Primrose School Building

Primrose School of South Charlotte

Our Staff

  • Ms. Wrenn, Family Program Director

    Ms. Wrenn

    Family Program Director

    I’m Ms. Wrenn.  I wanted to tell you a little about myself.

    I joined the Primrose family in 2011 teaching the Preschool and Prekindergarten classrooms, which gave me the opportunity to live out the Primrose Mission and Vision throughout my classroom. After seeing this impact, it made me want to coach other teachers to have a positive effect of educating our Primrose families! I joined the Primrose School of South Charlotte in 2017. After the school grew, I became the Curriculum Coordinator. Then moved into the Educational Manager position followed by the Assistant Director position, and now Family Program Director! In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors, camping and spending time with my husband, Grant, and two sons, Jackson and William (who are also part of this Primrose Family!)

     

  • Ms. Duff, Operations Director

    Ms. Duff

    Operations Director

    I was born and raised in the colorful and  rural Guatemalan Highlands.  I came to the USA as an exchange student back in 2011, and I officially moved to North Carolina in 2012. I have a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and a  true passion for education. I have over 12 years of formal experience working with young children, and 10 leading child care facilities, supporting the local community, and assisting children and educators to reach their highest potential.

    On a personal level, I am married and I have 3 beautiful children, Benjamin, Lintz, and our newest addition, Emmanuelle.  We also have a crazy and sweet yellow lab named Rex."

     

  • Ms. O'Connell, School Consultant

    Ms. O'Connell

    School Consultant

    I’m Mrs. O’Connell.  I wanted to tell you a little about myself.

    I relocated from New York in 1993 to Georgia where my husband and two daughters lived for 25 years. Both my children were Primrose students and I was a Teacher, Assistant Director, and then a School Director for over 25 years! The Primrose experience as a parent was very fulfilling for us, and prepared my children for life. 4 years ago we moved to South Carolina and I have been a member of this wonderful team ever since.  

     

  • Ms. Strawn, Education Coach

    Ms. Strawn

    Education Coach

    I’m Ms. Strawn… I wanted to tell you a little about myself.  

    I have worked in the field of Early Childhood Education since 2009, but I have cared for children for many years prior starting as a babysitter in my teenage years, and a nanny throughout college.  I went to UNC-Charlotte and received my B.A. in Elementary Education.  In 2018, I completed my M.ED in Early Childhood Education from Liberty University.  I have worked with children and families as an Early Interventionist and Service Coordinator and currently I am the Education Coach at Primrose School of South Charlotte.  My husband and I have two children, Avery and Chase,  and many pets.  I am excited to be a part of the Primrose family.

     

  • Ms. Lackey, Operations Coordinator

    Ms. Lackey

    Operations Coordinator

    I’m Mrs. Lackey… I wanted to tell you a little about myself.

    I graduated from York Comprehensive High School in 1995 and continued my education in Early Childhood Education at Central Piedmont Community College.  Working with young students is my passion and has been for the past 15+ years.  I have been happily married for over 20  years.  We have 2 beautiful children, a boy named Scott and a girl named Ashleigh.  Spending time with my family is a joy, we love the outdoors.  The Clemson Tigers is our favorite team.

     

  • Ms. Hanna, Infant Teacher

    Ms. Hanna

    Infant Teacher

    I’m Ms. Hanna, I wanted to tell you a little about myself.

    I am originally from Egypt and have been in the US for over 10 years.  I love working with children, specially infants, and I also enjoy helping others. One of my favorite activities is spending time with my family.   My hobbies are cooking, baking and crafts.  I like trying new things and I am also very artistic. Being part of the Primrose family makes me very happy.

     

  • Ms. Karthikeyan, Infant Teacher

    Ms. Karthikeyan

    Infant Teacher

    I’m Ms. Karthik ! I wanted to tell you a little about myself.

