Meet our Leadership Team the Heart of DKZ
Preschool & Daycare Center Serving Montana City, Clancy, Helena, East Helena, Bozeman, MT, Ogden, South Ogden And West Haven, UT
Rachel Supalla M. Ed
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Rachel has her Master’s degree in Early Childhood administration. She went to college in Springfield, Mo and San Diego California for a degree in Early Childhood education. Rachel became Montessori certified in 2010 and has since developed a unique, progressive educational system that combines the best of all Early Childhood methods.
She has written articles for several magazines and online publications discussing Early Childhood and Montessori methods. Her unique Early Childhood methods have been featured on many popular Early Childhood websites and are well known throughout the country. Through careful observations and assessments, the staff at Discovery Kidzone has seen great success with this method of education. Rachel is continuing her education to eventually obtain her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Administration and Curriculum Development.
When she is not working in the education field, she is at home with her husband and high school sweetheart, Eric. She has been happily married for 20 years and is the proud mother of 4 children named Abigail, Allison, Zackary and Trenton. She has recently begun writing and blogging.
Developing and sharing new teaching methods is her passion! Rachel enjoys being in the outdoors, water skiing, 4 wheeling, horseback riding, traveling with her family, gourmet cooking, baking, decorating and anything creative.
Jennifer Gaudioso
Chief Operating Officer
Jen is a passionate and dedicated leader in early childhood education with over 18 years of experience running her own successful in-home child care program. Her journey with Discovery Kidzone began in March 2023 as Vice President of Operations, where her commitment to excellence and her love for nurturing growth quickly made an impact. In March 2024, she proudly stepped into the role of Chief Operating Officer. Jen thrives on building strong teams, creating systems that support success, and ensuring every child, family, and staff member feels seen, supported, and valued. Her heart for leadership and her deep-rooted belief in the power of early education drive her to elevate every school she serves.
Claire Lombardo
Director of Operations (Regional Director) - Helena
Claire Lombardo serves as Director of Operations for Discovery Kidzone, overseeing multiple DKZ locations across Montana. With more than 20 years of leadership experience and a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development from California State University, Dominguez Hills, she is passionate about developing exceptional leaders, supporting high-quality early learning, and driving organizational growth. Since joining Discovery Kidzone in 2020, Claire has helped strengthen operations while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Melissa Velin
Executive Experience Officer (DKZ 2 Director)
Introducing Melissa Velin, a seasoned professional in early childhood education with a rich history. Before her influential tenure at Discovery Kidzone, Melissa was the proud owner of an in-home childcare facility. With firsthand entrepreneurial experience, she seamlessly transitioned her passion for fostering child development into a thriving educational space. Now, as the Regional Director and Professional Development Specialist at Discovery Kidzone, Melissa’s unique background brings a wealth of practical insights to her leadership role. Her journey from in-home childcare owner to industry influencer showcases her unwavering commitment to shaping the future of young learners.
Eric Supalla
Jack of All Trades
Eric started his career in Early Childhood as a toddler teacher after many years of experience working for a government contractor and leading teams of mostly men. He is now Mr. Everything. Eric has taught every age group and was the school age Director. He is our maintenance man and does billing for all four schools.
He is also our resident outdoor and survival specialist and handyman. Eric is married to Mrs. Rachel and together they have 4 children. Eric coaches football and baseball in Jefferson County and enjoys hunting, fishing, camping and anything outdoors.
Shelsey Shute
Enrollment Specialist
Hi, I’m Shelsey Shute, Executive Connections Officer at Discovery Kidzone! I’ve worked in childcare since 2013 and have been part of the DKZ family since September 2020. I support our Montana and Utah families with enrollment, billing, and getting connected to our school community. My favorite part of my role is building relationships with families and helping them feel comfortable and supported as they begin their DKZ journey.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, a good cup of coffee, and animals. I’m thankful to be part of a community where children and families can grow together!
Megan Towers
Family Engagement Specialist
Megan has been in the Early Childhood field for over 14 years. From owning her own in-home daycare to working in centers as a bus driver, teacher, program specialist, and on management teams. She currently has her CDA and is working on her bachelor’s degree. She is very passionate about teaching and the families in her care. She’s excited to help families and teachers alike in their learning journey.
