Meet Tender Years’ Leadership Team
While nice facilities and a strong curriculum are important, it’s ultimately people who make the biggest impact on your child’s development. Each member of our leadership team is committed to maintaining a highly educational and nurturing environment for your child. In addition to their long tenure with Tender Years, we’re also proud of the fact that many of their staff – teachers and assistants – have also been with us for many years. We think that says a lot about how we do things here.
Betty L. Krebs, Founder
Betty founded Tender Years in 1984 when, as a working mother of two children, she realized how difficult it was to find quality child care. At the time, she also saw that more mothers were entering the workforce and needed what she herself had been searching for. With few options available to her and other working families, she decided to utilize her business background to give birth to her third child, Tender Years, Inc.
Over the last 30 years, Betty has worked diligently to build Tender Years’ strong reputation for being an education-focused, family-driven childcare solution. As a mother and grandmother, she understands the needs of local parents, as well as the communities and school districts we serve. Although Betty is retired from the business today, she stills serves as a mentor to her families business.
Jay A. Krebs, Owner & Operations Manager
Jay joined Tender Years in 1988, shortly after earning his B.A. in Business Administration. With the original intent to help his mother’s business on a short-term basis while he pursued new career opportunities, he quickly realized it was a great time to be involved in starting a business. Jay envisioned Tender Years as more than a babysitting service. He envisioned a company that could grow to provide care and early education to even more families and have a greater impact in the community. Over the last 30 years, Jay has built the financial structure and family-like culture that makes Tender Years what it is today. Along the way, he has orchestrated projects with The Hershey Company, GISI Insurance Company, Caldwell Development Company, Lobar Associates, Rachael Carson State Office Building Parents Association, St. Theresa’s School, and more recently, Charter Homes and Neighborhoods.
Jay is proud to operate a business with more than 90 employees, who are offered benefits such as paid time off, a Simple IRA retirement plan, and Health and Dental insurance. Jay says, “Our employees are the success of Tender Years and I will continue to recognize and appreciate that fact.”
Jay lives in Mechanicsburg with his two children. He is a member of the Harrisburg Lions Club and volunteers with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Kimberly Shearer, M.Ed., Owner & Executive Director
Kimberly joined her family business, as an Early Childhood Teacher in 1994. Upon completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Early Childhood Education from Shippensburg University in 1996, Kimberly worked for several years as the Director of the Camp Hill, Hershey and Harrisburg (Paxton Street) locations. She was responsible for the opening of the Rachel Carson State Office Building Center location and was the center Director. She completed her Master’s Degree in Education from Temple University in 2000 and worked part time, traveling the country, as a trainer for the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) tool.
From 2001-2010, Kimberly spent the winters overseas for her husband’s professional ice hockey career, where she had the opportunity to work in bilingual preschools/Montessori preschools, teaching English in an International school and designing bilingual playgroups for a Parent-Child Center. Most importantly, she became a mother and it is these experiences that Kimberly credits most for her development as an Early Childhood Professional.
Upon her return to the United States full time, it was her dream to help to expand and grow the family business. She was instrumental in the design, start up and opening of the Mechanicsburg location from 2013-2016. During this time, she created and implemented the Tender Years Academy program, ACE customized Curriculum and K-Readiness programs. Kimberly received her PQAS certification, and her Director’s Credential.
In 2018, she purchased her family business, along with her brother, Jay, and they currently own operate the business today. They are currently working on a new project and are excited to be growing the business again in 2021.
Kimberly currently lives in Mechanicsburg, PA, Cumberland County. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, watching her children play ice hockey and softball, and loves decorating, fashion and fitness!
Jordyn Heisey, Director, Camp Hill Center
Jordyn started working at Tender Years as a Summer Camp Counselor for the Hershey Location in 2016. In 2018, she returned to Tender Years as the Assistant Director for the Mechanicsburg Location. She is a 2011 Mechanicsburg Area School District graduate and received her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Millersville University in 2015. Jordyn has her Pennsylvania State teaching certificate in grades Pre-K through 6th. Her experience includes teaching toddler age groups for 4 years and various public elementary school grades for 2 years.
In her personal time, Jordyn enjoys spending time outside and loves to run. She also spends most of her time with her family. Jordyn has two young girls, Fiona and Bianca, and a loving husband, Ryan.
Amanda Heisey, Director, Hampden Center
Amanda is a 2009 Northern York County High School graduate, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from Millersville University. Additionally, she has her Masters in Reading with an emphasis in Elementary Education. She also has her Pennsylvania teaching certificate in Pre-K through 4th grade and Pre-K through 8th grade for Special Education. Amanda started working for Tender Years in 2012 at our Hershey Location as an infant teacher and then worked as a preschool teacher. She returned to Tender Years in 2019 at our Mechanicsburg center as a preschool teacher. In 2021, Amanda was promoted to the role of Assistant Director for our brand new Hampden center, and she was promoted again in 2022 to become the center’s Director.
In her free time, Amanda likes adventuring new places with her puppy, Puck. She also enjoys attending hockey games and spending time with her two nieces.
Dana Hall, Director, Hershey Center
Dana graduated from Penn Manor High school, and obtained her Associates in Early Childhood Education from Harrisburg Area Community College in 2012. Dana’s previous experiences includes 11 years in the field, including being a Preschool teacher, and Education Coordinator, and an Assistant Director for a variety of companies. Dana had been a Director for a non-profit program in Lancaster, and most recently served as Assistant Principal at Chesterbrook Academy. Dana has received her Pennsylvania Director’s Credential and has started working on her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Dana is excited to join the Hershey team as their Center Director.
In Dana’s free time, she can be found enjoying time with her daughter, watching movies, vacationing at the beach, and playing with their two dogs, Skylar and Leo.
Allison Homburger, Director, Mechanicsburg Center
Allison is a graduate of Liberty University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology concentrating in Counseling and Human Development. Additionally, she is a Certified Child Life Specialist who is trained in the areas of child development, counseling and psychology, therapeutic play, and children’s concerns and reactions to hospitalization/illnesses. Most of her experiences have been working with children and families in grief support groups or in the hospital environment – supporting families coping with life’s challenges of illness, loss, trauma, and transitions. Prior to this, Allison has worked at the Tender Years Camp Hill location with all age groups and has also worked as a ballet teacher for young children. She has a passion for working with children of all ages and is inspired by children’s enthusiasm to create, learn, and play.
In her free time, Allison enjoys spending time outside hiking and relaxing in her hammock, visiting local coffee shops, and spending time with her two cats, Pepper and Sophie.
Courtney Enterline, Director of Recruitment
Courtney is a graduate of Millersville University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Secondary Social Studies. She is currently attending Shippensburg University to complete her Masters of Education with a focus on Instruction & Curriculum. She currently holds a Pennsylvania State certification in Social Studies grades 7-12, English grades 7-12, and PreK-4, and the PA Director’s Credential. Courtney has worked for Tender Years since 2016 starting as a Kindergarten/School Age Teacher at the Hershey location and moving to Mechanicsburg Center Director in 2018. In 2021, Courtney moved to the Hampden Center Director where she was instrumental in the opening and start up of the Hampden Center.
Courtney most recently moved to the Director of Recruitment in 2022 and is excited to use her passion of education and business to be active in recruiting quality childcare teachers, implementing employee engagement programs and be a part of the growing business!
In her personal time, Courtney can be found enjoying a hot cup of coffee, scrapbooking, going out with friends, and spending time outdoors with her husband and two boys, Deacon and Dean, and their dogs, Winston and Declan.
