About Rushville

HI!! I'm Stephanie Neuman and I am the owner/director of Kountry Kids Learning Center, Inc. I was born and raised in Girard, IL. I come from a very close knit family, my parents are John and Jeanette Earley and I have one brother JR who all still reside in Girard. I graduated from Girard High School in May 2000. I received my Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in May 2004. After finishing my degree I moved home and accepted a position with Sangamon Area Special Education District (SASED) as an Early Childhood Special Education teacher at New Berlin Elementary and Ball/Chatham Elementary for 4 years. In June 2006 I married my husband, Kris and April 1, 2008 we welcomed our first child into the world, Charles Stephen. When Charlie was 4 weeks old we purchased a former church to open our own quality childcare center. It was a whole new career path for me going from the public school to the private sector. After a very busy and stressful summer, we opened our doors August 18, 2008. May 9, 2010 we added our daughter, Elliana Marie, to our family. In June 2011 I began pursuing my masters' degree, online, in Early Childhood Administration through National- Louis University. I will graduate with masters' degree in December 2012. We are so blessed to have the best staff, students, and families EVER!! I LOVE MY JOB!!! 🙂 In my "spare" time I enjoy coaching high school competitive cheerleading at New Berlin High School, running, shopping, Stampin' It Up, and spending time with my family and friends.

I am a life long native of New Berlin. I graduated from New Berlin High School in 1998 and pursued an Associates Degree in Business Administration from Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield. I am able to fulfill my lifelong dream by owning and operating KKLC. I love spending time with my wife and 2 children. In addition to being a business owner of KKLC and a father, I help on my family's farm in the spring and fall.

My name is Mary Beatty, but everyone calls me Beth. I’ve been married since 2010. I am a teacher at Kountry Kids Learning Center in Rushville. I was born and raised in Rushville, and the youngest of 3 children. After graduating from RI High School in 2008, I attended Western Illinois University in Macomb. I am currently working on finishing my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary & Special Education.

I worked for Kids N Care Daycare and Learning Center since 2008. I am a kid at heart, so playing and teaching the kids is the perfect job for me. I am a single mother of three wonderful children (Conner, Makalee, and Tyson) who are my life.I also enjoy giving my time to teaching the youth at my church.

My name is Faith Hamilton and I’m the Infant Teacher at the Rushville KKLC. I graduated from Virginia IL Highschool in 2014, and then moved to Florida for college. I now live in Fredrick IL with my husband and 2 daughters. When I’m not taking care of babies, I spend my time making memories with my family and taking care of our chickens at the Hamilton Homestead.

I have worked at KKLC for 7 years. I am the teacher in the Toddler Room. I have been married to my husband Ross for 3 years. I have 2 daughters, Harper and Quinn. In my free time I like to go shopping and spend time with my family.

My name is Kayla and I started working at Kountry Kids Learning Center in 2018. I am a float teacher that covers many rooms. I have two kids-boy and girl. I enjoy spending time with my kids playing outside and watching movies.

My name is Dusti and I was born and raised in Rushville. I have my Associate’s Degree in Arts at Spoon River College and am currently taking classes in Early Childhood Education. I started working at Kountry Kids Learning Center in November of 2019. When I’m not at work, I like to crochet, read, and spend time with my family.

Hi, my name is Tracy. I started at kids-n-care in 2009. I left in 2016, to stay home and babysit my new grandbaby. However I returned to KKLC in 2020 and love it. I have 3 kids and 1 grandchild. I love spending time with family and friends in my spare time.

Hi My name is Dennise Blackwell. I have joyfully been teaching for 19 years. My husband of 30 years and I moved to Rushville a year ago from Austin, Texas. We wanted to get away from the city life and move to my birth place. We have two daughters ages 23 and 21. I enjoy being outside with nature and anything to do with science, music and geography. I teach the School Age kids in the Summer and the Toddlers during the school year.

Hi, my name is Cacey Benton, I graduated from Rushville-Industry High School in 2022. I attend Western Illinois University and will graduate in Spring 2025 with a bachelors in Criminal Justice. I grew up in Rushville and attended Kids-n-Care when I was younger and thought KKLC would be the perfect place for me! I love being around kids and watching them grow and learn. In my spare time I enjoy fishing and going on adventures such as hiking.

I retired from the Department of Corrections after 22 ½ years of service. I was looking around for something to keep me continually busy and working in our town of Rushville. I came upon this rewarding and upbeat job of keeping our youth fed. I work with our Scouts BSA in 3 counties and continue to serve our community as an alderman for our city. Church activities also keep my wife and I busy. I am glad to join the team at Kountry Kids.

My name is Kallie Logan. I graduated from Rushville in 2020. I have worked in the Infant room and currently, I’m in the Pre-K class and getting my CDA. I have always loved working with children of all ages. I’m working towards my Associates in Early Childhood Education.

Hello! My name is Gabrielle Read and I work in the Toddler Room here at KKLC. I currently attend Spoon River College and I am hoping to start nursing school soon. Outside of work and school, I enjoy being outside, shopping, and spending time with friends and family. I’m grateful for the opportunity to get to know all the sweet kiddos.