Melissa Talbott - Director

Melissa has been with the center since before we opened in September 2005.  She has worked with children since she was fifteen years old starting in California as a swim instructor.  Melissa has a California certificate in Early Childhood Education and has been a Preschool director since 2000.  She lives here in Peoria with her seven children:  Aaron the oldest son, Ethan the youngest son, Rok the border collie, Spencer the poodle, Alex the husky, Shy the turtle, and her husband Joe.  Melissa is very excited and proud of the preschool center and is looking towards a great future.

Elizabeth Dietz - Assistant Director

Elizabeth Dietz joined the Fun N Fit staff in September 2006, and has worked with children since 1999 in day camps and preschools.  She received a bachelors degree in elementary education with a minor in Spanish from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania in May 2003.  She is very happy to be a part of Fun N Fit preschool.

Jill Christophel - Infants

Jill Christophel has been with Fun N Fit since we opened in September 2005, and has been in charge of the Infant classroom since Spring 2006.  She has her associate's degree in Child Development from Illinois Central College.  Jill has a daughter, Payton, who also attends Fun N Fit.

Deanna Todd- Toddlers

Deanna Todd became the our Toddler Room teacher in the fall of 2009.  She graduated in 2000 with an associates Degree in Child Development from Ilinois Central College, and came to us with many years of experence.  Deanna grew up here in Peoria.  She is the mother of 3 girls and married to her high school sweetheart, Micheal. 

Marissa Manley - Twos

Marissa Manley grew up on the west coast in California.  After graduation from high school, she moved to Hawaii where she was a nanny for 3 years.  In 1993 she moved to Illinois and attended ICC, where she received her associates degree in early education.  She began working at preschools in the Peoria area in 2000, and has worked with almost every age group, but most of her time has been spent with the twos.  Marissa helped in opening the Fun N Fit center in 2005 and has been the two-year-old teacher since day one.

Patricia Behm - Threes/Fours

Patricia Behm, who goes by Tricia, has been with Fun N Fit since fall of 2009 but has been working with children since she was 13.  First starting with babysitting, then volunteering at bible school classes, and then teaching preschool after college.  She really enjoys working with children.  Outside of her job she has a loving family; husband Jake, two children Jacob Jr. and Makayla.  She is glad to be at Fun N Fit and is excited to get to know your child. 

Bobbi Wages - Prekindergarten

Bobbi Wages has been in our preschool program since early 2006.  She has been working with children for over a decade.  Her experience includes being a nanny, preschool teacher, and assistant director.  She also has an associates degree in early education.  Bobbi has three children of her own, Jacob, Daniel, and Samuel.  Bobbi feels that every day with children is always a new and exciting experience.

Marisa Tilly - Kindergarten/First

Carrie Thurnau - School-age

Justin Sangalli - School-age

 Justin graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice.  While growing up in Pekin he spent several years working at the Boys and Girls Club.  In the summer of 2009 he was the head counselor of the River City Summer Camp.  Once summer was over he moved to the Fun N Fit side to work with our school-age children.

Dee Dee Zeigler - Cook

Dee Dee has been cooking for Fun N Fit since January of 2006.  She has two children, Joseph and Haley.  Joseph has been enrolled in the Fun N Fit program since he was an infant.  Before coming to Fun N Fit Dee Dee has had experience cooking for assisted living kitchens.