Jenn Merrill
Center Director
I am the Director at Creative Kids. I have proudly been a part of the Creative Kids family for over a decade, where I have grown alongside the children, families, and staff that make our center so special. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Human Services, which has provided me a strong foundation in child development, family support, and early childhood education.
Working with children is truly my passion. I love creating a nurturing, safe and engaging environment where every child feels valued and supports as they learn and grow. Building meaningful relationships with families and helping children reach their full potential is what inspires me every day. I am honored to be a part of their early learning journey.
Elisha Boardman
Assistant Director
I'm Elisha, the Assistant Director at Creative Kids Learning Center. I have been a part of the Creative Kids Family for two years and have been working with children since I was sixteen. Giving me close to 15 years of experience in early childhood education. I'm also a proud mom to a fun and sassy 10-year old daughter who keeps me on my toes! I love warm weather and spending quality time with my family. My favorite part of my job is building strong relationships with our families and supporting our team to create a positive, caring environment where children can grow and thrive!
Melody Sanchez
Owner/Operator
I am a wife, mom of two and business owner. I graduated from Iowa State with a degree in Agricultural Business. I have grown a passion for caring for children as I realized how much I valued the care of my own. Creative Kids is a place I am excited to bring my own children to, and I hope it can be the same for everyone!
Casey McIlrath
Pre-K Lead Teacher
I have worked with children pretty much most of my life. I was a special education teacher at Crocker elementary and now I'm taking the adventure to teach preschool trying to get them ready for kindergarten so they go in as ready as can be to be a successful student. I enjoy working with children because they are our future and starting young means we start great habits young. I am the mother of two boys whom I'm more than proud of. I enjoy being outdoors and teaching Independence and helping children find their way to learn the best. In my past I have worked with all kinds of children, a lot of autistic or behavior challenged children.
Sara Thompson
3's Lead Teacher
My name is Sara and I have been working with children for 15 years. I grew up in Tooele, Utah and Janesville, California. I am married and have 2 children, a 14 year old boy named Aeden and a 9 year old daughter named Naomi. We lived in Utah and moved here to Ankeny, having lived here now for almost 6 years.
In Utah I worked at a preschool for 4 years. I worked as a Nanny for 3 years. I was a stay at home mom for 3 years while babysitting. We moved out here and I worked at an Elementary school working with special needs children for 4 years. I worked at Creative kids in the summer before starting fulltime. I am the lead teacher in the Orca room. My favorite part of my job is working with these kids and teaching them and seeing how they have been improving and growing. Their hugs in the morning when they run to you because they are happy to see you makes my heart happy.
Josie Soriano
18-36 mo. Lead Teacher
Hi! My name is Josie, and I am the Lead Teacher in the Toddler Room (ages 18–36 months). My passion for working with children began early when I started caring for my baby brothers, and I have since spent over nine years working professionally in child care. My experience ranges from infancy to school-age, including roles as a floater and a Lead Preschool Teacher.
Outside of work, I have two daughters who keep me busy! We love going shopping, enjoying outdoor activities, and finding new adventures together. My favorite part of teaching is watching the little ones develop their independence and grow confident in themselves!
Emily Leeper
Infant Room Lead Teacher
My name is Emily Leeper. I am the Lead teacher of our Infant room! I have worked with children in a child care setting for over 5 years most of that time was with infants and toddlers! I have four children of my own. We spend a lot of our time doing sports activities, shopping and trying new things! I am big on new adventures, I love to keep my mind busy as well as the kiddos! I have always enjoyed working with children watching them grow and learn new things! I have worked with all ages up to school age but the littles have a special place in my heart!
Brooke Rattray
School Age Lead Teacher
I am 26 years old and moved to Ankeny from a small town in 2020. I spent most of my early career in retail, but once I discovered my passion for working with children, I found my way to Creative Kids.
Throughout the years, I’ve babysat for family and friends, but I always knew I wanted to do more. I joined Creative Kids in 2021 as an assistant in the three-year-old room and later became the lead teacher for the school-age program. I also became Center Supervisor in 2023 to help out in daily operations.
Working with school-age children has become my favorite part of this journey. It’s incredible to watch how quickly they grow, learn, and develop their own personalities. One of my greatest accomplishments has been watching our little ones grow into confident, capable school-age kids.
I’m grateful to be part of their learning and growing every day.
Thomas Hammond
Pre-K Assistant
Hi, I'm Thomas! I have over 7 years of experience working with children and I am proud to be an assistant teacher helping out in different classrooms! My favorite part about working with kids is seeing their excitement during discovery and play. My number one focus is always listening to the kids' needs and making sure they have a wonderful, fun time while they are here with us!
Aly Gentz
Floating Assistant
Hi! I’ve been working with children since 2018 in private nannying, in home care and center settings. As a floating assistant, I love jumping in wherever im needed and building meaningful connections with every child I meet. In 2025, I earned my RBT certification which deepened my passion for supporting and advocating for children on the spectrum. I’m also a proud mom of two young boys, so I truly understand the importance of patience, creativity and a little bit of humor each day. I especially enjoy creating fun crafts, encouraging imagination, and helping children feel confident and included. When Im not at work, you can find me on a side quest with the boys, enjoying a nice trip to Costco or cozy at home with a board game.
Ally Hainline
Floating Assistant
Coming Soon!