Our Team.
Requirements by the State of Montana to be a licensed caregiver:
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ADULT, CHILD AND INFANT CPR/FIRST AID CERTIFICATION.
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UP TO DATE VACCINATIONS.
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BACKGROUND CHECK.
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OUT OF STATE BACKGROUND CHECK (IF LIVED OUT OF STATE WITHIN THE LAST 5 YEARS).
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16 HOURS OF TRAINING PER YEAR. DIRECTOR IS REQUIRED TO DO 20+ HOURS PER YEAR.
Maren Griswold
Owner & Director
Originally from Minnesota, I moved to Bozeman in 1995 to go to college, and graduated from Montana State University in 2000.
I have had over 20 years of experience caring for children and being a caregiver for the disabled. Along with Storybook, I also have a woodcarving and metalworking business TWISTED ROOT DESIGN that keeps me busy.
Storybook is my labor of love, and I am always looking for ways to improve on it for your children to get the best possible experience. I love being able to spend time with all the children here at Story Book, and this also gave me the chance to be with my own children as they grew up!
Rachel Chapo
Co-director
Rachel moved to Montana from Michigan in November of 2007. She graduated from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology.
Her two boys, now 8 and 5, both attended Storybook Preschool & Daycare; the oldest started in January of 2008. Rachel would have not had it any other way. She firmly feels Storybook is the BEST preschool and daycare in Bozeman and is thrilled to now be a part of the teachers and caregivers that have treated her family so well. A long time Detroit sports fan, you will often see her in her favorite teams shirts, both at the school and around town.
One of her favorite things about Montana is the diversity of wildlife and how you can see some of nature's most amazing creatures at any given moment. Also a fan of children and pets, she is excited to spend time with the animals and to learn so much from the little ones who make Storybook the special place it is.
Abigail Tomlinson
Preschool Director
My name is Abi, I was born here in Bozeman and have lived in Montana my whole life. I am the second oldest of four girls. I was home schooled all the way through high school before deciding to pursue a college degree. I loved being home schooled because I am pretty independent, and it gave me a lot of freedom to get a babysitting job! In the future, I hope to continue to work with children and families, and start a family of my own someday.
I have been babysitting and nannying since I was 12 years old. I worked as a the kids coordinator for Fresh Life Church, and have led preschool groups for VBS and AWANA. I have subbed for a couple of daycares and completed internships while in college. I love with working with kids because it is simultaneously the most challenging and rewarding thing I have ever done, and I love how kids are always full of excitement and wonder.
My favorite childhood memories are playing with my three sisters, reading books with my dad, coloring with my mom, sleep-overs at my grandparents, snuggling my cat Gracie, and playing in the snow.
My hobbies are:reading, writing, hanging out with family, watching/playing sports, being outside and playing with my 4 year old niece!
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Kailee Susens
Early Childhood Teacher
Info To Come
Skylar Stevens
Early Childhood Teacher
Info To Come
Reuben, Rocco
and Louie
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Must love dogs here at Storybook. We come to work with Mom, Maren, to play with and protect your little ones from letting any delivery men get near them!
Anna Peters
Early Childhood Teacher
Hi! My name is Anna Peters. I am a sophomore at Montana State studying psychology and coaching. I hope to get a masters in either developmental psychology or sports psychology and work with high school students/athletes. I am from Burlingame, California, which is just a little bit south of San Francisco. I am super happy to be in Montana, but only wish that my parents and younger brother weren’t so far away. My family is very close and we love to surf, ride bikes and hike by the ocean together! I also enjoy skiing, paddleboarding, yoga, running and baking/cooking.
I have always loved babysitting and regularly babysat for several families starting in middle school. I have also coached youth basketball for seven years, starting alongside my mom in her private basketball business and then in high school I coached girls basketball through the Burlingame Parks and Rec. This past summer I provided specific reading intervention tutoring for an elementary-aged child. Through that tutoring I learned that my favorite thing about working with children is seeing and recognizing the small improvements that occur daily.
Some of my favorite childhood memories are going to bike races and cycling events with my family and watching the Tour de France on tv. My dad is a former pro cyclist, so I basically grew up around the cycling industry. Sometimes my dad would be in the races and other times my brother and I would be in the kids races. The atmosphere was always so electric and fun; my favorite races were a Halloween costume cycle-cross race, the Tour of California and the Boise Twilight Criteriums!
Carys Griswold
Early Childhood Substitute Teacher
Carys is a junior at Gallatin Valley high school here in Bozeman. She is the reason that Storybook exists, as her mother Maren started in when she was born in order to spend time with her. This is home to her, and her love for children is immense. Carys plays Soccer, and an amazing musician. She can play the piano, violin, guitar and trumpet.