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 lifetime 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
Join Hands Up!
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: