Our Team
Executive Team
Dr. Patricia Simpson
Executive Director
tricia@preschool-partners.org
A graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, Tricia earned a degree in Early Childhood Education; later receiving graduate degrees (Master's, Educational Specialist and Doctorate) in Elementary Education and Educational Leadership from Samford University. As a novice educator in Homewood City Schools, Tricia taught Kindergarten for years at Shades Cahaba, eventually becoming the school's Assistant Principal. After several years she became Principal of Edgewood. Upon retirement, Tricia concluded a rewarding 36-year tenure in Homewood. Afterwards, Tricia joined Samford University as an adjunct instructor and intern supervisor. Due to her prior experience and interest in character development, she also held the position of Character Coach, Director of Programs and Executive Director of The Hope Institute-a non-profit organization that partners with K-12 schools to develop positive character. Tricia looks forward to helping PSP preschoolers and parents to realize their own unique potential.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 1st Year
Favorite Children’s Book: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
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: 2 Years
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: 8 years
Favorite Children’s Book: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Caroline Nabors
Enrichment and Development Coordinator
caroline@preschool-partners.org
Caroline graduated from the University of Alabama in 2016 with a dual degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. She started working at Mitchell’s Place after college and then transitioned into the school system as a kindergarten inclusion teacher for 5 years. Caroline came to Preschool Partners as a 4's teacher during COVID and since then has transitioned into the Enrichment and Development Roll! Caroline's favorite thing about PSP is seeing the progression each child makes throughout the year! She also loves the relationships she builds with each family.
Years at PreSchool Partners: 4 years
Favorite Children’s Book: Pickle Things by Marc Brown
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: 10 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: 2 years
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: 5 years
Favorite Children’s Book: The Rain Came Down by David Shannon
Lucy Ferguson
Teacher, Four Year Olds/After School Care
Lucy graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. She has several experiences within preschool and elementary school settings and has always loved working with children. Lucy’s favorite thing about teaching is forming the relationships with her students and helping them learn, as well as celebrating each of their milestones! She is so excited to join the Preschool Partners team!
Years at PreSchool Partners: First Year
Favorite children’s book: The Lady with the Alligator Purse by Nadine Bernard Westcott
Abbey Fore
Teacher, Four Year Olds
Abbey graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Early Child Development. She has worked with children of all ages, including spending the last four years at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church as both a substitute and a full-time summer teacher. She also has experience teaching in a pre-kindergarten setting. Abbey thrives around young children and loves forming meaningful relationships with her students and their families. She is passionate about her work, has a big heart, and is so excited to join the team!
Years at PreSchool Partners: First Year
Favorite children’s book: The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
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: 4 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!)
Leslie Price
Teacher, Four 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
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: 8 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: 4 years
Favorite Children’s Book: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Kay Haley
Teacher, Three Year Olds
Kay graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Early Childhood Education. In her 36 years in education, she’s spent time as a Sylvan Learning Center Director and a Title I Reading Tutor. She also taught with Jefferson County at Chalkville Elementary before moving and teaching in Columbus, Ohio. She enjoyed her last 21 years as a First and Second Grade teacher at Crestline Elementary in Mountain Brook before retiring in 2022. Kay is thrilled to be joining the PreSchool Partner team and teaching the 3 year olds!
Years at PreSchool Partners: First Year
Favorite Children’s Book: Miss Piggle Wiggle
Tywania Levins
Teacher, Three Year Olds
Tywania graduated from the University of Alabama studying Early Childhood Education. She has many years of experience working with children ages birth to seven. Her favorite part about teaching is building genuine relationships with the children and families.
Years at PreSchool Partners: First Year
Favorite Children’s Book: I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont and David Catrow
Amy Stevens
Teacher, Three 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: 5 years
Favorite Children’s Book: The Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel
Mimi Wininger
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: 5 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: 4 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: 4 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: 4 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: 5 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: 2 Years
Favorite Children’s Book: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Brandee Burrell
Floater
Brandee has worked in the classroom setting as a sub and floater at the Elementary Campus of Cornerstone Schools of Alabama. She recently taught in the Birmingham City School System. Brandee and her husband, Fred, have three adorable children! She is very excited to bring her experience to Preschool Partners
Years at PreSchool Partners: First Year
Favorite Children’s Book: Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
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: 2 Years
Favorite Children’s Book: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
