Welcome to Preston Royal Preschool

Forms

	Kitty Ammann - Director
	Kitty grew up in south Florida, and graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Social Work and Psychology. Her husband is a statistics professor at UTD. They have a son in grad school, and a daughter embarking on her career in Chicago. Kitty loves to travel, cook, spend time with family, and take pictures. She is involved in outreach and mission activities at her church. Kitty was the Pre-K teacher for eight years, before becoming the Director. Her primary goal is to help our students be well prepared and confident as they move on to their next school experience.
	Karen Upton - 4-5 Year-olds, Assistant Director
	Karen is a native Dallasite who holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Dallas, post graduate work from the University of North Texas and a Professional Teaching Certificate in the state of Texas. She has more than 35 years of experience working with children ages pre K—8. Karen joined the PRP staff in 1982. Her two grown children attended PRP. Karen enjoys reading, as well as arts and crafts.
	Emily Biddler - Administrative Assistant, Aide
	Emily graduated from Kansas State University with a B.S. in Home Economics. She completed a dietetic internship at Baylor University Medical Center, where she worked as a clinical dietitian for five years. Emily has worked in Early Childhood for more than 20 years. She is married and has a married daughter and an adorable one year old grandaughter in Charlotte, NC; and a son who teaches and coaches in the Richardson Independent School District. She enjoys traveling (especially cruises), antique shopping, and Masonic activities. The children enjoy chatting with her about their activities and their outfits.
	Caroline Bredthauer — 3 year-olds MWF
	Caroline grew up in Dallas, and graduated from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth in 2007. Caroline received a B.A. in Communication Studies, a double-minor in Merchandising Textiles and Advertising/Public Relations, and took many early childhood education classes throughout her time at TCU. After working in marketing and events for a couple years after college, Caroline began to nanny for three wonderful girls, ages 5,11, and 12 in 2009. Caroline happily joined PRP in 2010 as an Enrichment Teacher where she works one-on-one with the four and five-year-olds preparing them for kindergarten. Caroline also recently married her college sweetheart in July 2010!
	Kim Felch – 2-3 Years Olds
	Kim Felch holds a Bachelors degree in elementary education from Texas Women's University. Her daughter attended Preston Royal Preschool in 2008 and her son is currently enrolled in his third year. Besides serving on the Parent's Club for the past two years, Kim was also a regular substitute at PRP. She is excited to start her first year teaching 2 and 3 year olds and is looking forward to guiding them toward a bright future. In her spare time, Kim enjoys reading and taking camping trips with her husband and two children.
	Carolyn Harrison — 3 Years Olds, TT
	Carolyn holds a bachelor's degree in Social Work from Texas Woman's University, and a master's degree in Social Work from University of Texas at Arlington. She currently volunteers for the St. Monica PTO and the Cub Scouts. Her children, ages 19, 18, and 9, attended Preston Royal Preschool. This will be Carolyn’s fifth year teaching at PRP.
	Courtney Melkus — Enrichment
	Courtney Melkus was born and raised in Dallas and only moved away to attend Spring Hill College where she earned a BA in English. She is also certified in Elementary Education and taught for seven years before taking time off to raise her three kids. She joined the Preston Royal staff this year after sending her children here, and she is loving every minute of it!
	Laurie Morgan - 3-Year-olds
	Laurie has been employed at Preston-Royal Preschool since January, 1999. When Laurie and her family moved to Dallas from the Washington, D.C. area, she chose Preston Royal Preschool for her three-year-old son. PRP soon recognized Laurie’s gift for working with children and their parents. Prior to her full-time employment, she was a favorite substitute teacher. Laurie holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Virginia. She is an active volunteer in her children’s schools, in children’s programs at her church, and in the Boy Scouts.
	April Osborne – Enrichment and Aide
	April has worked in early childhood education since she was a teen and serves a dual role at PRP. On Tuesday/Thursdays, she serves as the enrichment teacher working one-on-one with four and five year olds to prepare them for kindergarten. On MWF, she staffs the front desk as an administrative assistant to keep us organized. April’s boys attended Preston Royal and have gone on to elementary school, where April and her husband are active parents.
	Gloria Ramirez — 2 Year-olds
	Gloria graduated from the International Business College and worked as a medical secretary/transcriptionist and as a legal secretary before finding her calling as a teacher of young children. Gloria works with our youngest students, and they find great security in spending time with such a patient and loving mentor. At the St. Monica School, Gloria serves as part-time Preschool Secretary and teacher in the after-school program. She has a wonderful husband of 32 years with 4 children; 3 boys, 1 girl and 1 grandson. She enjoys volunteering at her grandchild’s school and credits her mother for encouraging her to work with children…so rewarding!
	Noelle Schmidt - 2 - 3 Year-olds
	Noelle has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She taught elementary school for six years in the Houston area before returning to her hometown of Dallas. Noelle began sending her oldest child to PRP in 2007. She has been a teacher at PRP since the fall of 2010. She enjoys volunteering at her children’s schools, running, and reading in her spare time. Noelle loves working with the two and three year olds, providing them with activities and experiences that make learning fun.
	Autumn Schnitzius - 4-Year-olds
	Autumn discovered PRP when she enrolled her younger daughter in 2007. She began teaching our twos and threes in the fall of 2008, and moved up to the four to five year-olds in September, 2010. Autumn started a successful preschool program in Seattle, and before that, she taught swimming and worked with disabled children at a therapeutic horseback riding center. Autumn’s degree in Psychology from the University of Washington, combined with her skill in guiding and communicating with children, contribute to her being an terrific teacher.
	Mary Tripp – Spanish Teacher
	Senora Tripp brings to PRP the skills of a native speaker. She has lived in Mexico and has taught Spanish at several different schools since coming to Dallas. One day a week, she makes learning a second language fun by presenting her lessons using games, songs and pictures. Mary has been at Preston Royal Preschool since 2009.
	Mary Ann Trotzuk — 2 Year-olds
	Mary Ann has been associated with the school since her oldest son enrolled in 1980. Her four children are alumni and her grandchildren are currently students. She began teaching at Preston Royal in 1985. She is involved with children both at the preschool level and as director of the after school program at St. Monica School. Mary Ann has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Creighton University and has done supplemental work in early childhood education at Brookhaven. In her free time she enjoys working on home improvement projects, gardening, reading and spending time with her grandchildren. “I feel very blessed to work with children. Their wonder and delight in the simple pleasures found in butterflies, doodle bugs and cardboard boxes bring much joy into my life.”