CEO & Owner

Mike (aka “Poppy”) earned his Master’s degree in Human Resources from the University of Cincinnati and spent most of his career as an HR Director/Vice President at UC. After retiring, Mike embraced the opportunity to support his children’s dream of opening Little Stars Preschool while also fulfilling his own passion for entrepreneurship. His experience in leadership and people-focused work continues to be a valuable part of the Little Stars family.

Business Manager

Michael attended the University of Cincinnati with dreams of becoming a middle school math teacher. After spending several years working as a preschool teacher, he discovered a passion for ECE and chose to support his family’s dream of building a family-run preschool. Today, Michael serves as the Business Manager for the NKU location, overseeing billing and HR, and also supports administrative needs at the Milford location whenever needed.

Progam Director - Milford

Deandra has a deep love for early childhood education and started Little Stars Preschool because she wanted more for her own babies and for every child in her care. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Cincinnati and maintains multiple certifications across various areas of ECE. Deandra has served as a Preschool/Pre-K teacher for more than 10 years. For the past five years, Deandra has served as Program Director of the Milford location, where her passion, expertise, and commitment to high-quality, individualized care shape everything Little Stars does.

Program Director - NKU
Enrollment Director

Kayla is finishing a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Louisville, specializing in Organizational Leadership and HR Leadership, and then pursuing a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication. Over the past 22 years, she has worked in a wide range of childcare management roles, including teaching, administration, creative planning, and consulting. Kayla has a deep love for early childhood education and is passionate about building high-quality programs. She spent five years as our Executive Director, and now serves as NKU’s Program Director as well as our company Enrollment Director.

Assistant Director - NKU

Katie holds an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Cincinnati State and brings six years of classroom teaching experience to Little Stars Preschool. She is deeply passionate about providing high-quality childcare and building strong relationships with the children and families she serves. Katie currently serves as Assistant Director at our NKU location and is spending the upcoming weeks on maternity leave as she welcomes her newest little star.

Mentor Teacher - Milford

Dominique has been an incredible Mentor Teacher at our Milford location for the past three years. With many years of classroom experience and a genuine passion for teaching, she consistently inspires both children and staff. Dominique generously shares her knowledge, supports her co-workers, and brings heart, dedication, and excellence to everything she does.

BASE Camp Coordinator - NKU

Lilly is an integral part of our NKU operations, coordinating and managing our Before & After School Explorers Program (BASE Camp). She is deeply passionate about providing high-quality care and is highly dedicated to clear, consistent communication with families. Lilly is currently completing her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Northern Kentucky University, bringing both knowledge and heart to her work each day.