About Us
Our guides, parent leadership, and family
Our Guides
The educators who guide our students
Laura Ann Smith
Laura Ann is a recent transplant to South Lake Tahoe from Southern California, but has continued to find the same thing: a love of teaching. After graduating from Pepperdine University with a Bachelor's in Liberal Arts and her California Teaching Credential, she spent the next six years teaching early childhood education at a private school in Los Angeles. That time taught her that a supportive team, loving and lively classroom, and structured yet explorative learning makes for an unbeatable schooling experience. That is what she has found at Tahoe Kids Academy as well. When she is not teaching, she loves to be outside: swimming, hiking, and skiing or spending time with her husband, family, and friends.
Katy Chavarria
Katy is a South Lake Tahoe native and mother of two boys. She studied Early Childhood Education with a Montessori foundation and brings both classroom and entrepreneurial experience to her work with children and families. Her approach centers on independence, foundational skill development, character building, and practical life. She values Montessori principles such as grace and courtesy, a busy yet regulated studio with multi-age groups where students learn responsibility, respect, and leadership. Outside of class, she enjoys traveling, camping, spending time outdoors, and watching her boys play hockey.
Emily Erkkila
Emily offers enrichment at Tahoe Kids Academy through arts and crafts, STEM, music, and cooking. Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University and has worked with children for over 25 years. One of her passions is fostering children's love for learning while helping them build strong social-emotional skills.
Parent Committee
Families that help shape our program
Amie Watanabe
We loved our teachers and experiences at Lake Tahoe Preschool and Tahoe Parents Nursery School and wanted to see that level of care, community and learning continue beyond TK. Tahoe Kids Academy has grown and evolved with the families and I’m thankful that parents are a part of the process. My daughter is thriving thanks to her teachers and the family friendships we have developed.
Kimberly Crowley
Our family has been part of this wonderful program since the very beginning, and it’s been such a gift to watch our school grow and evolve alongside our children. I love my role as the nutrition guide at TKA. It’s a privilege to educate students about caring for their bodies through nutrient-dense, fun, and delicious foods. Creating a well-rounded, nourishing snack menu for our community snack time is something I truly enjoy. We feel deeply blessed to be raising our children in such a special place, spending our free time together on the slopes, bike trails, and enjoying our beautiful lake.
Alicia Choquette
Alicia and Kevin Choquette are the proud parents of two daughters, Audrey and Piper. Their family has been part of this school community for the past three years, and they are excited to watch it continue to grow into something truly special. Alicia was born and raised in South Lake Tahoe and loves being back in her hometown surrounded by family and friends. As a family, the Choquettes enjoy spending time outdoors—whether it’s skiing on winter weekends or heading out on camping adventures in their sprinter van with their new puppy, Buster.
Tracy Henry
The Henry family includes four “Barton babies,” a United States Marine, and a CFO (Commanding Family Officer). We have two children at TKA. TKA stood out to us because of its small class sizes and strong emphasis on family involvement. I especially appreciate that the focus extends beyond academics to include character development and leadership skills. Additionally, our family travels frequently and we love that TKA fully supports our family’s lifestyle, providing us with the freedom and flexibility we need regarding our schedule and our children’s education.
Meet Our Family
Kon, Viggo, and Yessica Bokarius own and operate Tahoe Kids Academy. We moved from the Bay Area in 2019 and haven't looked back! We love Tahoe and are passionate about building a wonderful program and a community of great families for our son to develop with. Kon manages the program, Yessica helps in the classrooms and teaches Spanish, and Viggo happily attends every day and loves his friends!
Where It All Began
Every great program starts somewhere, and for Tahoe Kids Academy, it starts with Steve & Ashley Nichols. They began building it five years ago for their own children and poured their energy into creating a campus and program rooted in care and community. Their work shaped the environment our students and families experience every day. We are proud to carry forward what they started and grateful for the foundation they built.