Sarah Roddewig
DKZ 1 Director
Hi, I’m Sarah! I have been part of the Discovery Kidzone family since June 2014 and have had the opportunity to grow through several roles, eventually becoming the Director of Core Values. I earned my Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and am passionate about creating positive, meaningful experiences for children, families, and teachers.
Outside of work, I am the proud mom of three amazing children—one daughter and two sons. I love spending time with my family, making memories together, and bringing that same sense of connection and community to Discovery Kidzone. Building strong relationships with our teachers and families is one of my favorite parts of what I do, and I feel grateful to be part of a team that makes a difference in the lives of children every day.
Jessalyn Burnett
DKZ 4 director
Hello Discovery Kidzone Families! My name is Jessalyn Burnett, and I have the honor of being the new Director of Discovery Kidzone 3. Change can be scary so here is a little look into my life to get to know me better.
I am a mother of four beautiful children. I have two daughters and two sons: Zakiya (age 7), Kaila (age 2), Da’Marion (age 5), and Da’Kari (3 months). My kids are my world and something wonderful about that is I apply my love for my own kids, to the children I teach. I am a strong believer in treating the children I work with the way I would want my own children to be treated by others. For fun, our family loves to do movie nights, go for walks, and family game nights. These things have been something special our family has done since our first daughter Zakiya was born.
I was born and raised in Washington State, and this is where my children were born, where I met my husband, and made twenty-three years of memories. A year ago packed up our house in a matter of two weeks and moved from Washington State to beautiful Montana. This move has been a very big change for our family, but we are so thankful for all the kindness we have received since moving here. So far, I’ve found the best food I’ve ever ate and some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
When it comes to childcare, my background is of considerable length for teaching. I grew up nannying several different families from ages twelve to eighteen years old. Once I turned eighteen, I took my experience to the real world and started my career with Three Rivers Christian School Early Learning Center where I ministered to children. I worked as an Infant Lead teacher for almost four years until I moved onto being a Toddler Lead Teacher for about six months. After those six months I went on maternity leave to be home with my sweet baby girl Kalia and after eleven months, I was ready to get back into the swing of teaching again. I have currently been with Discovery Kidzone for over a year now as Assistant Director of DKZ2 and recently accepted Director of Community for DKZ3. My favorite part about teaching is watching and being an integral part of your child’s learning. I find joy in seeing every child gain their own personalities, likes/dislikes and even strengths/weaknesses. I have watched my infant class grow and start first grade, and to me; it’s a wonderful feeling to know that I got to be a part of their learning.
Something fun about me is that I love art. I’m known for always having an outstanding amount of art in my classrooms. You’ll find that my decorating skills are endless when it comes to holidays/seasons. I consider Pinterest my best friend when creating a classroom to provide a fun and educational learning environment. I’m also known for coming up with some very creative ways to learn. I base my teaching off of fine/gross motor, sensory play, social and emotional, music/art, and most important making learning fun.
I want to thank you for trusting me with your children and please never hesitate to speak with me. I am a strong believer in communicating and growing a bond with parents. When we work together, we can achieve so much more in the world of learning and fun!
-Jessalyn Burnett
Abbie
Behavior Support Specialist/Regional Summer Camp Director
Hi, I’m Abbie! I’ve been part of the Discovery Kidzone team for around eight years, and for the past four, I’ve had the incredible joy of serving as the Summer Camp Director. I actually grew up attending DKZ for after school care and summer camp — and now I get to help create the same kind of lifelong memories that I still remember from when I was a kid. That full-circle experience makes my work here even more special.
I graduated from Jefferson High School in 2020, earned my Bachelor’s in P–8 Education from the University of Montana Western in 2024, and started my Master’s in Developmental Psychology in 2025.
I’ve been watching Survivor since I was 10 and love bringing that adventurous, team-based energy into our school age programs. Outside of DKZ, I enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, and spending time outdoors with close friends and family. When I’m home, I love reading, gaming, and snuggling with my two cats (Milo and Finn) and two horses (Luna and Willow).
DKZ Bozeman Leaders
Codie Hart
Liz Kennedy
DKZ North and DKZ West Director
Hello! I’m Elizabeth Kennedy, Director of Discovery Kidzone’s Bozeman North and Bozeman West locations. I have been working in early childhood education for over 12 years, beginning my career in my home state of Colorado before making Montana my home. Throughout my journey, I have been passionate about creating safe, engaging learning environments where children can thrive and supporting teachers as they grow in their careers.
