Staff

Together may we give our children the roots to grow and the wings to fly.

Lori Daskal

Hi my name is Lori Daskal. I am the owner, director and one of the toddler teachers here at Little Learners Family Center. I have been in the childcare business for about 10 years. Previously I worked in the pediatric nutrition field for both the WIC program and Head Start program. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Human Nutrition which I received from UNH and received my Early Childhood qualifications from NHTI. I was born and raised in Littleton, NH and have lived in Concord for over 30 years. I have one grown daughter, Heather, one granddaughter, Abigale, and two cats, Emmet and Autumn. I like to read, sing, walk, bike, ski, skate, garden, cook and bake.

I believe that when we listen to and observe children in their play and interactions we learn what they know and what they need. I love getting to know the children in our center and their unique personalities. I like to be silly, to sing and dance and to have fun with our daily routines. I believe that so much learning takes place as we go throughout our daily routine; whether it be counting the strawberries a child has on his or her plate or noticing the crunching sound that various foods make. The possibilities for learning are endless.

I like to think of our center as a community of learners and that we are here not just for the children but for the whole family. I will forever be grateful and humbled by the fact that parents trust us to care for their precious children.

Rachel Carpenter

Hi! I’m Rachel Carpenter, I’ve been here at Little Learners for almost two years now. I have been working in the Early Childcare field for nearly eight years now and it has always been my passion. I have a bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in child and family services and a minor in Child Development, I have also taken many classes in Early Childhood Education and hope to be finishing with an ECE certificate within the next couple of years! I am so lucky to be a preschool teacher here at Little Learners. I truly believe that play is the work of the child and love to watch children learn through having fun at school!

I was born, raised and still live in Webster with my husband and our two young children, Natalie and Dean and our dog, Cappy. I love to be outside (as long as it’s warm), spend days at the lake, go for walks, bake, read and I also love to sew and make quilts.

Nikki Hanson

Hi my name is Nicolette Hanson - better known as Nikki! I was born in Concord, NH and raised in the Lake Sunapee area. I’m fairly new to the profession with some time as a paraprofessional. I am currently going back to school for my degree in Psychology with a concentration in child development. I have one gray cat named Heisenberg. In my free time I like to read and draw. I go to the gym and I like to cook and find new ways to make healthy food delicious.

Debbie Follansbee

Hi, my name is Debbie Follansbee. I was born, raised and live in Concord, NH with my husband Bob and black lab, Oakley. I have two grown children - one boy and one girl. I have my Associates degree in Early Childhood and have been in this field for 40 years. The majority of this time being self employed. I continue to look forward to everyday being with the children and watching them learn and grow by hands-on experiences. In my free time I enjoy hiking, biking, snowshoeing and kayaking.

Natasha Wedin

Hi, my name is Natasha Wedin, but everyone calls me Tasha. I was born and raised in Vermont, and I moved to New Hampshire in the summer of 2013. I live with my husband, Scott and my daughter, Hazel. We also have a black and white Maine Coon cat named Bane.

I have been in Early Childhood since the beginning of 2017. I love working with children and helping them grow and develop. Their outlook on life is so fascinating. When they learn a new word or skill, they just beam with pride. It is so rewarding to know that I get to be a part of those experiences. I have worked with children ages eight weeks all the way up to school-age. I have been taking classes at NHTI to continue my Early Childhood Education degree, but I am also working on a Hospitality degree. In my free time, I like to spend time outside; work on and make things with my Cricut machine; and I like to read.