I have worked with children in the school setting and home setting for 25 years. Before coming to S.T.P. I worked for the Intermediate Unit with children with Autism, as a Behavior Specialist. I worked in many school districts throughout Delaware and Montgomery County. I am originally from Pittsburgh, PA (Go Steelers!) and moved to the Philadelphia area in 1998. I live in Lafayette Hill with my husband, Chris, my daughter, Alexis(16) and my son, CJ(14) and our dogs Chase Mutley and Heinz. CJ attended S.T.N.S. for three years, starting in the three year old class.
My interests outside of work are running to clear my head and family time. I spend most of my weekends moving from activity to activity with my children and my husband. We travel back to Pittsburgh often and now to Rochester, NY where my family now resides. I chose this school for my son because of the nurturing and loving environment. The teachers are what makes this school so special. I am blessed to have been a parent here and now to be the Director of an extraordinary place like S.T.P.
Interesting fact: I am a triplet! Three girls, not identical, though!
My love for children is what brought me to St. Thomas’ Preschool. I began as the cooking teacher in 2008 and my position has changed to Administrative Assistant. In this role I assist Shari with greeting our wonderful families each day, tours, lunch bunch, subbing (my favorite) and all things S.T.P!
I am incredibly proud of our sweet little school which offers a warm & loving environment to our families. My husband, David, is a professional musician and we are parents to 3 daughters. Sophie is 18 and on her way to college this fall. Sadie is 17 (a senior) and Annabelle is 15 (a sophomore). Both attend Upper Dublin High School. My favorite activities involve being together as a family, whether we are at the beach or just hanging out together! My background is in Early Childhood Education, graduating w/ a BS in 1990 . I have worked in public school, special education, Directed a pre-school ,and even had an ESL tutoring business in Palisades Park , NJ. My favorite position to date is being a mom to Sophie, Sade & Annabelle! S.T.P. is truly a wonderful place to call “work”. The teachers and staff all work together to make sure that we are the special first school experience that children need.
Born and raised in Paris, Tennessee. Graduated from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, where I also met my husband, Jim. I have two girls: Taylor, 16 and Paige, 12 (both came through St. Thomas'). My family and I live in Plymouth Meeting. Before coming to St. Thomas I was involved in all areas of Banking from Secondary Marketing to Mortgage Processing. I have been teaching in the Twos for 10 years, since the first day it started in 2000.
What I love most about St. Thomas' is the children and their families. I love the beginning of the year when the children come into the twos. They are so young and I get to see them grow and mature throughout the year. Then I hate to see them move on. I also love getting to know all the families. I am so appreciative of all they do for St. Thomas'.
My interests outside of St. Thomas' are Starbucks with friends, eating out, shopping, antiquing, going to the beach and doing things with my family.
I have been employed at St. Thomas' for almost twenty years.I am presently teaching in the two-year-old class, but have also taught in the three and four-year-old classrooms. Working with young children is challenging but also very rewarding. What I love most about my job is watching a child grow physically, emotionally and developmentally throughout the year. At the end of the school year, you see a completely different child than at the beginning. That has always been very exciting to me.
My favorite thing about working at St. Thomas' is getting to know all the wonderful families that come to our school. I look forward to meeting new families each year and developing a relationship with them and their children.
Before I came to St. Thomas', I worked with emotionally disturbed teens and children with learning disabilities.
I have two daughters, Courtney age twenty-seven and Brooke age twenty-four.
I have been teaching at S.T.P. for 11 wonderful years. The children, parents and staff are what make S.T.P. such a special place.
Some of my interests outside of work include gardening, reading and enjoying a variety of music (especially Irish). My three children also keep me very busy! My oldest son, J.S is a junior at McDaniel College, Tim is a sophomore at Ursinus College and Liam is a junior at Upper Dublin High School. All three of my boys are alumni of St. Thomas' Preschool.
I truly feel blessed to be able to go to work every day and absolutely love what I do!!!
I am graduate of Loyola University, MD with a BA in Business Management. I am a native of Fort Washington, PA and I'm so happy to be living with my husband, Ed, and raising our three daughters in the town where I grew up. Ed and I lived in Connecticut when we were first married and moved back to Fort Washington in 2005. We have three daughters: Aileen (15), Kelly (13) and Amanda (11). Kelly & Amanda both attended S.T.P. and Aileen attended S.T.P. Summer Camp. My daughters and I still love talking about all the wonderful memories they have from their time at S.T.P. While my girls were at S.T.P., I enjoyed the opportunity to help as a substitute in the 2's,3's & 4's. I was also able to serve on the S.T.P. Board of Directors and Co-Chair the S.T.P. Gala.
Outside of St. Thomas, my interests are playing tennis, attending my daughters' sporting events, and travel (although with 3 girls I don't get to do the travel as often as I'd like ;) ). I am so excited to be starting my new career as a co-teacher with Mrs. Duke in the Three's! Ever since my daughters graduated from S.T.P., I have hoped that someday I would have the chance to be a part of the incredible community of teachers at S.T.P.! This new path in life is truly a dream come true for me and I can't wait to share my dream with all the sweet preschoolers at S.T.P.!!
