Our Teachers
Our teachers provide a wealth of experience to Children First. All lead teachers have an Associate or Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field. All assistant teachers have or working towards earning their Child Development Credential (CDA). All staff are certified in CPR, First Aid, Child Abuse Recognition and Prevention, Communicable Diseases along with six (6) hours of continuing education annually.
Half of our teaching staff have been employed at Children First for over 20 years!
Director
Tiffany Hance
Tiffany is from Westerville, Ohio and resides in Lewis Center, Ohio with her family and 2 dogs. She has an AS in Early Childhood Development from CSCC and has a BS in Early Childhood Education from University of Cincinnati. She is a certified Children’s Vision Screener with Prevent Blindness. She serves on the Eastland-Fairfield Employability Prep Advisory Board. Tiffany joined Children First in 1991. She enjoys exercising and volunteering in my free time. Her favorite part of her day is getting out of the office and spending time in the classrooms or on a field trip.
Lead Teacher Bear Room
Toddlers
Crystal Walls
Crystal has been teaching at Children First since 1990. She has a BS in Child Development from The Ohio State University. She is a widow with two sons, Marcus (29) and Nicolaus (20). She also has a step-daughter, Navy (6). She enjoys teaching and watching children grow and learn.
Bumblebee Room Teacher
Younger Infants
Haley Moss
Haley's bio is coming soon!
Butterfly Room Teacher
Older Infants
Natalie Sohalski
Natalie's bio is coming soon!
Butterfly Room Teacher
Older Infants
Sondra Asare
Sondra has been with Children First since 2005. She graduated from Columbus State College with an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood. She has a passion for working with young children and seeing them grow as well as learn new things. Sondra is married to her husband, Ramsey, for 10 years and counting! She comes from a big family of six--her family and going to church is very important to her.
Bumblebee Room Teacher
Younger Infants
Emily Fithen
Emily's bio is coming soon!
Bear Room Teacher
Toddlers - Early Preschool
Christine Wilkins
Christine has taught at Children First in the Chicks Room since 2002. She is a mother of two daughters and a grandmother of four grandchildren. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and activities with her grandkids. Fall and Halloween is her favorite time of year. She loves working at Children First with the toddlers!
Bear and Penguin Room Teacher
Toddlers - Early Preschool
Amanda Tilley
Amanda's bio is coming soon!
Penguin Room Teacher
Toddlers - Early Preschool
Mariah Mathews
Mariah began teaching at Children First in January 2024. She joined CF after teaching at another downtown center. She has a two-year old daughter, Charlotte, who is in the Bear Room. She was born and raised a Notre Dame fan, although she's lived in Columbus her whole life. Mariah and her fiancé enjoy traveling to the beach and are currently fostering a young dog. She is excited to join the CF family!
Elephant Room Teacher
Preschool
Tatjana Cotton
​Tatjana's bio is coming soon!
Elephant Room Teacher
Preschool
Josh Tully
Josh's bio is coming soon!
Elephant Room Teacher
Preschool
Annette Hobson
Annette has been a teacher at Children First since 1997. She has a background of Early Childcare Development after attending The Ohio State University. Annette is originally from Cleveland Heights, Ohio and is the youngest of four children (she has two older brothers and one older sister). Her hobbies are sports, all things Cleveland, movies, good reading, crafts, spending time with family and friends. Most of all, she enjoys learning from her younger friends--your children--and loves all the laughter they give!