Spring Hollow's Amazing Teachers
"The Reggio teacher is unique because she offers herself to the process of co-construction of knowledge, she releases the traditional roles of a teacher and opens doors to new possibilities. She starts with the use of the child’s own theories, promotes disequilibrium, and helps the child to think about their thinking to facilitate new learning." -Seong Bock Hong, 1998
The Reggio teacher allows:
- The children to ask their own questions, and generate their own hypotheses and to test them.
- The children to explore and generate many possibilities both affirming and contradictory. She welcomes contradictions as a venue for exploring, discussing and debating.
The Reggio teacher provides:
- Opportunity to use symbolic languages to represent thoughts and hypothesis.
- Opportunity for the children to communicate their ideas to others.
The Reggio teacher offers:
- The children, through the process of revisiting the opportunity to reorganize concepts, ideas, thoughts and theories to construct new meaning.
- Keen observation, documentation, and a partner in the learning process.
Excerpt from www.reggiokids.com
Amanda Cook
School Director
Hi, I'm Amanda Cook. I was born and raised in a suburb just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana, and graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a bachelor's degree in Social Work and Child Development. Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working in foster care, adoption, crisis intervention, and family social work, but the majority of my time has been spent in early childhood education, both as a preschool teacher and in various administrative roles.
My education and career have always been rooted in a deep passion for supporting and empowering children and families. These roles have shaped my commitment to creating a nurturing, safe and joyful environment where every child feels loved and has the opportunity to learn and grow.
As a director, I'm committed to partnering with parents, supporting our amazing teachers, and ensuring that every child in our care is given the tools they need to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. My favorite part of the day is always interacting with the children.
I live in Arrington with my husband, John, and our three teenage sons, who attend Page Middle and Page High School. As a family, we enjoy traveling, spending time at the ball fields, being outdoors, cheering on SEC football (Geaux Tigers!), and serving together in our church's children and adult ministries.
Sarah Mabry
Lead Teacher
Hi, I'm Sarah! I grew up in a suburb of Chicago. I attended Baylor University and graduated in 2004 with a degree in Studio Art. After graduating college, I taught at an emergent curriculum based preschool in Bel Air, California for three years before moving to Franklin, TN in 2009. I am passionate about art and loves seeing kids gain confidence in themselves while exploring different art methods. I was first part of the Spring Hollow community as a parent when my children attended beginning in 2014. I returned as a substitute teacher and have been a full-time teacher and the atelierista since 2018.
I live in Franklin with my three kids - Larson, Austin, and Sawyer. In my free time, I enjoy painting, baking, hiking, traveling, and DIY projects.
Katelyn Skelton
Teacher Assistant
Hi, my name is Katelyn Skelton. I was born and raised in Centerville, Tennessee where I sill live. I graduated from Hickman County High School in 2016 when I started my career path in Early Childhood Education. In my free time, I love spending time with my fiance (Zack) and my dog (Wheeler). In the summer, you can usually find us at the Tennessee River and in the fall, we love cheering on our Tennessee Volunteers any chance we get!
I am so excited to be a part of Spring Hollow and have the chance to help kids grow, learn and play everyday!
