Looking for your child’s teacher? Our staff is comprised of professional teachers from diverse backgrounds, and bios for each are listed below in alphabetical order. We are well-read, well-traveled, professional teachers, artists, and athletes who bring our experiences together in a team-teaching environment in order to offer a truly unique educational environment to the children we serve. We are here because we are dedicated to growing self-assured, self-confident kids. We are here because we love to play, because we are ready to get messy, and because we love what we do.
Anastasia lives in Haw River, NC. She graduated from Graham High School. Anastasia has been working with kids in child care since 2021. Her goal is to go to ACC and get her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Anastasia enjoys going on walks and painting in her free time.
Audra lives in Burlington, NC with her husband John. She has 3 children: Michael, Demetris and Bridgette. She started working at The Little School on February 3rd, 2022. Audra is currently furthering her education in Early Childhood Education at Durham Technical Community College. She enjoys working at The Little School. This career is life changing for her! The staff and children are great! In Audra’s spare time, she likes to attend church and also enjoys going to the beach. She also enjoys planning parties and weddings, as well.
Caeden is a Junior Teacher’s Assistant and is currently enrolled in Cedar Ridge High School. He loves spending his afternoons here at TLS. Caeden’s passion for teaching came at a young age, since his grandmother was a preschool teacher. She often babysat kids at her house, allowing him to help her while also learning that he really loved doing this. After high school, he plans to attend a four year university and study Early Childhood Education. In his spare time, Caeden enjoys cooking, hiking, canoeing, and really anything outdoors.
Charntera, or Tera for short, was born in Orange, New Jersey and raised in Burlington, NC. She has 4 brothers and 1 sister, along with 3 nieces and 2 nephews. Tera received her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Alamance Community College in 2019. She has been with The Little School since June 2022. Since she has been working in childcare she has enjoyed every bit of it. Her hobbies are cooking, watching movies, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.
Citlalli relocated to North Carolina in 2020, having previously lived in California. Her first job was in Early Childhood Education at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base. In 2022, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science. Being multilingual, she enjoys conversing with her children in both Spanish and English. She enjoys teaching and watching the children become more confident and independent. Citlalli also has a son who attends the Little School.
Courtney is from Connecticut and moved to North Carolina in 2021. She decided to pursue a career in childcare in North Carolina after being a nanny in Connecticut for a little over a year. At home, Ms. Courtney has 2 dogs and 3 cats. She enjoys spending time with her furry friends, as well as reading, writing, and continuing education in any way she can.
Crystal has been working in Early Childhood Education for 27 years and has been at The Little School for 12 years. She began her career in Early Childhood Education in 1996 while attending Elon College. What started as a part-time job while getting through college became a career for Crystal. She loves to be a part of witnessing so many firsts, bringing joy to the children, and having joy brought to her with their smiles.
Danielle was raised in Hillsborough, NC. In December of 2021, she graduated from UNCG with a degree in Sociology. Not long after graduating, Danielle decided to join The Little School because she has always enjoyed working with and taking care of children. Watching each child grow and become their own person as each year passes is one of the many aspects of teaching that Danielle has come to love. This has become even more significant since she became an aunt to former and present TLS students. In her spare time, Danielle likes to listen to music, spend time with her niece and nephews, and play with her dog, Coco.
Erin grew up in Richfield, NC in the house her great-grandfather had built, complete with a fishing pond, windmill, creepy barn, cornfields on three sides, and a cow pasture on the other. As a child, Erin loved to get lost in books (so it was no surprise that the library was her favorite place to go) and explore outside. Later, she went to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for undergraduate studies, where she was in the Marching Tar Heels, as well as performing in a school choral group and church music groups. She graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and a minor in Music. She then decided to stay in the Triangle. She began teaching in 2017, and has been at The Little School since 2018. In 2017, she met the man who is now her husband, Ryan. In 2021, they welcomed their son, Arthur, into the world. They have had various pets over the years and now live in Durham. In her free time, Erin enjoys spending time with her family, eating lots of different foods, going on long walks, traveling, and (of course) reading. Fun fact: Erin is also in graduate school for her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from The University of Colorado at Denver, class of 2024! As a teacher, Erin loves supporting children’s social-emotional development, encouraging them to be curious about the world, and being co-creators of knowledge with them.
