Ali Spittler is a mom of 2, a licensed elementary teacher, and loves neon yellow and milk duds way too much. She is the cofounder of Pencil Box Art Studio, and is passionate about creating a space for kids to get messy and build their sense of self. Teaching kids is her happy place!

Brynn Grover is a mom, long-time teacher, and cofounder of Pencil Box Art Studio. She loves ice cream, school supplies, making art, planning parties, collecting children’s books, and baking pie. When not at the studio, you can find Brynn chasing around her 3 cool kids, designing something on her computer, or exploring a new place with her family.

Marshawn Merkley is a mom, a music therapist, a trail runner, and a collector of world instruments—smitten by wanderlust. Her approach to teaching music is deeply rooted in celebrating and embracing the diversity found in each child, creating a safe, holistic, play-based environment for children to be curious, creative, and courageous, making their musical journey just as unique as their personalities.

Marshawn and her three kids love to travel, hike, kayak, bake, and value experiencing the world around them with a curious sense of exploration. She is thrilled to join the Pencil Box Art Studio team and share her love of music.

Alyson Bowthorpe is a veteran preschool teacher of 22 years, a children’s librarian, and grandmother to 9 awesome kids. She loves books, art, and creating meaningful play-to-learn experiences for children. When she’s not teaching or running the library at her school, you can find Alyson working in her garden, painting, and enjoying time with her family. She is so excited to join the Pencil Box Team and continue working with her favorite people: preschoolers!