DIRECTOR/TEACHER:

A Franklin resident for over 30 years, Gina Pittman began her journey in education as a lead teacher in a local preschool following high school graduation. Life led her down a different path and she graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Business Administration. While attending Nashville School of Law she found Spring Hollow Early Learning Center for her children and became clearly aware that her heart was still in the education field. As one of the first parents at Spring Hollow, she became involved as a teacher and then later became the business administrator.  Recently she earned a degree in education as well as a Masters in Administration and Leadership and realized that her true calling was to return to Spring Hollow. Passionate about the education of young children, Gina comes to Spring Hollow with a focus on following the child’s lead in discovering knowledge through social emotional awareness, the arts, and exploration of a rich, inviting environment.  

Gina lives in Franklin with her husband, David, and their fourteen and sixteen year old sons. She enjoys reading, traveling, music and the arts, as well as the outdoors.

LEAD TEACHER:

Since kindergarten Lindsey Cole dreamed of being a teacher. She fulfilled her dream while attending Calvin College in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Here she was given various opportunities to grow as a teacher, from working in an inner-city public school to presenting at early childhood conferences while learning about and working with the Reggio Approach. Lindsey joined Grand Rapids Christian Elementary for two years as a preschool teacher, where she collaborated with colleagues equally interested in the Reggio approach. As live-in mentors in an intentional community house, Lindsey and her husband worked with college students as active participants in the neighborhood. Lindsey recently joined the Spring Hollow community where she immediately felt at home. 

Lindsey loves learning alongside preschoolers through exploration and asking questions and is constantly amazed by their insights. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, gardening and horseback riding.

FOUNDER:

Katherine Ratliff received her Doctorate of Education in Early Childhood Education at Vanderbilt University. She has taught for thirty five years in Early Childhood Programs and Universities around the world. In 1981, she began Early Learning Center in Bangkok which evolved into a Reggio Emilia inspired program. In 1997, she opened Spring Hollow and completed her second Reggio Emilia seminar in Italy in 2007.