Joyce Raymond - Director

Joyce grew up in the Buffalo, New York area and attended Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri and studied Christian Education. After teaching young children and being in charge of the church preschool department, she was asked to be on a committee to research starting a preschool. In September 1980 the preschool opened and Joyce served as Director/Teacher. She has continued in that position and moved into being the Director in 2007. She also teaches the afternoon class that meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Joyce and her husband, Doug have two married children. Joyce has always loved working with young children and looks forward to each day and the interesting things the children will bring into her life.

Kerrie Armstrong -Teacher

Originally from Council Bluffs, Iowa, Kerrie and her husband, Tom, moved to Des Moines with their family in 1999. To reside closer to their church and the Rising Sun Learning Center, the Armstrong's moved to the Pleasant Hill area in 2003 and enrolled their youngest of three children in the preschool program. Before Kerrie joined the RSLC staff, she enjoyed volunteering and substituting when help was needed.

She has been teaching the morning classes at RSLC since August 2007 and finds working with young children a very rewarding experience. Kerrie also enjoys writing, family activities, volunteering at her children's schools and being involved in their church, teaching first-grade Sunday school, leading the Girls of Faith Club and volunteering for Vacation Bible School. Along with an Associates Degree in Journalism from Iowa Western Community College, Kerrie also obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations and Marketing from University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1993.

Melissa Henderson, Assistant Teacher

Melissa has resided in Pleasant Hill since 2003 with her husband and two wonderful children. Her children attended Rising Sun Learning Center and loved it. Before the Learning Center Melissa worked at KDSM FOX 17, as their on-air Kids Club host from 1998 to 2003. From 2003 until 2006, Melissa was able to stay at home with her two children. In 2006, Melissa became an assistant to three realtors with Re/Max Realty. In 2008 Melissa joined the Rising Sun Learning Center team. Melissa said she was ecstatic when she was offered the job at the Learning Center. She enjoys working with the children and watching them grow each day. She is a member of Rising Sun Church of Christ. When she is not teaching she enjoys being with her family, playing board games, photography and scrapbooking.