Haley R. is excited to be working at the Little School. She has always enjoyed working with children and began her career babysitting while in high school and college at UNC, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Linguistics. Haley worked as a nanny and a lead teacher in a childcare center before coming to The Little School. She loves getting to know the children in her care and watching their personalities grow and how they become individuals. In her free time, she enjoys music, cooking and any outdoor activities. Haley is excited to be a part of The Little School family and looks forward to getting to know everyone!
Haley D. was raised right here in Hillsborough, NC. She has one daughter who is currently here at TLS and is getting married in 2024. Haley enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends and often finds herself shopping (ha!). Haley started working with young children straight out of high school and knew this was her calling. She struggled to find a place that felt like home and that matched her beliefs until she joined TLS as an Explorers teacher in 2022. Haley is currently earning her degree in Early Childhood Education and hopes to go beyond that in the future and earn a degree in Speech or Occupational Therapy. She enjoys learning new things everyday at TLS and cannot wait to share it for years to come.
Jael (Hi-el) is the daughter of a travel buff and a first generation immigrant. Jael is blessed to have been exposed to a variety of experiences and cultures growing up; these have helped shape her into the woman she is. As an adult, Jael partakes in a plethora of hobbies: pottery, gaming, and tabletop games are just a few. She also is a foodie, preferring to snack throughout the day instead of partaking in three large meals. Jael's work history is varied, rendering her a jack of a couple trades rather than a master of one field. However, she is no stranger to childcare, having first worked at a center in Mebane and two other facilities over the years. Aside from professional experience, Jael has also been informally caring for children since she was 11 or 12 years old; beginning with her siblings, she continued to babysit, tutor, and even nanny many kiddos throughout the years. Now, at the Little School, Jael hopes to actively hone her childcare capabilities, all while providing intentional nurturing for her charges.
Jaliyah was born and raised in Graham N.C. She graduated from Southern Alamance High School in 2021. Jaliyah joined the TLS family in 2022 and has enjoyed her time here! In her free time, she likes listening to music, reading, and hanging out with friends. She loves spending time with her mother, little sister, and family.
Jenny started her Early Childhood Education journey in 2020. Before starting at The Little School, she helped younger children learn Spanish. Some of her hobbies consist of drawing, painting and traveling. She loves animals and has 2 rescue cats of her own. Every once in a while, she likes to volunteer at the Orange County Animal Shelter to walk and play with the dogs. She grew up in Chapel Hill, NC and eventually moved to Mebane, NC, where she has been living since 2020.
Jessica currently lives in Hillsborough with her three children; Jaelynne, Kylie and Braden. She has been working in childcare since 2010, beginning where her oldest went to school at the time. She has been with The Little School since 2017 and loves the community and friendships that she has made along the way. In a sense, Jessica feels that TLS is a safe place for her to be/express herself. She would love to get back to school and finish her degree in Special Education.
Jessica D. is a NC native who spent 2 years living in the mountains of Virginia with her husband. It was during this time that Jessica found herself working in childcare and slowly developing her passion for children. After moving back to North Carolina, because there is no place like home, Jessica joined the TLS family and started taking classes to further her understanding of the Early Childhood Education field. She is a fur mom and, in her spare time, you can find her watching movies with her husband, spending time with her family, playing with her fur kids, or anything outdoor-related!
Jill was raised in Durham, then moved to Chapel Hill at age 20, where she currently lives with her partner and cats. She was a restaurant manager at a small Italian restaurant in Chapel Hill from 2016-2022. Growing up, Jill would come to work with her mom (Ms. Rose) at TLS and other preschools. She started working at The Little School in 2022 and is very excited about the opportunity to work alongside her mom and learn all she can about Early Childhood Education. Jill is a happy cat mom to five little beans. Her current hobbies include tennis, hiking, and arts and crafts. When Jill has time to herself, she enjoys reading, coloring, and watching comedies. She enjoys getting away to Blowing Rock, Wrightsville Beach, and Charlotte.
Josie grew up in northern New Jersey and has also lived in Arizona. She has worked in other Early Education facilities in both states. Josie moved to North Carolina in 2006 and has lived in Graham ever since. Josie started working at The Little School in March 2022 and has since taken her EDU 119 course for Early Childhood Education Credentials. She has thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and the total love for children in each and every classroom. Josie enjoys crafting and spending time with family, friends, and her animals.
Kaitlin has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in English and previously taught first grade. When not working with the children at TLS, she enjoys serving with the kids at church, reading, hiking, and spending time with loved ones.
