About Us


Apply Now

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
Previous
Next

Ready for your family to join our family?


Apply Now