#United States #Springfield #Little Sunshine's Playhouse #Creatively Shine #Stephanie Rino

Little Sunshine’s Playhouse Welcomes Stephanie Rino as New Director of Curriculum and Learning

Little Sunshine's Playhouse, a recognized leader in early childhood education, has proudly appointed Stephanie Rino as its new Director of Curriculum and Learning. This new position reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to educational excellence and the development of its innovative Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum, Creatively Shine®.

As the Director of Curriculum and Learning, Rino will be instrumental in spearheading the implementation of curriculum and professional development initiatives across all Little Sunshine's Playhouse preschools. Her appointment is indicative of the institution's dedication to continuously evolving its educational practices to meet the needs of young learners.

In her own words, Rino expressed her enthusiasm for her new role: "As a longtime Reggio Emilia-inspired educator, I'm thrilled to take on a role that allows me to dive deeper into curriculum and learning. This truly feels like a passion project, and I'm honored to be doing this work."

Rino's leadership will focus on expanding the Creatively Shine® curriculum, ensuring that it aligns with developmentally appropriate practices, project-based learning, and experiences inspired by play and nature. She aims to establish a pedagogical framework that consistently brings Reggio Emilia principles to life across all locations while respecting the unique cultural aspects of each community.

Rino shared, "Building community and connection within each school—and throughout the company—is such a beautiful aspect of this philosophy. I look forward to collaborating and learning from our amazing school teams."

About Stephanie Rino

Previously, Rino was the Program Director at the Little Sunshine’s Playhouse in Colorado Springs, where she demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. In 2025, she earned the company-wide Loris Malaguzzi Performance Award, recognizing her unwavering commitment to the Reggio Emilia philosophy and early childhood education.

With over 25 years of experience in education, Rino's professional journey has included roles as a teacher, trainer, program administrator, founding director of an early learning center, professional learning facilitator, and a nonprofit advocate for early care and education. She holds an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Portland Community College, a Bachelor's Degree in Child and Family Studies from Portland State University, and has pursued coursework toward a Master of Arts in Teaching from Walden University.

About Little Sunshine's Playhouse

Established in 2002, Little Sunshine's Playhouse has emerged as an award-winning provider of early childhood education with multiple locations across the United States. Renowned for its Reggio Emilia-inspired, play-based approach, the organization cultivates enriching learning environments where children are encouraged to thrive through meaningful interactions and experiences. With Rino's expertise at the forefront, Little Sunshine's Playhouse is poised to enhance its educational offerings further, solidifying its commitment to nurturing the potential of every child.

As Little Sunshine's Playhouse continues to grow, stakeholders can anticipate innovative developments in early childhood education that align with the company's core values and educational philosophy.