Sandy is a Certified Montessori teacher, having owned and operated the Garden Montessori School for 20 years in Cranberry.  She holds a BS in Psychology from LaRoche University, a PA Department of Education license, a Director's certification and an Early Childhood certification in Montessori Education. She thoroughly enjoys spending time with her 3 year old Granddaughter Claira.

“I am so excited to be included in such a purposeful and joyful community where I can use my Montessori and administrative experience as well as my creativity and love for children.”

Michelle, originally from Indiana, earned her degree in Elementary Education from Indiana State University. With over thirty years of childcare experience, she has taught both elementary and preschool students, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Beanstalk. Michelle is a proud mom to a daughter, a son, and a dachshund named Chloe. Outside of Beanstalk HQ, she enjoys visiting her daughter in North Carolina and watching her son play college baseball. She’s also an avid fan of the University of Kentucky!

“I love seeing new faces and meeting new friends every week. I’m excited to be using my elementary classroom experience.”

Paula is a student at Slippery Rock University and is studying Graphic Design and Professional Japanese. She has been studying the intricacies of coffee brewing for several years, and is excited to bring that expertise to our Beanstalk family. She values family more than anything and has lots of experience working with children. She is thrilled to be a part of the Beanstalk team, making day to day life easier and more enjoyable for local families!

Elizabeth is a student at Slippery Rock University, studying Psychology with a focus in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She will be doing an internship here at Beanstalk HQ over the next semester. She has experience working with children of all ages.  Elizabeth values family more than anything else. She is excited to spend her days with the Beanstalk HQ Team, supporting families in their struggle with work/life balance in an enriching and educational environment. 

Brandi Cox is a private educator with nine years of experience supporting young learners from preschool through early middle school. She began her career in Chicago and now brings her expertise and passion for child-centered learning to families across Pennsylvania.

Brandi studied Elementary Education and Dance Performance at Point Park University and earned her Master of Education specializing in Literacy and Dyslexia through the International Dyslexia Association–accredited program at the University of Central Arkansas. She is also a CERI Certified Dyslexia Interventionist.

Brandi is thrilled to partner with Beanstalk HQ to bring engaging, research-based educational programs to the community-combining literacy, creativity, and social-emotional learning in joyful, meaningful ways that help every child thrive! 

Hello! Since starting to facilitate groups for new moms in 2016 after working with children and families in a variety of mental and behavioral health settings, I found my calling. I created Empowering Moms in 2019 as a way to normalize the challenging transitions of motherhood and increase community support for new moms. With the founding of Connected Nest, I seek opportunities for increased parenting support. I love to make community connections and collaborations. THAT is what Connected Nest is working to leverage for greater impact for those entering and moving through parenthood. As a mom of a teen, tween and toddler, I know that the journey is always changing, and support is always needed. Connect with us to help support those in the community or to find support in the community.

Laura Baker is a Wexford native, wife, and mom to three daughters. A former collegiate cheerleader, Laura discovered yoga as a way to heal and rehabilitate from various sports-related injuries. Her passion for mindful & therapeutic movement led her to become a certified yoga teacher in 2015, specializing in vinyasa flow.

Following the birth of her eldest daughter in 2016, Laura completed advanced training in prenatal yoga and became a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. She teaches weekly prenatal yoga classes and workshops at Stray Dog Yoga Studio in Wexford, as well as Lamaze childbirth education, breastfeeding, and infant care classes at BeanStalk HQ in Wexford.  Laura also enjoys sharing yoga with little ones through children’s yoga storytime sessions throughout the Pittsburgh area.

Before starting her family, Laura worked in Pittsburgh’s tech industry as a German language expert. After embracing family life, she transitioned from the corporate world to focus on motherhood, teaching, and community engagement.

In her free time, Laura loves cooking and enjoying great food, dancing, singing, swimming, and traveling. She and her daughters are proud members of the Alpenschühplattler German Folk Dancing Group at the Teutonia Männerchor in Pittsburgh’s Northside. Laura has lived and worked in Washington, D.C., Prague (Czech Republic), and Salzburg (Austria). She is passionate about supporting families in their journey through pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

Lisa is a pediatric physical therapist with over 20 years of experience in Early Intervention. She’s a co-founder of Baby Connections, alongside Christie Watson, OT. They created Baby Connections to bring their hands-on expertise from clinic and community-based projects into a welcoming setting for families. Their goal is to support busy moms through the first year with their babies through playgroups and one-on-one sessions that are practical, evidence-based, and deeply focused on connection.

Lisa is passionate about showing you how purposeful play aligned with developmental milestones can enrich your baby’s play, deepen bonding, and increase confidence as a parent. In addition to her PT work, she’s infant massage certified and a pre- and post-natal exercise coach, helping both you and your baby thrive during the transformative first year.