Educating Children Twelve Months through Kindergarten

Telephone:

901 754 3607

2404 Kirby Road, Memphis, TN 38119

Get to know us!

The mission of Emmanuel United Methodist Kindergarten is to provide children with a nurturing learning environment that encourages social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and cognitive development.

Our Story

In the fall of 1970, Emmanuel United Methodist Church opened its doors to young children through Emmanuel United Methodist Kindergarten. Nelie Waller founded the early childhood program which began with one class of four year olds and one class of kindergarteners. In 1988, EUMK received accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

EUMK has grown to a school of 30 teachers and nearly 200 students in age groupings from Toddlers to Senior Kindergarteners. The teachers and staff strive to encourage the development of the whole child while helping students to develop a positive attitude toward learning.


At EUMK we believe in a developmentally appropriate curriculum where learning takes place through active exploration and play. Emmanuel has continually received re-accreditation from NAEYC and is proud to follow the NAEYC guidelines. EUMK is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Education.

OUR CORE

VALUES

1.

Learning

Children learn by doing. 

2.

Development

Teachers accept each child where he or she is and adjust the program to the developmental needs and levels of each child.

3.

Relationships

Teachers and parents work in partnership for the benefit of the child.

OUR 

CURRICULUM

Our curriculum is built on 6 fundamental ideas. Each idea is unique and offers a different perspective on learning. 

 

  • to have children learn everyday phenomena in firsthand sensory ways

  • to have the child question thoughtfully and think for him/herself

  • to help children enjoy the satisfaction of solving problems and learning skills

  • to allow children to express their feelings and sense of self through dramatic play, dance, art, and literature

  • to help children begin to symbolize ideas with pictures and signs, as well as spoken words 

  • we want children to have fun as they play, since play is a young child's natural way of working

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OUR STAFF

Maribeth Jeffreys

Director

Maribeth Jeffreys is delighted to be joining EUMK as School Director. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from Mississippi State University. 

Maribeth is entering her 10th year in Education. She previously taught third grade and Kindergarten at Tara Oaks Elementary in Collierville. 

Rena Hiatt

Assistant Director

Rena Hiatt has 25 plus years experience as a classroom teacher and administrator at EUMK. Rena joined the office staff as the Student Relations and Enrollment Coordinator in May 2016. She was promoted to Assistant Director in September 2019.

Liz Taylor

Staff Relations Coordinator

Liz Taylor has 12 years experience as a classroom teacher at EUMK. Liz joined the office staff in the fall of 2016 as the School Staff Coordinator.

Ann Heuberger

Office Administrator

Ann Heuberger has worked at EUMK for over 15 years . She has taught in the classroom and most recently provides office support to the EUMK Administrative team. Ann has a BBA in Finance from the University of Memphis. She is a proud parent of a former EUMK student.

 

Kindergarten...

Jean Wyatt & Beth Hogue

Kindergarten Teachers

Jean Wyatt has 30 plus years of teaching experience with Shelby County School system. She earned a BS in Elementary Education with a Kindergarten Endorsement from the University of Memphis.


Beth Hogue has 36 years teaching experience and has been employed at EUMK since 1988. Beth has a BS in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Kindergarten from Lambuth University.


Fours...

CiCi Fay & Pam Dickey 

TWTH

CiCi Fay has taught at EUMK since 1993 after many years teaching Kindergarten through third grade in the public schools. She earned a BS in Education from the University of Arkansas.

 

Pam Dickey has been employed at EUMK since 1993. She earned a BA from the University of Mississippi. 

Jocelyn Scott, Char Ulander, & Lynn Sutch

M-F

Jocelyn Scott has over 20 years of teaching experience. She has a BS in Early Childhood Education from the University of Memphis. She has been employed at EUMK since 2006.

 

Char Ulander has over 30 years of teaching experience and has taught at EUMK since 1999. She earned a BS in Elementary Education from Memphis State University. 

 

Lynn Sutch has over 18 years of teaching expereince and has aught at EUMK since 2004. She has a Masters in Teaching Early Childhood Education from the University of Memphis. 

Threes...

Ann Kelley

& Clara Gwen Waller

TTH

Ann Kelley has six years experience as a classroom teacher. She has a BA from Bowling Green State University. 

 

Clara Gwen has 25 years as a classroom teacher. She has a BA in Elementary Education from the University of MS. She has her MSW in Children and Families from University of Tennessee. 

 

Ragan Martin

& Kelly Klinke

TWTH

Ragan has a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of TN and has been teaching for 10 plus years. Ragan joined the EUMK family in 2018 and will be a wonderful addition to our K3 program.

 

Kelly Klinke is so happy to have joined the EUMK family. Both of her sons were once students at EUMK. She earned a BS in English and French from Vanderbilt and a Master of Arts from the University of Memphis. She has sixteen plus years of teaching experience. 

Twos...

Joe Hensley & Dixie Weimer

MWF

Joe Hensley has 40 plus years teaching experience as a classroom teacher.  She is excited to be teaching at EUMK.  She has a B.S. in Elementary Education and Early Childhood.

