PRESCHOOL TEACHERS

Cheryl Peatee, Director

Education:

Master of Education in Teaching and Curriculum, Lourdes University 2012, Bachelor of Education, Lourdes University 1992, Associate degree Education, Lourdes University

Experience:

Miss Cheryl has over 30 years’ experience in the Early Childhood Education field. She has worked with infants through school aged children in the preschool setting and had a family childcare center in her home when her own children were young. She helped the parish create and start the preschool program here at Saint Joseph 19 years ago and is excited to share her love of teaching in a Catholic school!

More about me:

I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Tim for 34 years. We have been blessed with two children. Our daughter Sami is an Early Intervention specialist and works with preschool children in a school setting. Our son Andrew (SJPS alum) is a school based Occupational Therapist. As a family we love spending time together and especially enjoy camping and kayaking!

Julie Hite, Fantastic Fish/Full-day Teacher

Education:

Associate degree, Monroe Community College

Experience:

Miss Julie has over 30 years of experience in Preschool. She has been at Saint Joseph Preschool for 15 years. She has always taught in a Catholic school setting and enjoys being able to teach about God daily.

More about me:

I love teaching at Saint Joseph and watching children learn and discover the world around them! I am married to my wonderful husband Floyd, and we have 2 daughters - Lauren and Anna. I enjoy cooking, baking, reading a good book and spending time with family.

Jessie Rand, Morning Preschool Teacher

Education:

AAS with Occupational Therapy Assistant, Owens Community College

Obtaining Early Childhood Education degree through Owens Community College/ University of Toledo

Experience:

Prior to SJPS, I taught at a childcare setting for 5.5 years. I taught preschool ages 3-4 for 3 years and the remaining 2 years as a float teacher, working with children ages 2-5 in different classrooms

More about me:

I have been married to my husband, Jerry, for 5 years coming up in October! We have a beautiful daughter named Sydney, who just turned one along with our fur baby Rosie, a Rottie Doodle. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading and traveling.

Amelia Gurzynski, Beautiful Buterflies/Full-day Teacher

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in child and Family Community Services from Bowling Green State University

Experience:

Former Owner and Lead Teacher for over seven years. Parishioner at St. Joe’s Sylvania, Volunteer for First Communion Classes

More about me:

I have been married to my husband, Jeff, for 16 years. We have 12-year-old triplets, Molly, Landon and Maggie. I enjoy watching my children play sports, running, camping, and reading. I’m excited to start my journey with Saint Joseph Parish Preschool!

Dana Poturalski, Morning Preschool Teacher

Education:

Associate Degree, Owens Community College

Experience:

Prior to SJPPS I taught the 3-year-old program at Community Christian Preschool in Lambertville MI for 4 years. Volunteered most of my days at Monroe Road Elementary, and a grade school cheer coach for 15+ years.

More about me:

My husband and I have been married for 21 years and have 3 kiddos. We recently moved from Lambertville, Mi to Sylvania, OH. My oldest Brodie (15) is a freshman at St. Francis de Sales, Libbie (13) is in 7th grade here at SJPS, and Aynslie (9) is in 4th grade also here at SJPS. We live a crazy busy, fun filled life. Brodie plays soccer for St. Francis and Pacesetter. Libbie plays Sylvania United soccer, futsal, SPJS basketball, lacrosse and races quads (4-wheel ATV’s). Aynslie plays Pacesetter soccer, futsal, SJPS cross country and does western style horseback riding. As a family we enjoy traveling, spending time at our cabin, trail riding our side by side, quads and dirt bikes, canoeing, snow skiing and spending time with our family and friends.

Cheryl Peatee, Director

Education:

Master of Education in Teaching and Curriculum, Lourdes University 2012, Bachelor of Education, Lourdes University 1992, Associate degree Education, Lourdes University

Experience:

Miss Cheryl has over 30 years’ experience in the Early Childhood Education field. She has worked with infants through school aged children in the preschool setting and had a family childcare center in her home when her own children were young. She helped the parish create and start the preschool program here at Saint Joseph 19 years ago and is excited to share her love of teaching in a Catholic school!

More about me:

I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Tim for 34 years. We have been blessed with two children. Our daughter Sami is an Early Intervention specialist and works with preschool children in a school setting. Our son Andrew (SJPS alum) is a school based Occupational Therapist. As a family we love spending time together and especially enjoy camping and kayaking!

Leslie Grega, Assistant Bighearted Bears

Education:

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from The University of Toledo Magna, Associate Degree in Applied Business/ Legal Assisting Technology from The University of Toledo Magna

Experience:

This is my third year as an Assistant in the Big-Hearted Bear classroom, and I also help assist in the Full Day Program. I have previously worked as a Teacher’s Assistant for SJPS in the 5th grade as well as an Extended Day Teacher for Kindergarten & 1st grades. I enjoy working with young children where I can be an example of showing kindness in a faith- based school curriculum while helping foster children’s individual personality traits.

More about me:

I’m a proud mom of two Daughters Alyssa & Hayleigh who are Alumni of SJPS. Alyssa received her BSN in Nursing from Lourdes University and is currently employed with ProMedica. Hayleigh is currently a senior at Lourdes University majoring in Psychology and on her way to clinical counseling specializing in children & adolescents. We recently adopted two rescue puppies Bruno & Santina who keep us smiling and very active. We also love traveling to Clearwater Beach Florida every spring & visiting Frankenmuth, Michigan in the fall. You can also find us having fun at the various Arts & Crafts festivals.

Sam Thompson, Assistant Fantastic Fish

Experience:

Second year as a teacher assistant. I have many years of childcare experience in a home setting

More about me:

I have been married to my husband Scott for 12 years. We have three children; our oldest daughter Ellianna is in her sophomore year of college at Michigan State University where she is studying Early Childhood Education. Our two youngest children Lennox and Levi are fraternal twins who are in first grade at SJPS! I enjoy watching them play their favorite sports…. hockey, soccer, golf, dance and t-ball. I also enjoy traveling with my family and crafting as much as I can.

Kylie Smith, Assistant Marvelous Monkeys

Education:

University of Toledo Bachelor’s in Education

Experience:

Miss Kylie is in her third year assisting in the Preschool at SJPS. She is especially familiar with SJPS as she attended school here from Kindergarten through 8th grade.

More about me:

Kyling married her high school sweetheart, Carter Smith, who is also a SJPS alumni, in July of 2024. A fun fact about Kylie is that she loves Christmas!

Nicole Duran, Assistant Beautiful Butterflies

Education:

University of Toledo Bachelor’s in Early Childhood and Master's from Lourdes in Reading Development

Experience:

Miss Nicole started her love or education at Northview in their Early Childhood Development program. She then worked at KinderCare Learning Center all throughout college and was a nanny in England in the summer of 2003. She has been at Saint Joseph Preschool since the fall of 2018.

More about me:

Miss Nicole and her husband Marty have four kids, Lily, Grace, Gabe, and Ellie. They also have quite a few pet children too: dog (Cooper), cats (Ginny and Luke), two fish, and a leopard gecko. Miss Nicole enjoys reading, cheering on his kids at all of their sporting events, and goes to Cedar Point as often as she can! She is also a Girls on the Run Coach and a Girl Scout Leader!

SAINT JOSEPH PARISH SCHOOL

SAINT JOSEPH PARISH SCHOOL

SJPS PreSchool Teachers

FOLLOW US