Our Staff

Hello! My name is Dawn Underwood. I have had the opportunity to serve preschoolers and their families in Johnson County since 2007.  In 2010,  I started the nonprofit, Johnson County Learning Center, in order to provide programming for all families regardless of their income. We have had preschool programs in Greenwood, Franklin and Edinburgh School Corporations. I have a B.S.  in psychology and my background is in education and social work.

I have been married to a wonderful and supportive husband for 30 years. We have 2 children. Our daughter, Erika and son, Hunter, live in NYC. Erika works with a tech startup company and Hunter is a doctor in his second year of residency.  

I am blessed to lead an early childhood program with a wonderful group of teachers. It is a privilege to work with young children and their families at the time when they are most active in their growth and brain development. My goal is to provide a positive learning and social environment that will benefit each child’s future learning and impact our community as a whole.

My name is Ashley and I’m the assistant director at ELC. I completed my Associate’s Degree in General Studies at Ivy Tech in 2015 and an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education in December 2017.  I spent most of my working career in children’s retail, working at Club Libby Lu and Build-A-Bear Workshop. I was a nanny for a couple years while I worked on my first Associate's Degree and I joined ELC in 2015. I love working at ELC and being a part of our school family. I love watching our preschoolers learn and grow each year!

I am from Columbus, Indiana and have lived in the Greenwood area for about 12 years. I have been married to my husband since August 2005 and we have 2 sons; Jack and Alex. My oldest attends Northeast Elementary and my youngest attends ELC.  

Hello! My name is Julie Welling. I have my Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Indiana State University.  I have been working with preschool age children for 28 years. I am blessed to be a part of ELC.  It is a joy to come to work and watch children grow, develop and learn.  As a teacher and staff member of ELC, we are partnering with you, the parent,to ensure your child reaches their full potential socially and cognitively.  I truly have the best job in the world! 

I have been married to my husband Glen for 25 years.  We have two children.  Our daughter, Kalie graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in special/elementary education. Our son, Andrew, just graduated high school and is attending IUPUI. 

Hello! My name is Jill and I am from Greenwood, and have lived here my whole life. I have been married to the love of my life for over 15 years. We have one energetic son, who just graduated 5th grade at Northeast. In my free time, I love creating wood floral letters for weddings, nurseries and presents.

I have been working with children for over 9 years and have my CDA credential. I love and believe that children learn through structured play, which gives the child an advantage throughout their educational experiences.

Hello! My name is Sara Jackson. I have an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education. I have been working with children for over five years. It's incredibly rewarding to help children gain confidence while growing intellectually and socially. I'm very excited and fortunate to be a part of ELC's talented team! 

I was born and raised in Evansville, IN. In 2016, I moved to Franklin with my two dogs and husband. In my spare time, I enjoy running, DIY projects, being pool-side, and spending quality time with my husband, friends and family. 

Hello! My name is Annette Gilmour. I graduated from Ivy Tech in December of 2015 with my Associates in Early Childhood Education. I have 5 years of experience in the early childhood field, and I absolutely love teaching. I love working with preschool children and getting them ready for kindergarten. I love the preschool age because it's such a crucial time for them to learn social emotional skills, and it's just a fun age. I truly enjoy getting to be one of their first teachers, and helping to set the foundation for their future education.

I currently live in Greenwood  with my husband and three children. We have a son and two daughters. Our son has autism and is non-verbal, so I have a lot of experience with special needs children. 

Hello! My name is Nicole Wood. I have an Associates degree in Early Child Care and Development from Bob Jones University. I will have my Bachelors in Early Childhood Education from Liberty University next May. I have worked in early childhood for about five years. I love teaching the preschool age!! They are so much fun! I love being a part of building the foundation that will help shape their future.

I have lived in Franklin all my life. In my free time I enjoy bike riding with my family as well as making crafts and doing diy projects. I am excited to be a part of this amazing team of Early Childhood Educators. 

My name is Breanna, I am the teacher in the half day preschool classroom! I absolutely love being a preschool teacher! I am happily married to my husband Nick, we have two amazing sons; Sam and Max. 

This is my fourth school year with ELC! Before ELC, I was worked with senior citizens at Home Instead Senior Care, and prior to that I was a stay-at-home Mom. I am taking classes toward my degree in Early Childhood Education. I have always enjoyed children! I started volunteering at ELC when my son was part of the program. That volunteer work soon opened my eyes to my passion for early childhood education! I am blessed to work with ELC, and to have a career that I completely love! Preschoolers are so much fun!

My name is Ashley Deavers.  I am new to teaching, but not working with children! I have been volunteering/subbing at ELC for two years. I love being a part of ELC and am looking forward to furthering my education.

I live in Greenwood with my husband and 2 kids. My youngest is an ELC graduate. I spend most of my free time with my family! We love being outside, baking, and crafting!

Hello, my name is Kari! I was born in Texas, but raised in Ohio. I am the second oldest out of 4 girls and have two dogs. When I am not at school, I love to spend time with family and friends. I also love to read books, watch movies, drink coffee, and shop!

I have 2 years experience teaching preschool and plan on furthering my education this fall. I have a personal interest and passion for helping young kids, and watching them learn and achieve. This is one of the most heartwarming benefits of being a preschool teacher.