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
Ms. Shelby Graves
Assistant Program Director
sgraves@icanchildcare.com
My name is Shelby, and I have been part of the I Can family since December 2014. I began my journey as an Assistant Teacher and have grown into the roles of Lead Teacher, Administrative Assistant, and now Assistant Program Director. With my experience, I really enjoy supporting our young learners during their most important developmental years. I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Special Education, with an anticipated graduation in 2027. This continued education strengthens my ability to support inclusive learning environments and advocate for children of all abilities. Outside of work, I am a proud mom to a little boy who has transformed my life in the best ways. Becoming a mother has deepened my passion for early childhood education and the meaningful work we do with children and families each day. I am eager for all that this role will teach me daily and the many opportunities it brings to continue learning and growing as an educator and leader.
Mrs. Merlinda & Ms. Gale
Mirrors & Mirrors 2 Lead Teacher
Mirrors: My name is Merlinda Speller, and I have been working with children for 24 years. I had an In-Home Daycare, supporting Navy families for 14 years, I was in the School System for 3 years and now with I Can for 6 years. I really enjoy seeing all of our children arrive in the morning knowing each of them from the Mirrors Class to Pre-K will grow here. As a Lead Teacher, I love nurturing them to reach their goals and watching them grow. I am happily married with 3 children and 3 grandchildren. The experience of being a Lead Teacher surrounding by my supporting, loving Family has allowed me to be the best I can be!
Mirrors 2: Hello, I am Gale P. Aguilar, known by our little one’s as “Ms. Gale”. I have been on board here at I Can for almost 16 years, for a total of 30 years in Child Care. I love being a Lead Teacher because there is nothing greater than contributing to learning experiences that builds very rapidly in toddlers. I also understand the developmental skills that are needed for toddlers to achieve and become independent as individuals. One thing is for certain, I Can has an excellent academic curriculum from Infants to the Pre-K Program. Always providing and preparing children for the next level of learning.
Ms. Jada Ore
Windows Lead Teacher
Hi my name is Jada and I have been in childcare since 2021. I love working with 2-year-olds, they are my favorite age group. I have always loved babysitting and taking care of children and that is what led me to working in a learning center.
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In Windows, we work on fine and gross motor skills and being more independent. We also work on cognitive skills including counting to 1-10, identifying numbers 1-5, learning shapes and the exposure to the alphabet (letters and sounds). We also work on social and emotional skills along with building language.
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I am so excited to have the opportunity to work as the lead teacher in Windows. I am looking forward to watching the children learn and grow!
Ms. Miuna Crawley
Windows 2 Lead Teacher
Hello, my name is Miuna and I have proudly been a part of the I Can family since April 2021. Caring for children has always held a special place in my heart. From a young age, I discovered that my joy comes from helping little ones feel loved, safe and happy. Starting out as an Assistant Teacher and now stepping into my role as a Lead Teacher in the Windows 2 classroom has been a beautiful journey.
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In our classroom, we learn through name tracing, colors, shapes, numbers, circle time and art, while also building confidence through independence, sharing everyday milestones. I always keep a happy smile on my face to make everyone feel welcome in my classroom. I want every child to feel loved and happy each day. My mission is simple: to create a warm and loving space where every child feels seen, valued, and celebrated so they leave with a full heart, a bright smile and a nice hug.
Mrs. Teri Wilson
Bricks 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, then the Windows 2 Lead Teacher and now as the Bricks Lead Teacher. 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! If you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me at I CAN: 757-766-6161
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. Leah Nilsen
Bricks 2 Lead Teacher
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Hi there! My name is Ms. Leah and I am the lead teacher in Bricks 2. I’ve been with I Can since 2023 and I am so grateful for the opportunity to guide young minds every day. I’ve lived in a few different states (NewYork, New Jersey, Maine) before moving here to Virginia. A few months after settling in, I found I Can and it was a great fit! I have my bachelors degree in Developmental Psychology from The University of Maine, and I am lucky to be able to put it to use in a classroom setting.
In Bricks 2, your child will be constantly encouraged to try their best and persevere, even when faced with challenges. We work together in math and literacy groups, discuss our biweekly themes during circle time, and put our imaginations to the test in centers. I believe that a healthy balance between work and play is extremely important for a child’s development and that is reflected in my classroom. Although I will always make myself available to my students, I also put an emphasis on independence, as working on this skill is crucial for their age group. I assign daily tasks for each child to be responsible for (line leader, chair helper, lights,etc). I believe this allows each student to feel like they are contributing something, which boosts their self-esteem and fosters that independence. I truly love what I do and I know that my students teach me just as much as I teach them. I am so excited to work in unison with you in order to see your child succeed!
Ms. Hazel Williams
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. 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.