Faculty

Melissa Mitchell Jordan
Program Director and Teacher
 
I joined RPCNS in the spring of 1994, when my son, Tommy, joined Mrs. Kennedy's Twos class and my daughter, Katherine, was in the Sibling Nursery. Both my children graduated from RPCNS, and I have many fond memories of their time here. As a parent here I held several positions including Educational Services Coordinator, Class Rep., Sibling Nursery Coordinator and my husband was the assistant Treasurer the year Katherine was in the Fours. In the spring of 1996 the Board decided to expand, and Gail Boyle, the former director, asked if I would be willing to get my 90-Hour certificate in Early Childhood Education. I did, through MCCA, and started teaching here in Sept. 1996; Katherine was in the Threes. Three years later, when Gail Boyle resigned, the Board asked me to consider becoming director, I did accept. I have been director since September 1999. I have taught Twos, Threes, and Fours - this year I'm teaching the Fours again! 

I attended Maryville College in Tennessee my freshman and sophomore years, then transferred to S.U.N.Y. at Albany, graduating in 1976 with a B.A. in European History. Threes years later I entered Colgate University's M.A.T. program in social studies, completing 90% of the program. I taught 7th grade social studies for Greenwich Connecticut Public Schools for five years before moving to Washington, DC and marrying my husband. Having children and enrolling them in RPCNS opened a whole new world to me. Working here has allowed me to combine my hobbies of music, photography, art and gardening with my professional training as a teacher. I love the children, tempera paint, glue and glitter. It's been a real privilege to work with and get to know so many wonderful parents.

Melissa Banks
3s and 2s Teacher

Hi, I am excited to be teaching at RPCNS for my second year.  I will be teaching the 2’s and 3’s class this year.  I have a degree in Architecture and am certified in Early Childhood Education.  I have been working with children for the past 14 years.  Before becoming a preschool, I was a Funfit instructor, teaching fitness to young children.  I also worked for Metropolitan Center for Assault Prevention, where I ran workshops for preschool and elementary age children on bullying, strangers and “unsafe touch”.  Over the years I have volunteered for MCPS, Children’s Hospital and Habitat for Humanity.

My favorite color is blue.  I enjoy being outside.  Ice cream is by far my favorite pleasure food; any combination of coffee ice cream makes me smile.  I enjoy watching and playing all sports.  One of my favorite things to do in the afternoon is watch my 17-year-old son, Bobby, play sports. 

I have been a single mom for 14 years.  Along with my son, who will be a junior in high school, I have two daughters.  My oldest daughter, Kate recently graduated from SMU in Dallas with a major in English and now lives in Austin, TX.  My other daughter, Cassie, is entering her junior year at College of Charleston, majoring in corporate communication. 

In 2004 I started attending meditation classes with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, where I served as Board president for two years.  Currently, I serve on the Board of Directors of Inward Bound Mindfulness Education.  Meditation and mindfulness have become an essential part of my life. 

I truly enjoy being a preschool teacher.  Everyday when I leave school I have a smile on my face and joy in my heart.  I look forward to getting to know you and your children.

Stacy Miller Field
3s Teacher

Hi, my name is Stacy Field.  This will be my third year as a teacher and parent at RPCNS.  I’m very excited to teach one of the 3’s classes.  I have taught first grade for MCPS for eight years, and prior to that I was a long-term substitute teacher for Headstart and Kindergarten.  I went to Frostburg State University and earned my bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.  I earned my Master’s in Reading from Hood College.

I live in Rockville with my husband Andrew, my daughter Emily (who will be in Mrs. Jordan s’ 4’s class), and our very friendly cat Cypher.

My favorite color is green.  My favorite season is fall, because I love seeing all the leaves turn different colors and attending all the different fall festivals.  Aside from teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and enjoy cooking and baking, especially cookies.  During the summer, I enjoy going to Ocean City, Deep Creek Lake, and Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, PA.  I am looking forward to working with my 3’s class and their parents!

Heather Miller
2s Teacher

My name is Heather Miller and I teach one of the 2's classes. This is my third year teaching at RPCNS, but I have been part of the community since January 2006. I was so lucky to happen upon RPCNS when we moved to the area from Birmingham, Alabama. My daughter, Emma, joined the 3's class and was happy to "go to school and have friends her own age." For me, RPCNS was more than a place for Emma to go to school. It was a place for me to meet some moms and have a place to belong as we were adjusting to the move. Emma graduated from RPCNS in June 2008. I also have 2 other daughters, Hanna(12) and Katie Grace(2). I'm so glad to be part of this wonderful preschool again this year.