    I moved to Charlotte about 8 years ago. Before having my own children, I completed my Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Instrumentation and have experience as Transaction Monitoring Officer. I am married and I have two boys.  I love to spend time with family. I love cooking multi-cuisine recipes and sharing cooking videos too.  I like to paint and sing as well. I have a passion for working with children and I am excited to be part of the Primrose family.

  • Ms. Long, Young Toddlers Teacher

    Ms. Long

    Young Toddlers Teacher

    I am m Ms. Long.  I wanted to tell you a little about myself.  I moved to NC with my husband and our pup in spring 2021 from upstate NY.  I joined the Primrose team after settling into the area, but had to relocate shortly after.  Now I am very happy to be back in the toddler’s classroom.  I am so excited to reconnect with old friends and  get to know new ones.  I am also thrilled to be part of this wonderful family again.  In my free time I love exploring this beautiful state and making fun t-shirts and stickers with my cricut!

     

  • Ms. Gallegos, Young Toddlers Teacher

    Ms. Gallegos

    Young Toddlers Teacher

    Im Ms. Gallegos and I wanted to tell you a little about myself. 

    I am a single mom to a wonderful little boy, who is my entire world.  When I am not at work, my favorite thing to do is spend time with him, going to the zoo or playing outside. I am currently in college and have a passion for food, nutrition and education. I love watching little ones grow and being a part of their learning journey.  Helping parents feel comfortable about leaving their children in our care and giving my best each day is my ultimate goal.  As a mom I understand how difficult can be separating yourself from your little ones, so my mission is to reassure you that your children are in great hands.  Here at the school we will provide the love and care that each child needs and deserves. 

     

  • Ms. Kamesetty, Toddler Teacher

    Ms. Kamesetty

    Toddler Teacher

    I’m Mrs. Kamesetty. I wanted to tell you a little about myself.

    I am originally from India. I live with my husband and three beautiful girls.  On my time off I love to spend time with my family.  I have been working with children since 2013, and my hobbies are singing and cooking.  I am very happy to be part of the Primrose since 2018 and I love it! 

     

  • Ms. Johnson, Toddler Teacher

    Ms. Johnson

    Toddler Teacher

    I recently moved to Charlotte from Port Huron, Michigan. I’ve been working in the childcare setting for over 17 years now. and I have experience in all the age groups however toddlers are my passion. I love watching different sports on tv,  my favorite are football and basketball. I enjoy spending time with family and volunteering at church.  I look forward to getting to know you and child here at primrose. 

  • Ms. Herail, Early Preschool 1 Teacher

    Ms. Herail

    Early Preschool 1 Teacher

    I’m Ms. Herail. I wanted to tell you a little about myself.

    I am from Charlotte, North Carolina.  My experience with children started about 11 years ago.  I have volunteered in the nursery room at  my church and I have 4 nieces and nephews I help babysit all the time.  I look forward to seeing the children’s beautiful faces everyday.  It makes my day so much better.  I am very excited to be a part of the Primrose team and  I can’t wait to learn more about you and your family!

  • Ms. Snyder, Pathways Teacher

    Ms. Snyder

    Pathways Teacher

    I’m Ms. Snyder..  I wanted to tell you a little about myself.

    I’m a very outgoing, easy spirit! Love spending time with my puppy apollo and watching some marvel movies with my boyfriend. You can always catch me at the pool on the weekends.  Love to be in the sun! Also enjoy reading a good book about mental health and other related topics. A fun fact about me is that  I’m into everything skincare,  I would love to be an esthetician one day.  Teaching young children is another passion of mine, I truly enjoy playing, teaching and spending quality time with all my students.

     

     

  • Ms. Desrosiers (Ms. D), Early Preschool 2 Teacher

    Ms. Desrosiers (Ms. D)

    Early Preschool 2 Teacher
    Apple of Our Eye

    Hello I am Ms. Desrosiers, 

    I was born and raised in Maine and I am 22 years old. I started working at 17 which helped me gain a good amount of customer and service experience.  I graduated high school in 2018 and now I am pursuing a career in  Early Childhood Education.  A few months ago, me and my boyfriend  were  presented the opportunity to relocate  in the Charlotte area, and now we call  the Queen City home.  I enjoy being a teacher and assisting my students to stay safe, healthy and strong.

