HPS Teaching team — 2024-2025
Each of our classrooms has a lead teacher working alongside an assistant teacher to foster age and developmentally appropriate learning environments and experiences for the children.
Caterpillar Blue
Ms. Latasha Johnson
Lead Teacher
Latasha Johnson holds a RBT (Registered Behavioral Technician) Certification and an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Northern Virginia Community College. She has several years of experience working with 2-3-year-olds. Latasha's student interactions highlight her passion for providing young learners the opportunity to build confidence and develop pertinent problem-solving skills.
Ms. Brenda Cowles
Brenda holds a Child Development Associate Credential with an endorsement in preschool education. Brenda's flexibility and warm energy is greatly appreciated by children, families, and staff alike.
She is affectionately known to many of the children as the "friendly playground monster", where she plays games of chase with all of the classes.
Caterpillar Purple
Ms. Danielle Eldridge
Caterpillar Teacher
Ms. Danielle holds a Bachelor's in Human Ecology with a concentration in Child Development from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She has worked with young children from toddlers through pre-k and especially loves the energy and curiosity of two- and three-year-olds.
Danielle is described as someone who thinks outside of the box and is always committed to learning something new in the field. She is respected among her colleagues for her nurturing personality, dedication to students and families, and enthusiasm for teaching young children
Ms. Nisha Murphy
Nisha holds a Child Development Associate Credential with an endorsement in preschool education. She has worked with two and three-year-olds for the past seven years. Ms. Nisha loves engaging young children in socio-dramatic play and encouraging their creativity and imagination.
She is known throughout the school for her quiet and calm demeanor and her endless patience.
Bumblebees
Ms. Ceaira Richardson
Bumblebee Lead Teacher
Three-Year-Old Age-Level Coordinator
Ceaira Richardson holds a Bachelor's Degree from Walden University in Early Childhood Education. She has worked with all of the preschool age groups from 2-year-olds to kindergarteners!
Ceaira works diligently to ensure literacy skills are implemented in her daily lessons, and feels an overwhelming joy when her young learners reach new developmental milestones. Ceaira affectionately refers to her Bumblebee friends collectively as the "big one's" out of respect and pride for their growing capabilities!
Across the board, Ceaira is viewed as a team player with a keen sense of humor who gets the job done!
Ms. Charlett Hodgson
Bumblebee Assistant Teacher
Ms. Charlett holds a Child Development Associate Credential with an endorsement in preschool education. She has been with HPS for over a decade. As a native of Nicaragua, Charlett brings her love of her native language and culture to the students of HPS.
She is highly energetic and thoroughly enjoys the fast paced environment of the classroom.
CUrriculum Coordinator &
Multi-age teacher
Ms. Jill Barefoot
Curriculum Coordinator &
Multi-age teacher
Jill holds a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology and Sociology from Florida International University and a Child Development Associate Credential with an endorsement in preschool education. Jill's teaching style is greatly influenced by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. She loves integrating elements of nature and real world materials into the classroom! Jill also has a passion for providing young children with opportunities to explore their creativity and uses a part of her classroom as an atelier.
As our school Curriculum Coordinator, Jill is passionate about providing resources to the teachers, creating community connections, and developing relationships with local cultural institutions and educational specialists. We are fortunate to have her in this role!