My name is Abbi Reese, and I am the owner and director of Poppy and Lark Preschool. I have had the joy of working with kids my whole adult life - albeit in many different ways! My first “real job”, fresh from school (MSU Denver) at age 22, was as the School Aged Programs Director for a brand-new recreation center. While there, I got to help implement, run, and work in a summer day camp program, a before and after school program, and a preschool.

Next, I totally switched gears and moved to a job at a non-traditional private school (think private home school) teaching middle and high school students. I became the Middle School Director after a few years, and this change allowed me to research different varieties and develop some of my own curriculum - something I still love to do. Despite adding new and challenging responsibilities, I continued to teach English and history to both middle and high school students. I have also continued to develop my own content, as well as work with several different companies to develop content.

Well, after nearly a decade of working alongside them, the owners of our beloved little school decided to sell and start their own new chapters. So, my family and I decided to buy it. And just like that - we bought a school.

Owning, directing, developing curriculum, and teaching at our own school for the last 7 years is hands down where I learned the most about life, kids, teaching, family dynamics, learning, and growing professionally.  

My family moved to Mead in March 2020 and we immediately fell in love with the community. I knew I wanted the opportunity to work in and support the small community in which we live, but the timing wasn’t quite right then. However, when the opportunity came along in 2022, I jumped at the chance! I cannot begin to express how excited I am to teach the littles again, in our home community!