OUR TEACHERS
Get to know the teachers who make Poppy Preschool so special.
Liz Allewelt-Smith
Executive Director
Sprout Head Teacher
Liz has lived in Davis off and on (a little bit of Napa and Munich, Germany mixed in) for over 40 years. She graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Psychology and then later received her multiple-subject teaching credential with an emphasis on cross-cultural education. Liz is also credentialed with an ECE Site Supervisor Permit. Her three grown children are all graduates of DCCNS, and the family holds many happy memories of friends and experiences here. She has worked with children in various environments, including as a CASA volunteer, camp counselor, soccer coach, Campfire leader, and in elementary schools. However, her favorite place to be is our Preschool classroom. “It’s magical to watch children, parents, and families work, play, and learn together.”
Jenna Rodden
Seed and Sprout Class Head Teacher
Assistant Director
Jenna grew up in Davis and attended Pioneer Elementary, Holmes Junior High and Davis High School. After earning a Zoology degree from Sonoma State University, she headed into the Australian bush to do field work on Helmeted Honey-Eaters (the State bird of Victoria) and Wombats. Upon her return to the states, she became certified in Massage Therapy, began coaching youth soccer, and met her husband, Dave, at a friend’s party.
Jenna felt lucky to stay home with her kids when they were little and along the way realized she was happiest when working with children. When her youngest child started preschool, she began working at his school and taking ECE classes to earn her Child Development Associate Teacher Permit. Jenna loves animals, science, being in
nature, art and exercise. She is delighted to be a part of the Poppy Preschool teaching team and can’t wait to help our toddlers and their families navigate the joys and challenges of starting school!
Larissa Warzinski
Head Blossom Teacher
Science Teacher
Larissa is the Head Teacher of the Blossom class and Science Teacher at Poppy Preschool. She spent much of her childhood overseas in Australia, Hong Kong, and Japan before moving to Wisconsin in high school. Larissa earned her bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Early Education from Michigan State University. After her undergrad, she taught at a dual immersion international school in Beijing, China, while earning her masters in Teaching Arts and Curriculum. She later worked at an international school in New York City.
After becoming a mother, Larissa focused on raising her children in New Jersey and Australia. She and her family moved to Davis, CA, in 2022, where she discovered Poppy Preschool and quickly felt at home. With both of her sons having attended Poppy, Larissa began reconnecting with teaching by subbing, leading summer camp, and working in the parent café. This year, she is excited to take on two new roles and become even more involved in the vibrant Poppy Preschool community.
Julia Bohn
Seed and Sprout Assistant Teacher
Julia loved growing up here in Davis. She has worked with children in many capacities since she was 14, including coaching soccer with Teacher Jenna back when they were young! Julia earned her degree in Kinesiology at Sonoma State. She then worked as a para-educator for 8 years before starting a family. Julia has three biological children, Avery, Andy, and Erik and is a certified foster parent.
When Julia’s oldest children attended DCCNS in 2017, she felt an instant connection to the school and the wonderful families she met. She began fulfilling her teaching requirements so she could be a part of the preschool well after her kids moved on. Julia is also one of the DHS Cheerleading Coaches and now helps run the youth cheer program here in Davis. She loves school spirit, glitter, sensory play, art, and working with children of all ages and abilities. She is thrilled to be part of the magical Poppy Preschool teaching team!
Amanda Evans
Stay and Play Teacher
Office Manager
Amanda Evans grew up in Redding and moved to Davis to get her degree in Viticulture and Enology at UCD. After working a harvest out in Napa, she decided to go back to UCD to get her teaching credential in science. She taught chemistry at Vacaville High School for 6 years, and decided to take a break when her second son was born. Both of Amanda’s sons attended DCCNS, and like many of the teachers here, she fell in love with the children, the philosophy of the school, and the community that it created. After completing her ECE classes in 2023, and spending teaching time in the DCCNS classroom, she applied for her Child Development Teacher Permit from the CTC.
Amanda loves to sing, play all types of games, and explore new places with her family. She is thankful everyday that she gets to work with and learn alongside everyone at DCCNS.
Amanda McCall
Playschool Experience Teacher
Playcare Director and Teacher
Amanda has been part of the Poppy Preschool family since 2018, when her oldest, Thomas, first started in the toddler class. Since then, Charlotte and James have followed, all happily through Poppy Preschool. Amanda began working PlaySchool Experience and Playcare in 2019 and has loved being a part of the school in so many ways—she’s even served on the preschool board as both President and Fundraising Chair!
Amanda grew up in Redding and met her partner, Dave, while living in Los Angeles. When she was pregnant with their first child, she knew Davis was the perfect place to settle down and raise a family. In her free time, Amanda loves crafting and planning themed parties. As a family, they enjoy camping, cooking together, and cozy movie nights.
Current 2025-2026 Poppy Preschool Teachers!
DCCNS' annual auction in 2018 celebrating decades of DCCNS teachers.