 

Dixie Weimar has an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and a Masters from the University of Memphis. She was an elementary school counselor before becoming a teacher at EUMK. Dixie has been part of the EUMK family for 15 years. 

Coco Miller &  Meghan Ewing

TTH

Coco Miller has an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from David Lipscomb University and a Masters in School Counseling from the University of Memphis. She taught first grade for five years and was an Elementary Guidance Counselor for four years in Shelby County Schools. She has been teaching  at EUMK since 2016.

 

Meghan Ewing has a Masters in Education and has been an elementary teacher since 2007.  She previously taught music at EUMK for three years.

Lea Nowak & Wendy Jenkins

TWTH

Lea Nowak has a BS in Elementary Education from Illinois State University and a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University. She has over 10 years of elementary and preschool teaching experience. 

 

Wendy Jenkins has a B.A. and a M.S. in Psychology and a M.Ed. in elementary education. She has been teaching preschool and elementary school for more than 11 years. Wendy started teaching at EUMK in 2017.

Toddlers...

Jocelyn Scott & Carey Still 

MWF

Jocelyn Scott has over 20 years of teaching experience. She has a BS in Early Childhood Education from the University of Memphis. She has been employed at EUMK since 2006.

 

Carey Still has a BA in Elementary Education form the University of Mississippi. Carey has six years experience as a first grade teacher and taught for an elementary age homeschool group for three years. She has been a substitute teacher and parent at EUMK. Carey has been a teacher in the toddler room since 2015.

Lisa Spiotta & Shannon Pressler

TTH

Lisa Spiotta has a BA from University of Memphis and an Art Degree from Grad School in Atlanta, GA. This is her fifth year working with toddlers.

 

Shannon Pressler has a BA in Music Education from the University of Memphis and has taught at EUMK on and off for 10 years. 

Kathy Matney & Ramona Sanders

M-F

Kathy Matney has a BBA in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is retired from Stephens Inc and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. She has 6 years experience teaching toddlers, substitute teaching in a charter school, and working in a church nursery.  

 

Ramona Sanders has a BSE and M.Ed in Elementary Education from Delta State University. She has 21 years of teaching experience. She taught Elementary and Middle School for 10 years for Shelby County Schools and 2 years in Desoto County. She has 9 years teaching experience at EUMK in K1, K2, and K3.

Alicia Miller & Heather Gaven

MWF / TTH

Alicia Miller has a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Memphis.  She has three years of teaching experience as a first grade teacher and two years of teaching at another preschool.  This is her fourth year at EUMK.

 

Heather Gavin has a Bachelor Degree in Professional Studies from the University of Memphis. She has been a substitute teacher and parent at EUMK. She is now teaching in the toddler room.

Music

Kim Williams

M-F

Kim Williams is a Memphis native and has been a member of Emmanuel UMC for 41 years.  She has a BS in Chemistry and a BS in Medical Technology but has many years of experience leading children in music through accompanying and directing children’s choirs, VBS music, and music during Music, Art, and Drama camps (MAD Camp) at Emmanuel.  She and her husband, Darren, have 2 grown sons, 2 sweet Doodle pups, and 1 orange tabby cat.  She loves children and all things music and is really excited to be a part of the EUMK staff and family!

Spanish

Ashley Pera

TTH

Ashley Pera has a Masters in Education and brings over 15 years of teaching experience. Ashley has been at Emmanuel for 12 years as a parent, sub and/or teacher.


After Care

After Care Director

PARENT COUNCIL

The Parent Council is made up of approximately 16-20 EUMK parents who work together to support EUMK and to coordinate certain volunteer opportunities, fellowship events, and fund raising activities. The group consists of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary as well as other members who are dedicated to the students, the families and the staff of EUMK.

PARENT COUNCIL MISSION STATEMENT

The EUMK Parent Council is committed to encouraging involvement of parents, teachers, and staff to provide a high quality, creative, and secure learning environment where our children can grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.


To accomplish this mission the Parent Council will:


1. Act as a liaison between parents, teachers, and staff

2. Promote family unity and development

3. Support faculty, staff, and families

4. Initiate and execute fundraising activities for the school

Click HERE to email the Parent Council to learn more about current opportunities and get involved!




PARENT COUNCIL ACTIVITIES

FAMILY FOOD TRUCK PARTIES

a night of fun and fellowship for students and families


FALL FUNDRAISER

major fundraiser for the year which is usually held in October/November


FALL AND SPRING CHARITY PROJECTS

recent projects supported Perea Preschool, Lester Elementary School, Jacob's Ladder and The Child Advocacy Center

BOOK FAIR

a fun week to support EUMK while shopping 

TEACHER APPRECIATION EVENTS

a variety of activities to honor the EUMK staff, including lunches throughout the year, Silent Auction and Parent Party, an end of the year dinner, and Teacher Appreciation Week in the spring

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