Welcome to Amore Preschool and Daycare Scottsdale

My name is Elynn Colaianni. As the Director of Amore Preschool I have been learning from and playing with our community's children for the past two years. Born in Montreal, Canada, my parents moved their seven children to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1969 where I was raised. While I have lived in other western states, I consider the Desert Southwest my home. I am blessed with both a son and daughter as well as their wonderful spouses and my young grandson whom we all adore.

I began my career in Education over 35 years ago as an Assistant Education Curator at the Phoenix Art Museum and spent several years thereafter in the museum field. I obtained a BFA in Art Education and Sculptural Metals from ASU, an MA in the very same from California State University, Long Beach and a MEd in Secondary Education again from ASU. In 2002 I started teaching art in both the public and private school systems teaching ages PreK-12. 

I have a deep affinity and love of nature, the fine arts and reading as well as a keen interest in health and wellness however my passion is teaching and my greatest joy is young people. I believe strongly in hands-on experiential learning and that children thrive by discovering their world through play. Here at Amore we celebrate each child’s unique gifts and strengths while creating healthy challenges that promote creativity, problem solving and critical thinking skills. I am grateful for each day that I am afforded the opportunity to support the on-going creation of a loving and nurturing environment where our children feel safe to explore their social, emotional and physical selves.

Dahgot’éh! My name is Jaylen Parker and I come from the White Mountains on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. I’ve always had a love for reading and playing sports growing up, and keep up with these hobbies today. This includes playing volleyball, basketball, and time in the gym! Growing up in the White Mountains gave me a love for the outdoors so I enjoy fishing, hiking, or just a drive through the mountains. My love for early childhood education began as a teen and has carried into my adult years as I’ve worked with kids for the past 5 years. My first 3 years were spent working with children at a rehab center on the reservation. After moving to the Valley, I continued my work with children while working on my degree in Early Childhood education. This brought me to Amore, where I have spent the past 2 years loving and teaching these brilliant children! Ashóóg ahìyééh!

Hey Hey Hey!! I am Ms.Nellie! I am the Pre-Kindergarten teacher at Amore! I have been teaching for 3 years but have been a part of childcare for over 6 years. I strive to make my classroom a home away from home. I  truly believe every child is different and deserves an amazing teacher in their earlier years of learning, as that is when they begin their  beautiful journey of education. We are the Cardinals and we strive to integrate new things, grow as a community, and most importantly have fun and learn a lot! In our classroom we focus on our fine and gross motor  skills, numeracy, literacy, social and emotional skills, problem solving  and following directions. We would love for YOU to be apart of our  beautiful community.  

Hey there! My name is Sarah Bock! I grew up in sunny Southern California before moving to Phoenix in my teen years. Growing up, I loved playing sports like basketball and softball, and was always a very avid reader! Reading continues to be a passion of mine to this day, and I’m so grateful to be able to share my love of literature with young learners! I’ve always known that I wanted to work in education, and focused heavily on childhood development while getting my degree in Psychology from UCLA. While in college, I spent lots of time leading an on-campus organization that benefited a women’s shelter in Santa Monica. I also devoted time to my growing interest in art, so it is not uncommon to find me doodling or coloring in my free time! After graduating, I found myself longing for a career that held meaning to me, and that’s when I found Amore Preschool! I have now worked at Amore for almost a year, and my work is my pride and joy! I love having the opportunity to help your children grow and learn!