Catherine Hopkins

Catherine has worked at BCPS for more than 6 years. She currently serves as the Teacher Support Coordinator. She holds a degree in Animal Science/ Veterinary Medicine and is licensed by the VA Board of Veterinary Medicine/ VA Department of Health. A few years ago she decided to leave her full time job as a hospital administrator to stay home with her family and better homeschool her children. She has taught animal science to 3rd-6th graders at her co-op. She is a also Disney travel agent and Plexus ambassador in her spare time. She is involved with the sports her children play and also sits on the board for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Virginia Chapter.
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Joelle Hawkins

Joelle teaches our Music and Creative Movement classes.  She also teaches our 1 Day 2 1/2 year old class.  She has a Music Education degree from Wright State University and has 14 years of teaching experience.  
"I love how free and energetic the children are in class. It brings me such joy to watch them learn and grow."  ​
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Susie Higbie

​Susie’s expert care for children shows in the All Star Pre-K, 5 year old classroom as she teaches them daily. She has a degree from University of Akron and an Associate Degree in Child Development. She has been teaching our preschoolers for over 20 years!  “I love teaching because I enjoy seeing children learn through play. The highlight of any day is to see a child figure something out on his/her own. I love to see children grow and become independent. I love to be part of their first school experience.”

Jill Hunter

Jill has a BS degree in Elementary Education from Louisiana State University. She has been teaching for over 20 years. She especially enjoys painting and creating art with the children. She loves greeting the three year olds with warm welcomes and hugs.

Kristen Mathews

​Kristen is an aide with the All Stars Pre-K, 5 year old classroom. She has a Bachelor Degree of Science from Elmira College and has worked with special ed and hearing impaired children. “I love working with children! It’s amazing watching them learn and grow during the school year. BCPS provides a fun atmosphere for students and myself.”

Chris McKee

​Chris has more than 20 years of experience at BCPS loving and teaching 3’s and 4’s.  She teaches our 4 day 4 year old class.  Her love of books is the reason why she spends so much time ordering and distributing the preschool’s Scholastic Book Orders. She has a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education (Certified N-6). “I love the children’s enthusiasm for learning. My favorite activities are reading to the children and class discussions during circle time.”

Heather Nghiem

 ​Heather is our new Director!  She has a B.S. in Psychology with a Teaching License Certification (Pre-K – 3) from James Madison University. She has served as the Preschool Board Chair, taught our two and half year olds and been an aide for our four year olds. She taught elementary students for seven years in the Chesterfield County Public School system, led training for teachers in technology integration and mentored new teachers and colleagues. Heather enjoys serving in the Children's Ministry program at TBC and as on officer in a local chapter of the international education sorority, Alpha Delta Kappa.  

Monique Novak

​Monique has been a loving and caring aide with the 2s and 4s. She attended Old Dominion University. “I love to see the kids eyes light up when we tell them it’s time to go outside or we have popsicles for snack. They get so excited about the little things.”

Cathy Ray

​Cathy has touched many little lives as a teacher in all our programs for more than 25 years. She earned a BS in Child Development from Virginia Tech. “The things I love about teaching are the children’s cheerful faces, hugs, and being a part of their early education. I think Erma Bombeck said it best, ‘Children make your life important.’”

Sherry Smith

​ Sherry has been an awesome aide for BCPS of all ages for more than 10 years. She attended The Braxton School of Business. She loves the children's hugs and is always ready to give hers away! Her love for children and enthusiasm shows every day! Her children attended BCPS prior to her working here. 

Amanda Dunlap

Amanda Dunlap has a B.S. from Longwood University. Her children completed a combined total of 6 years at BCPS. She fell so in love with the preschool, that she started subbing and was part of the preschool board before she became a full time aide!

