Teachers & Staff
Kristen Elliott
We welcomed Mrs. Kristen Elliott to our school in November 2019. Kristen has taught in the Fulton County Elementary Schools with experience in First, Second and Third grades, Importantly for us, Kristen taught Pre-K for three years in a Cobb County Primrose School and knows Primrose standards and expectations thoroughly.
Kristen earned her ECE degree from Kennesaw State then completed her Masters in Elementary Education with a Teacher Leadership Endorsement. She twice assumed the Grade Level Chair responsibilities, was elected as Teacher Leader for the Fulton County Superintendent Teacher Council and received Univision’s 2015 “Un Maestro Especial” Award and topped off the year with the 2015 Teacher of the Year Award!
Kristen is married to her husband, Mark, and they have two children. Both children have attended Primrose since they were infants. Their daughter, McKenna, is in 1st grade at a Forsyth County School and son, Kaiden, is in the Private Pre-Kindergarten at Primrose. She enjoys partnering with families, staff and children to create an environment that is warm, welcoming and inspiring!
Sandy Waddell
Sandy is celebrating twelve years with our Primrose of Cumming East family. Recently, Ms. Sandy was promoted to Assistant Director. For the past twelve years, she has been a lead teacher in our Infant classroom. She has given and continues to give lots of love to the little ones. Her favorite part of teaching in the Infant classroom was “watching the babies learn and grow, as well as getting lots of love!” During her time away from school, she enjoys reading and traveling.
Sandy, who is originally from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, received her degree from Florida Atlantic University. She is married to John, who is a Grocery Manager for Publix. She has two lovely daughters, Amber, who is 25 years old, and Ashley who is 22 years old.
Sandy is hoping that one day soon, she and John will be able to set sail on a river cruise. She said that she would love to see some of the classic cities of Europe!
Thanks for everything you do, Sandy—we are glad you are part of our family!
Belinda Fortenberry
Mrs. Belinda Fortenberry is our Lead Teacher in the Infant classroom. She’s also our 2020 Employee of the Year! Belinda’s Lead Teaching experience along with her dedication, good-natured spirit and outstanding work ethic makes her a wonderful asset to our school! When asked what she likes most about her job, Belinda replied “when I get down on the floor and play with the babies.” There isn’t one aspect of her job that Belinda doesn’t care for… with the possible exception missing her babies once they grow up and transition to the next classroom.
Belinda is our hometown gal, born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a graduate of Norcross High School.
Belinda’s calm demeanor and special attention to each individual baby believes her intense commitment to giving the very best learning experience and care each day for her young learners.
Marlene Zuniga
Vicki Serrano
Hi! Vicki Serrano is the Lead Teacher in the Toddler classroom at Primrose Cumming East. She received her Child Development Associates (CDA) to become a Lead Teacher in the classroom. Her education experience began about 10 years ago, with a primary focus in infants and toddlers. Vicki’s favorite thing about working with young children is watching them grow and blossom!
Ms. Vicki is a hometown girl from Cumming. She is a proud mom to twins (1 boy and 1 girl) and three lovely cats. In her personal time, she enjoys shopping, dining at new restaurants and traveling with her children. Her favorite family tradition is gathering around for the holidays.
Vicki is truly one of the most dedicated teachers. She takes time to learn each child’s uniqueness and individuality as they showcase their various potentials. We are very thankful to have Ms. Vicki teach our students at Primrose!
Dalia Cerro
Nansi Balcazar
Jignasha Lakhani
Sapna Metha
Ms. Sapna Mehta is the Lead Teacher in our Preschool classroom. Sapna was born in India and moved to Georgia in 2013. Sapna resides in Cumming with her husband, Krunal, and their son, Pratham.
Sapna graduated from Nootan College in 2010. She continued with school and graduated in 2012 with her Master’s Degree in Biotechnology. Beyond the classroom, Sapna teaches an Indian dance at her home called Bharatnatyam. She has an additional Bachelor’s degree in this dance.
Sapna is an enthusiastic teacher in the classroom. She is a joy to watch as she grabs the attention of her young students with her FUN personality. We are very thankful to have Ms. Sapna teach our young students at Primrose!
Preetha Jeyaguru
Archana Srivastava
Ms. Archana Srivastav is our Lead Teacher in the Private Pre-Kindergarten classroom. She brings an energetic attitude to her classroom everyday. Her teaching experience along with her dedication makes her a wonderful asset to our school!
Archana was born in Varanasi City, India. She graduated from Agrasen Autonomous College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science. In 2004, she received her Master’s Degree in Business. After college she worked in Human Resources and owned a business in coaching Elementary and Middle School children in academics. In 2015, Archana and her husband left India and moved to the United States. They have two beautiful children, a son, Divik and daughter, Mishka.
Archana is a very dedicated teacher in her classroom. When asked what she loves about teaching, it is her students. She loves teaching the developmental skills in a meaningful way. We are very thankful to have Ms. Archana teach our Pre-K students at Primrose!
Mariana Angeles
Kim Allen
Ansley Kate Allen
Neetu Malhotra
Franchise Owners
Atif Meraj & Sehar Meraj
Welcome to Primrose School of Cumming East! We are proud to bring high-quality preschool and child care to young children and families in the Cumming, Georgia community.
Through my career as a physician, I gained a deep appreciation for the important role early childhood plays in lifelong development, but becoming a parent gave me an even deeper understanding of what that can mean for a child’s future. When it came time to find care for our own children, we wanted a place that would intentionally support their social and developmental growth, going beyond the basics to help them learn, grow and thrive. We believe every child is unique, and they deserve to be seen and feel like they belong from the very beginning. That search ultimately led us to Primrose, where we found a learning environment that reflected those same values and inspired us to bring that experience to other children and families in our community.
As the school’s on-site owner, I bring a background in public health, safety, compliance and quality, including eight years as a university educator. As co-owner, my husband, AJ, brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in engineering and finance. Together, our professional backgrounds have shaped our commitment to creating an environment where children feel known, supported and encouraged to reach their full potential.
As a family, we love to travel, explore new cultures and spend time with family and friends. Our older son, Armaan, is in college, and our younger son, Salar, is in high school. Both still keep in touch with teachers and friends from their preschool days, a meaningful reminder of the lasting impact of early childhood education.
At Primrose, we believe who children become is as important as what they know. Our exclusive early learning approach balances purposeful play with nurturing guidance from teachers to encourage curiosity, creativity, confidence and compassion. We deliver more than a curriculum; it’s a life-changing experience for children and their families.
We are excited to meet you and your family!