     

  • Ms. Martinez, Pre-K 1 Teacher

    Ms. Martinez

    Pre-K 1 Teacher

    I’m Ms. Martinez.  I wanted to tell you a little about myself. I grew up going back and forth between New Orleans and Charlotte.  I later on moved to Colorado where I became a mom.  I have two sons; Christopher Josiah and Walter Valentino (Wally V). I speak Spanish thanks to my Nicaraguan background.  Education is my passion and teaching young students means the world to me.  I can’t wait to learn more about your child/children and support their physical, academic, social and emotional development.

     

  • Ms. Willis, Pathways Teacher

    Ms. Willis

    Pathways Teacher

    Hello! my name is Aisha Willis. I love working with kids. I do not have any kids; however I do have 6 nieces and 1 nephew that I adore with all my heart.  At home, I am the youngest of all my siblings. I started sewing and drawing when Covid started and I enjoy arts and crafts very much. I also love taking pictures and the graphic arts.  I think my love for working with kids came from my nieces and nephew,  they helped me to understand how powerful could be our impact as role models and the difference we can make on the little ones. I think it's amazing to watch them grow and develop their own personalities. 

  • Ms. Kremensky, Preschool 1 Teacher

    Ms. Kremensky

    Preschool 1 Teacher

    I have worked in childcare since I was a child myself. I started my first babysitting job at the age of 12! I absolutely love working with children of all ages. I have worked as a nanny, summer camp counselor, swim instructor and everything in between. I am originally from San Diego, CA. and moved here a few years ago along with my husband and (2) kiddos. I look forward to teaching and learning with your children here at Primrose of South Charlotte!

  • Ms. Chambers, Preschool 1 Teacher

    Ms. Chambers

    Preschool 1 Teacher

    I’m Ms. Chambers. I wanted to tell you a little about myself.

    I am super excited about my journey at Primrose.  I  have 2 kids, a beautiful daughter and a handsome and sweet boy.   I have an AA  in Early Childhood Development and I plan on continuing my education.   I have wanted to work with young children since I was a young child, so it is truly my passion and I look forward to working with each child, helping them learn and grow as well as nurturing them.

     

  • Ms. Eddins, Pre-K 2 Teacher

    Ms. Eddins

    Pre-K 2 Teacher

    I’m Ms. Eddins, I wanted to tell you a little bit about myself.

    I have been in child care for twelve  years.  For the last two years, I have focused on education as a preschool teacher!  Through this, I realized I had a passion for teaching preschoolers!  There is nothing better than the joy of experiencing a child learning!  I have a wonderful husband and two adorable boys!  I am  so excited to be a part of the Primrose Family!

     

  • Ms. Walker, Preschool 2 Teacher

    Ms. Walker

    Preschool 2 Teacher

    My name is Tesslyn and I was born and raised in Gastonia. I went to North Gaston High school, and graduated in 2017. Shortly after graduating, I decided to work in a customer service setting at a law firm and later I enrolled at CPCC pursuing a Degree in  Early Childhood Education. I have always had a passion of working with children and the dream of becoming a teacher since I was a little kid. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, but most importantly my son Kailor and my boyfriend Alex. I also enjoy outside activities and constantly being active.

  • Ms. Batten, Prekindergarten 1 Teacher

    Ms. Batten

    Prekindergarten 1 Teacher

    My name is Precious Batten and  I have been an educator for 5 years and I truly love being able to help children learn and grow. I believe in helping children learn at their own individual pace and the importance of building self confidence. I have three beautiful children of my own.  I believe that the children are the future and It is up to us to help them cultivate their knowledge and gifts.

     

  • Ms. McIntyre, Transitional Kindergarten Teacher

    Ms. McIntyre

    Transitional Kindergarten Teacher

    I’m Ms. McIntyre… I wanted to tell you a little about myself.  