Karisa is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, but recently moved to North Carolina from Missouri. She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychological & Brain Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis, where she played basketball. Before joining The Little School, Karisa worked in a developmental psychology lab and as a nanny. Karisa is passionate about working with children and believes that they are integral and capable members of a thriving community. When not at TLS, Karisa enjoys reading, trying out new recipes, doing yoga, and thrift shopping for treasures.
Kathleen is so happy to be a part of TLS since joining in 2022! Except for a couple of years in the corporate world, Kathleen has worked with children for the past 30 years. After earning her Bachelor’s degree, she pursued post-graduate training specific to Autism and Deaf/Blind Education, as well as extensive coursework in Braille. An interest in the short- and long-term effects of childhood trauma led to additional training in Trauma-Focused Strategies, while a lifelong love of art led to a brief (but surprisingly successful) stint as a portrait artist.
In Kathleen’s spare time, she enjoys reading the classics (such as The Picture of Dorian Gray) and volunteering at the animal shelter.
Kayla is originally from Durham, NC and obtained her Bachelor’s degree at North Carolina Central University. She majored in Juvenile Justice and is currently working on her Master’s degree in that field. She has committed to working with children through mentoring, community service, teaching, animal therapy, and much more. During her free time, she enjoys spending time at her local farm. She has over 30 animals, including horses, cows, goats and more! Kayla enjoys spreading the love she has for animals with her community. Kayla believes in creating spaces for children to stimulate growth and learning. She also believes that children are our future, so it’s important that they are given the greatest opportunities and resources. “Every child deserves the best start at their future”.
Hayley grew up in Maryland and recently made North Carolina her home. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art and a passion for children. She started her career working with children right out of high school. Hayley has 15 plus years of experience and has worked with infants through Pre-K. Her passion truly lies in working with infants and toddlers, as she really enjoys watching them meet their first milestones. She found The Little School when her nephew became enrolled. She believes children are natural born learners, as well as capable human beings starting from the day they are born. When not at TLS or babysitting, Hayley can be found enjoying a good book, binge watching old shows, spending her weekends with her nephew, or spending time with her family.
Kristin was born and raised in Hillsborough. She knew from an early age that she wanted to work with children, and having her first son in 2012 solidified that feeling. Kristin has been with The Little School since 2014 and earned her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Alamance Community College in May 2016. She has a passion for teaching young children and believes that they thrive from an outdoor experience. She is currently working towards her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and hopes to graduate in the near future. Kristin got married in September of 2021 and had her second son in October 2022. Her oldest son is a TLS alumni, and her newest addition joined TLS in 2023. She is thrilled to be able to share The Little School experience with her family.
Lori Is originally from Massachusetts and has been a teacher in child care for over 33 years. She moved to North Carolina and has been with the Little School since 2010. Lori loves the position of caring and connecting with children in various classrooms. She enjoys the beach, boating, doing projects around the house, and spending time with family and her new grandbaby.
Marissa grew up in Hillsborough NC, graduated from Cedar Ridge High School, and got her Early Childhood Education Credentials in 2011. She joined the TLS crew in 2010. She has taught all ages from infant to Pre-K. She enjoys the different milestones for each age, watching them grow to be independent little humans. Marissa is the proud mother of TLS alumni Brooklynn. When not at school, you can find Marissa at the ball field cheering on her softball athlete (Go Eagles), with her pups, or with her family at any body of water!
Leia has an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education and is in the process of getting her Birth-Kindergarten teaching license. She has worked in some form of childcare for about 7 years in early childhood and public school classrooms and in-home nannying. Most of her experience being with kids 6 and under. However, she has worked with kids up to 18 years old. Her heart and soul are with Early Childhood Education and providing the best possible support to the littles as they learn and grow and explore. Leia is a dog-momma to two very big, very spoiled boys (Lycan and Juno). When she is not at TLS with the kiddos she likes to watch movies, read, color, and spend time with her people. She also collects any and everything Care Bears. She is excited to be a part of The Little School.
Lucas has been with TLS since October 2022. He started out as a Bridge Teacher assisting in multiple classrooms and transitioned as a classroom teacher in January 2023. Lucas has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from West Virginia University. Before joining us at TLS, Lucas worked as a student manager for WVU men’s basketball team, dozens of camps with all age groups, and a coach for an AAU travel team for 3 years. He is a strong relationship builder, providing children with confidence and self-esteem in their critical years of development. In his free time, he likes to spend time kayaking and working at the food bank.
