About Our Staff
Our Teaching Staff
At Little Woods Preschool, our teachers are patient and caring professionals who are passionate about early learning. They have higher education degrees and many years of early childhood learning experience. They are dedicated to providing a warm and engaging environment that fosters each child's whole development.
Our staff have monthly trainings to further develop teaching skills, create new learning experiences and collaborate with one another.
All staff meet the WA State licensing requirements including; DCYF trainings, CPR, First Aid & AED trained.
Meet Our Staff
Danielle Woods, Owner
Meet Danielle
Danielle has spent over 15 years working with young children, beginning as a Kindergarten teacher in public schools before following her dream of building a preschool rooted in joy, curiosity, and community. She believes learning spaces should feel beautiful, organized, and full of wonder. She designed Little Woods Preschool to be a place where children feel safe, inspired, and excited to explore.
She earned her Master’s Degree in Teaching from the University of Washington and holds certifications in Early Literacy and English Language Learning, along with a Washington State teaching license. Over the years, Danielle has taught children and adults in Seattle Public Schools, the University of Washington, and Antioch University. She is also a published curriculum writer and was honored to be a two-time Fulbright Scholar.
Little Woods Preschool grew from Danielle’s passion for early learning and her vision of a nurturing environment where children can grow at their own pace, with kindness and creativity at the heart of every day.
Outside of early learning, Danielle loves hiking, gardening, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets.
Allison Derr, Director
Meet Allison
Allison hails from a family of educators, going all the way back to her great great-grandfather who ran a one-room schoolhouse in the early 1900’s. Rooted in this strong value of life-long learning, Allison believes that while every child is unique, they also have limitless potential when provided the right opportunities early on. In what she refers to as a holistic approach to learning, Allison strives to meet each child that enters her classroom exactly where they are on their individual learning journey, working closely with families to bridge the home to school gap and instill a strong foundation to their educational careers.
With 20 years of teaching experience Allison holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and remains an active member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children working to bring quality early learning to the masses.
Outside of the realm of education she is a single mother who enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest with her kiddo or curling up with a good book when the weather isn’t cooperating.