ENROLL NOW

OUR TEACHERS

Administrative & Kitchen Staff

Paige, a woman with long blonde hair, smiles warmly at the camera. She is wearing a light gray blazer over a black top. The background is a textured, warm brown color.

Paige Smothers

Owner, Director

Paige was born and raised in Carlisle, graduating from CHS at the top of her class. Once she graduated high school, she attended Simpson College before transferring to the University of Northern Iowa. She graduated from UNI in 2012 with degrees in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Literacy and Special Education endorsements. Paige found her niche while teaching preschool for almost ten years at Carlisle Elementary School and this experience began her dream of owning her own school. After staying at home for two years to raise her two children, Kinsley and Piper, she decided to make her dream a reality, and Sprouts Early Learning Academy was born.

As both a teacher and a life-long resident of the community, Paige knew the desperate need the Carlisle area has for quality, education-based child care. Her passion for teaching and her heart for child development allows Sprouts to offer a wide range of programs and opportunities for all family types. The full-day programs provide working families the opportunity to give their young children a solid educational foundation before they even start elementary school. Simultaneously, the preschool-only option offers shorter programming for families with a little more flexibility in their schedules. Sprouts Early Learning Academy has gained the Carlisle School District’s support by providing programs that promote school readiness.

Paige’s formal education and years of experience in classrooms have taught her that learning has to be hands-on, age-appropriate, and FUN, which is precisely the type of education that Sprouts offers. Sprouts’ mission is to instill a lifelong love of learning in every one of their students. The best way to do that is by creating a positive first experience at school. Sprouts Early Learning Academy truly is the perfect place to grow!

In addition to being the director at Sprouts, Paige is also a board member of the Carlisle Chamber of Commerce. Paige was also appointed by the Governor to serve on the Early Childhood Iowa State Board, where she uses her experience in public school and childcare to help influence legislation that can positively impact our children and families in Iowa. Paige and her girls are big fans of traveling. If they’re not working on projects at home in Carlisle or spending time outside with their pets (including cats, guinea pigs, and chickens), then they’re probably finding new adventures while camping or traveling the world.

Katie, a woman with long blonde hair and glasses, smiles warmly in her pink top and black cardigan. She stands gracefully against a brown textured background.

Katie

On-Site Supervisor

Katie was born and raised in the Carlisle community. She graduated from Carlisle High School in 2016. After high school she attended DMACC and received her Associates Degree. Katie has worked within the Carlisle community since she was 16 years old.

She started her career in childcare at Wildcat ABC, working there for many years. After graduating college, she started at Hartford Upper Elementary as a paraprofessional. She worked one-on-one with students with academic and behavioral needs. After spending a year at Sprouts, she decided it was the perfect place to be full-time and started as the On-Site Supervisor.

Katie is one of six kids. She has two sisters and three brothers. She enjoys having a very big family full of nieces and nephews. She loves spending her free time reading, watching Netflix, and watching football (GO CHIEFS)! Katie’s favorite part of being a part of the school district and Sprouts’ community is seeing the students’ faces light up when you see them outside of school, even long after they have left the building.

Amanda with blonde hair smiles at the camera against a warm, brown textured background. They are wearing a pink top and a black quilted vest.

Amanda

Kitchen Manager

Teachers

Callie, with long brown hair and a cozy gray sweater, smiles warmly while sitting indoors. Behind her, a large window offers an out-of-focus view of the bustling cityscape.

Callie

Rainbow Room

Cassie, with shoulder-length reddish-brown hair, is smiling warmly in a textured brown sweater. The background offers a golden-brown hue, creating a soft and cheerful ambiance to the portrait.

Cassie

Green Room

Codi, with shoulder-length dark hair, sits comfortably in a green cable-knit sweater against a warm, textured brown background. They look forward, smiling softly.

Codi

Green Room

A young woman with long hair, named Ellie, smiles softly at the camera. She is wearing a gray sweater and stands against a warm, textured brown background.

Ellie

Red Room

Haley, with her shoulder-length blonde hair, smiles warmly while wearing a speckled sweater, posing against a rich, textured backdrop.

Haley

Purple Room

Kallie, with long, straight blonde hair, smiles warmly at the camera against a plain white background. She's dressed in a black jacket over a white t-shirt and sports a stylish nose ring.

Kallie

Red Room

Kara

Preschool Teacher

Kay

Preschool Teacher

A woman with short gray hair and glasses is smiling. She is wearing a pink top and earrings. The background consists of a beige wall and furniture, with green vertical borders on both sides of the image.

Mary

Preschool Teacher

Mary, with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing glasses and a black and red hoodie, smiles warmly in front of a plain white wall.

Mary

Purple Room

Miranda with blonde hair smiles while taking a selfie indoors. She is wearing a brown top, a textured cardigan, and a long beaded necklace. In the background, there is a small decorated Christmas tree.

Miranda

Purple Room

Natalea, a young woman with long brown hair, smiles while standing against a warm, textured brown background. She is wearing a short-sleeved, light olive-green top.

Natalea

Rainbow Room

Tristine, with light hair tied up and wearing a tan top, smiles at the camera. The background is a warm, textured brown hue.

Tristine

Red/Rainbow Room

Zaddie with long wavy brown hair is smiling at the camera. They are wearing a blue hoodie against a plain white background.

Zaddie

Purple Room

Substitutes/Seasonal Staff

Addie, a young woman with long brown hair, smiles warmly at the camera. She's wearing a pink shirt and a necklace with a butterfly pendant. The softly lit room with grey walls in the background adds to the gentle ambiance of the scene.

Addie

Part Time

Allie

Seasonal

Amelia

Seasonal

Austin smiles while sitting on a wooden fence overlooking a scenic canyon with a river flowing through it. The background features steep cliffs, lush greenery, and a clear blue sky.

Austin

Seasonal

Ella, with her long blonde hair, smiles at the camera while wearing a beige sweater with black stripes. The backdrop is a warm, textured brown, enhancing her radiant presence.

Ella

Part Time

Jan, with shoulder-length hair, smiles at the camera while wearing a dark jacket against a brown, textured background.

Jan

Part Time

Kaylee

Seasonal

Kyler, a young person with curly brown hair, smiles at the camera. They are wearing a white T-shirt with red lettering and a silver chain necklace, standing against a plain light gray wall.

Kyler

Part Time

Lainey

Seasonal

Lee

Substitute Teacher

A young woman named Parker, with long, wavy hair and a pendant necklace, stands against a textured brown backdrop wearing a dark green, long-sleeved shirt.

Parker

Part Time

A person with long, light-colored hair, wearing a black leather jacket, poses outdoors with their hand on their head. The sun is shining behind them, casting a warm light around their figure. The background is blurred, suggesting a rooftop or elevated location.

Piper

Seasonal

Reese

Seasonal

Sam, with long red hair and glasses, smiles warmly while wearing a purple sweatshirt against a softly blurred brown background.

Sam

Part Time

Search

iowa women's foundation grant partner logo