Our Team
Executive Team
Lella Carl Hamiter
Executive Director
lella@preschool-partners.org
Lella graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught fourth grade for four years in Dallas County before she began working with preschoolers and has been in early education ever since. Lella’s favorite thing about PSP is watching the children learn through play and make amazing progress every year. She also loves the partnership with the parents throughout their child’s educational journey.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 28 years
Favorite Children’s Book: Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Susan Garrett
Director of Development
susan@preschool-partners.org
Susan received her BS from Birmingham-Southern and her MPA from UAB before pursuing her career in nonprofit work, primarily focusing on children’s education and well-being. She came to PreSchool Partners after 10 years at The Exceptional Foundation. Susan loves being a part of the PSP team, helping ensure all families have access to high-quality early childhood education.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 1st Year
Favorite Children’s Book: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Bry Davis
Program Director
bry@preschool-partners.org
Bry graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in Elementary Education and received her master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She worked at Mitchell's Place for 10 years before coming to PreSchool Partners. Bry leads our curriculum and the Families Reading Together program to support family literacy. Her favorite parts of being at PSP is the partnership we have with our families and the diversity in our program.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 7 years
Favorite Children’s Book: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Loretta Keller
Enrichment Coordinator
Loretta has a degree from the University of Alabama in Communications and has been on staff with PreSchool Partners for 14 years. She has taught in both the 3- and 4-year-old programs and now leads the PATHS program, helping our children understand their feelings and emotions. She also manages our library and ensures our students enjoy a variety of enrichment activities to broaden horizons and complement our curriculum. Loretta loves being at PSP and her favorite part is watching the amazing progress of the children.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 16 years
Favorite Children’s Book: Brown, Brown Bear, What Do You See by Bill Martin, Jr.
Shunnecia Thomas
Office Manager
Shunnecia graduated from Erwin High School and is also a graduate of the PreSchool Partners Parent Program. She loves the preparation and structure that PreSchool Partners provides the students. Shunnecia loved her experience in the Parent Program and loves being on staff!
Years at PreSchool Partners: 8 years
Favorite Children’s Book: Pete the Cat by James Dean
Emily Baird
Teacher, Four Year Olds
Emily Graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, and from UAB with a Master of Arts in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Emily has experience teaching in a pre-kindergarten setting, as well as in an elementary classroom for over a decade. Her favorite thing about teaching this age is watching children discover how much they love to learn, while having fun each day!
Years at PreSchool Partners: 1st year
Favorite Book: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Micki Carson
Teacher, Four Year Olds/After School Care
Micki earned her Child Development Associate’s degree at Jefferson State Community College and is continuing her education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After she spent some time as a substitute teacher, she started as an assistant teacher in a child development center in 1997. Since then, Micki has worked with all ages of young children from infants to preschool. Her favorite part about teaching is building genuine connections with the children and their families.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 4 years
Favorite Children’s Book: The Rain Came Down by David Shannon
Caroline Driggers
Teacher, Four Year Olds
Caroline graduated from the University of Alabama in 2016 with a dual degree in Early Childhood Education/Special Education. She started working at Mitchell’s Place after college and then transitioned into the school system as a kindergarten inclusion teacher. Caroline loves being at PreSchool Partners!
Years at PreSchool Partners: 3 years
Favorite Book: Pickle Things by Marc Brown
Debi Pearlstein
Teacher, Four Year Olds
Debi graduated from the University of California at Irvine with a B.A. and from Samford University with an M.S. degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Debi comes to us with over two decades of experience, mostly from the kindergarten classroom. Recently retired from Hoover City Schools, Debi taught at PSP many years ago and is so happy to be back with the pre-kindergarten kids. Her favorite thing about teaching young children is helping to instill a lifelong love of learning.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 3 years
Favorite Children’s Book: Sally Ann McFidgetbottom by Howard Pearlstein (Debi's husband and listener to Debi's stories of "busy" children for decades!)
