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(757) 499-7393
5181 Singleton Way | Virginia Beach, VA
Staff 2023-2024
Carla Harrison
is our Day School Director. Mrs. Harrison is very excited to be a part of the Educational Ministry Team at EEDS! A native of Norfolk, she is a graduate of Old Dominion University with a degree in Speech Communication. She came to EEDS after serving for 19 years as the Director and Pre-K four-year-old teacher at a local preschool. She is passionate that a child’s first school experience should be a positive one where the child feels loved, successful, engaged and that “school is a good place to be.”
Mrs. Harrison and her husband have two married daughters, three grandchildren, and 3 golden retriever grand-dogs. In her spare time, Mrs. Harrison enjoys gardening, traveling, cooking, and entertaining family and friends in her home. She is looking forward to partnering with you in the education of your preschooler.
Athena Lovette
is returning to EEDS for a fifth year. She has transitioned to the office this year on MWF and will assist all the teachers as a Classroom Assistant throughout the school day. On Tuesday and Thursday she will continue her work with two year old students as the Two-Year Old Lead Teacher.
Mrs. Lovette lives in Suffolk, has three teenage children and in her free time enjoys spending time with her friends, family and a good book.
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Kathy Atkinson
teaches one of our M-F Four-Year-Old classes. Mrs. Atkinson is originally from Texas and has lived in Chesapeake, VA for the last twenty-seven years. She studied at The University of Texas and Western Washington University where she received a B.A. in Elementary Education. She has completed post-graduate work in the areas of speech, language development and reading. Mrs. Atkinson has experience teaching preschool through fourth grade. Most recently, she served for 14 years as the lead three-year-old teacher at a local preschool. This is her fifth year at EEDS.
Mrs. Atkinson has been married to her husband, Gary, for 41 years. They settled in the Hampton Roads area after he retired from his career as a naval aviator. They have two married daughters and four young grand-daughters. In addition, Mrs. Atkinson is a nationally rated gymnastics judge for USA Gymnastics. When not teaching or judging gymnastics, she enjoys spending time with her family in the Catskill Mountains.
Elena Eaken
teaches one of our M-F Four-Year-Old classes. Mrs. Eaken is an Ohio native where she earned her B.A. in communications from Mount Union College. She has also studied Elementary Education at Virginia Wesleyan College where she earned her Pre-K - 6th Teaching Credentials (with a Meritorious Teacher designation) and she also taught four-year-olds at a local preschool. This is her fifth year teaching at EEDS.
Mrs. Eaken has been married to her husband, Shawn, and living in Chesapeake for 18 years. She has three children ( two boys and one girl- ages 15, 10 & 8 ), two dogs and one cat. In her free time, she serves on her local PTA board, volunteers with her children's Scout troop/pack, enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Emily Jones
is teaching the Monday, Wednesday, Friday Pre-K Class. This is her second year at EEDS. She grew up south of Baltimore and has a degree in Early Childhood Education from Salisbury University. Her professional experience includes developing and running a Preschool Program at a gymnastics studio and as a Student Teacher/Intern at Princess Anne Elementary School. Emily coached gymnastics at a local studio and worked with their pre-competitive and competitive teams. Previously, she coached gymnastics in Maryland for seven years.
She moved to Virginia four years ago to be with her now husband. Emily has come back to teaching after the birth of her daughter, who is now two years old and recently added a son to their family. She will be on maternity leave until October 16th, but will be collaborating with Mrs. Ashley Butler, a Substitute Teacher at EEDS, until she returns. She enjoys spending her time on the beach with her family and their dog.
Ashley Butler
is transitioning this year from a substitute teacher last year at EEDS to the Monday, Wednesday and Friday Pre-K class while Mrs. Jones is on maternity leave. On October 17th she will become the Tuesday/Thursday Two Year Old Lead Teacher.
Ashley also coaches gymnastics at a local gym and works with their pre-competitive and competitive team as well as a Parent and Tot Class. She has lived in Virginia Beach for the past 11 years. Married for 16 years, she is the mother of a 15 year old son and a 9 year old daughter. She enjoys spending time with her family at home and at the beach.
Kathryn Walk
is thrilled to be teaching the Monday-Friday Three-Year-Old class. She and her family relocated back to Virginia a year ago due to a military transfer and are making themselves at home in Chesapeake. This is her second year teaching at EEDS. Kathryn earned her B.A. in Psychology from Winthrop University and has loved teaching preschool for the past five years.
Kathryn has been married for 12 years and has two elementary age children and two dogs that keep her busy. She enjoys running, animals, and spending time at the beach with her family.
Cherie Zorn
is the Lead Teacher in the Monday-Friday Hybrid Three/Four Year Old Pre-K Class. She received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Indiana Wesleyan University. This is her second year teaching at EEDS. Cherie has over 18 years of experience in education and childcare. She is a Navy wife and mother of 4. In her spare time she enjoys hiking and camping with her family.
Kristen Blake
served EEDS as a Substitute Teacher two years ago and returned last year as the Monday, Wednesday, Friday co-teacher in the Two-Year-Old class then transitioned to the Lead Teacher in the M-F Three-Year-Old class. As a Substitute Teacher, she gained hands-on experience with a variety of ages and became familiar with our schedules, routines, and teaching style, so it was a comfortable transition into that position. This year she is returning as the MWF Three Year Old Lead Teacher.
A graduate of Towson University, Mrs. Blake returned to the work force after her youngest son left for college. Her children attended EEDS when they were preschool age.
She is married to a retired Navy pilot, has three grown boys and a Chocolate Labrador. In her spare time she enjoys going to the beach, traveling and spending time with her family.
Sandi Reed
teaches our Monday, Wednesday and Friday Two-Year Old class. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from American Military University. Sandi has over 10 years experience working in a preschool setting. During those years she has had the opportunity to work with various age groups. She really enjoys doing art and sensory activities with her students. Her philosophy is, "the messier the better!" In her free time Sandi loves spending time outdoors with her fiance and dog, Ressie. You can usually find them at the beach or First Landing State Park. She also like to read, spend time with family, and play board games.
Kali Butler
is joining the staff at EEDS this year as the Monday-Friday Two-Year Old Assistant. A former resident of Virginia Beach, her family is returning to the area following her husband's military transfer. Kali is excited to return to EEDS as a staff member. Her older son attended here and her daughter will be in a Pre-K Class.
Mrs. Butler enjoys hiking, spending time with her family and going to the beach.