Our Teachers
From pediatric dietiitians to physical therapists , meet our unique team of teachers who bring our classes to life with their experience and passion.
Loren Klein, Founder and Director
Loren is a mother of three, teacher, social worker, and certified infant massage educator with nearly two decades of experience working with children and families. After graduating from Washington University, she began her career with Teach For America. While teaching in the classroom, Loren earned master’s degrees in both education and social work from Columbia University.
Since then, Loren has facilitated therapeutic programs for children, developed resources and workshops for families, and served as the primary point of communication for parents of students with disabilities at the New York City Department of Education. Loren is the founder of ZenHippo, where she brings together her expertise in education, social work, and family support to help children and parents thrive. Read more about her story.
Lily Vinton, Operations Manager
Lily is a dedicated early childhood educator known for her boundless creativity, dynamic energy, and deep commitment to inclusive learning. With a background in teaching preschool-aged children both with and without disabilities, she specializes in fostering foundational life skills, motor planning, and emotional regulation through play-based, developmentally appropriate practices. As Operations Manager she oversees the daily functions of ZenHippo, ensuring families have an exceptional experience.
Jimmy Bartless
Sport Starts
Coach Jimmy is a seasoned educator with more than 20 years of experience working with children and families throughout Palm Beach County. His energetic, positive approach to teaching makes him a natural fit for working with young children.
Throughout his career, Coach Jimmy has worked in a variety of settings, helping children develop physical, social, and emotional skills through sports, movement, and play. Whether through music, movement, or simple games, Coach Jimmy creates engaging experiences where children can learn, build confidence, and have fun.
Alison Berkery
Sunshine Yoga, Reading Intensive
Alison is a mother of two, Reading Recovery Specialist, and former kindergarten teacher with a master’s degree in elementary education and a 200-hour yoga certification. With a background in early childhood education and experience teaching yoga to both children and expecting mothers, Alison brings a thoughtful, nurturing approach to helping families support the whole child. She is passionate about helping children develop an inner sense of calm, confidence, and peace while giving parents practical tools they can carry into everyday life.
Evelyn Contreras
Pretend Play, The Great Create
Evelyn is an early childhood educator with more than eight years of experience and a degree in Early Childhood Education. She is passionate about creating playful, engaging learning experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity, and confidence.
With a special love for open-ended art and hands-on science, Evelyn encourages children to explore, experiment, and discover while developing a lifelong love of learning. She also values building meaningful connections with children and families along the way.
Dayle Federico
Tummytime Rollers, Crawlers and Cruisers
Miss Dayle is a pediatric physical therapist with more than 28 years of experience helping children grow, develop, and reach their full potential. A proud mom of two daughters, she brings both professional expertise and a genuine love of working with children and families.
Before moving to South Florida, Miss Dayle owned and operated Kiddie Korner Preschool and a Mommy & Me Gym in New Jersey for 10 years. Today, through Rise & Shine with Miss Dayle, she combines her clinical knowledge with her passion for empowering parents, sharing simple, practical strategies to support their child’s development and make everyday moments meaningful, active, and fun.
Kam Federico
Dance Discovery
As a dance instructor and Registered Behavior Technician, Kam brings a warm, playful approach to every class, encouraging little ones to explore movement, music, imagination, and self-confidence through dance. She focuses on building coordination, self-expression, and social skills through songs, creative movement, and engaging activities, while helping children develop a lifelong love of dance.
Laura Gonzalez
Canta Conmigo, World Music
Laura is a multilingual educator, musician, and mom with more than 10 years of teaching experience and a deep passion for early childhood education and family connection. Through music, movement, and play, she creates joyful, nurturing experiences that support children’s development while strengthening meaningful caregiver-child bonds.
With her calm, engaging, and caring presence, Laura brings warmth and creativity to every class. She is excited to share her love of music and learning with the ZenHippo community and help families connect, play, and grow together.
Laura Grazioli
TasteBuds
Laura is a Registered Dietitian, mom of two, and owner of New Leaf Dietetics, with nearly 10 years of experience specializing in prenatal and family nutrition. She believes in an “all foods fit” approach and takes a practical, family-centered approach to helping children develop a healthy relationship with food.
Laura works with families to navigate picky eating and bring more calm to mealtimes, sharing simple, actionable strategies that empower parents to raise curious, confident, and intuitive eaters.
Jemeliese Hernandez
Off the Page, Nature Sense, and Hola Amigos, Science Sparks
Jem is a bilingual early childhood educator with experience teaching young children with and without disabilities. As a preschool teacher, she developed and facilitated curriculum focused on early literacy, motor skills, and foundational life skills.