    Hello, I am originally from Georgia.  I have over 25 years of teaching experience, including teaching at Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.   I am athlete and sports fan.  I have runned marathon in fifty states and I love taking care of myself, eating good food and having a healthy lifestyle.  I am a real people person and I love traveling!  I can’t wait to learn more about you and your family and become a good role model for your children.

     

  • Ms. Hamrick, Explorer's Teacher

    Ms. Hamrick

    Explorer's Teacher

    I truly enjoy working with children and I love being outdoors in the fall. 

    Years ago, I supported the public school system as a bus driver, during that time I learned a great deal about how to manage large groups of kids and how to keep them safe.  I also owned for a while a business in the pet industry, as you can tell my heart is where I can serve others and help them thrive. I am beyond words excited to be part of the Primrose School of South Charlotte team, and I can’t wait to learn more about your children and families. 

     

  • Ms. Drake, Preschool 2 Teacher

    Ms. Drake

    Preschool 2 Teacher

    I’m Ms. Drake... I wanted to tell you a little about myself! I have a bachelor's degree from College of Charleston, in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood.  After college I taught in Union County for 6 years. I  taught kindergarten through 2nd grade. I took a break from  the education field when I decided to start a family. I worked for Harris Teeter for the last 5 years as a pricing 

    analysis at the Ballantyne Location. I have a beautiful daughter who is my little sidekick.  Now that she is getting older I am able to get back to what I really love to do... Teaching Children! I am excited to return to the field and look forward to a wonderful school year.

     

  • Ms. Silva, Early Preschool 2 Teacher

    Ms. Silva

    Early Preschool 2 Teacher

    My name is Stephanie Silva.  I am currently attending Central Piedmont Community College, pursuing a BS in Early Childhood Education. I moved to North Carolina about a year ago. I am originally from New Jersey. I have an adorable Chocolate Labrador living at home with me. I enjoy going to the gym, spending time with my family and friends, and watching new TV shows.  Becoming a teacher was a very natural step in my professional career, I love children and teaching is my passion. 

     

     

  • Ms. Sarkar, Support Teacher

    Ms. Sarkar

    Support Teacher

    I’m Ms. Sarkar and  I wanted to tell you a little about myself.

     

    I am a graduate in psychology from India. I am a passionate professional who has been involved in child education since I graduated. I love to spend time and patiently teach the kids. I am a mother of a 9 years old boy who is going to 4th grade. In my spare time I love to listen to music performed by my son and husband. Other than that I love to cook, travel and watch movies.

     

  • Ms. Brown, Support Teacher

    Ms. Brown

    Support Teacher

    My name is Trinity Brown and I am a recent high school graduate at Cuthbertson High School. I am 18 years old and I will be continuing my education at SPCC in Early Childhood Education. I have been working with children since I was in middle school.  My favorite color is pink and normally I am wearing some type of print. (Cheetah especially). I have 3 older brothers and a dog named Boston. I moved to North Carolina when I was going into 3rd grade.  My favorite season is fall,  with the leaves changing,  the colder weather and most importantly because I am a big coffee drinker and pumpkin spice is my favorite.  I love working with children, it brings me so much joy to meet and get to know the kids and support each stage of their development. 

      

     

  • Ms. Reddy, Support Teacher

    Ms. Reddy

    Support Teacher

    I’m Ms. Reddy. I wanted to tell you a little about myself.

    I am married and I have 2 daughters. My older daughter is graduated from UCLA and my younger one is attending High School for her senior year and will be off to college next year.  When I was younger I loved dancing and danced for 8 years professionally. I also earned a classical dance diploma. I enjoy cooking and spending time with family. I cannot wait to meet you and your family this year!

     

  • Ms. Robinson, Substitute Teacher

    Ms. Robinson

    Substitute Teacher

    I’m Ms. Robinson, I wanted to tell you a little about myself.

    I have volunteered as a first grade reading tutor for four years and I have also been a K-5 substitute teacher.  I am excited to be a part of the Primrose family to help children grow academically and socially.  I enjoy listening to smooth jazz and spending time with my friends and my miniature dachshund, “Pepper”.  Gourmet cooking and creative crafts are also a passions of mine.

