Bright Beginnings Childcare
Meet Our Staff
We have a great team of educated teachers to help your children in their early development!
Jennifer Whittington, Director and Owner
Jen founded Bright Beginnings Childcare in 2010 from her family home, inspired by her experience working in childcare and her own journey as a mom searching for quality childcare. What started in her home has grown into an accredited childcare center and a Maryland EXCELS Level 5 program!
Jen holds an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and numerous childcare certifications. She is Maryland Child Care Credentialed at Level 5 and is CPR/First Aid certified. She is passionate about creating a safe, loving, and engaging environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive alongside an amazing team of dedicated teachers.
Outside of Bright Beginnings, Jen loves spending time at the beach and traveling with her husband, Josh, and their children, Kaleb, Madison, and Chase.
Ms. Kellie Humphrey
Ms. Kellie graduated from HCC in 2026 with her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education and is credentialed at a Level 5. She has over 20 years of experience in childcare and has worked with children of all ages. With numerous childcare certifications and extensive experience, she is highly qualified and passionate about early childhood education.
Working with children has always been a passion for Ms. Kellie. As Assistant Director, she enjoys supporting the children, families, and staff at Bright Beginnings and helping create a positive environment for everyone.
Outside of work, Ms. Kellie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, attending dirt track races, and spending time with her dog, Darlene. She is a proud mom to her son, Colbey, and daughter, Karleigh, and enjoys life with her fiancé, Bryce (Bob).
Mrs. Keleigh Chaney
Mrs. Keleigh Chaney is a Substitute. She is certified in Child Development 90 hour, and Infant/Toddler 45 Hour, School Age, CPR and First Aid, Medication Administration, Emergency Preparedness, is Maryland State credentialed at Level 4, and many more trainings. Mrs. Keleigh has been in childcare for 17 years and has worked with children of all ages. Mrs. Keleigh is excited to help your children with their first year milestones! Mrs. Keleigh is married and has a daughter, Matilda.
Ms. Crystal Whittington
Ms. Aubree Seal
Ms. Aubree has been part of the Bright Beginnings family for 6 years and has experience working with children of all ages, from infants through Pre-K.
In 2026, she graduated with honors from HCC with her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She is currently attending Frostburg State University to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Education, with the goal of becoming a public school teacher. Ms. Aubree holds numerous certifications and is highly qualified in early childhood education.
Outside of Bright Beginnings, Ms. Aubree enjoys spending time with her children, Paisley and Parker, and her loving partner, Jordan.
Ms. Morgan Miller
Ms. Morgan joined the Bright Beginnings family in February 2023 and has quickly become a valued member of our teaching team. She attended Washington County Technical High School, where she completed the Education Program and began building the foundation for her career in early childhood education.
Ms. Morgan holds numerous childcare certifications, including her 90-Hour Senior Staff Certification specializing in infants and toddlers. She is Maryland Child Care Credentialed at Level 4 and is a highly qualified teacher with years of experience working with young children.
Ms. Morgan specializes in caring for infants and young toddlers and has a true passion for helping our littlest learners grow, explore, and reach new milestones. Her patience, dedication, and nurturing personality make her a wonderful addition to our infant and toddler classrooms. We are very lucky to have Ms. Morgan as part of the Bright Beginnings family!
Outside of Bright Beginnings, Ms. Morgan loves being a mom to her two sons, Wyatt and Carsen, and spending time with her loving boyfriend, Jaymie. She is also an avid car enthusiast and loves all things cars! When she isn’t spending time with her family or talking cars, you can find her wrangling her four dogs!
Mrs. Stephanie Shank
Ms. Steph holds an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education, along with numerous certifications, and is highly qualified in the field of early childhood education. She is Maryland Child Care Credentialed at Level 5 and has more than 30 years of experience working with children.
For over 20 years, Ms. Steph provided quality childcare from her own home, building meaningful relationships with children and families along the way. She has been a valued member of the Bright Beginnings family for the past 5 years, where she has worked as a Lead PreK Teacher.
Ms. Steph is an incredibly valuable member of our teaching team and is passionate about helping children learn, grow, and reach their full potential. She believes in providing every child with a loving, supportive, and enriching environment where they can thrive.
