Where kids are safe, happy and learning everyday!

With the Director in place, the hiring of teachers and other staff has begun in earnest. Check back every now and then to see who else has joined the team.

Chris Marino will serve as Director of the school. Chris holds a master’s degree in elementary education from St. Thomas Aquinas College and has more than 10 years of classroom experience. Chris was raised in a home where education was always a priority, and his decision to serve as Director of The Children’s Center is a win-win for all involved. As a father of three young children, Chris knows first-hand the kind of expectations parents have for the school environment where kids spend their days. As a trained educator, Chris understands how critical the early years are in terms of getting children ready for elementary school, identifying trouble spots that may require attention and creating a sense of community where kids can be kids, have fun and be successful.

Chris lives in Mt. Pleasant with his wife, Lisa, and their three young children.

 The front desk will be your first and last points of contact each day at the pre-school.  The front entrance is the only point of entry into the pre-school and all parents, students, employees and visitors will come and go through the front lobby.  The school’s two-step security measures require that Melissa first recognize you and then release the electronic locks on the doors that lead into the class room hallways.  During the first few days of school, and on special days when your children are released to other family or friends, Melissa is required to ask for photo identification. This security procedure is in place to keep the children and employees safe at all times.  Please be sure to carry your picture ID with you into the building for the first few days as Melissa learns who you are, tries to keep track of which child is yours AND remembers your name. 

Melissa Staggs
Front Desk

Melissa was raised in South Florida and came to the Lowcountry to get back to the coast after working in the non-profit world in Atlanta for several years.  Melissa worked at the South Carolina Aquarium as the  manager of major gifts before coming to The Children's Center.  She and her husband are expecting their first child this September.  They have a Brittany Spaniel  named Harley and she is a huge Gators fan!

Kathy Sanders is the school’s Business Manager.  She comes to us from the South Carolina Aquarium where she has worked the past several years in their finance department.  Kathy has a keen eye for the details and demonstrates the kind of organizational and fiscal management skills required to meet the requirements for NAEYC Standard 10: Leadership and Management.    

Jill McKay is our Finance Manager.  She is a Certified Public Accountant who has re-joined the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom.  We are very excited to have her on board to keep all of our finances in proper working order!

Carmen Sheppard (Mentor Teacher) is an experienced teacher who knows what is required for students to “be ready” when they head off to kindergarten. She has accepted the position of lead teacher in the half-day room for Tuesday-Thursday twos and Monday-Wednesday- Friday threes.

The children in several Charleston County Public Schools know her as Mrs. Carmen. In Mt. Pleasant she has served as a second grade teacher and reading recovery teacher at Charles Pinckney elementary school and most recently has been working at Laurel Hill primary school as a small group reading interventionist. She has been a PACT coordinator, a STEP evaluator and was named Teacher of the Year in both 1997 and 1999 while she was a reading recovery specialist at St. James-Santee elementary school. She attended the College of Charleston on a tennis scholarship and earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education.

In addition to her half-day teaching position, Mrs. Carmen will take the lead as Curriculum Coordinator for the pre-school. In this role she will work with teachers in all age groups to be sure classroom activities are developmentally appropriate and educationally sound within the framework of the Creative Curriculum®. She will make sure planned activities within the spiraling curriculum build upon lessons from the prior year so that children increase the depth and breadth of knowledge as they progress through the pre-school. A native of Athens, Georgia, Mrs. Carmen & her family live in Mt. Pleasant with two dogs, two rabbits & one fish!

Angela Hawkins (Mentor Teacher) will be a lead teacher for Half-Day fours. If Angela looks familiar it may be that you have seen her in the public schools in Charleston County. She comes to the pre-school highly recommended by the folks over at Laurel Hill Primary School, where she has just completed two years as a Preschool Intervention Teacher for 3s, 4s, and 5s. She has been a teacher at James B. Edwards Elementary and Charles Pinckney Elementary and has been a substitute at both Hibben United Methodist pre-school and Christ Episcopal Day School.   Angela earned both a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in early childhood education from the College of Charleston. Angela will be the Teacher Coach this year in the afternoon.

Cathleen Foisy (Mentor Teacher) is the Lead Teacher in the Pre-Toddler class Minnows.  She has a B.A in Fine Arts and a post B.A. in Early Childhood Education.  She is certified by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) in infants, toddlers, and preschool as well as Director certified.  She recently became certified to teach infant sign language to teachers and parents.  Prior to working at the Children's Center, Cathleen taught preschool in Massachusetts, was a Site Manager for Jumpstart Program, and was the Assistant Director and Regional Trainer for Staples Inc. Child Care Center.

