Meet the HPP Staff 2008-2009
*as of Feb. 2008 all the following teachers are expected to return in the positions below
Kristie Kuzy - Twos Teacher
Kristie has lived in Huntsville most of her life. She has been married to Nick, an operations manager at an ambulance company, since 1982. Their daughter Alison is married with a four-year old daughter (Natalie) & 10 month old, Ellie and lives in San Diego, CA. Their son Dominic will be 3rd grade at Mt. Gap. Kristie was a nanny for 2 different families for a total of 7 years and was head teacher in the toddler class at Primrose School of Bailey Cove for 4 years. She has received her Child Development Associate Credential (CDA). She especially loves toddlers and has a special interest in children's literature. This will be Kristie's 6th year teaching Twos at Hope. She also loves reading, yard sales and dogs (she has 4 large mixed-breed dogs at home.)
Jen Sherman - Threes Teacher (Three days a week)
Jennifer was born and raised in Huntsville. She is married to Brent who works for SAIC providing internet support for NASA. They have two sons, Corey and Casey. Corey will be in 12th grade this year at Grissom High School. Casey a graduate from Hope will be in First Grade at Challenger this fall. Jennifer taught the Twos class at HPP for 3 1/2 years before leaving to stay home with Casey when he was born. This will be her third year teaching the Three’s class. She also was our Music & Movement Teacher before moving into the Three’s class. She is involved with the Band Parents at GHS, and is a member of Hope Presbyterian Church. Jennifer loves to garden and cook when she's listening to Corey play tuba in the band, or chasing after Casey.
Tammy Hurley – Threes Teacher (Four Days a week)
Tammy was born and raised in Auburn, the oldest of eight children. She has been married to Bryan, lead Technical Manager at PIMSOL, since 1995, and they have three children. Elizabeth is 11 and in 6th grade; Emily is 10 and in 5th grade; Scott is 9 and in 4thd grade. Tammy was very involved in the Children’s Ministry at Lakeview Baptist in Auburn. She taught preschool-age Sunday school for over ten years and spent three years teaching Children’s Choir. This will be Ms. Tammy’s second year teaching at Hope. Since moving to Huntsville four years ago, Tammy has been volunteering as a Teachers’Assistant at Mt. Gap Elementary where her children attend school. She does everything from organizing curriculum and class work for teachers, to coaching math and phonics with students. Tammy stays busy trying to keep up with all of her children’s extra-curricular activities— soccer, volleyball, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts just to name a few. In her spare time, she loves to read and scrapbook.
Katie McCollum- Fours Teacher
Originally from Huntsville, Katie grew up in Greenville, SC. She attended Auburn University and received a B.S. in Elementary Education. She and her husband, Matt, who also attended Auburn and now works for NASA, have been in Huntsville for 17 years. Christopher, their son will be a 7th grader at Mt. Gap. Erin, their daughter, is in 5th grade this fall. Katie has worked at the Preschool at First United Methodist Church in Huntsville (now called the Susanna Wesley Early Education Center) for 7 years. She has worked with all ages, ones through fours, both in the classroom and as Music & Motor Skills teacher. This will be Katie’s 6th year teaching at Hope. While not busy with the children’s soccer, dance, and baseball activities, Katie enjoys reading, sewing, and crafts. She is also a volunteer at Mt. Gap, involved in the children’s programs at Aldersgate United Methodist Church and Girl Scouts..
Marsha Owen- Fours Teacher
Marsha was born and raised in the suburb of New Orleans, LA. She followed her father’s footsteps and attended Auburn University and received a degree in Industrial Engineering. In the fall of 1987, she met Todd, a Huntsville native, at the Methodist campus ministry in Auburn. They married in 1992 and began their short careers as engineers in Huntsville. Marsha found her love for teaching toddlers and 4 year olds at Highlands United Methodist Daycare and continued later to teach 3 year olds at Asbury UMC Child Development Center in Madison. Todd answered the call into ministry by becoming a Youth Minister and is now the Associate Minister at Aldersgate UMC just down the street from Hope and is “planting” a new United Methodist Church (FaithQuest UMC) in the Big Cove area. They have two daughters– Victoria, will be a Freshman Grisssom High School and Ashtyn, will be a 4th grader at Mountain Gap Elementary. This will be Marsha’s second year teaching Four Year Olds at Hope. Marsha’s hobbies include reading, scrapbooking, playing games and playing with their 2 year old black lab, Tucky.
Leslie Patrick- Music & Movement Teacher
A native of Huntsville, Leslie graduated from Grissom High School in 1991. While attending school, she was an apprentice hairdresser and received her cosmetology license. She worked for Redken Haircare and in 1994 traveled the United States teaching haircutting, coloring and product information. She lived in Nashville for five years and one year in Des Moines, Iowa before returning to Huntsville. She met her old friend from middle school, Ryan Patrick and the two were married 01/01/01. Ryan works as a cartopgrapher for Optimal Geomatics. They have two boys, William will be in 2nd grade at Challenger and John a graduate of Hope will be in Kindergarten. Leslie is very active in her church and has taught children from six months to six years old. Along with learning bible stories, she teaches them uplifting songs. One of her greatest pleasures is to hear all the little voices raised in song. This will be her second year teaching Music & Movement at Hope. Leslie’s hobbies include playing games with her children, reading, trivia, and music. She is extremely excited about being apart of the Hope Family.
Kim McFadden- Director
This will be Kim’s twelveth year at HPP. The first two years she taught the three’s; and this will be her tenth year as a Director. Raised in Chicago suburbs, she attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. She majored in Elementary Education with a concentration in Physical Education. Kim has her Child Development Accreditation, or CDA, from the federal government. Kim and husband Tom have called Huntsville home for the past 29 years. Their son, Randall, is an actor and daughter Court is working for ATO Recording Company. They both live in New York City. Kim has served many positions with the PTA in Huntsville and at the state level. She served as Early Childhood Education Chairman on Alabama State Board of Directors. Kim can be found working at the Huntsville Botanical Garden on the weekends and during the summer. She attends Latham United Methodist Church and spends time with her parents who live at Somerby.