Familiar Faces
Lucy Grovenstein
A native of Cedartown, Georgia, Lucy Grovenstein graduated from LaGrange College with a degree in Education and has lived here since that time. Her 37 years of teaching experience include work in public and private schools - with the greater part of that time being spent with the former St Mark's Kindergarten. Lucy's life centers around her family, including her husband Chuck, who also enjoyed a long career in education. She delights in the talents and successes of sons Paul and Gordon, daughter-in-law Christina, and two spectacular granddaughters.
Lucy treasurers opportunities of learning, growing, developing and becoming. She is excited to take part in this new adventure and to be a founding teacher of Little Lions Preschool.
L-R: Kristin Ricks, Cathy Whipple, Amber Spears, Meg McLeod, Anna Bright, Lucy Grovenstein
Not pictured BJ Wright
Anna Bright
LaGrange native Anna Bright is a graduate of Troup High School and Auburn University. She is married and has two children.
After Anna and her family moved home to LaGrange in 2013, she began teaching. She taught Toddlers, 3 year olds, Movement and Spanish at the former St. Mark's Kindergarten where she also served as the Teacher Representative on the SMK Kindergarten Board for many years.
As one of the founding teachers of Little Lions Preschool, Anna is eager to continue teaching and helping foster a love of learning in young children throughout our community.
Her husband is also a founding member of the Little Lions Preschool Board of Directors.
Meg McLeod
Meg McLeod is a LaGrange native. She graduated from LaGrange Academy and the Savannah College of Art and Design in Historic Preservation. During college Meg gave carriage tours and drove a team of percheron draft horses throughout Savannah's Historic District. Upon graduation, she recruited for SCAD as an Admissions Representative.
Meg married Charles McLeod and they have three boys. When the boys started the former St. Mark's Kindergarten, she enjoyed being a parent volunteer, a sub, a member of the Parent Council, and eventually became an assistant teacher in the Toddlers & 2's. After her youngest son was born Meg was assistant teacher in the 3 year old class for 2 years and lead teacher for 3 years.
Meg loves being a part of early childhood education and has a passion for enriching little ones minds through Bible stories, books, art and play. These experiences have driven her to be one of the founding teachers of Little Lions Preschool.
Kristin Ricks
Kristin Ricks is a LaGrange native. She graduated from LaGrange High School and Georgia College & State University. After living in Macon, Georgia, Kristin moved back to LaGrange in 2016 with her family.
At the former St. Mark's Kindergarten, she was the lead teacher for the Toddlers class and the 2 year olds. She was also the Parent Representative for the Kindergarten Board and eventually the Teacher Representative for the Board. Kristin has a passion for being in the classroom and encouraging young children to grow and learn in a loving, Christian environment. She is honored to be one of the founders of Little Lions Preschool and will proudly serve as the Teacher Representative on Little Lions Board of Directors.
Amber Spears
Lifelong LaGrange native Amber Spears is married and has 4 children. She graduated from LaGrange High School and studied Early Childhood Education at Southern Union.
Amber taught Toddlers and 2 Year Olds at First Baptist Christian Preschool and 3 Year Olds at the former St.Mark's Preschool. She has also been a substitute teacher for the Troup County School System in all levels of education.
Amber loves teaching young children and seeing them be excited about learning. She is thrilled to be a founding teacher of Little Lions Preschool and looks forward to carrying on the traditions of the former St. Mark's Kindergarten with some of the best teachers around.
Cathy Whipple
Cathy Whipple is a LaGrange native and has lived in LaGrange with her family since 1990. She attended Auburn University and graduated from LaGrange College where she earned a degree in Early Childhood Education. Since moving back to LaGrange she taught at the former First Methodist Preschool and former St. Mark's Kindergarten for a combined 18 years. Cathy is one of the founding teachers of Little Lions Preschool. She feels blessed that she gets to love on children each day and have the opportunity to see the excitement on their faces as they discover new things.
BJ Wright
BJ Wright is married to Charlie Wright and is a mother of two boys. She is a lifelong resident of LaGrange and graduated from Troup High School and LaGrange College.
BJ worked as an assistant teacher in the 4 year old class at the former St. Mark's Kindergarten for 9 years. She has always been loved by the children in her classes and her co-workers. BJ is so proud to be a founding teacher of Little Lions Preschool and she is excited to help continue the great traditions, she knows so well, of our former preschool program.
Little Lions Preschool hires without regard to race, gender, religion, or national origin.