Energetic, creative, and passionate about early childhood development, Jem believes children learn best through play, exploration, and meaningful connection. She began her education at Florida International University and completed her studies in psychology and child development at Trinity University.
Roxy King
Family Fitness
Roxy is a mom of two, dance teacher, and fitness trainer with more than 20 years of experience in movement and performance. After a professional dance career on stages around the world, she now brings her passion for movement into a family-focused fitness environment.
Roxy creates energetic, playful experiences where parents and children can move, connect, and have fun together. With a focus on joy, creativity, and togetherness, she helps families build healthy habits while creating meaningful memories through movement.
Tracie Krieger
Music Together
Tracie is a mom of three, MBA, and Music Together teacher with more than 15 years of experience bringing music and movement to young children and families. She has earned Level 1 Certification in recognition of outstanding achievement in teaching, musicianship, program philosophy, and parent education.
Beloved by families throughout Palm Beach County, Tracie is passionate about the joy, connection, and community that music creates. Her love of little ones, music, and dancing shines through in every class, where her enthusiasm and boundless energy make each experience fun and engaging for the whole family.
Kassi Lowenstein
Artful Beginnings, H is for Hippo, and Let’s Build
Kassi is a graduate of Emory University and a mom of six with more than 20 years of teaching experience in cities across the country. Her natural warmth and ease with babies and toddlers are immediately evident, and she has a special gift for connecting with little ones.
With boundless creativity and a playful spirit, Kassi engages young explorers through messy art, imaginative movement, and lively music. Her projects are not only fun—they often become treasured keepsakes for families. Kassi brings her wealth of experience, energy, and creativity to every ZenHippo experience.
Shanele Lundahl
Toddlers in the Wild
Shanele is a chiropractor specializing in pregnancy and postpartum care. Born and raised in Wyoming, she is the eldest of 10 children, eight of whom were adopted. Growing up in a large family, Shanele developed a natural sense of leadership and a deep love for caring for others from an early age.
As a college athlete and biology major, she developed a passion for the human body and its incredible capacity for movement and growth. She went on to earn a Doctorate in Chiropractic and a Master’s in Sports Science and Rehabilitation from Logan University in St. Louis, Missouri. Shanele brings her love of children and deep knowledge of physical development to her work with families.
Jamie Toliver
Baby Connect
Jamie Toliver is a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, mom of two girls, and founder of Jamie'zzz Sleep Consulting. Passionate about making a positive impact, Jamie spent nearly a decade working in the nonprofit sector before launching her sleep consulting business in 2023.
Today, she works with families across the country to nurture healthy, independent sleepers and help parents create sustainable routines that support better sleep and thriving families. After nearly 10 years in Los Angeles, Jamie is now happily rooted in Palm Beach Gardens.
Paula Saenz Valiente
Hippo Hop
Paula is an actress, dancer, educator, and new mom with a bachelor’s degree in Combined Arts from the University of Buenos Aires and more than a decade of teaching experience. She has led dance, art, and theater programs in a variety of settings, including Montessori schools, working with children, teens, and adults.
Passionate about creativity and self-expression, Paula thrives on creating engaging experiences that inspire curiosity and confidence. She also cherishes meaningful connections with the people and families she works with.
Claire Lehane
Teaching Assistant
Claire is pursuing an accelerated MBA with a minor in Psychology at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Raised in a large family with more than 50 cousins, she has always had a natural connection with children and a passion for creating meaningful experiences for them.
Alongside her studies, Claire works in retail and as a caregiver, building on her experience working with children. With a love of crafts and a warm, creative spirit, she brings energy, positivity, and enthusiasm to the ZenHippo community.
Ashlee Vieux
Teaching Assistant
Ashlee is an early childhood professional with more than six years of experience supporting children ages 0–3 in play-based environments. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education at Florida International University while working as a Registered Behavioral Technician at ARC Broward, a nonprofit organization supporting children with autism.
Ashlee is passionate about creating inclusive, engaging, and developmentally appropriate experiences where every child feels supported and empowered to learn through play.
Bree Mathur
Teaching Assistant
Bree is a student at Palm Beach Atlantic University, where she is majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in Film. With extensive childcare experience, she has a natural ability to connect with little ones and create a warm, welcoming environment.
Her bubbly personality, creativity, and enthusiasm bring excitement and fun to every ZenHippo experience.
Interested in teaching with us? E-mail Loren@wearezenhippo.com.