2/3

Joanna Slisz

Joanna believes that children and their families grow best in community, and that belief is at the heart of her classroom. As the 2/3s teacher, her goal is to create a safe and nurturing environment where little ones can explore and thrive. She enjoys building genuine, trusting relationships with parents and caregivers as they work alongside one another in the classroom.

Joanna grew up attending cooperative preschool and kindergarten, and that experience has stayed with her ever since. Over seven years as a parent at another local co-op, she held multiple board roles. She also served on the board for ICPC where she developed an even deeper appreciation for everything the cooperative model offers to children, families, and the community.

Prior to teaching, she spent more than a decade building and running HR programs at several Indianapolis tech companies. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Political Science from Indiana University.

Joanna lives in the historic Irvington neighborhood on Indy’s Eastside with her husband and two young sons.

Class Schedule

Monday & Friday – 9:30am – 11:30am
Tuesday & Thursday – 9:30am – 11:30am

3/4

Jasmine Rau

After 6 years as a parent at MSPC, Jasmine’s love for co-op couldn’t be denied. She joined the teaching team in 2019 and couldn’t wait to use her collective knowledge from her colleagues and trainings to lead the 3/4s class. Jasmine is always eager to share her love for the play-based model and co-op philosophy. She also serves on the ICPC board and is a Classroom Participation Trainer.

Jasmine watched her two boys thrive in ways she never imagined at MSPC. She quickly realized that co-op preschool is more than just a learning experience for the children but rather the entire family. Her studies in Sociology from Indiana University opened her up to the world of nonprofit organizations and the desire to work directly with people, children in particular. She has a passion to continue learning and growing, and believes we can all learn a lot from our preschoolers!

Jasmine lives with her husband, two sons, three dogs, and a bearded dragon.

Mrs. Rau’s Teaching Philosophy:

“I believe it’s our job as adults to set children up to succeed. My classroom is filled with “yes” activities and resources for them to easily learn through play. I try to provide them with opportunities to use their strengths, and maybe sometimes their weaknesses, to make new experiences every day.”

Class Schedule

3/4 – Tuesday & Thursday – 9:30am – 11:45am
* Optional Extended Day Thursday 11:45am – 1:30pm

4/5

Anne Spaniol

When Mrs. Spaniol, our 4/5s teacher, was home with two young children she dreamed of teaching at a co-op school someday. Now she’s living that dream at MSPC where her own children, now teenagers, once attended. Not only does she believe in and understand the co-op philosophy based on her experiences as a co-op parent, but she also knows how children best learn based on her experiences outside of the preschool.

Mrs. Spaniol’s dream job at MSPC began in 2016 but her teaching experience started many years earlier. Before preschool, she was an elementary school teacher with several years spent as a Reading Teacher. She has an Elementary Education degree from the University of Illinois and has completed Reading Recovery Training at Purdue University. Her teaching experience has become the foundation for the creative, play-based curriculum she uses in the classroom. The kids have so much fun interacting with her intentional activities that they don’t distinguish between learning and play – just how it should be.

Mrs. Spaniol’s Teaching Philosophy:

“I love the co-op philosophy of learning through play. Children need time to play, explore, and discover. Through play, children grow socially, physically, and cognitively. It is exciting to see their growth each year!”

Class Schedule

Monday – 9:30am – 11:45am
* Optional Extended Day Monday 11:45am – 1:30pm
Wednesday – 9:30am – 1:30am
Friday – 9:30am – 11:45am

Director

Sarah Nyktas

Sarah’s family joined the MSPC community in 2017, and all three of her children attended all three years at the preschool. She soon discovered that cooperative preschool not only enriched the lives of children, but supported the family as a whole. The community and teachers at Maple Seeds were the rock her family needed during the early-childhood years. During this time, Sarah has held many positions over the years including Silent Auction Committee Chair, Co-VP, Co-President at the height of the pandemic, Treasurer, and accepted the role as Director in 2023.

Sarah has a background in Art, Botany, and Special Library Collections. She has a passion for community building, fundraising, and all things nature. Her family lives in Brockton with a menagerie of pets including three cats, seven chickens, an aquatic turtle, and a python.