Amy Stevens
Teacher, Four Year Olds
Amy graduated from Auburn University with a degree in early childhood education. She taught Kindergarten and 1st grade for five years in Washington, DC before moving back to her hometown of Birmingham, where she was the reading coach at Bluff Park Elementary for three years. After seeing the wonderful program PreSchool Partners offers its students, Amy was eager to be a part of this incredible team. She loves being back in the classroom and sharing her love for learning with her students.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 4 years
Favorite Children’s Book: The Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel
Sherry Sumners
Teacher, Four Year Olds
Sherry completed her undergraduate degree at The University of Mississippi, then received her master’s degree in Elementary Education from UAB. She taught kindergarten for 10 years at Helena Elementary School before working in Early Childhood for five years at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Her connection to PreSchool Partners began as a volunteer tutor and expanded to serving on the Board of Director’s for five years. She has taught every age at PSP and recognizes even the youngest children love to be active in their learning. Sherry believes it’s important (and fun) to understand the way each child learns, so they can become confident in themselves and independent learners. She loves that PSP encourages this type of learning and the support and community that exists here.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 5 years
Favorite Children’s Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Mary Dorough
Teacher, Three Year Olds
Mary graduated from UAB with a degree in Elementary Education and taught second grade for 30 years at Crestline Elementary School in Mountain Brook. Mary enjoys working with our preschoolers and her favorite thing about PSP is watching her kids get kindergarten ready.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 7 years
Favorite Children’s Book: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Caroline Fontenot
Teacher, Three Year Olds/After School Care
Caroline graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in public relations and communications. She has enjoyed working with children teaching vacation bible school and as a nanny. Caroline enjoys seeing the children grow and accomplish new things throughout the school year.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 3 years
Favorite Children’s Book: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Drue Miller
Teacher, Three Year Olds
Drue graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She previously taught 5th grade at St. Pius Catholic Church in Mobile before transitioning to work in early education. Drue has experience with all ages of our students at PSP. She enjoys teaching at the preschool level and watching the children grow throughout the year. Drue also loves how PSP’s program involves the parents and provide opportunities to learn how to help their children succeed in school in the future.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 8 years
Favorite Children’s Book: The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
Kim Pitts
Teacher, Three Year Olds
Kim graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught for 14 years in the Birmingham City Schools, 10 of which were at McElwain Elementary School which is where PreSchool Partners is located today. Kim also subsitututed for 19 years at Crestline Elementary School. She loves teaching and loves being a part of PreSchool Partners!
Years at PreSchool Partners: 5 years
Favorite Children’s Book: The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Leslie Price
Teacher, Three Year Olds
Leslie graduated from the University of Alabama with a B.S. and M.A. in Early Childhood Education. Her teaching career began teaching first grade at Rocky Ridge Elementary in Hoover followed by teaching first and second grades at All Saints’ Episcopal School in Homewood. After spending time with her family and raising her two children, she returned to teaching at PSP. She loves teaching and seeing the moment when a child learns something new! The look on their face is magical and the excitement that follows is even more wonderful.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 11 years
Favorite children’s book: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Mimi Waggoner
Teacher, Three Year Olds
Mimi graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies, with a concentration in both Early Childhood Education and Child Life. She has experience working with children in preschool as well as in a hospital environment. Mimi’s favorite thing about PSP is making a difference in children’s lives and watching them learn and grow.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 4 years
Favorite Children’s Book: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Jimeka Hill
Teacher, Two Year Olds
Jimeka graduated from G. W. Carver High School here in Birmingham. She has many years of experience caring for newborns to three-year-olds both in classroom and home settings. She is thrilled to continue her work in early education here at PreSchool Partners.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 3 years
Favorite Children’s Book: If You’re Happy and You Know It by Jane Cabrera
Owen Robertson
Teacher, Two Year Olds/After School Care
Owen graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Hospitality Management. She has always loved working with children beginning in high school with elementary age students and most recently two- to five-year-olds in a preschool setting. Owen’s favorite thing about teaching is building relationships with the children and guiding them in learning. She finds it exciting to watch children discover and engage in new things.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 3 years
Favorite Children’s Book: Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Allison Swoger
Teacher, Two Year Olds
Allison studied art at the University of Alabama and at UAB. She gained a decade of experience in early education working with three and four-year-old students at Early Arts Preschool. Now that her own children have grown and started college, Allison loves being at PSP and teaching preschoolers.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 3 years
Favorite Children’s Book: Frederick by Leo Lionni
Austin Trammell
Teacher, Two Year Olds
Austin graduated from the University of Alabama, studying Early Childhood Development. She has experience working with children of all ages through her time with Restoration Academy, A Chance for Children Foundation, and The Children's Program in Tuscaloosa. She strives to advocate for young children and help pave the way for their success during these crucial years in their development. Austin loves being a part of the PreSchool Partners team and playing a part in the lives of the amazing children and families!
Years at PreSchool Partners: 4 years
Favorite Children’s Book: Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball by Vicki Churchill and Charles Fuge
Betsy Barlow
Speech Pathologist
Betsy graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders. She received a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Montevallo. She then completed a Clinical Fellowship at Gadsden Regional Medical Center where she worked with both children and adults. She has been an Speech Language Pathologist in a variety of pediatric settings and loves watching children learn and grow in their communication skills.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 1st Year
Favorite Children’s Book: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Susan Bailey
Floater
Susan graduated from Mountain Brook High School and attended the Business School at the University of Alabama. She previously worked for PreSchool Partners from 1999-2004 and is amazed at how much the program has grown! Susan loves working with children and helping all the teachers in the tasks of educating, supporting, and preparing the children and their families for success.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 9 years
Favorite Children’s Book: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Kita Roberts
Floater/After School Care Teacher
Kita grew up in New Orleans and graduated from L.E. Rabouan High School. She has worked in childcare for many years, teaching two and three-year-olds. Kita’s favorite thing about teaching is the children — they are like little sponges taking in everything around them!
Years at PreSchool Partners: 1st year
Favorite Children’s Book: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