Outside of Bright Beginnings, Ms. Steph has been married to her husband, Jeff, for 30 years. Together, they have three grown children: Cory, Connor, and Cara. She is also a proud grandmother to two grandchildren, Tatum (Tate) and Lucille (Lucy), who she loves spending as much time with as possible.
Ms. Steph is currently working toward her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education so she can continue growing professionally and providing the highest quality education and care to every child she has the privilege of teaching.
Ms. Jasmine Kelley
Ms. Jasmine is a lead preschool teacher. She graduated High School in 2021 with a child development certificate. She has several years experience working with children in a childcare center. Ms. Jasmine enjoys getting to be apart of fostering children’s growth by providing emotional support, creating a safe place for children, and modeling positive behavior. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her son Braxton, family, and being outdoors.
Ms. Patricia Arlet
Ms. Patricia is a Lead Twos teacher. Patricia studied Psychology and Biology at St. John's University for 3 years. She has worked with children of all ages in various settings for 20 years. She is originally from NYC. She is MD credentialed at a level 3 and CPR and First Aid certified and has many childcare trainings. She enjoys reading, learning about philosophy, and spirituality.
Ms. Dawn Stickles
Ms. Dawn is a Twos Aide. Dawn has over 30 years of experience with children in a childcare center as well as home daycare. She has a certificate in Childhood Development 90 clock hour, 45 hour Infant/ Toddler, School Age, CPR, First Aide, Medication Administration and many other trainings over the years. Ms. Dawn loves that she is able to work with all the different ages of children. Dawn is married and has a son William and a daughter Lillian.
Ms. Amari Latham
Ms. Amari is our substitute in all the classes. Amari has 2 years of experience with us working with all ages. She graduated from Williamsport High School in 2023. She is currently attending HCC to pursue a degree in Human Services. She volunteers at Discovery Station in Hagerstown, MD. Ms. Amari enjoys spending time with family and friends, and reading in her free time.
Ms. Maddy Whittington
Ms. Maddy graduated from Williamsport High School in 2024 and is currently attending Salisbury University, where she is pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. When she isn’t busy with her college classes, Ms. Maddy dedicates her time to working with children through Washington County Public Schools as a substitute and here at Bright Beginnings!
Ms. Maddy has been a part of the Bright Beginnings family for the past 2 years and is dedicated to providing excellent care and creating meaningful experiences for every child in her care. She loves being hands-on with the children and especially enjoys planning fun activities, crafts, and learning experiences that allow children to explore their creativity.
Ms. Maddy is proud to be following in her mother’s footsteps, Ms. Jen, the owner and director of Bright Beginnings. Her love for children and passion for education continue to grow as she works toward her degree and builds her experience in the classroom. We are so excited to watch Ms. Maddy continue to grow as an educator and are lucky to have her as part of our Bright Beginnings family!
Outside of school and Bright Beginnings, Ms. Maddy enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also loves staying active and getting creative through her favorite hobbies.
Ms. Shana Hayward
Ms. Shana joined the Bright Beginnings family with a strong passion for early childhood education. She graduated from Boyd J. Michael III Technical High School in 2018, where she completed the Early Childhood Education program.
Before joining Bright Beginnings, Ms. Shana worked as a nanny for multiple families, gaining valuable experience and creating meaningful connections with each child and family.
In 2026, Ms. Shana graduated from HCC with her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She is also a proud mom to her 6-year-old daughter, Elodie, who inspires her every day.
We are so excited to have Ms. Shana as part of the Bright Beginnings family!
Ms. Bralyn Beattie
Ms. Bralyn is a Lead Teacher in a Two's room. She graduated from HCC with an AA degree. She has been working in Childcare for 5 years! Bralyn came from a a big family with 11 other cousins. Kids have always been apart of her life! She loves being able to help each child's learning growth and development. During her free time she enjoys reading, baking, and shopping.
Ms. Alivia Koontz
Ms. Alivia is an Aide in a Two's room. She graduated from Clear Spring High School. She has been working with children for 3 years. She has completed several childcare trainings over the years and always ready to continue her education in childcare. She loves helping little minds grow! During her free time she enjoys taking care of her goats and cows, snowboarding, and reading.