Cathleen's passion in life is to educate people on the importance of play in the early years and how play prepares children for kindergarten, elementary school and a love of life long learning.

Sarah Daniels (Mentor Teacher) graduated cum laude from Furman University in Greenville, SC with a bachelor’s degree in psychosocial development of children. She is well-suited to be a full-time lead teacher at The Children’s Center, having served for the past two years as a lead teacher for twos and threes at The O’Quinn School in Mt. Pleasant.

Sarah's experience includes teaching three and four year old children in South Africa, teaching English to pre-school children in Korea, directing a children’s choir in Traveler’s Rest, SC and serving as the music director for a vacation bible school program in Awendaw, SC. In addition to her full-time teaching responsibilities, Ms. Daniels is a youth counselor at her church and an avid runner.

Christin Bushardt (Mentor Teacher) is the lead teacher of our 3 year old Cardinals class.  She has a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina.  She has taught  4 year old kindergarten for 1 year in Charleston County and 1st grade for 2 years in Horry County.  She most recently taught 5 year old kindergarten for 2 years in Dorchester District II and one year of 1st grade.  She was a mentor teacher as well as a kindergarten literacy coach in the Dorchester District.  Christin was a teacher of the year finalist in Dorchester County in the 2005-2006 school year.  She lives in West Ashley with her husband, Reamer and 2 year old daughter, Isabella.

Johannah Johnson has joined the pre-school as Food Services Manager. Ms. Johnson is a versatile professional chef with more than eight years of restaurant experience including positions as executive chef, kitchen manager, pastry chef, event caterer and personal chef.

Johannah is responsible for all aspects of the allergy-safe food service operation at the pre-school. She will create weekly menus in keeping with NAEYC standards and USDA guidelines, using fresh, seasonal vegetables and fruits to prepare healthful, nutritious snacks and meals. As part of the curriculum at The Children’s Center, all snacks and meals are served family style in the classrooms and teachers will work with the children as they learn to set the table, perfect their table manners and serve themselves.

To maintain an allergy-safe environment, food may not be brought into the classrooms from outside the school’s kitchen*. For children who want to celebrate with friends during the school day, the pre-school offers a “Birthday Package” for an additional charge. Ms. Johnson will prepare the child’s choice of four different flavored cup cakes and provide a platter of cheese and seasonal fruits. Drinks, Mylar balloons, and all paper products are included in the package price.

The Children's Center Teachers

Shantay Green, Sandria McNeil and Lori Sweileh teach the Pre-Toddlers in the Tadpoles room.

Cathleen Foisy and  Ashley Yando teach the Pre-Toddlers in the Minnows room.

Rachel Dodd and Beth McMillan teach the Pre-Toddlers in the Monkeys room.

Ashley Frelin and Christine Lindemann teach the Pre-Toddlers in the Caterpillars room.

Brandy Weber and Deanna Kurp teach the Younger Toddlers in the June Bugs room.

Laura Brown  teaches the Younger Toddlers in the Dragonflies room.

Sarah Daniels and Kim Austin teach the Older Toddlers in the Grasshoppers room.

Holly Fennell and Denise Kruse teach the Older Toddlers in the Fireflies room.

Mary Holland and Ashley Bellamy teach the Three Year Olds in the Sea Gulls room.

Christin Bushardt and Audrea Jackson teach the Three Year Olds in the Cardinals room.

Carolyn Jefferson and Bridget Graddick teach the Three Year Olds in the Blue Jays  room.

Paula Duvall and Georgette Millican teach the Four Year Olds in the Geckos room.

Michelle Santor and Barb Byrd teach the Four and 5 Year Olds in the Alligators room.

Denise Irelan and Jennifer Mason teach the Half Day Two Year Olds in the Butterflies room.

Carmen Sheppard and Amy Agnew teach the Half Day Three Year Olds in the Bumblebees room.

Angela Hawkins and Darby Herlong teach the Half Day Four Year Olds in the Ladybugs room.

Sharon Rambo teaches the Kindergarten, First Graders and Second Graders from Laurel hill in the After School Program.

To contact any of these teachers directly, you may email them using their first initial last name @childrenscentercp.com

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