Karen Winston grew up on Long Island, NY, She graduated from the University of Miami with a BA in Graphic Design/Illustration. She went on to earn her MS in Art Education from CW Post at Long Island University.
She relocated to Holy Springs, North Carolina with her family in 2006. She taught Pre-K at Little Dreamers Preschool for 7 years. While teaching there, she created an after school program called Kid Quest which focused on Phonics and Science. She also taught Art at the New School Montessori Center in Holly Springs. Her focus was on the upper elementary and middle school grades.
Karen is an avid runner, running all distances from 5ks to full marathons. She also enjoys traveling, cooking and spending time with her family. Her husband works in the restaurant industry. She has 2 sons who are both in college. She also has 2 shih-tzus- Jett and Mr. Peabody. She is very excited to be working at Active Tracks.
Mr. Matt grew up in Omaha, Nebraska before moving to Texas for college. He moved to Raleigh in 2022 and lives there with his wife and 2 cats. He has been working with kids for 8 years. When he isn't at Active Tracks he also works as a Children's Director at a church in Chapel Hill. In his spare time he paints, shoots archery, and cooks.
Miss Susan moved to Raleigh in May of 2022. She has over 10 years of experience in the child care industry. She has taught children ranging from toddlers to Kindergarteners in the past.
She has two children, ages 22 and 24. When they were in elementary school, she was a school volunteer helping out in the classroom, the library, and various parties and festivals. She has a dog named Harly and a cat named Tweak. For fun she like to paint, ride her bike, and cruise around on her motor scooter.
Sue Ellen Stiegler aka Ms. Tees or Mrs. Stiegler
Karen Winston aka Mrs. Winston
Susan Lemmon aka Ms. Susan
Lead Teacher for 2nd and 3rd Grade
Ashley Gartley aka Ms. Ashley
Lead Teacher for Kindergarten and 1st Grade
Matthew Holmquist aka Mr. Matt
Lead Teacher for 4th and 5th Grade
Active Tracks founder, Sue Ellen Stiegler, earned a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Florida and a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification in Elementary Education. As a 10-year teaching veteran, six of those years in the Holly Springs Community, she has worked with a variety of age groups and has learned how to use children’s own interests to keep them actively engaged and involved in their learning.
Her teaching experience, as well as her time as a before and afterschool care teacher and camp counselor, have taught her how to effectively organize and manage large groups of multi-aged children.
When she is not working, Sue Ellen, enjoys spending time with her husband and extended family including her 11 nieces and nephews, rowing, and being outdoors.
Miss Ashley is originally from a tiny town in upstate New York in the Finger Lake Region, near Buffalo and Rochester. She lived there for 16.5 years before relocating to North Carolina with her family in 2017. Since then, she has lived in Cary, Clayton, Goldsboro, and Fuquay.
She has been working with children since 2018, ranging in age from 4 months to 12 years old. She’s worked as a preschool Sunday school teacher, nursery staff, gym child care center staff, and a nanny. She has worked at Active Tracks since August 2022. Working with children brings so much joy into her life that she couldn’t imagine doing anything else. She is currently in college, gaining her Associate in Science in hopes of entering the medical field with an interest in pediatric nursing and emergency medicine.
In her free time, she enjoys lifting weights, being outdoors, and spending time with her family, boyfriend, and friends. She is the youngest of 4 and has 2 brothers and a sister who are her best friends. Her favorite things are sunflowers and cows. She loves to do art, including painting, coloring, drawing or anything crafty.