Our Story
Corey and Kathy met in 2006 when their girls were in the same kindergarten class. They quickly established a strong bond and friendship that has carried the business to be what it is today. Together they started Big Star Studios in 2011 when they discovered a growing need for performing arts in the Snoqualmie Valley area. After five years of getting Big Star Studios on the map Corey decided to pursue her life-long dream of opening a preschool and thus Little Stars Preschool was born!
Opening Little Stars Preschool has been a long-time dream of Corey’s since she started teaching in Bellevue School District many years ago. Corey has a degree in Human and Child Development from Washington State University (GO COUGS!) and went on to get her master’s degree in Education at Western Washington University. After teaching Kindergarten through third grade in public school for years Corey decided to stay home and raise her four children. As her fourth child got older, she knew she wanted to get back to work with children. In 2011, Big Star Studios was born out of a shared passion for educating children in the arts with Corey’s close friend, Kathy Gehrig. Once Big Star Studios was well underway and successful Corey knew it was time to get to work on her dream of opening a Reggio Emilia preschool.
In 2017 Little Stars Preschool became a reality when the studio moved into a new 4000 square foot space and was able to build out two beautiful Reggio Emilia-inspired classrooms. The program has been growing leaps and bounds ever since! We now have an additional building in downtown Snoqualmie with two more classrooms and three gorgeous outdoor classrooms for our Nature School. Students who walk through our doors are given so much more than just kindergarten readiness. Students build confidence, learn team-building skills, create lasting friendships, experience positive role models, and have lasting memorable experiences. Our approach to teaching is a child-led, play-based curriculum that embraces all the qualities each student has to offer. With nine amazing teachers and two support staff here at Little Stars Preschool you will not find a more dedicated, enriching, and supportive program for your preschooler. We prepare your child for kindergarten and beyond!