Willie Price University Nursery School Faculty
2009-2010

Our teaching staff is dedicated to making the Preschool program a positive learning experience for your preschooler in a warm and loving environment. Each member of the teaching staff is an experienced teacher who possesses the competency and understanding essential in teaching young children as well as a basic love for little children. Each teacher receives a minimum of 15 hours training/ enrichment annually. The staff is also certified in CPR. We are pleased introduce you to the Willie Price University Nursery School Staff.

Mrs. Jennifer Angle, Director

Miss Jennifer, originally from Dallas, Texas, obtained her Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Ole Miss. She has 19 years of early childhood and elementary experience. She has been Director of Children's Programs at the University for ten years.
“I believe that all children can learn and that they learn naturally. I feel childhood is a time of wonder and magic, where dreams and imagination get fueled. I believe the children's environment needs multiple ways to build a solid identity and make connections to those around them-their family, peers, role models, culture and community, and the natural world."

Three Year Old Teachers

BEARS: Mrs. Debbie Townsend
Miss Debbie has been teaching at Willie Price for 13 years. She comes to us with over 30 years of teaching experience working with pre-school children.
“It is very important to me that young children have hands-on experiences which provide the necessary basis for all future learning.”
BUNNIES: Ms. Alden Donahue
Ms. Alden is a familiar face at Willie Price. Ms. Alden worked many years in the 3K while completing her undergraduate work at Ole Miss. After graduation Ms. Alden has worked 5 years in the early childhood area. This will be Ms. Alden’s first year as a lead teacher at Willie Price.
“There is no greater reward for me as a teacher than by working with a child’s individual learning styles and witnessing the 'lightbulb moment' happen, and by providing a variety of activities that create lifelong learners in the children I teach.”
DUCKS: Mrs. Anne Fairley Smith
Mrs. Anne Fairley has been educating children for over 15 years, nine of those years have been at Willie Price. She was educated at Ole Miss and has multiple pre-school certifications.
“Discovering the excitement and joy of learning through hands-on experiences is truly a teachers greatest tools for understanding each individual child. The environment that happens in must be warm, safe, and interactive. ‘Please touch’ is the motto. I like in my classroom. Learning must be fun!”

Four Year Old Teachers

ZEBRAS: Mrs. Susan Sandlin
Mrs. Susan has been teaching at Willie Price for eight years. She received her elementary education degree and teaching certification in 1985, and has 12 years of teaching experience.
“My greatest joy as an educator is seeing the wonder and enlightenment on a child's face as they discover a new idea or learn a new skill. I feel children learn best when given the opportunity to have fun and experience learning using multiple senses through discovery.”
GIRAFFES: Miss Jessica McRaney
Miss Jessica is a familiar face at Willie Price. She worked at Willie Price many years during her undergraduate studies at Ole Miss. Miss Jessica has been the lead teacher in our Camp Willie Price summer program and is currently in Graduate School. You might recognize Jessica as the reigning Miss Mississippi USA. This is her first year as a lead teacher at Willie Price.
“It is a wonderful feeling to be as excited about one’s career as I am! I am committed to my goal of creating an atmosphere that inspires children and teaches them to appreciate learning in a way that will stay with them forever.”
MONKEYS: Miss Tish Riffe
Ms. Tish has obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Ole Miss. She comes to us after serving as a Graduate Assistant with the four year old program in 2004. This is Miss Tish’s fifth year as a lead teacher.
“What a wonderful career it is that I have chosen, to become an educator of young children. I look forward to creating a feeling of community in the classroom where each student may learn through fun, quality, experiences in a safe and nurturing environment.”

Kindergarten

POLKA-DOT PONIES: Mrs. Carolyn Allen
Miss Carolyn, originally from North Carolina, was educated at UNC. She has numerous years of teaching experience in Kindergarten and Pre-school. Miss Carolyn has been awarded Model Classroom and Master Classroom Status for the State of Mississippi. This is Ms. Carolyn’s seventh year at Willie Price.
“I believe that children learn by doing. Learning should involve a variety of experiences that are designed to nurture and meet the developmental needs of children. Through meaningful experiences children will gain the skills and knowledge that prepare them to be confident and successful. It also will instill the children a lifelong love for learning.”