My background is actually as a licensed speech-language pathologist. I have a bachelor's degree from Auburn University in Speech Pathology and a master's degree from University of Montevallo in Communication Disorders. I taught in one of the Birmingham area school systems for 15 years. The majority of my professional experience is with preschool-age children where I provided speech and language therapy to a wide range of children with disabilities. I also co-taught in a preschool classroom for children with special needs.

I'm excited to be working with your children and I look forward to a great school year!

Kim Varner
2s Teacher

I am thrilled to be teaching a twos class at RPCNS this year! I first came to RPCNS in the fall of 2009 when my daughter, Lizzie, was in the fours class and my youngest son, Brad, was in the sibling nursery. We were new to the area, so RPCNS became the place where my children and I found friends, learned about the area, and felt like we belonged.  This year Brad is in Mrs. Jordan's fours class, Lizzie has moved on to the first grade, and my oldest son, Nathan, is in the third grade.

I have a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and I've completed graduate work in Family Studies, including courses in child development, parent education, and family diversity. I also recently earned my Early Childhood certification.

My first career was in advertising, but after being involved in a parent education program in Minnesota, I discovered that my true passion is working with young children and their families. When my own kids were young, I ran a support group for stay-home moms, took graduate courses in Family Studies, and volunteered in various elementary schools and preschools. I even had the opportunity to homeschool one of my kids through kindergarten and one through a threes program. After two years of co-oping here at RPCNS, I decided to get my early childhood certification so that I could be a preschool teacher. What other profession allows you to sing, paint, glue, and be silly all day long? I'm so lucky!

My favorite color is blue. My favorite season is fall because I love apple picking, pumpkin picking, and cooler weather. I also enjoy traveling with my husband, swimming, reading, knitting, sewing, and doing crafts with my kids.

Thank you for sharing your children with me. I'm excited to be part of their first school experience. I know we're going to have a fantastic year! 

Katy Karis
Music Teacher & Japanese Language Enrichment Volunteer

I graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1995 with a degree in Government and Japanese studies.  I received the Monbusho Scholarship from the Japanese Government to study abroad for one year at Kanazawa University in Kanazawa, Japan.  For the last two years I have been the volunteer Japanese language enrichment teacher for RPCNS, where my younger son, Justin, is currently enrolled in the Fours.  I have just completed my training as a Music Together instructor.  Music has always been an important part of my life both at home and at school.  At William and Mary I performed with the Christopher Wren Singers, a co-ed student run a cappella group on campus, and was active in the high school and church choirs growing up.

I am the mother of two sons, and as such am currently very active with the Cub Scouts, through my older son.  I’m currently the Cubmaster of Pack 210 of North Potomac, responsible for planning and leading meetings and activities for over 50 elementary school aged boys and their families.  I am also the den leader for the third grade Bear Den in which my older son, William, is a member. 

Prior to becoming the music teacher for RPCNS I held several different positions working with children, including teaching music for Fairfax United Methodist Preschool, coaching swimming and working with the Fairfax Government Childcare Center.  I really have enjoyed using music to teach Japanese at RPCNS and am having even more fun with the children using music to learn stories, develop gross and fine motor skills, have fun and most importantly to spark a lifetime appreciation and love of music.

Karen Woolery
Admissions Director

I first became a parent member of RPCNS in September, 2007 when my son, Ryan, joined the Threes class.  My daughter, Cordelia graduated last year and my daughter Fiona will be starting in the Threes this Fall.  I served as a Class Representative before serving as a Board Co-Chair in 2008.  I was hired as Admissions Director in the summer of 2010.  The same year I also started teaching American Sign Language to the Twos.

In my previous life, before kids, I worked in the Theatre, acting (a little) and Stage Managing (a lot).  I’ve also worked in the service industry and held an assistant management position at Sur la Table.  I have an A.A.S. in American Sign Language from Montgomery College and studied Theatre Arts at Rutgers University.  I love working at RPCNS.  I get to spend the day with my youngest child while doing a job that allows me to spend time with other parents and make a difference in the school.  I can’t think of a better place to be.