The Triangle Grace Preschool Staff
Alana Scott - Director
Alana graduated from Bridgewater College with a BS degree in Middle School Education. She taught seventh grade Language Arts for nine years in Stafford County, VA, as well as coaching girls' field hockey and track. Alana and her husband, Bill, have two children- Colleen and David. After the birth of her daughter, Alana retired from teaching to be a stay-at-home mom. In 1999, Alana and her family moved to Durham. Both of Alana's children attended TPPK and their positive experiences at the preschool helped Alana decide to join the TPPK staff in 2003 as the kindergarten teacher. Beginning in June 2015, Alana became the Director of TPPK, now Triangle Grace Preschool. Alana loves to read, bake, garden, and spend time with her family.
Joan Reardon - 2 year old Teacher - Turtles (Monday and Wednesday)
Joan and her husband, Matthew, have been married over 30 years. They lived in Orlando, Florida, with their two children for 20 years where Joan worked as a Certified Medical Assistant in Pediatric Specialty Clinics, childcare and as Director of Preschool Ministries at her church. After relocating to North Carolina two years ago, Joan earned her Early Childhood Credentials, taught 3 year olds, and worked part-time at UNC Children's Hospital. In her spare time, Joan enjoys yoga, reading and traveling.
Melanie Daryani - 2 Year old Teacher - Ducks (Tuesday and Thursday)
Melanie grew up in Raleigh and graduated from UNC-CH with a degree in Public Relations and Religious Studies. After several years living in Washington, DC, she returned to the Triangle area and worked in the non-profit world. Melanie also previously served at her church as the Director of Children’s Ministry and Operations. Melanie and her husband, Nevin, have two daughters, Addison and Madelyn. Both girls are graduates of the preschool and Melanie served as a parent assistant in their classrooms. In addition, she has spent the past several years substitute teaching and working in the office at Triangle Grace Preschool and is thrilled to begin her first year teaching full- time! In her spare time, Melanie enjoys volunteering at her girls' school, reading, attending concerts and traveling with her family.
Andrea Dajnowicz - 2 year old Assistant Teacher - Turtles and Ducks
Before moving to North Carolina with her husband, Jon, 6 years ago, Andrea was a teaching assistant in an Early Childhood Family Education program for twelve years. She has been working with children of all ages since 1994 in a number of settings. In her spare time Andrea enjoys reading, going for walks and the beach.
Bobbie Jaeger - 3 year old Teacher - Lambs
Originally from Long Island, New York, Bobbie Jaeger grew up in a busy big family household. She attended SUNY Albany where she studied Rhetoric and Communications, Business, and German. Continuing her education, she next attended UNC Greensboro to earn a masters degree in speech-language pathology. From then on, she followed her passion and concentrated on therapy mainly with preschoolers. Family life and luck has lead her to being a preschool teacher. It is so special and a privilege to watch the excitement of a child learning and discovering new things. Bobbie and her husband, Howie, have two children, Emma and Jacob. They all enjoy being active, cooking together, and taking road trips and vacations whenever time allows. Bobbie joined the staff of TPPK in 2013.
Ryan Runestad - 3 year old Assistant Teacher - Lambs
Ryan grew up in California and attended UC San Diego where she studied psychology and worked at a Montessori elementary school. In 2004, she moved to North Carolina. She worked as a preschool teacher at FPG Child Development institute in an inclusive classroom and completed her Birth-Kindergarten teaching license at UNC Chapel Hill. Ryan and her husband Bret have two children, Atticus and Courtney. Ryan stayed home with her children when they were young, and they both attended TPPK for preschool. That time at TPPK was a wonderful experience as Ryan was able to volunteer in the classrooms and be a substitute. Now that both of her children are school-aged, Ryan is very excited to enter back into teaching young children at Triangle Grace Preschool. Ryan enjoys spending time with her family and friends. In her free time, she runs and does Jazzercise.
