Bio

Larissa (She/Her) holds a masters degree from Illinois State University in Special Education. In November of 2020, she received a 2nd bachelors in Early Childhood Education. She has worked in the public school system for two years teaching agriculture to junior high and senior high school students, and one year as a one-on-one specialist for a child with a cognitive disorder in a kindergarten classroom. After working in the public schools, she realized that it just wasn’t meant to be. She opened up Busy Bee Learning Center in Champaign, Illinois. BBLC was open and a staple Childcare Home from 2012 to 2021. In 2021, she moved back home and became the CACFP Food Program Director for childcare homes in 2021. Larissa has been married since 2010 to Eric Vander Kuur. He has worked for the Department for Human Services since 2011, and other agencies connected with working for children in foster care/adoptive services. They have 2 daughters.