Toddlers - TLC Learning Center

Aaliyah Grimaldo – Otters

Aaliyah Grimaldo joined TLC in January 2020 and has since been committed to providing a warm, loving, and engaging environment for the children in her care. With a deep-rooted passion for working with young children, Aaliyah focuses on fostering their social and emotional development while supporting their language skills.

Her dedication to early childhood education is inspired by her grandmother, Ms. Tavita Grimaldo, who was a beloved part of TLC for over 20 years. Aaliyah’s family has a rich history with the center, and she is proud to continue the legacy of making a positive impact on the community and the children they serve. For Aaliyah, the most rewarding part of her role is seeing children reach key milestones and knowing she played a role in their development.

When she’s not teaching, Aaliyah loves spending quality time with her daughter and cherishing moments with her loved ones.

Mandy Rivera – Otters

Mandy Rivera joined the TLC team in January 2025. She is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive learning environment where children can thrive.

Mandy’s love for working with children is rooted in her desire to be part of their growth and development. She is especially passionate in the power of play-based learning, especially with toddlers, as it fosters creativity, problem-solving skills, and encourages exploration.

Outside of the classroom, Mandy enjoys taking walks with her dog and spending time with her family, especially her beloved niece and nephews. As the youngest in her family, she brings a fresh perspective and energy to everything she does. A fun fact about Mandy is that she speaks fluent Spanish, adding to her diverse skill set. Mandy’s caring and enthusiastic approach to teaching makes her a wonderful addition to the TLC family.

Daniela Orona – Owls

Daniela Orona became a part of the TLC team in November 2024. With a strong passion for early childhood education, Daniela is driven by the opportunity to positively impact the children she works with.

Her primary focus is on fostering growth in the areas of social, emotional, physical, and communication development, helping children build a strong foundation for their future.

Outside of her professional role, Daniela enjoys spending time with her family and friends and exploring new destinations through travel.

Lesly Soto – Owls

Lesly Soto joined TLC as a Toddler Teacher in September 2024. She holds a PDIS 3.0 Level 2 certification and is passionate about fostering the growth and development of young children.

Lesly’s love for working with children started in her family’s gatherings, where she was always surrounded by babies. She quickly discovered how much she enjoyed spending time with them, which led her to pursue a career in early childhood education. Lesly is deeply committed to helping raise strong individuals by supporting their development at such a crucial stage in their lives. Lesly believes that the early years lay the foundation for a child’s future success.

Outside of her role at TLC, Lesly enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially her sisters, trying new restaurants, and connecting with friends. As a bilingual speaker, Lesly is proud to offer support to those who may not speak Spanish, making her even more passionate about being a bridge for communication.

Sondee Van Matre – Chickadees

Sondee Van Matre joined TLC in August 2022 and, driven by her passion for working with young children, is currently pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. While she initially dreamed of becoming a history teacher, it wasn’t until her senior year of high school that she discovered the impact of early childhood education, especially in the formative years of birth to age 5.

Sondee believes that providing children with patient, consistent, and loving guidance can help steer them away from the school-to-prison pipeline, and she finds great fulfillment in working on social and emotional regulation with toddlers-skills that will serve them for a lifetime. Sondee’s professional passion centers around social and emotional regulation, understanding its importance in setting the foundation for a child’s growth and future.

In her free time, Sondee enjoys being a homebody, indulging in her love for reading, embroidery, and videography. She also loves spending time with her two cats, going on walks, and finding unique treasures while thrifting.

Calli Stapleton – Chickadees

Calli joined TLC in July 2025 as a Toddler Teacher. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and has always had a passion for working with children. Growing up, her mom ran a home daycare, and Calli loved helping her care for the children, which sparked her interest in early childhood education.

Calli is particularly passionate about supporting social-emotional learning development in young children. She believes in creating an environment where children can grow emotionally and socially, building strong foundations for their future.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with friends, hiking, paddleboarding, golfing, and reading. A fun fact about her: she’s also working towards her goal of going to medical school in the future!

Viviana Soria – Pikas

Viviana Soria joined TLC in October 2024. Inspired by her own experience as a mother, Viviana was motivated to expand her knowledge of child development to better support her children and others in their growth. She is passionate about fostering early development and creating nurturing environments where children can thrive.

Viviana is particularly interested in family engagement, believing that strong connections between home and school are essential for children’s success.

Outside of work, she enjoys creating lasting memories with her family and loves to spend time cooking.

Sonia Arciniega Reyes – Pikas

Sonia brings creativity and compassion to her role as a toddler teacher at TLC. She holds a PDIS 3.0 Level 3 certification and has been part of the TLC team since March 2023.

Her journey into early childhood education was inspired by a personal desire to better understand and navigate big emotions—something she now helps toddlers explore and manage every day.

Outside the classroom, Sonia enjoys cooking, working out, and exploring nature.

Denisse Garcia – Support Teacher

Denisse García is a dedicated Toddler Teacher at TLC, having joined the team in August 2024. With an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Denisse is passionate about fostering social-emotional learning in young children, which she views as a crucial aspect of their development.

She finds joy in witnessing the unique ways children meet their goals each day, relishing the dynamic and ever-changing environment that early childhood education offers.

Outside of her professional life, Denisse enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends, cherishing the moments of connection and exploration.

Maria Lopez – Support Teacher

Maria joined TLC in July 2025 as a Support Teacher for Toddlers. She has completed the Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler Care (EQIT) course and is currently enrolled in the Pyramid Model course, each focusing on early childhood education, college-level content. She has also successfully demonstrated best practice ratings through Colorado Shines, highlighting her commitment to providing high-quality care for young children.

Her passion for working with children began at an early age, as her mom was a babysitter, and Maria loved helping out. She also had an art internship where she had the opportunity to work with children on crafts, further fueling her desire to work with kids. Maria has always enjoyed helping people, especially children, and finds fulfillment in nurturing their growth and development.

She’s particularly interested in studying the brain, including how it changes from infancy through adolescence. Maria is fascinated by the impact of genes, experiences, and the environment on brain development and its connection to cognitive, social, and emotional well-being.

Outside of work, Maria is dedicated to self-care and is passionate about Pilates, outdoor activities, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. She’s currently focused on becoming the best version of herself. A fun fact: she’s obsessed with Halloween and loves the movie Coraline!