YWCA Young Wonders Leadership
Here at YWCA Young Wonders, we care about the health, safety, and education of your child(ren). The first step in doing this is hiring qualified staff and leaders. Below are our Young Wonders leaders, please take a moment to read their qualifications and reach out to them whenever needed.
Niayr Maines
Director
YWCA Young Wonders
Niayr joined the Young Wonders team as a teacher in 2018, but has worked with children since 2016 through summer camp and volunteer programs in her hometown. She received her Associates degree from Lincoln College where she played on the Women's Basketball Team and became an Academic All-American. Niayr graduated from Illinois State University in December of 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and endorsement in English as a Second Language. She is an active member of Phi Theta Kappa and Kappa Pi. She is also a new member of the Central Illinois Director Cohort. In her free time, she loves to get active, binge watch tv shows, and do DIY crafts. Niayr's favorite quote and personal life mission is, Psalms 46:5.
John Muellner
Assistant Director
YWCA Young Wonders
John has a degree in Marketing Research, Analysis, and Educational Resource Development for a Diverse Society which is a business education hybrid degree, with an emphasis in working with a diverse population. John specializes in working with children and adults who are learning English as a second language. As an educator, he has worked at the Children's Learning Center of DeKalb as a School Age teacher, and as a home-school teacher.
Dianna Jacobs
Early Learning Program Specialist
YWCA Young Wonders
Dianna has been with YWCA since 2009 and has worked with children since 2003. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Family Consumer Science–Family Relations.
Before joining YWCA, Dianna was a preschool teacher, a nanny, and a PPT who worked one-on-one with elementary school children with special needs.
Like Steve, Dianna started working part-time in the school-age program before moving into her specialty position.