About Us
Hands Up! is a 2-year preschool program for 2 1/2 – 4 year olds that incorporates hands-on learning and encourages critical thinking and conflict resolution skills.
Mission
Partnering with parents for a
of learning.
History
Hands Up! Preschool opened as a Kindergarten-Readiness Pre-School program in the Fall of 2012. As an independent non-profit preschool, we educate the under-served population and are modeled after Perea Preschool in Memphis. We offer a 2-year preschool program that uses the High Scope Curriculum, which incorporates active, hands on learning, critical thinking, conflict resolution skills in a positive, choice-based environment.
Today, we have grown to serve over countless students – partnering with their families to prepare them for Kindergarten and beyond.
Hands Up! Preschool Staff
Tara Isbell
3 Year Old Teacher
Education: BS Early Childhood Education – Ashford University
Time at Hands Up:
4 years
Favorite thing about Hands Up!:
I get interact with all the children, not just my class.
Words to describe you:
1. quiet
2. fun
3. genuine
Julia Vasquez
Floater
Education: Passaic High School (New Jersey)
Time at Hands Up:
3 months
Favorite thing about Hands Up!:
The people are friendly and fun to work with.
Words to describe you:
1. happy
2. friendly
3. hardworking
Twila Ross
3 Year Old Assistant
Education: MBA – Bethel University
Time at Hands Up:
4 years
Favorite thing about Hands Up!:
I love the atmosphere. My own boys were here & I have loved being at Hands Up!
Words to describe you:
1. kind
2. loving
3. Christian
Renee Marshall
4 Year Old Assistant
Education: BBA – Lane University
Time at Hands Up:
7 years
Favorite thing about Hands Up!:
There is a genuine spirit of cooperation & shared goals around helping our children be strong and well rounded.
Words to describe you:
1. team player
2. resourceful
3. respectful
Blanca Mireles
Floater
Education: A.A. History – Jackson State
Time at Hands Up:
1 year
Favorite thing about Hands Up!:
Everybody is like family, including staff. It has been amazing watching our friends grow & be successful.
Words to describe you:
1. kind
2. caring
3. enthusiastic
Karen Martinez
3 Year Old Teacher
Education: BS – University of Memphis
Time at Hands Up:
4 years
Favorite thing about Hands Up!:
When the children are happy to come to school, understand what is taught, and the light in their eyes.
Words to describe you:
1. happy
2. energetic
3. committed
Nya Grice
School Age Floater
Education: Fairfield High School, Butler Tech. Vocational
Time at Hands Up:
1 year
Favorite thing about Hands Up!:
Coming in to all the smiling faces.
Words to describe you:
1. outgoing
2. supportive
3. generous
Hilary Jones
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
Education: B.S.Ed. Human Development & Learning – University of Memphis
Time at Hands Up:
7 years
Favorite thing about Hands Up!:
I love having conversations with “the friends”. You never know where they will go!
Words to describe you:
1. organized
2. creative
3. dedicated
Travia Cotton
4 Year Old Teacher
Education:Master’s Early Childhood Education – North Central University
Time at Hands Up:
7 years
Favorite thing about Hands Up!:
Seeing all the friends and watching them grow in everything that they do.
Words to describe you:
1. silly
2. dedicated
3. creative
Megan Dennison
Floater
Education: Edge Graduate – Union University
Time at Hands Up:
1 year
Favorite thing about Hands Up!:
I like working with the children.
Words to describe you:
1. outgoing
2. hardworking
3. reliable
Deb Heard
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Education: Doctoral Candidate – Miami University
Time at Hands Up:
1 year
Favorite thing about Hands Up!:
I am blessed to work with families dedicated to contributing to their children’s futures through volunteerism & commitment to their own personal growth.
Words to describe you:
1. good
2. fair
3. honest
Want to Join the Hands Up! Team?
We are always looking for highly qualified teachers to join our staff!
Join Hands Up!
If you are interested in becoming a teacher at Hands Up! Preschool, apply below.
Apply Here
Our Board
- Landon Preston, Chair
- Art Woods, Vice Chair
- Jack Matthis, Treasurer
- Jasmine Pearman
- Paul Taylor
- Shelby Matthis
- Michele Atkins
- Cell Waller
- Marda Wallace
- Deb Heard, Executive Director
Our Supporters
We could not operate without the assistance of our supporters. Thank you to our supporters for their continued financial support of HandsUp! Preschool:
ATA CPAs
Gary A. Taylor Investment Company
West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation
Bank of Jackson
Landon Preston
Art Woods
Jack Matthis
Jasmine Pearman
Paul Taylor
Shelby Matthis
Michele Atkins
Cell Waller
Marda Wallace
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