About Us
Sonshine Gardens started after Excel Christian School’s elementary school which was located in our second floor was blessed with their new facility on Baring Blvd. After their move Pastor Dan had a meeting with the board of Elders and they all agreed that it would be great for the Community to open a Daycare and Preschool.
Meet our Staff
Mrs. Curtis
Director & Pre-K Teacher
Linda Curtis is our Director at Sonshine Gardens as well as our Preschool Teacher. She retired from the Washoe County School District, and she has years of extensive educational experience. As our Director and Preschool Teacher, she uses all that experience to help prepare our preschoolers for their transition to Kindergarten and beyond. We are so thankful to have her at Sonshine Gardens.
Mallory Baker
Lead 2 Year Teacher & Assistant Director
Mallory is our Lead Two-Year Class Teacher. Mallory started with Sonshine Gardens when we first opened in 2013. She left to finish school and raise her babies. She now has her youngest at Sonshine Gardens. She has a great gift of patience and loves working with parents to encourage and develop plans to help each child grow.
Joannie Kennedy
Lead 3 Year Teacher
Joannie is currently a retired insurance agent after 30 years and is an active member at University Family Fellowship and Daughters of the One True King. As a mother of four children and grandmother of two with another one on the way, Joannie is excited to start this new adventure as the lead three-year teacher at Sonshine Gardens. She and her husband are empty nesters, love to travel, and have two chocolate labradors.
Kimberly
Teacher
My name is Kimberly. I have lived in the Reno/Sparks area my whole life. I have been blessed to
be a stay-at-home mom to an amazing little girl for seven years. I have been a FFN provider for
my sister off and on for the past three years. Mckenzie, her daddy, and I are avid readers and we
love the outdoors. We have three active dogs who keep us very busy.
Nelly Munoz
Nursery Lead Teacher
Nelly is our Lead Teacher in the Nursery and has been with Sonshine Gardens for over 8 years. As a mother and grandmother, she uses her skills in the nursery every afternoon. The babies light up when they see Ms. Nelly.
Riley Matthews
Teacher’s Aid
More about Riley coming soon!
Tracy Henry
Office Administrative Assistant
Tracy is our administrative assistant in the office. Her most important job that she loves is greeting the children each morning to start their day of right.
Pastor Dan Sipma
Owner / Caregiver
Pastor Dan Sipma just loves having the daycare and preschool here at the Church. Pastor Dan is the first one there every morning to open up and the last one there every night to close down. A lot of the children call him “Pastor Dan” but his “favorite title” is Grandpa. He has a special little thing he does with the children: “Give me 5, give me a little knuckle, give me a little wiggle.”
Karen Sipma
Administrator
Karen Sipma works outside of the daycare as a commercial lines insurance agent and also works as the administrator for the daycare. When we started Sonshine Gardens Daycare & Preschool in August of 2013, our desire was to be an extended part of your family, not babysitters. We pray that once your child begins at this center, that you experience the community of ohana (family). We truly pray you agree that Sonshine Gardens Darcare & Preschool is a great place to grow.