Linda Sheer - 3 year old Teacher - Gators
Linda was born and raised in Boone, NC. She came to Chapel Hill to attend the University of North Carolina where she earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Early Childhood Education. Linda taught for 30 years in the North Carolina Public Schools (28 years in Chapel Hill) and she has taught preschool, first -fourth grades, and eighth grade. She joined the TGP staff in 2014. Most of Linda’s family lives in Wilmington, NC, but her daughter and son-in- law live in Chicago. Her other family member includes her twelve year old dog, Izzy. Izzy is an AKC Canine Good Citizen and a Certified Therapy Dog. Linda's hobbies include: walking, swimming, snorkeling, and many other outdoor activities She loves to travel, read, do arts and crafts, and sing in the TGC choir.
Amy Rhoads - 3 year old Assistant Teacher - Gators
Amy has been working with preschool and elementary aged children since 1994. After moving to North Carolina in 1999, she worked as an elementary school teaching assistant in the Chapel Hill Carrboro City School system. She attended the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in PA. She and her husband have two children. Amy became involved with TPPK as a parent in 2010 and started substitute teaching. Amy joined the TPPK staff as the PreK teacher assistant in 2012.
Julie Anderson - 4 year old Teacher - Fish
Julie has been involved with Triangle Grace Preschool since the fall of 1997, back when it was Triangle Presbyterian Preschool. She began her time with Triangle as a parent, then as a teacher. Her experience with us also includes being a substitute teacher, a 3’s teacher, teaching gymnastics to our students, and teaching Chapel lessons. Julie has been the Fish (4’s) teacher since the fall of 2004. Julie is married, she and her husband Vin have two children. Jessica (married to Kennedy) and Ian, are both graduates of our preschool. Julie’s love for working with children began as a gymnastics coach many years ago. Julie and her family enjoy spending time together whether it is eating out, going to the movies, spending time at their cottage in Michigan, or just hanging out. Julie is a member of Triangle Grace Church.
Julie Walston - 4 year old Assistant - Fish
Julie, a graduate of NCSU, taught Language Arts and Social Studies in Orange County Schools. Julie’s certification is in Middle Grades Education with speciality in Language Arts, Social Studies and Academically and Intellectually Gifted. Julie and Joe (her high school sweetheart and husband) have 2 children, Felicity and Joseph. Felicity is a senior at Pomona College in Claremont, California. Joseph is a freshman at UNC Asheville in Asheville, NC. Both children are graduates of TPPK. Julie joined TPPK in the fall of 2003 as a kindergarten assistant. Julie enjoys practicing hot yoga, spending time with her two poodles, Cocoa and Cupcake, and playing trivia games.
Kathy Ramsey - Transitional Kindergarten Teacher
This is Kathy's fifth year in the Bear classroom. Prior to joining the preschool, she had over 13 years experience teaching four-years-old. She has an Associate Degree in Early Childhood. Her family includes husband, Tom and three adult children (two daughters and a son), their spouses and eight grandchildren!! She enjoys walking in her neighborhood and on the trails, listening to music, going to the beach, reading but most of all spending time with her grandchildren.
Ann Nickodem - Transitional Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
This is Ann’s fourth year at the preschool and second in the Bear classroom. She began substituting in December 2015 and worked in the four year old classroom the last two years. Prior to joining Triangle Grace Preschool, she worked at a Chapel Hill preschool for ten years. She was an assistant there and worked with all preschool age levels. She has a degree in education from Wisconsin where she taught before moving here with her husband and two children almost twenty years ago. Her children are married and she has two grandchildren. During her summers Ann teaches swim lessons.
Ledda Rosenberger - Music Teacher
Ledda holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting and a Bachelor of Music degree with a major in Flute and Music Education & minor in Piano from the University of Sto. Tomas, Manila, Philippines. She was a music professor for almost 15 years teaching grade school to university level. She has traveled in various countries (17 U.S. states, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the Philippines) with different singing and performing groups as part of their concert tours. Her passion is to help musicians develop their full potential in music and be able to share it with the community and the church. She strongly believes that values can only be overhauled through music and arts thus making all
those who are "musically inclined" be better citizens and servants of Christ.