Miriam Sims

Miriam earned a Bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University has over six years of experience teaching preschool & is the mother of three girls. She cherishes the unconditional love of our students & their sheer joy for learning! “Teaching preschoolers is so rewarding! As an educator, you get to play a role in developing a child’s awareness of themselves & their world and, in early childhood, we get to help them with some of the most vital building blocks of life: communication & self-expression, understanding letters & numbers, wonder & exploration, healthy social interaction & empathy.”

Stephanie Barth

​Stephanie received her Bachelor of Science from West Virginia University and holds a Certification in Early Childhood Education.   All of her children attended BCPS and had wonderful experiences.  Stephanie joined our staff when her youngest began Kindergarten.  “I love working with children. They love learning and exploring … and they make every day such an adventure! The sense of accomplishment they feel when they figure something out for the very first time and their excitement is contagious. I’m looking forward to another great year at BCPS and teaching your wonderful children!”

Beth Dabney

Beth graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  She moved to Midlothian 5 years ago and her children attended Brandermill Church Preschool.  She enjoys greeting the children each morning.  She also enjoys painting, paper crafts, and crocheting in her free time.  Her favorite part of the day is when she gets to assist her students with creating a new art project.  She is currently teaching the 2 1/2 year old class supporting the three day 4 year old class and serving as Chair of the Preschool Board.  

Melissa Fitzgerald

Melissa graduated from Wheelock College in Boston, MA with a BA in Primary & Special Education K-12. She has taught all grades in special education both as inclusive and pullout programs for close to a decade. She has taught at BCPS for over 10 years in all age groups and loves preschool! Melissa has two children who attended Brandermill many years ago and still has great memories from those days! "The best part about being an early education teacher is that each day is brand new and the smallest things or accomplishments bring the most smiles. Each day is magical as children play and learn and make friends and appreciate the wonder of everything. Every moment is a teaching moment big or small".

Lisa Taylor

​Lisa has a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.  Both degrees required internships in elementary schools as well as Community Service Boards where she worked closely with children and their families.  She worked as a Hospice Social Worker for 3 years (again with children and their families) and then stayed home after her husband and she decided to start a family of their own.  Prior to coming to BCPS, she worked with CCPS as a PALS tutor for 4 years at Hening Elementary. She currently teaches our 3 day 3 year old class.   "Working with children is such a joy!  Watching them as they try something new for the first time and accomplish it, or share a toy with a friend, or comfort a friend when needed, it's all so fulfilling.  It's the little triumphs that count! These young, developmental years are so important to their social and emotional well-being and I love being an essential part of that"!

Yoshie Motai

Yoshie graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. in Psychology and a M.S. in Education specializing in Mental Health Counseling.  She has worked with children of all ages and their families for 3.5 years as a mental health counselor before moving to Virginia.  Prior to coming to BCPS, she also taught math and language to 7th-9th graders at Saturday Japanese School for 8 years. Both of her children attended BCPS and had wonderful experiences.  "I love working with children!  It is such a joy to watch them explore and learn new things each and every day." 

Elizabeth Miller

Elizabeth holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Communications from the University of North Florida. Elizabeth is originally from Florida and moved to the Richmond area with her family two years ago. Most of her work experience has been in education where she has taught a wide range of ages. However, she feels preschool is one of the most precious ages, everything is so exciting and new. Elizabeth loves sharing in the excitement of making new discoveries with her students.

Denise Dunn

Cynthia Vandermeys

​Cynthia has a Bachelors Degree from the University of Buffalo where she is originally from. She is an aide with the All Stars Pre-K, 5 year old classroom. Before coming to BCPS she worked as a substitute teacher for Chesterfield County Public Schools.  “I love working with your children. Teaching them. Seeing their eyes light up when they when they do well. It's truly magical. "

June Hamada

June holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Central Arkansas.  Before moving to Virginia, she worked as an art director at a local advertising agency in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Both of her children attended BCPS.  She loves doing arts and crafts with the children and really enjoys how creative and happy the children are with the artwork they create.