Our Teachers

Each class is taught by a team of three teachers.  The lead teacher for each class is listed first and designated in bold.

Monday-Wednesday-Friday morning

Marin Whitten (head teacher)
Meg Reed
Desha Bambenek

Monday-Wednesday-Friday afternoon

Meg Reed (head teacher)
Marin Whitten
Desha Bambenek

Tuesday-Thursday morning

Lynda Schoonover (head teacher)
Sadie Wastell
Beth Cook
Katie Kanan

Tuesday-Thursday afternoon

Sadie Wastell (head teacher)
Lynda Schoonover
Rachelle Haynes
Desha Bambenek
Marin Whitten

Teacher Bios

Lynda Schoonover
I have been Director and head teacher at Prime Time Preschool for 20 years. After receiving a B.A. and an Elementary Teaching Certificate from Adrian College, I began my career in teaching third and fourth grade in the Pickney Community School System. I completed work on my masters in Education at EMU. When my youngest of three sons entered first grade I taught preschool at Sunshine House Preschool in Lansing. We opened Prime Time in 1994 and I have been teaching there even since.

Marin Whitten
I graduated from Northern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Preschool and Family Life Services. The year we moved to DeWitt my husband and I enrolled our middle son in Prime Time. Soon thereafter, I fell in love with the warm and caring environment. Our younger two children went on to attend and I later served on the Prime Time Board as a Member at Large. After spending time raising our four children, I returned to teaching. I love working with preschoolers and firmly believe in the philosophy at Prime Time. I am pleased to be a part of such a quality program.

Meg Reed
Since 2008, when my daughter started at Prime Time Preschool, becoming a teacher here has been my dream job. I graduated from Alma College in 2001 with a degree in elementary education. In 2005, I started a home daycare, to allow me to stay home with my children, and which I ran until 2012. For five years, I homeschooled our three children. They went back to public school in 2017. With two children in high school, and one in middle school, it was time for a change for me. Being able to realize my dream after twelve years is amazing! I look forward to being a part of this amazing program.

Desha Bambenek
My family moved to DeWitt in 2017. We have four children that I stayed home to raise & we were lucky to gain a spot at Prime Time where we quickly became passionate about the school & staff. I graduated from Central Michigan University where I ran the 400m hurdles for the track team (my legs aren’t as quick as they use to be!). We lived in Farmington Hills, then spent a decade near Lake Michigan in St. Joseph, before settling closer to family. We love the DeWitt community & now that my youngest is in Kindergarten, I am blessed & excited to be involved with the children & families of the Prime Time community. I love fun & laughter & that is what I hope to share with my new little friends!

Sadie Wastell
I began my teaching career after graduating from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. I taught kindergarten through third grade for over ten years before leaving my position in St. Johns to become a stay-at-home parent. I am ready to get back into the classroom now that my daughter is in kindergarten. I firmly believe in the philosophy at Prime Time and I'm grateful to be joining this amazing team. I am looking forward to working with preschoolers and getting to know all of the families.