The Malvern School of Collegeville

Megan Larson, Executive Director

Megan Larson is Executive Director at The Malvern School of Collegeville. With years of experience as a preschool teacher, kindergarten teacher and program director, she is a seasoned educator who is dedicated to each child’s learning and growth. Fun fact: earlier in her career, Megan taught in a building that was originally her grandmother’s elementary school!

Growing up, Megan wanted to be a special education teacher for children with mental and physical disabilities. She went on to earn a degree in sociology from Kutztown University and holds numerous early childhood education certifications.

In her free time, Megan enjoys traveling, hiking, going to the beach and DIY crafting. Her husband is also an educator and they share a great interest in educating youth. Her favorite children’s book is “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein.

Tanya Mattar, Director of Education

Tanya Mattar is the Director of Education at The Malvern School of Collegeville. Tanya joined The Malvern School team in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. She has more than 20 years of experience with 10 of those years at The Malvern School.

One of Tanya’s proudest moments of her career was her promotion to Director of Education. She loves that The Malvern School structures their curriculum to allow for teachers to have their own creative independence when developing lesson plans. She also really enjoys the connections with families.

During her free time, Tanya enjoys spending time with her family on outings and at special events. When she was young, she wanted to be a Police Officer because she wanted to help people. She did discover that teaching and making connections with children and families is very similar. Her favorite children’s book is “Good Night Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown.

Patti Lenker, Assistant Director

Patti Lenker is the Assistant Director at The Malvern School of Collegeville and has been with the school since it's opening in 2008. She has been working in the field of Early Education for over 25 years. Patti obtained a dual degree in Psychology and Early Childhood Education from Lake Superior State University in Michigan. Her career began in Michigan at the LSSU Early Child Development Center, before moving to be the Director of Early Childhood Education at Kentucky Wesleyan College. For the past 15 years, Patti has worked as a teacher, trainer, and director within NAEYC accredited schools located in and around the Philadelphia region. As an active member of PACCA, she assisted the Government Relations Committee from 2006-2008. Patti resides in Collegeville, with her husband, her beloved Newfoundland dogs, and several of her daughter’s cats. She enjoys spending time with her family.