     

     

  • Ms. Roopa, Substitute Teacher

    Ms. Roopa

    Substitute Teacher

    I'm Roopa, I have 3 kids, my oldest daughter is in College, my 2 other sons have exceptionalities that make them special and extraordinary.  I was a teacher in India and I have always loved working with children.  I moved to U.S.A. in 2005 and I started working in CMS in 2021. I'm very excited to work in Primrose this summer break. My hobbies are writing, fashion, craft, sewing and cooking.

  • Ms. Merritt, Early Preschool 1 Teacher

    Ms. Merritt

    Early Preschool 1 Teacher

    Hello, I'm Ms. Merritt !! I'm originally from NC, but have lived in many states.  A few of my favorite were Virginia, California, and Alaska. Moving frequently as child gave me the opportunity to learn in many educational settings. This sparked my love for learning. Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my family . Some of our favorite activities are bowling, traveling,watching movies, and cooking.  I'm always looking for new things to try and appreciate all recommendations.  I am so excited for this new adventure as a memeber of the Primrose Family. 

  • Ms. Dempsey, Support Staff

    Ms. Dempsey

    Support Staff

    I have lived in Charlotte NC for 22 years and have worked in the teaching field for many years. I love meeting new children of all ages as every child is unique and special in their own way. I enjoy helping others and caring for others. I look forward to working here at Primrose and seeking fun! 

  • Ms. Maniace, Support Staff

    Ms. Maniace

    Support Staff

    I am a caring & creative person. My interests include baking/cooking, cleaning, drawing, learning & reading. On Friday night you can find me curled up with my cat & a cozy blanket. Also, I enjoy going for a run or doing yoga, being in nature is something I really love!

  • Bill and Yaa McConnell, Franchise Owner

    Bill and Yaa McConnell

    Franchise Owners

    Hello – We are Yaa and Bill McConnell and we are the proud Franchise Owners of Primrose School of South Charlotte. As business people with a passion for education, we are thrilled to offer the Primrose Experience of premier early education and care to the children and families of Charlotte.

    We were first introduced to Primrose Schools in 2014 while searching for childcare for our son, Douglas. We tried a variety of childcare arrangements, but we were challenged to find an option that provided the type of quality education we wanted for our son — a secure, loving environment that helped him grow both socially and academically. When we enrolled Douglas at Primrose, we immediately knew we’d found what we were looking for.

    Within a few months, we knew we wanted to move from being Primrose parents to Primrose Franchise Owners. We had already considered opening our own business as a way to invest in the city of Charlotte. After more than a decade of working in curriculum and instructional design, we were drawn to opening a school as an opportunity to provide more families with the Primrose Balanced Learning® approach, which balances purposeful play with nurturing guidance. Both of us are on-site weekly to oversee the day-to-day operations of the school.

    Yaa McConnell: I draw on my professional experience as an Instructional Designer in the corporate world. (Bank of America, TIAA, Joerns Healthcare, and Atrium Health). I hold a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction from George Mason University and an undergraduate degree in sociology earned from the University of Ghana. While my responsibilities range from, setting the strategic direction of the school, and managing staffing to supervising the implementation of curriculum, my favorite role is connecting with parents and families at the school.

    Bill McConnell: Earned a degree in Business Management from Florida State University and worked in consumer product sales for 17 years with Stanley Black & Decker. My primary focus is business operations and the strategic development of the school. I take pleasure in seeing all of the families and children we serve each day.

    We are thrilled to see our dream of serving families and children come to fruition by opening a Primrose school. Together, we are committed to providing students with a safe and nurturing environment to learn and grow their Active Minds, Healthy Bodies, and Happy Hearts®, while providing parents with peace of mind, knowing their children are well cared for and receiving a premier education.

    Thank you for taking the time to visit our website. We would love to meet you and your family and welcome you to our Primrose family!

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