"Wake up every day with the thought that something WONDERFUL is about to happen. "Teaching children is that WONDERFUL for me. I graduated from the University Of Delaware majoring in Elementary Ed, got a job at Methacton School District and then continued onto Penn State where I received my Masters. Teaching 1st and 3rd grades for a total of 20 years was amazing, but I decided to resign to be home with my children, Gavin and Claire.
S.T.P. was now my new home. I began teaching the yoga and movement classes and fell in love. As my children head off to full-time school, I'm ready for a classroom again. I'm thrilled to get the opportunity to teach with Kristin Haas and see what kind of magic we can bring to the three-year-olds! In my "down time", you can find me relaxing by the pool or beach with my husband, Gary, and our kids, reading an awesome new book, or teaching fitness classes at SWEAT gym.
B.S. in Education from Temple University and Certification in Early Childhood Education. I teach the 4-year-old Blue Pre-K class. I have been teaching at St. Thomas’ for 20 ½ years. I taught the 3’s before moving to the 4’s.
The thing I love most about St. Thomas’ is it’s children and the nursery school staff. Before working at St. Thomas’ I worked in the Colonial School District and then became a stay-at-home mom while my children were young. I have 3 children, Sam (26), Jason (23) and Hannah (17). Sam and Jason attended St. Thomas’ Preschool.
Interesting Fact: I have had the privilege of teaching a child from each of our staff members excluding Lee Ann Smith!
I received a B.S. in Microbiology from Penn State and I’m a certified medical technologist. In 2000, after fifteen years in the lab, I started the two-year-old program at St. Thomas' with Anita Totten. I worked in that class for three years before moving onto two other preschools. During that period, I earned my private teaching certification. Last fall, 2009, a position opened in the four-year-old/preK class with Leigh Heritage. I’m thrilled to be back working with so many familiar faces. I enjoy working with the children and the support I receive from their parents.
All five of my children, ages 13 to 20, went through St. Thomas'. As a family, we enjoy camping in Pennsylvania and visiting South Carolina. In my spare time I like to read, run and garden.
I have been teaching in the Green Pre K classroom since 2015. I previously taught as the cooking teacher from 2000 to 2005. I have a degree in Business Management, from Widener University and a Masters in Education, from Chestnut Hill College. I taught in the Wissahickon and Colonial school districts for over 10 years before returning to join this wonderful group of teachers.
Residing in Blue Bell, with my husband and 3 incredible children, Caroline, Patrick and David, I feel fortunate to have an opportunity to teach young children, enable them to use their imagination, and create a wonderfully fun, educational and learning experience. I enjoy photography, gardening, cooking and traveling.
As a five year old, I remember filling out my Kindergarten memory book of “what do you want to be when you grow up” with the answers of: Mom, teacher and firefighter. Well, I did manage to achieve Mom and teacher but firefighter; not so much. I am a Mom of five. I have three boys and two girls ages 18 to 7.
I have a B.A. in Art and a Master in Education both from Cabrini. I was an art teacher for eight years until I decided to become a full time stay at home Mom when I became pregnant with my fourth child. When my fourth child was ready for preschool, I was introduced to S.T.P. Both my youngest daughter and son attended St. Thomas and they both had wonderful experiences here. I am so lucky to be teaching at St. Thomas'!
I am thrilled to be back in the classroom, especially at St. Thomas’ Preschool. My kids spent their preschool years here and we all found a loving community of teachers and parents dedicated to creating a nurturing environment for learning and growing. It is truly a special place!
Having taught 4th and 5th Grades and coached high school crew locally at Chestnut Hill Academy and the Springside School (now SCH) for 11 years, I took time off from teaching to raise my kids. Now that they are in elementary school, I’m excited to be teaching again, though my students are significantly younger!
I love teaching these little people and witnessing their daily growth; they are full of questions and curiosity with boundless energy and imagination. It is so fun to see them take on their world and become explorers and learners in the Orange Tiger classroom.
Outside of STP, I love to be with my wildly creative husband Jay and my two energetic kids. Aside from the usual sports practices and afterschool activities, we all enjoy working with our hands and making things from scratch whether it’s a batch of cookies or a costume, a painting or a project. We love to be outdoors especially on, in, or near the water and prefer a beach to nearly any other destination.
I LOVE learning. And I love being a cheerleader for young people to question, ponder, grapple and wrestle with new and exciting ideas. I have been blessed with the gift of 17 years as a mom-at–home for my two daughters, one son and a wonderful husband.
Throughout that time and currently, I have been involved in developing curriculum for and teaching parenting classes as well as Sunday School, youth group and outreach summer camp activities at St. Thomas’. I can’t think of a happier career than loving preschoolers each day!
I dig gardening, floral design, knitting, foreign languages, hosting exchange students and reaching out through mission trips to other cultures. We have an unbelievable family at S.T.P. and I feel so very lucky to be a part of it!
I am excited to be joining the St Thomas Preschool family. I have resided in the area for 20 years where I was a stay at home mom, Prep teacher at St Philip Neri, and actively involved in the Colonial School District where my 3 children attended.
