Meet Our Team!

Clarence Center Preschool, Inc., which is located in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, is our family owned and operated childcare. The building at 5990 Goodrich Road has been in the Van Kuren family for over 55 years!  

We have 5 children of our own and 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandsons, who we love very much and have raised around our center. Being a part of the community is very important to us and we participate as members of the Clarence Chamber of Commerce, Meet In The Center Association and Child Care Resource Network. We feel so lucky to have celebrated 33 years of business in 2025 and are looking forward to the next 32! 

We understand that choosing a quality child care provider is a very important decision for your family and we hope that you will consider our center for your child care needs and become a part of our ever-growing CC Preschool family!

- Jean and Dale Van Kuren

Jean + Dale, Bailey + Sadie

Titles: Owners & Director/Mister-Fix-It/Mascot

Jean's Favorite Book: The Swan Song

Best Vacation Spot: Our cottage at the French River in Ontario

3 Things You Can't Live Without: Family, Dancing, Laughter

Favorite Part of the School Year: Graduation day; seeing how much the children have grown!

What Inspires You? Surrounding myself with positive and fun people.

Andrea

Title: Director of Curriculum/UPK Head Teacher

Education: Bachelors in Early Childhood & Childhood Education; Masters in Curriculum & Instruction

Favorite Book: Harry Potter and Hunger Games

Best Vacation Spot: Disney, of course!

3 Things You Can't Live Without: Family, Pictures, Food

Favorite Part of the School Year: I love national book week and Christmas time.

What Inspires You? A lot of things inspire me, but my family inspires me the most.

Leann

Title: Assistant UPK + Head School Age Teacher

Education: Preschool Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential

Favorite Book: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

Best Vacation Spot: Disney

3 Things You Can't Live Without: Family, Friends,Fun

Favorite Part of the School Year: Christmastime when we put on a huge performance for our families!

What Inspires You: My two beautiful children

Leigh

Title: Lead Teacher - Young Toddler 2’s

Favorite Book: Jangles A Big Fish Story by David Shannon

Best Vacation Spot: Long Beach, Canada

3 Things You Can't Live Without: Family, Friends, Animals

Favorite Part of the School Year: When the weather is nice and we can play outside.

What Inspires You? My children inspire me to always do my best and lead life with love.

Ciara

Title: Young Toddler Aide

Education: BS in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Psychology

Favorite Book: The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon

Best Vacation Spot: Hawaii

3 Things You Can't Live Without: Faith, Family, Music & Dancing

Favorite Part of the School Year: I love every part of the school year. Being with the children every day brings me great joy!

What Inspires You? Anything that is encouraging or has a positive message has the ability to inspire me.

Jackson

Title: UPK Aide and After School Aide

Education: BS in Creative Arts Therapies

Favorite Book: Fahrenheit 451

Best Vacation Spot: Anywhere out in nature

3 Things You Can't Live Without: A good cup of coffee, friends, sunshine

Favorite Part of the School Year: Graduation!

What Inspires You? When kids are curious and ready to learn and they finally grasp a new skill and find joy in learning.

Lisa

Title: Aide Pre-K 3’s and UPK Aide

Favorite Book: Anything Dr. Seuss

Best Vacation Spot: Disney World

3 Things You Can't Live Without: Coffee, my daughter, my car

Favorite Part of the School Year: Beginning of the school year. I love how excited all the kiddos are!

What Inspires You? My daughter always gives me the ambition to do better.

Karen

Title: UPK Aide

Favorite Book: The Grouchy Ladybug

Best Vacation Spot: Cocoa Beach, Florida

3 Things You Can't Live Without: My Kids, Music, Coffee

Favorite Part of the School Year: The beginning of the school year and Dr. Seuss week.

What Inspires You? My daughter and my son.

Lisa

Title: Substitute Teacher

Favorite Book: The Froggy Series

Best Vacation Spot: Smuggler's Notch, VT

3 Things You Can't Live Without: My Children, Tea, Music

Favorite Part of the School Year: Christmas

What Inspires You? Seeing my children do what they love and giving 100% in all that they do.