacher at Little Seedlings of Grosse Pointe
Hello everyone! My name is Amanda Bennett. I am so excited to get to know you and your little ones more.
My experience! I have about 10 years of child care experience. I have worked at various daycares, majority have been in-home, infant to preschool ages. I have also Nannied for two families in the past. In more recent years I worked at a pediatric therapy clinic as a behavior technician for 2 1/2 years. Working with kiddos as young as 2 and as old as 13. I love working with all ages but infants to pre-k are my favorite.
Fun things about me! I love going to the Great Lakes in the summer time and soaking up the sun! I enjoy golfing with my fiancee, playing soccer and hanging out with friends. Going on long walks with our dog, Bella. I’m also very creative and love making art or doing diy projects around the house when I can.
Allea Schneider, Teacher at Little Acorns of Bloomfield
My name is Allea, and I am so excited to be a part of Little Acorns of Bloomfield! I am the mother of a 9 year old girl named Adylen and dog mom to two boys Winston (3) and Duke (1). I have experience in child care outside of being a mother. I’ve worked in daycares and have spent the last two years working lunch recess at my daughter’s elementary school. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, taking adventures, trying new restaurants, and cleaning! My passion for working with and caring for children has led me here and I am so grateful to be a part of your child’s learning journey!
Christina DelPizzo, Founder of Little Seedlings
Hi! My name is Christina DelPizzo and as a mother of three amazing children (6,9,14), I know the importance of dependable, quality and trustworthy childcare. I started Little Seedlings based on those three pillars and am proud to provide enriching childcare to parents in the community.
My background includes a Masters in Early Childhood Education from EMU, and a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Oakland University.
The continued success of Little Seedlings is due to the amazing team of educators who bring their talent, expertise and passion for childcare to the classroom each and every day. I am so proud that we have been able to create a community where parents feel comfortable leaving their children.
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