Meet the Staff


Pam Sward

Director
Lead Teacher: 3s and 4s
Pam was raised in Michigan where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Michigan State University and completed her student teaching in a kindergarten classroom. Her work experience boasts four years as a teacher’s assistant at a Montessori preschool as well as substitute teaching for grades K-8. She has been a teacher at Hilltop since 2000 and became Director in 2006. As a parent, she served on the preschool board of directors for five years. Pam is also the Sunday School Coordinator for preschool age children at Zion Lutheran Church.

April Alexopoulos

Administrative Assistant
April is a native of Michigan and has a varied background in education and work experience which brings a unique perspective to the preschool. She received her Associated of Arts degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco. She spent eight years in Athens, Greece teaching English as a Second Language both in a private school and one-on-one tutoring. She served as a board member for three years as a parent of Hilltop students. April teaches Sunday school to preschoolers at Zion.

Diane Rice

Lead Teacher: Young 5s
Diane Rice was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and teaching credentials at Ottawa University in Arizona. Diane taught at a private Montessori elementary school in Mesa, Arizona for seven years and was a preschool director at a Lutheran preschool in Scottsdale, Arizona for five years. She is happy to be in Kalamazoo where she is also the Sunday school coordinator at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and the Christian Education Director at Schoolcraft United Methodist Church.

Courtney Markham

Lead Teacher: 3s and 4s
Under Construction

Jenny Johnson

Lead Teacher: Wraparound
Jenny Johnson was born and raised in the small town of Manistee, Michigan. She came to the Kalamazoo area several years ago to pursue her education at Western Michigan University. There, she had extensive experience and training working with children in not only a preschool setting, but also at the first and third grade level. With the recent completion of her teaching degree and Early Childhood Endorsement, Jenny is excited to begin her teaching career at Hilltop Preschool.

Stephanie Pratt

Lead Teacher: Wraparound
Stephanie born and raised in Lansing, Michigan. She came to Kalamazoo to attend Western Michigan University in the fall of 2004 where she received her Bachelor Degree in and Early Childhood Endorsement. While attending WMU Stephanie had the opportunity to work not only in preschool setting, but also at the Kindergarten and Second grade levels. Stephanie is very excited to start her teaching career at Hilltop Preschool.

Renee Marshall

Teacher Aide
Renee was born and raised in Ohio and served four years in the US Army as a Military Police Officer. She received her Bachelor of Criminal Justice majoring in forensic Psychology from Tiffin University. She worked in Children Services as Child Investigator before becoming a Teacher Assistant for 3s and 4s at a Christian preschool. Renee was a member of the National Association of Young Children (NAEYC) and has volunteered her time at St John’s Lutheran Church’s vacation Bible school.

Robin Olson

Teacher Aide
Robin grew up in the Kalamazoo area. She is a graduate of Kalamazoo Christian High School and attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She was in charge of her church nursery program for two years and taught Sunday school for three and four year olds. She gained a lot of experience in Early Childhood Development while working as a paraprofessional for five years in the Grand Ledge Public Schools. She has training working with children with many different types of disabilities. Robin believes that working with younger children is where God wants her to be. She feels each child is a special gift and is blessed to be working with them.