About FunShine Express®

FunShine Express started in 1995 when owner and President, Beth Ehlis, began creating curriculum for her licensed childcare program. With the help of her mom and sister, she reproduced this curriculum for other providers. In 2014, we launched FunShine Digital, our most flexible lesson plan. EdTech awarded FunShine Digital the Cool Tool and Trendsetter Awards in 2019. We have since developed an integrated assessment program for both print and digital curricula and will soon be adding digital parent engagement and classroom management features.

Let us help you organize your day, save time and money, and have FUN!

How can FunShine Express help you?

Save time associated with preparing lesson plans and other activities. Our Early Learning Curriculum is delivered right to your front door. Or, instantly access thousands of activities with FunShine Digital.
Professional infant/toddler and preschool curriculum with developmentally appropriate learning materials help you remain current and competitive.
Curriculum is aligned to your state's early learning standards and can help you obtain better QRIS ratings.
Build school readiness skills and enthusiasm for learning.
Create trust and credibility with parents as a result of offering a high quality, award-winning, fun-filled learning environment for children.
Parents and providers receive tools and resources that help children excel.

Children learn by doing; they are interested in hands-on materials and should be offered opportunities to make meaningful choices. We offer a wide variety of ideas to build early literacy, math, science, social skills, and more. We help you address each child socially, physically, emotionally, and cognitively. Our curricula stimulate thinking, reasoning, decision-making, and problem-solving. Lesson plans are flexible: pick and choose from our activities to meet the individual needs of the children in your group.

Our Guarantees

1. Save one hour per day prep time!

Use our preplanned kits or FunShine Digital® to save at least one hour per day prep time per teacher. Lower your teaching and material costs. Spend more time with children and your own family. We will show you how!

Explore Curriculum

2. Aligned to your state standards!

We guarantee alignment to your early education requirements. Plus, we’ll help you work through the details of meeting these requirements. Check out the U.S. map on our homepage and click your state, or call us with questions.

View State Standards

3. Support and training guaranteed!

Convenient access to live and online implementation training to teach you how to save one hour per day, grow your business, and enhance children’s performance. Special topics offered upon request and throughout the year. Skilled, professional trainers!

View Training Information

Who We Are

	Beth Ehlis President and Owner Beth holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, and a Master’s Degree in Education. FunShine Express began in 1995 from her search for curriculum materials to use in her licensed child care home. While licensed in Minnesota, Iowa, and North Dakota, she was active in local early childhood associations and conducted training for ND Child Care Resource and Referral. Beth is the 2010 National Small Business Award Winner and a recipient of the Greater ND Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. She is a member of the Dickinson and ND Chambers of Commerce; Stark Development Corporation; SWND Manufacturer’s Roundtable; Job Service ND Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council; Vistage, Chapter 3133; Dickinson Catholic Schools Educational Foundation; and serves on various community and school committees. She has three daughters and spends free time with her children, horses, and garden.
	Teresa Narey Curriculum Manager Teresa holds a BA in English, an MFA in Creative Writing: Writing for Children, and an MEd in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Administration. She has over a decade of experience working in education, most recently having been an adjunct instructor and a pre-K teacher. Teresa strongly believes that research, theory, and practice should inform one another, and she strives to integrate all three perspectives in her work. She values children’s curiosity and creativity and seeks to nurture children’s social/emotional growth by encouraging exploration and independence. She enjoys spending time with her husband and son, running, visiting the library and museum, and drinking English breakfast tea.
	Katie Brazerol Preschool Curriculum Creator Katie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Family Science, with a minor in Extension Education. Since childhood, she always knew that she desired a vocation involving young children. Katie began her career as a Parent Education Specialist for a non-profit organization, and discovered that she had a passion for creating and writing developmentally appropriate lesson plans, newsletter articles, and parent informational handouts. After having her own children, Katie operated her own in-home licensed child care business for over 8 years. She became familiar with the FunShine Express preschool curriculum by utilizing it in her own setting, and both of her children were fortunate enough to experience a well-rounded preschool education through the program. Katie is married, has two young children, and a spoiled cavapoo dog named Oreo. She enjoys reading, stays active chauffeuring her kids to various activities, and especially loves to plan and coordinate her family vacations.
	Patricia Dietz Infant/Toddler Curriculum Creator Patricia holds a degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Early Childhood Education. Patricia began her career as a Developmental Specialist providing early intervention for Idaho’s birth to three population with developmental delays and disabilities. After several years she decided she wanted some in classroom experience and spent four years as a Preschool Teacher and Site Supervisor. She found a passion for creating developmentally appropriate activities for a variety of ages that could easily be carried out in the classroom. Patricia is married and has a very spoiled black lab. She enjoys hiking with her husband and dog, gardening, cooking, and traveling in her free time.
	Debbie Keiser National Alignment Specialist Debbie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s in Educational Psychology. Debbie has over 20 years of experience in education, with the last 16 spent in publishing and eLearning. She owned a small publishing company for several years, during which time she earned the National Association for Gifted Children Curriculum Award in 2002 and 2003. She has worked as a teacher, instructional coach, and a trainer, and has presented at local, state, national, and international education conferences. She has been an active member of an international bible study for 13 years and has served as a Sunday school teacher and Director of Children’s Ministries in her church. Debbie is married with one daughter and enjoys gardening, cooking, swimming, and camping with her family.
	Chalimar Rios-Caballero Curriculum Specialist Charlie holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education, and has over 10 years of experience working in early childhood classrooms including teaching and writing curriculum. She is originally from Puerto Rico, with Spanish as her first language. Charlie has 2 children, and enjoys spending time with her family including planning road trips and traveling. Her favorite hobby is cooking authentic Puerto Rican food to share with her coworkers and friends.
	Cora Miller Marketing Coordinator Cora holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with studies in management and marketing. She has 10 years of experience in retail sales and customer service, with her most recent focus on email marketing, social media, and website management. Cora is married and has a toddler that keeps her busy reading books and picking up toys. She enjoys cooking, watching movies, and cheering for her favorite hockey and football teams.
	Cindy Kary Production Manager Cindy received her Elementary Education studies at Dickinson State University. After many years in the health care business management field, Cindy is using her supervisory skills in our production department. Her love of children has developed a sincere appreciation for early childhood education materials and she is very excited to participate in creating fun and educational kits. Cindy stays active with young children by her involvement with local school and church councils, including serving as a Sunday School Teacher. She and her husband have two children and enjoy staying active with all of the activities of their four grandchildren.
	Melissa Kuntz Customer Relations Specialist Melissa brings prior customer relations experience from her previous years of working in the Financial and Health Insurance fields. Melissa’s passion has always been children. Her and her husband, while raising their 4 sons, also brought foster children into their home. They are known as Mama and Papa Kuntz to their son’s friends. She loves camping, hunting, reading, and most of all spending time with her husband, their adventurous 4 young men, and all of the young adults that have adopted them.
	Mary Kay Miller Customer Service Specialist Mary Kay began her career in the health care field and after 30 years came to FunShine Express and joined the Customer Service team. Born and raised in Dickinson, ND, Mary Kay is married and has 2 children. In her spare time, she enjoys scrapbooking, reading, and spending time with her husband watching and learning about a variety of sports, especially football.