Since 2014 I’ve worked in early childhood education roles starting as the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) Mentor at the William Jeanes Library and then Program Aide with Head Start where I instantly fell in love with working with young children. I went back to school and earned my CDA in Early Childhood Education before continuing my teaching career with Pre-K Counts, Bright Horizons and most recently the Goddard School. I am in the process of completing my Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education.
A floral designer by training, I enjoy bringing creativity and imagination into the classroom and inspiring the children to explore their surroundings. As I continue on my journey in the field of early childhood education I have found I can always learn more. Every day brings a new experience with a lesson being learned. I went into teaching thinking “What can I teach these young minds today?” but instead often find myself asking “What can I learn from these young minds today?” I love teaching young children and enjoy being part of the early childhood teaching community. I look to my colleagues on a daily basis for new ideas and ways to make myself a better teacher. I could not imagine being in any other field. It’s a role that I look forward to every day. There is nothing like seeing the face of a child light up who has just discovered they can write their name or make a beautiful butterfly out of a coffee filter.
I love spending my free time with my husband Alex and my 3 children Maria, Meghan and Alex. I enjoy reading, shopping, antiquing and going to dinner with friends. I look forward to meeting all the amazing St Thomas families as I begin this wonderful journey as an assistant teacher in the Yellow Chicks classroom.
I feel so blessed to be at teacher at S.T.P! My three children (Gavin 6 , Maggie 6 & Tucker 5) have recently matriculated through St. Thomas and each has had their own wonderful & unique experience. It is so rewarding to be on the other side and to have been given the opportunity to empower children to grow through positive learning experiences in play and nature. I am in awe of the wonder and excitement that the children possess and it is what makes teaching so fun!
I love being outdoors, running, yoga and spending time with my family. Thrilled to be a part of the St. Thomas' family. Looking forward to a great year!
I am thrilled to be a part of the S.T.P. family! I am excited to be working with Miss Jess in the 3 year old class. I graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from Villanova University and worked in the Marketing Department of a large law firm in Center City. About a year later, I decided to pursue a Masters in Elementary Education from Arcadia University. I taught 1st grade in Lower Moreland School District. It was there that my lifelong love of teaching began. I then had the opportunity to stay home with my children for many years. During that time, I helped a friend start a distance education company, I taught in my children’s preschool, I was a very active parent and room mom at their elementary school, and I was a substitute teacher in the Upper Dublin elementary school system. I jumped at the chance to get back into the classroom at S.T.P. I love to watch the children explore and see the lightbulbs going off! I am looking forward to helping inspire your children to love learning!
My husband, Ben, and I have three children: Abbey, Jeb, and Lena. There is a 14 year age difference between my oldest and my youngest. Yes, that means my oldest will go to college before my youngest goes to Kindergarten! I enjoy going to the beach, knitting, playing board games and card games with my family, and doing just about anything with them!
I could not be more excited to have the opportunity to teach two year olds at S.T.P.! I’ve been a stay at home Mom for the last eleven years. My youngest son Brendan attends St. Thomas’ and has had a fabulous experience. To be able to be a part of this loving and caring community is very special to me.
I earned my bachelors degree from Virginia Tech and my masters degree in Elementary Education from Chestnut Hill College. I worked as a consultant before switching career gears and becoming an elementary school teacher. I love being back in the classroom and I am having a blast seeing my Grey Elephants grow. I hope they come to love school as much as I do.
My husband and I live in Lafayette Hill with our four kids and chocolate lab. My interests outside of school are: reading, running, yoga, and relaxing on the beach.
I feel so very fortunate that my love of children and return to teaching has brought me to St. Thomas Preschool. Since starting in September 2018, I learned rather quickly that it is a special, magical place, both for a teacher and for the children that attend.
After graduating from Gwynedd Mercy University with a degree in Elementary Education, I taught and coached at Germantown Academy for three years. At that time, my husband, Jim and I started our family and went on to raise our 5 daughters. Once they were launched, I returned to teaching in the Lower School at Springside, now Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, in 2000 and continued until 2008 when our first grandchild arrived.
Now another 9 grandchildren later, coming to St. Thomas to teach the new 2 yr. old class, the Grey Elephants, is a perfect balance. Developmentally, it is such a wonderful age to be a part of in these little peoples’ lives. So much happens in this year!
Besides spending time with our grandchildren that are scattered between Vermont and Philadelphia, I enjoy long walks, gardening, sewing and cooking.
Mrs. Emily was thrilled to join the St. Thomas’ Preschool family in November 2019 assisting with Lunch Bunch and Subbing in classrooms. In the spring of 2020, she started the school’s instagram @STPS_1951 to join the digital outreach connecting young students and teachers with their families.
She looks forward to Summer Camp and more time in the classrooms together as the seasons unfold. Her centering focus at school is a Ministry of Presence, meeting each child as they are and every moment as it is.
Emily is local to the area, graduating from Penn Charter in 2006. She studied English & Education at the College of William & Mary (2010), and earned her Masters of Religion and Public Life from Emory University (2020). She is trained in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and Zen Meditation.
Fun Fact: Emily’s grandparents were married at St. Thomas’ Church November 1955.