MEET OUR TEAM

JOANNA SALAS is our Director at CrossRoads and is thrilled to be part of our growing community.  Joanna’s work in the teaching field began as a preschool teacher in private preschools throughout the area as well as teaching for Anne Arundel County Public Schools.  She then gained more experience from being a Director at other private preschools as well as being an Educational Director.  Joanna developed an innovative curriculum for our school based on her experience teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten in the public school system.  Joanna was awarded the Maryland Distinguished Scholar award for Voice.   She loves to sing and play the piano.  In her spare time, Joanna reads about health/fitness and runs after work each day.  Joanna is looking forward to having her son, Harrison here at CrossRoads Child Development Center one day!

 DENISE HICKS is our Assistant Director.  Her career working with children began 18 years ago shortly after graduating from Arundel High School & continued throughout her college career. In 2003, she attained a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in the field of Psychology from Johns Hopkins University.  She also holds her 90 hr teacher certificate in Early Childhood Education.  Denise is a native and current resident of Annapolis, Maryland.  She still resides in the house she grew up in with her daughter, Jordan, who also attends CrossRoads!  Denise has also lived in San Francisco and Los Angeles, two of her favorite cities!  More than anything, she loves spending time with her daughter & family!  She also has a passion for art and enjoys shopping.  Denise is a DUMC member and the caregiver in the nursery on Sundays for the church.

JEANNIE BAUMANN teaches our Pre K class.  Jeannie loves little children and has worked in the field for over 8 years & babysitting for over 16 years.  Upon graduating Severna Park High School in 2002, Jeannie earned her 90hr Early Childhood Education Certificate, in addition to her diploma.  She continues to take courses at Anne Arundel Community College and has received her 45hr Certificate for Infants & Toddlers!  To date, her favorite class is “Working with Children with Autism”!  In addition to her interest in children, Jeannie is mom to Hunter, who also attends CrossRoads!  Jeannie enjoys taking Hunter to the park, shopping, fishing with friends and is an enthusiast of car shows.

CAITLYN RUSH teaches our Pre K class.  In 2010, she graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelors of Science in Family Science.  Areas of studies also included psychology, family law and education.  She also holds an Associates Degree from Anne Arundel Community College in teaching.  Caitlyn has worked with children in various degrees, ranging from babysitting to teaching and privately tutoring.  She recently purchased a home & is engaged to be married!  

MARILYN LINDSKOLD teaches our Pre K class.  Marilyn holds her Bachelors Degree, which she earned in the Philippines!  She also has attained both her 90hr Early Childhood Education Certificate & her 45hr School Age Certificate!  She loves working with children of all ages & prior to working at CrossRoads, she was both an Assistant Director & Director for another center!  Marilyn has two children of her own, one of which is a CrossRoads graduate!  We look forward to her son, Tony, attending CrossRoads also.  Marilyn loves to play the guitar!  She also enjoys photography & art.  

STEPHANIE FRANEY teaches our Pre K class.  Stephanie is currently pursuing her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education.  She plans to continue her education by attaining a Bachelors Degree with a major in Early Childhood Education & a minor in Special Education.  Stephanie loves the outdoors!  In her free time she goes hiking & kayaking!  However, a great day hiking & kayaking pales in comparison to spending an evening walking her dog, Tripp.   

KEYARA THOMAS teaches our Preschool class.  Ms. Keyara attends Bowie State University where she is majoring in Child and adolescent studies.  She has been working with children for over 9 years and enjoys seeing children progress and gain knowledge from what they have learned in their classroom.  Ms. Keyara also loves spending time with her son, Kaiden who also attends CrossRoads. 

MEGAN MERSON teaches our Preschool class.  She has earned her 90hr Early Childhood Education Certificate & working with children for over 6yrs, ranging from babysitting to daycare.  Megan has a son, Jonathon, who we look forward to having here someday soon.  In her free time, Megan enjoys shopping & spending time with her family…but she loves hanging out with Jonathon more than anything!  

BRENDA MARSTON teaches our Preschool class.  She has earned her 90hr Early Childhood Education Certificate, in addition to working with preschool aged children for over 12 years!  Brenda has worked in preschools and in the Prince George’s County Public School System.  Brenda has 4 children of her own, a son in the Navy, a newlywed daughter, another son recently a college graduate and her youngest son who just received his driver’s license!  Brenda enjoys baking, movies, walks and gardening.  

BARBARA STECHER teaches our Preschool class.  She is one of the original teachers who helped founded CrossRoads!  She holds a degree in Elementary Education from Wisconsin State and has taught children at the elementary level in Wisconsin, Maryland and Japan!  Barbara is an active member of Davidsonville United Methodist Church & an excellent chef and baker!  Barbara enjoys travelling and has quite a passport!  She also loves and enjoys time with her Westie, Eloise!

DIANE SPRECHER teaches our Preschool Prep class.  She holds a Bachelors of Art degree from Towson State University in both Spanish & Secondary Education.  Shortly after graduation, Diane received her Early Childhood Certificate.  Since then, she has taught Spanish at the high school & middle school levels and substituted in Pre-K through 5th grade elementary school levels.  Diane is an active DUMC member & liturgist along with her husband & daughter, Angelina.  Diane has travelled extensively throughout Europe, Mexico and Canada.  She also enjoys gospel music, worship, witnessing to others, swimming, skiing & a good tennis game.  She loves the unpredictable laughter & joy of children and completely overjoyed for her daughter’s acceptance into Penn State University.  

MAGGIE ERTESCHIK teaches our Preschool Prep class.  Maggie has taught preschool for over 7 years.  She has her 90 hour Early Childhood Education certificate from Anne Arundel Community College.  Maggie was born in the Philippines and lived there until she was 24 years old.  Maggie lived in Europe for 8 years and has traveled extensively.  She speaks some French and Spanish.  Her 13 year old daughter, Sara is her souvenir of Belgium where she was born.  Maggie enjoys cooking as a sous chef of French and Mediterranean cuisine.  She is also a seamstress and enjoys traveling.      

MATTHEW HICKS is one of our Summer Adventure/School Age teachers.  Matt has worked with young children for 3 years as an assistant teacher in his family owned home daycare business.  He has been involved in & worked with the Navy Junior Wrestling Program & as the assistant wrestling coach for Saint Mary’s High School.  Currently, Matt attends Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania, where he wrestles for the university’s Huskies!  If his last name looks familiar, it’s because he is our assistant director’s younger brother!  

ALEX BALDWIN is one of our Summer Adventure/School Age teachers.  Alex is entering his sophomore year at Frostburg State University.  He is a member of the school’s Track & Field team.  He has three brothers, a twin, a younger brother and an older brother.  Hi stepmother, Maryann Perret teaches at Davidsonville Elementary school as a Kindergarten teacher!  This is where Alex has gained experience working with children as he has often gone in to help is the Kindergarten classroom!

LINDSAY PACEN is our substitute teacher.  She recently graduated from University of Maryland.  Lindsay majored in Family Science and worked at CrossRoads for her internship too!  Lindsay adores working with children.  She has been babysitting the same little boy named Lawrence since he was 13 months old and he's about to turn 8!  In her spare time Lindsay enjoys spending time with friends, kickboxing, and dancing.

KYLE DURBIN teaches CrossRoads Christian music class & Chapel to the children every week!  He is a graduate student at Wesley Theological Seminary School and an active member of Davidsonville United Methodist Church!  As DUMC’s seminary intern, he is director of the youth program & is well known for his involvement in all the wonderful productions hosted by DUMC!  In addition to his theatrical talent, Kyle is the lead singer in the band “Bad Idea”.