We seek to hire only the most professional of staff. Our staff is courteous and helpful. We all work with the belief that we are here to help the whole family.
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Our staff come to us with a number of years of experience in childcare. Many hold a variety of credentials including but not limited to 45 hours of Early Childcare training through Florida's Department of Children and Families. Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC), Director's Credential, AA in Early Childhood Education, BA in Early Childhood Development, First Aid and CPR.
We encourage our staff to continuously seek training to set themselves apart and to be knowledgeable in the latest trends in childcare.
Our Staff
We seek to hire only the most professional of staff. Our staff is courteous and helpful. We all work with the belief that we are here to help the whole family.
Our staff come to us with a number of years of experience in childcare. Many hold a variety of credentials including but not limited to 45 hours of Early Childcare training through Florida's Department of Children and Families. Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC), Director's Credential, AA in Early Childhood Education, BA in Early Childhood Development; and all our teachers are certified in First Aid and CPR.
We encourage our staff to continuously seek training to set themselves apart and to be knowledgeable in the latest trends in childcare.
GINA BENSON
CDAE - Child Development Associates, BA - Psychology with a focus on Early Child Psychology and Adolescent Development MA - Psychology with a focus on Family Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Credentialed Early Childcare Director
Owner and director and CEO of Milestones Learning Center and VPK Language Arts Teacher
Born in Upstate New York and having traveled extensively throughout her life Ms. Gina called SWFL home 22 years ago. During those years has raised two daughters, built early childcare centers for large corporations, consulted for private childcare programs and developed Milestones Learning Center. She is passionate about early literacy for young children and works daily in a classroom teaching language art to 4 and 5-year-old VPK students.
Early education has always been a part of Ms. Gina’s life. Her mother ran a home childcare center. At the young age of nine she was working with and caring for young children. The importance of education and reading was instilled by both her parents. Ms. Gina attended college at the State University of New York at Potsdam where she earned a BA in psychology with a focus on Early Childhood and Adolescent Development as well as an AA in sociology. She continued her education by attending the University of the Rockies in Colorado, earning her master’s in psychology with a focus on Family Mediation and Conflict Resolution. She is a Florida State Credentialed Childcare Director and a VPK endorsed instructor.
Ms. Gina has been teaching for the past 30 years. It is her goal is to see each child reach their fullest potential by providing a safe, nurturing learning environment in which they can grow and learn.
MICHAEL LAUSE
BA in Business Management and an Associates in Culinary Arts
Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Vice President and co-founder of Milestones Learning Center
Mr. Michael is a true Floridian, born here in Fort Myers, Florida. He graduated from Fort Myers High (Go Greenies!) and pursued a higher education in Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University, Charleston SC. While there, he also received a bachelor’s in business management.
After graduating he worked in the food and beverage industry for 10 years. He returned to Florida to support his family’s construction business, as an estimator, for 15 years until the construction industry experienced a crash in 2014. He admits he never saw himself owning and working daily in a childcare school but finds this career move the most rewarding he has been involved in. He has completed all the Department of Children and Families training and is currently working on obtaining his VPK endorsements and the FCCPC. He understands the important role he plays to many of the children in our care, as a positive male role model.
You will find him most days working with outside vendors and contractors, assisting parents at pick up and drop off and supporting the teaching staff.
In his free time Mr. Michael enjoys fishing, home remodel projects and woodworking.
LAUREN KRITZER
Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC)
Billing and Accounts Manager and Pre-K 3 Teacher
Born in Albuquerque New Mexico, Ms. Lauren relocated to South West Florida as a toddler. She attended all local schools and is a graduated of Fort Myers High. Earning her childcare training while still in high school, she became one of the original Milestones Team members in 2014 as a teacher’s assistant and grew to be a pre-k 3 lead teacher. She was chosen by her peers to take the role of Administrative Assistant, a position she held until she chose to return to the classroom to teach pre-k 3 in 2020; her true passion. Currently, she is a full-time teacher and continues to maintain family billing and accounts.
Ms. Lauren continued her education following High school and earned her Florida Child Care Professional Certification (FCCPC). In addition to working full time as at Milestones, she is a full-time student at Florida South Western. Her goal is to earn a degree in Special Education.
In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, her dog Tinkerbell and many, many trips to Disney!
LAURA VAN RIPER
Admissions Coordinator
Ms. Laura brings more than twenty years of experience in childcare administration. Previously an Executive Assistant to the owner of Little Angels Learning Center in Pflugerville, Texas and as the Executive Assistant to the Head of Schools for three locations of The Children’s Center of Austin, Tx.
As the Admissions Coordinator for Milestones Learning Center, Ms. Laura performs receptionist duties, sets up tours, processes waitlist and enrollment documents, and maintains all student record keeping for licensing requirements.
She is the primary contact for our parents; performing all aspects of school-to-family communications to ensure communication is fluid between home and school.
Thanks to Those Dedicated to Making a Difference
We believe that our success is based on the long-term relationships we establish with our staff. The national average of “turnover” experienced by childcare professionals is 30% a year (BLS.gov). This can result in an overall lower quality of care. We strive to reduce this rate in our program to no more than 10% by hiring higher educated and well-experienced teachers.
We are so thankful to those who have grown with us. We believe this is a sign of dedication to the children we serve and we wish to acknowledge each teacher as they reach their anniversary with our organization.
Our Stars With Three or More Years of Service
Three Years of Service
Ms. Angie, Lead Teacher Infants
Ms. Arlene, Pre-K 3/4 Language Arts Teacher
Four Years of Service
Ms. Nicole, Lead Teacher Toddlers
Six Years or more of Dedicated Service
Ms. Christina, Team Lead/Two-Year-Old Teacher
Ms. Caroline, Team Lead/Toddler Teacher
Ms. Adriana, VPK Science/Math Teacher
Ms. Lauren, Billing and Accounts Manager and Pre-K 3 Teacher
Mr. Michael, CFO/CHRO
Ms. Gina, CEO/Program Director and VPK Language Arts Teacher