About our Staff
Welcome to our class! My name is Sue Synden (aka Miss Susie) and I am (or will be) your child’s preschool teacher and the Director of the Bright Beginnings Preschool Program. Both of my daughters attended preschool here at the Ephrata Recreation Center. I coach color guard at Cocalico High School. Over the last few years you may have seen me at the Front Desk or as the Summer Municipal Art & Craft Instructor.
I grew up in Lancaster and graduated from Conestoga Valley High School. My husband, two beautiful girls (now 20 & 24) and I live in Ephrata with our tiny dog ‘Doodles’. I have my Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Millersville University (certified through 8th grade).
From 2005 to 2013, I was the assistant teacher at the Rec Center Preschool while I was going through college. I have been the lead teacher here at Preschool since 2014. I am in communication with our area's kindergarten teachers and I am a part of the Early Learner Provider group through the Ephrata School district. This comes as a great value to me because I have a good understand of what your child will need to know to be successful when he or she moves on to kindergarten.
I love the beach & mountains! I enjoy reading, painting, horseback riding, going to the movies and spending time with my family. Communication is very very important me. Please feel free to email me at [email protected] any time or call after school hours. (717-738-1167 ext. 114).
I am so very excited to work with your student.
I grew up in Lancaster and graduated from Conestoga Valley High School. My husband, two beautiful girls (now 20 & 24) and I live in Ephrata with our tiny dog ‘Doodles’. I have my Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Millersville University (certified through 8th grade).
From 2005 to 2013, I was the assistant teacher at the Rec Center Preschool while I was going through college. I have been the lead teacher here at Preschool since 2014. I am in communication with our area's kindergarten teachers and I am a part of the Early Learner Provider group through the Ephrata School district. This comes as a great value to me because I have a good understand of what your child will need to know to be successful when he or she moves on to kindergarten.
I love the beach & mountains! I enjoy reading, painting, horseback riding, going to the movies and spending time with my family. Communication is very very important me. Please feel free to email me at [email protected] any time or call after school hours. (717-738-1167 ext. 114).
I am so very excited to work with your student.
Hello! I’m Natalie Sensenig, one of the Preschool Assistant Teachers! I am a past color guard student of Miss Susie’s at Cocalico High School and a 2019 graduate of Lancaster Bible College with my Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education, certified Pre-K through 4th. I've dreamed of being a teacher since I was in 1st grade and I have a real passion for preschool age students. In addition to working in preschool, I run my own sewing business doing alterations and custom veils. I am also a passionate community volunteer. Camp Conquest, a local summer camp ministry, is one of my favorite places in the whole world and I serve there for multiple weeks each summer and throughout the year. I also volunteer with the Ephrata Fair where I am on the board of directors and chairman of the crafts department, and I am a 4-H leader in our local sewing club. A few of my hobbies include traveling, hunting, fishing, kayaking, sewing, and eating ice cream! I’m excited to get to know you and your child this year at Bright Beginnings!
Hello! My name is Tiffany Burkholder, I am the swim teacher for Bright Beginning's Preschool and the Director of Sunny Days camp as well as the teacher in our new Tiny Steps Mini-Preschool Program! I am also a swim instructor for the Rec Center, and I help with other preschool programs also at the Rec Center! When I am not in the pool with the kid's I also really enjoy spending time in the classroom helping Miss Susie and Miss Natalie! I have been married for almost 7 years and have two beautiful children, Bennett who is five and Emma who is three! Some things I enjoy doing in my free time are traveling (anywhere warm), cooking or baking, gardening, but my absolute favorite thing to do is visit the beach with my family! I look forward to spending time teaching your preschooler the importance of pool safety while also having lots of fun!