Mary Jo, but everyone calls her MJ! She is from Madison VA, though she has lived in NC for 18 years now. She is a mother to four children, Kaelyn,13, Payton, 11, Lucas,9, and Isaiah, 4, who is at The Little School as well, and an amazing dog named Sampson! She worked at another childcare center for 6 years prior to coming to TLS, where she has been since 2021. Her hobbies include everything her babies are involved in! She also loves coffee and reading. She enjoys being home with her family and taking Sampson to get a pup cup at a certain coffee shop! TLS is a school and family like no other, and she is proud to be part of it!
Michelle began her career in childcare while still in high school through babysitting and working in a local childcare center. In the years after graduation, she pursued other careers, and, after many years away, she ultimately knew she was being called to work with children again. She began working with The Little School in July 2016. She could have never imagined what type of impact the school would have on her life. She holds an Associate’s degree in Clinical Trials, has her Early Childhood Education Credentials, and is currently pursuing her degree in ECE. Michelle is the proud mom of two amazing young adults, Chase and Mackenzie. When not at work, she can usually be found spending time with family and friends, crafting, or hanging out with her very spoiled pup, Greyson. She loves everything about The Little School and considers it her happy place.
Natalie H. is a graduate of Fayetteville State University with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Before moving to the Triangle area, she worked in the Mental Health field, assisting adults and children in need. Natalie has been with The Little School since 2015. She enjoys music, dance, and creating new adventures that excite children in their learning environment. During morning meetings, she takes joy in watching children’s eyes light up as they engage in singing, counting, and learning something new!
Natalie M. grew up in Hillsborough as a child, and when she got older, she moved to Cedar Grove with her family. In middle school, Natalie transitioned to homeschooling and was homeschooled throughout high school. She was dual enrolled in high school and received her Early Childhood Education Credentials upon graduation. She began babysitting children throughout her teenage years. Natalie loves working with children and watching them grow and learn new skills. She has worked at The Little School since February of 2023. Natalie enjoys reading, crocheting, and helping her family with their small farm in her spare time. She also loves to go on walks with her dog, Onyx, and lounging with her cats, Raven, Juniper, and Cypress. Natalie is so excited to be part of The Little School family!
Natasha ("Tasha P.") is a Bridge teacher and has been with The Little School since 2018. She truly enjoys this position because she is able to work with children all over the school. That gives her time to get to know all the children here at TLS. On a personal note, she is married to her high school sweetheart, Thomas. They have 3 boys: Kenyon, Jackson and Mason.
Renee began teaching in 2020 and received her Associate’s degree in 2021. She is so honored to be working in this field. She joined The Little School in October of 2021 and loves it here. “The children I meet here teach me about as much as I teach them; There is so much love, joy, and laughter that makes every day so worth it.” The Little School has given her lots to be grateful for, and she hopes to continue to blossom here. She is starting to practice photography once again and enjoys taking pictures of the children playing and laughing. She takes pride in trying to keep a positive mind and bringing joy into the classroom.
Rose has been a teacher for over 30 years. Fourteen of those years were spent as a special education teacher in coastal North Carolina. Rose became an Early Childhood Educator in 2001 and taught in two half-day church preschools before coming to The Little School in 2010. Rose’s education consists of a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Appalachian State University. She has also taken numerous college courses in both Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Rose and her husband, Paul, are proud parents of four amazing adult children. Three of their children are in the education field. Her hobbies include reading historical fiction, watching mysteries, doing home improvements, sewing/embroidery/cross stitch, and doing arts and crafts. She enjoys keeping in touch with college friends, taking trips to visit family members, and getting away to both the beach and the mountains. Rose looks forward to one day being a grandmother and traveling far and wide after retirement.
Roxanna is from Graham, NC. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology. She is also a Certified Nurse Assistant and a Notary Public. She enjoys driving in the country and exploring new places. Roxanna loves hiking, running, and enjoying the sunset view. She also loves going to Mexico every summer with her family to participate in and enjoy her religious holidays and traditions. Her overall goal is to return to school to obtain her Master’s degree in Social Work.
