Staff

Shideh Holeman
Founder and Director


  • Founded Petite Academy in 1980
  • Mother of two grown successful children which were raised at the Academy 
  • Diploma in Mathematics
  • Certificate in Early Childhood Education from NSCC
  • Over 1000 hrs. of workshop in Early Learning (10 hours annually)
  • Black Belt in Karate.  Managed Us Team Internationally (US team Karate National and World Pan-Am Champions) for 5 years
  • Languages spoken: English and Farsi


Lead Teachers
Our lead teacher's responsibilities include: 
​Observing and assessing children’s development. Planning children’s curriculum based on child development knowledge. Designing the learning environment. Implementing and supervising developmentally appropriate learning activities. Building positive relationships with children and families, and planning guidance strategies for children and involving parents.


Assistant Teachers
Our assistant teacher's responsibilities include: 
Demonstrating competency to implement program activities under direction of a 
lead teacher.
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​

Homa Arvan
​Cook/ Assistant Teacher

  • Proud mother of  four grown successful children
  • Working for Petite Academy since 1990
  • Over 150 hours of workshop in Early Childhood Education
  • Languages spoken: English, Farsi
  • Over 30 hours STARs, First Aide/CPR certification, and food handling experience
  • Continuing education in early childhood

Amy Zehrung
Pre-K Lead Teacher/Assistant Director

  • Mother of one
  • Working at Petite Academy since 2014
  • Working towards AA in early childhood development
  • Over 150 hours of workshop in child development
  • Earned initiate and short certificate from NCCC
  •   30 hours Basic Childhood education , First Aide/CPR certification, and food handling experience​


Alexis Janas-Williams
Lead Preschool (2) Teacher

  • 14 years experience in childcare
  • Working at Petite Academy since 2015
  • Working towards AA in early childhood development
  • Initial and short certificate in early childhood education
  • Over 100 hours of workshops in early childhood education
  • Earned initial and short certificate from NCC
  • 30 hours STARs, First Aide/CPR certification, and food handling experience​

Lins Nunez Lara
Toddler Assistant Teacher​

  • Mother of Two
  • Has been with Petite Academy since 2021
  • Languages spoken: English and Spanish​
  • 30 hours Stars, First Aide/CPR certification, and food handling experience
  • Continuing education in early childhood

Laura reyes
​Pre-K Assistant Teacher

  • ​​Working at Petite Academy since 2020
  • Languages Spoken: English and Spanish
  • Working toward Nursing School
  • 30 hours STARs, First Aide/CPR certification, and food handling experience
  • Continuing education in early childhood

Connor Zehrung
​​Assistant Teacher

  • Graduated from Garfield High School in 2014
  • 1 years experience in Childcare
  • Working at Petite Academy since 2021
  • Working towards Initial and Short Certificate
  • Has enjoyed working with kids since the age of 14
  • Language spoken: English
  • ​30 hours STAR ( Basic childcare education certificate)
  • Over 20 hours of Workshop in ECE
  •  First Aide/CPR Certification, and food handling

Seham Abdo Ahmed
Assistant preschool/pre-k teacher

  • Worked at Petite Academy since 2018
  • Completed 30 hours of basic childcare training in 2018
  • Over 50 hours of STARS in childhood education
  • Languages spoken: English  and Arabic
  • Has a passion for creative art, especially painting
  • Feels its important to provide children with a fun, enriched environment

Wedad faraj
Lead preschool  teacher

  • Worked at Petite Academy since 2015
  • Attended Shoreline Community College studying English
  • Currently working towards CDA (projected completion 2019)
  • Proud mother of 6 children
  • Languages spoken: English and Arabic
  • Working towards Initial & Short Certificate in Early Childhood Education
  • Over 60 hours of workshops in Child Development
  • Earned Initial and Short certificate from NSCC
  • Over 100 hours STARs, First Aide/CPR certification, and food handling experience

Hanieh Raeesie
Toddler assisant Teacher

  • Worked at Petite Academy since 2018
  • Currently Working toward Master degree
  • Languages spoken: English and Farsi
  • Completed 30 hours basic childcare education
  • Over 80 hours  workshop in Childhood Education , First Aide/CPR certification, and food handling experience
  • Continuing education in early childhood
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Heather smith
Lead Preschool (1) Teacher

  • Worked at Petite Academy since 2019
  • Languages spoken: English
  • 30 hours stars in ECU
  •  Initial and Short Certificate in Early Childhood Education
  • Over 30 hours STARs, First Aide/CPR certification, and food handling experience
  • Continuing education in early childhood

ISABELLE RYANT
Lead Toddler teacher

  • Started at Petite Academy February 2021
  • Currently working to AA degree in Early Childhood Education
  • Initial Certificate in Early Childhood Education
  • Languages spoken: English
  •  30 hours STARs, First Aide/CPR certification, and food handling experience

Ikram Benarbia
assistant Pre-K  teacher

  • Started at Petite Academy February 2021
  • Mother of 4 children
  • Completed High School in Morocco and took part time courses as NSCC
  • Languages spoken: English, Arabic, French
  • 30 hours STARs, First Aide/CPR certification, and food handling experience
  • Continuing education in early childhood

Salome Dewell

TEACHER

Karima Mhani

TEACHER

Kateriannah Quartimon 

TEACHER​

​Tanya Bettel

TEACHER