I am married to my wonderful husband, and together we have two beautiful children, a dog, and a cat. As a family, we love spending our summers fishing, traveling whenever we get the chance, and making new memories together. Life is always busy, and with two young children, there’s truly never a dull moment—but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
DKZ Utah Leaders
Kara Eddington
Regional Director
Kara Eddington has dedicated more than 30 years to early childhood education and serves as
Regional Director, supporting multiple schools throughout Utah. She holds a degree in Early
Childhood Education with an emphasis in Child and Family Studies and is passionate about creating safe, nurturing, and high-quality learning environments where children can thrive. Kara
believes every child deserves a strong foundation built on meaningful relationships, engaging
learning experiences, and a caring community.
She is committed to supporting teachers, partnering with families, and ensuring each school provides exceptional care and education where children feel loved, valued, and inspired to grow. Outside of work, Kara enjoys spending
time with her family, traveling, and being outdoors.
Jennifer Stark
Educational Coach/Curriculum Specialist
Jennifer has worked in early childhood education since January 2000. She earned her degree in Early Childhood Education from Weber State University and holds an Early Childhood Coaching Certificate from the Dynamic Coaching Systems Early Childhood Coaching Institute. After teaching Prekindergarten for 18 years, Jennifer embraced the opportunity to become an educational coach. She loves working alongside teachers and children in the classroom, supporting their growth, and celebrating their successes. Jennifer believes the most meaningful learning happens when children feel safe, valued, and excited to explore.
Her coaching approach is centered on building strong relationships, recognizing each teacher’s unique strengths, and providing encouragement and practical support that helps both teachers and children thrive. Outside of work, Jennifer loves spending time with family and friends. She enjoys reading, watching movies, visiting Disneyland, and expressing her creativity by making custom shirts, hats, and other fun projects. She believes there is a little magic to be found in every day—especially when it is shared with the people she loves.
Shawnsi Szerszen
Kinder Academy Director
With 18 years of dedicated experience in early childhood education and childcare, I have spent nearly two decades fostering safe, nurturing, and joyful learning environments where preschool-aged children can thrive. My professional journey is deeply rooted in my personal life as a proud mom of six incredible children.
Blended with my professional expertise is a beautiful 20-year marriage to my high school sweetheart. As a family, our greatest adventures happen in nature. When I am not in the classroom, you can find us camping, hunting, and embracing everything the great outdoors has to offer. I bring this same passion for discovery, resilience, and adventure into my work, helping young learners explore the world around them with curiosity and confidence.
Ashley Nielsen
Children's Classic Ogen Director
With 14 years of experience in early childhood education, I proudly serve as the Preschool Director of DKZ Learning Centers’ Ogden, Utah location. I am passionate about leading a dedicated team that provides children with a fun, safe, and nurturing environment where they can learn, explore, and feel a true sense of belonging. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, getting lost in a good book, and cheering on my favorite hockey team.
Kim Harding
Children's Classic South Ogden Director
Kim has worked in early childhood education since 1999 and holds both a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential and a National Administrator Credential (NAC). She is passionate about creating a welcoming, supportive environment where children feel loved, families feel valued, and teachers feel encouraged to grow and succeed. Kim truly loves the teachers, children, and families she serves and considers the relationships she has built over the years one of the greatest joys of her career.
Outside of work, Kim treasures spending time with her husband, children, and many
grandchildren. She loves relaxing and swimming in her pool, but she is especially known for decorating and throwing parties for every occasion. Kim loves bringing people together and making every celebration feel special and memorable.
Nila Smith
Coordinator/Enrollment Specialist
Nila has been a part of Children’s Classic since November of 1992. She started as a preschool teacher. She then went to pre-kindergarten, served as the assistant director, then taught the Kindergarten Class starting back in 1998. She is now taking on a new role as a coordinator for the Utah Schools. She has a love for children that spreads through many families and generations. She loves nurturing and helping children grow.
Chris Lombardo
Montana Region Maintenance Manager
Kellan Mitchell
Montana Region Maintenance Team
How Old Is Your Child?
Infants
Infants
6 Wks - 12 Months
Toddlers
Toddlers
2 - 3 Years
Preschool
Preschool
3 - 4 Years
Advanced Pre-K
Advanced Pre-K
4 - 5 Years
Kindergarten & 1st Grade
Kindergarten & 1st Grade
5 - 7 Years
Before & After School
Before & After School
6 - 12 Years
summer camp