Rudean is originally from New Jersey and now resides in Gibsonville, North Carolina. She lives with her (awesome) husband Roy and is the mother of three beautiful children, Nastajia, Quentin (bonus son), and Jsi. She is also a proud Nana of four grandsons Ayden, Azion, Jameer, and Jace. Ayden, Rudean’s first grandson, was also her inspiration to start a family childcare home center back in 2014. In 2017, she decided to move to a more formal setting and went to school, where she received her Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education in 2019 from Alamance Community College. She joined the TLS family in January 2019, a few months before graduating. One of Rudean’s proud mom moments was when Jsi received twenty-one D1 football offers, and he chose ECU. GO PIRATES! She is very happy to be a part of The Little School of Hillsborough.
Sara found her love for Early Education during her senior year in high school after completing her first internship at an elementary school. Then, right out of high school, she got a job at a childcare center and found that it was her passion, as she absolutely adored working with young children. She has always known that she wanted to become a teacher and has found that the early childhood years have her heart. Sara holds an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. When she is not with her TLS family, she can be found at home with her family and Gabbie, her fur baby!
Sarah first joined TLS in 2014 shortly after graduating Piedmont Community College with an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She grew up in rural Caswell County, NC, where she still resides on her family's multi-generational farm. She enjoys baking, hiking and photography. She has a young niece and nephew who she cherishes spending time with! At TLS, she loves exploring our outdoor play spaces with her class and going on walks outside the fences.
Schuyler joined TLS in March of 2022 as a Pre-K teacher in the Seekers classroom. Originally from Fredericksburg, VA, she attended the University of Mississippi, obtaining a Studio Art degree. After spending a year selling her paintings and working at a local art studio in Oxford, MS, she decided to go back to school for Elementary Education. Schuyler graduated with a second Bachelor's degree in Spring of 2020 and has been teaching ever since! She has taught two year olds to 1st graders. She really enjoys teaching Early Childhood Education and spending time with her husband and son.
Senani was born and raised in Siler City, NC. She graduated from Chatham Charter School in 2017 and then went to Cosmetology school. Senani started working in childcare in the year of 2018. Her passion for childcare began at a very young age, from watching her mother run her own in-home daycare. Senani came to TLS in August of 2023. She currently lives in Elon with her boyfriend and their dog Koda. In her spare time, she does anything that allows her to be creative. Teaching and inspiring young children everyday has become a huge part of her life. She enjoys making each and every child that she teaches smile!
Shannon had lived in Roxboro just about all her life before moving to Norfolk, VA for about a year in 2010 to help her sister and brother-in-law with their growing family. During that time, she also had the privilege of babysitting a small group of children, growing her confidence as a caregiver. Shannon has four growing young men of her own, Jamir, Malachai, Isaiah, and Messiah and is the proud auntie of 18 nieces and nephews. Shannon has been working in licensed child care since 2018, when she started her first job in a center in Roxboro. She was there off and on for three years before joining the TLS family in 2021. Shannon plans on going back to school and working towards getting her degree in Early Childhood Education. When Shannon is not at work loving on her TLS babies, she enjoys spending time with her boys, reading, singing, and watching her all time favorite tv show, Criminal Minds. You can always find her cuddling, laughing with, and loving on her school babies. She adores the children in her care and cannot wait to experience many more years with the TLS family.
Sheena has been in early childhood for over 20 years. She is the mother of five girls, three of which attend The Little School: Shaniya, Amaya, Ziannah, Zakyla and Zaylee. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, shopping, and watching her older girl play travel basketball.
Shirley discovered the Little School in 2017 and has since developed a deep admiration for the institution due to its resemblance to her childhood. Her childhood consisted of a diverse set of skills, including tree climbing, biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities. She joined our team from the Orange County Sportsplex. She has experience in various settings including Teacher’s Assistant, Substitute, Nursery, Pre-School, After School Programs, and Summer Camps. Shirley has a passion for working with children of all ages, bringing over 30 years of experience to our team. Additionally, she holds a degree in Animal Care and has completed the EDU 119 course. She is married and has a family consisting of a husband, daughter, 7 dogs, and 3 cats. Outside of her work commitments, she takes pleasure in outdoor activities such as kayaking, camping, and gardening. Family time is also important to her. In addition, she holds the position of coordinator for a highway adoption program.
Wendy A. lives in Haw River with her family. She has worked in childcare since 2005 and joined the TLS family in 2015. She has her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. When not helping children grow into capable and independent individuals, she enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her family. She is a devoted wife to Brian, a proud mom to Justin and Hope, and a loving grandma to Chloe.
