Stephanie is a returning Preschool teacher and looks forward to another year at DaySpring!

Kristen is a returning teacher and is excited to be teaching the 3rd/4th grade class. Kristen arrived at DaySpring with 12 years of experience in education in 3rd, 5th and middle school science and math. She has worked as a classroom teacher, a tutor, and a math and reading interventionist. Kristen has also taught chess classes, coding, cooperative learning, and Lego robotics classes. When meeting with Kristen, one can feel her passion for teaching. She loves everything about reading and learning.

Jessica McMaken is our new teacher in the Discoverers (Kindergarten) classroom. Many of you may recognize Jessica’s name, as she taught 3rd and 4th grade at DaySpring Academy a few years ago. Jessica comes to us with several years of teaching experience, and she has homeschooled her own children. Jessica is passionate about education and has a Master degree as an Early Childhood Specialist. She has already spent hours in the building preparing for a stellar year in the kindergarten classroom.

Laura Gill received a Bachelor's degree in Special Education from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas and a Master’s in Social Work with a Concentration in Children and Youth from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. After receiving her Master’s Degree, Laura worked as a social worker primarily in the areas of school social work and adoption, before she began teaching in DaySpring's preschool program in 2008. She loves sharing her excitement for learning with the children that she teaches as well as supporting and encouraging their families. Laura and her husband served for twenty years as foster parents for children ages birth through five years old. She and her husband have four children, all of whom have participated in a variety of classes at DaySpring, including DaySpring's Academy, dance, and other enrichment classes.

Ann Belue is looking forward to teaching our Explorers (1st/2nd grades). Ann has recently graduated from Missouri State University with a Master’s degree in Education and a Certification as a Literacy Specialist. Ann has gained teaching experience in the 1st grade classroom through her student teaching assignments. She has also worked as a teaching assistant at the university level, and as a substitute teacher. Ann also has expertise in sign language, so perhaps we can find a way for her to share these skills with our students.

Alissa has 6 years experience in teaching, and is a returning teacher to DaySpring. She has a BA in Biology, MAT in Middle School Science, and a Minor in Spanish. Her favorite part about teaching: When kids experience that ah ha moment of understanding how something works and seeing them get excited about how cool the world around us is and how everything works together. Alissa likes working at DaySpring because she likes the small class sizes and really getting the opportunity to know her students and their families.  I love seeing the students grow from year to year and our school community.