Meet Our Staff
The I CAN Team makes the difference! Our team is made up of highly qualified teachers, an Administrator, and a Program Director who is well educated in childhood development and passionate about the success and happiness of each child. Each teacher is dedicated to the development of every child and their learning potential. Our Teacher to Student ratios allow teachers to focus on the individual learning styles and needs of each child. Our team is committed to forming strong relationships with you to ensure the best possible experience for your child. Our commitment to effective communication will support your child's success at I CAN.
Program Director, Owner
tstith@icanchildcare.com
Ms. Tiffany taught elementary school for over ten years, and then was promoted to Assistant Principal. After holding her administrative position for several years, she decided to dedicate her time to sharing her knowledge about early childhood education. Unfortunately, too many Kindergarteners do not meet the benchmarks because they were not a part of a program that adequately prepared them. Our team is committed to ensuring children in our program are ready for the challenges presented when they transition from our center into their Kindergarten program. Ms. Tiffany is confident that, each day, her team helps decrease the number of children who are not prepared for Kindergarten.
Master of Science in Education, Old Dominion University
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Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Mary Washington University
Administrator, Owner
dtanner@icanchildcare.com
Ms. Debbie served as an Operating Room (OR) Nurse and became the OR Nurse Educator for four years. She was then promoted to Director of Outpatient Surgery for Riverside Health System (RHS). While serving in that role for nine years, she was elected to serve on the National Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Board of Directors. She later stepped down from her AORN position to serve as the Vice President of Behavioral Health with RHS. Ms. Debbie spent her final two years with RHS creating and shaping the Diversity Program and RHS Leadership Program, before retiring from RHS to serve as the Administrator of I CAN. She now spends each day managing I CAN employees and business operations, as well as interacting with students and parents.
Master of Science in Management, Troy State University
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Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Christopher Newport University
Tiffany Tanner-Stith, MSEd, BS
Debbie Tanner, MSM, BSN
Mrs. Malindia Abbs
Assistant Program Director
mabbs1@icanchildcare.com
Hello!! My name is Malindia Abbs and I am honored to be a part of the I CAN family as your new Assistant Program Director. I first discovered my passion for helping children when helping my mother operate her in-Home daycare during my childhood years. I then started my own childcare journey in 2010 at The Salvation Army, where I had the pleasure of caring for over 100 children.
My husband and I have 3 children of our own and strive to be the best role models for not only them, but for any child that crosses our paths. I look forward to working with and watching your children learn and grow here at I CAN!!
Ms. Sharday Mack
Mirrors & Mirrors 2 Lead Teacher
Hey! Hey! My name is Ms. Sharday. I am the Lead Teacher for our Mirrors and Mirrors 2 classrooms. I recently moved to Virginia from Philadelphia, PA, where I received a degree from the Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. I took courses in Infant & Early Toddler Development, and have tons of experience with children in and out of childcare.
In the Mirrors classroom, we focus on developmental milestones and building social skills. This work is in preparation for the Mirrors 2 classroom, where developmental milestones and social skills are still a main focus, but we also learn ABC’s, colors, numbers, shapes and sign language. Sign language is used for those who are just learning language skills, and may not have mastered common words. I look forward to meeting you and watching your little one learn and grow at I CAN Childcare & Learning Center. Any questions? Feel free to contact me at mssharday.ican_7@yahoo.com or contact I CAN.
Wanda Rodriguez
Windows Lead Teacher
I am a mom three daughters and a grandmother of four grandsons. I love children and have babysat throughout my life! I worked in child care for all ages for five and a half years, then moved to Hampton, VA to be near my grandchildren. I joined I CAN two years ago as an Assistant Teacher and honored to now by the Lead Teacher for the Windows classroom. In my class, we teach children colors, shapes, and numbers to prepare them for Windows 2.
Ms. Valerie Nell
Bricks Lead Teacher
Hello! I am the lead teacher for our Bricks class. I started teaching at I CAN in August 2022 after my family moved from Arizona to Virginia. I feel so fortunate to be a part of this amazing team and work with your incredibly talented children! I have a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of South Florida but I realized early on that my true passion was teaching and caring for children. I personally have three children of my own who are ages two, five, and seven.
In Bricks, we focus on identifying uppercase and lowercase letters and knowing which sounds they make. We discuss colors and shapes and begin to identify numbers. We work on building fine motor skills by developing an effective pencil grip. During circle time, we listen to stories and discuss the characters and settings. We also focus on calendar skills such as identifying the date, months of the year, days of the week, and upcoming holidays. Each week, we focus on a specific theme in our classroom to develop your child’s critical thinking skills. We also make daily art projects to help build on their creativity. We are very busy learning new skills, and I am eager to help each child reach their potential!
Ms. Hazel Truitt
Ladders Lead Teacher
Greetings! My name is Ms. Hazel and I am very excited for the opportunity to be the lead teacher in 'Ladders' classroom. Being able to be a part of the children's lives is absolutely wonderful. I will do my best to meet the needs of each and every child I serve. We will be engaging in circle time; here we will discuss shapes, colors, letters, numbers and more. We will also learn while we play in centers. I will always strive to engage the children in conversation to encourage language development and to just help me to get to know each of them better. The expectations are great at I CAN and I am excited to help each child rise to those standards. Teaching little ones has always been my passion. I look forward to helping your child to learn and grow, while having fun. If you ever have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to let me know. You can always reach me by phone at the center (757) 766-6161.
Ms. Teri
Windows 2 Lead Teacher
Hi there, my name is Teri. I started my journey at I CAN in 2018. I have enjoyed my time here, first as an Assistant Teacher and now as the Windows 2 Lead Teacher. I also enjoy spending some time In other classrooms to help care for children of all ages. I took a break from my teaching role to spend time with family and am now back and ready to shape your little one’s mind beyond these classroom walls! In Windows 2, we will work on being self sufficient, or being able to complete daily tasks independently. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me at I CAN: 757-766-6161
Under Construction
Bricks 2 Lead Teacher
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Ms. Carol Beimler
Ladders 2 Lead Teacher
My name is Carol and I am the lead teacher in the 'Ladders 2' classroom. I have been a part of the I CAN family since 2012. I enjoy working with children and have always wanted to do so. I enjoy the different personalities in my classroom and am very excited to have this opportunity to guide your children through their developmental processes! In Ladders 2, our circle time is fun and educational. Our activities are theme-based and typically change at the beginning of each week. Our day also involves small groups, during which each group learns specific literacy and math skills based on their tailored to their individual abilities. We love to have fun, explore, and learn new things every day. I look forward to working with your child. If you ever have any questions, please feel free to ask. If a question arises while you are away from the center, please call (757)-766-6161. I’m looking forward to a great experience with you and your little one this year!
Want a team dedicated to your child's success?
Call I CAN
We are dedicated to our students for life. We check in on students even after they graduate, and their successes are quite astonishing! All of our I CAN graduates have exceeded the benchmarks when tested during their first quarter of Kindergarten.