I’m Stephanie, the founder of Dolphin Learning Studio, and an early childhood educator who believes deeply in the power of wonder, connection, and joyful learning. For more than 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of guiding young children’s growth across cultures and countries. I’m from Germany, married to my American husband for 37 years and am the mother of four daughters—each born in a different European country. I carry with me a global perspective and a heartfelt appreciation for the many beautiful ways children learn and express themselves.
My teaching journey has included Montessori certification, IB PYP training, and many years in Reggio Emilia–inspired international preschools. I’ve also taught English in Germany and coached swimming, gymnastics, and ice skating—experiences that helped shape my holistic understanding of movement, confidence building, and early development.
Dolphin Learning Studio began in 2021 as the Dolphin Online Preschool, a small preschool project of love, opening its virtual doors to families around the world in January 2022. What started as a global online preschool has grown into the relationship-centered in-person Learning Studio I now offer in Panama City, Panama. As DLS continues to evolve, it will soon expand to include thoughtfully designed teaching resources for both parents and educators—another way for me to share the heart, intention, and play-based philosophy that guide my work.
At Dolphin Learning Studio, I bring together everything I’ve learned with everything I love. I integrate Reggio Emilia principles, PYP-inspired inquiry, and play-based learning aligned with the Maryland Early Learning Standards to create experiences that feel meaningful, developmentally appropriate, and full of joy. I listen closely, observe thoughtfully, and design learning that honors each child’s strengths, interests, and individuality.
Whether I am meeting families in their homes here in Panama City or supporting them through my live online program all over the world, my mission remains the same: to nurture confident, curious, joyful learners within an environment rooted in respect, connection, and wonder. It is a privilege to walk alongside families, empower parents, and celebrate each child as a capable, unique protagonist of their own learning story.
My Reggio Emilia–inspired approach invites children to learn through wonder, exploration, and creativity. I see each child as capable and curious, arriving with their own ideas, questions, and perspectives that shape every session. Through open-ended play, natural materials, and rich sensory experiences, I help children make connections, express themselves, and discover their own unique ways of thinking.
I wholeheartedly believe in the “hundred languages of children.” In my work, drawing, building, storytelling, movement, and imaginative play are not just activities they are meaningful ways for children to communicate and understand their world. I design learning spaces with intention, knowing that the environment itself becomes a teacher, offering beauty, purpose, and opportunities for authentic discovery.
As an educator, I work alongside children as a partner in learning. I observe closely, listen deeply, and gently guide or extend learning when the moment is right. This approach nurtures joy, confidence, and genuine engagement, allowing each child to feel seen, respected, and celebrated for who they are.
I use inquiry-based practices inspired by the PYP style of learning. I encourage children to ask questions, investigate ideas, and explore the world around them with curiosity and intention. Learning becomes meaningful when children discover answers through play, observation, and hands-on exploration, so I design experiences that invite them to wonder, notice, connect, and express their thinking.
I love helping children make sense of big ideas—relationships, community, nature, and their growing sense of self—through experiences that feel natural and joyful. Although DLS is not an IB-authorized program, I draw deeply from the inquiry-rich spirit of the PYP to nurture early critical thinking, creativity, and a genuine love of learning. My goal is for children to think, reflect, and communicate in ways that feel empowering and true to who they are.
I follow developmentally appropriate practices because I believe children learn best when their experiences match who they are and where they are in their growth. I take time to understand each child’s age, stage, interests, and individual needs so that learning feels natural, joyful, and achievable. My sessions are hands-on and meaningful, rooted in everyday life and the real interests of the child in front of me.
I offer gentle guidance while giving children the freedom to make choices, solve problems, and express themselves in their own unique ways. When children feel respected and truly understood, they grow in independence, confidence, and a strong sense of self. These practices reflect NAEYC principles and ensure that each child’s learning is both developmentally sound and personally meaningful.
I thoughtfully align my learning experiences with the Maryland Early Learning Standards to support strong developmental growth. These standards help guide me in planning for essential areas such as language, early math, social-emotional learning, and physical development. I weave these goals into my play-based and inquiry-driven sessions in ways that feel seamless and child-centered.
Parents can feel confident knowing that their child is experiencing joyful, meaningful learning while also building a foundation aligned with recognized state expectations. I use the standards as a guiding framework—not a checklist—so there is always room for creativity, exploration, and each child’s unique voice. By blending the standards with my Reggio- and PYP-inspired approach, I support children’s holistic development and help them grow in ways that honor who they are right now.
