Kendra Brito, Parent Representative, joined the PPNS board in fall 2017. She is originally from Oregon but spent most of her life living abroad. Kendra earned her elementary education degree from Linfield College and minored in Spanish and music. She received her master from Portland State University in curriculum and instruction with a reading endorsement. Kendra was an elementary school teacher and taught for 11 years in China, Oregon, Brazil, and New Jersey. She is currently a stay-at-home mother to her three children: Juliet, who is in second grade, and William, who is in kindergarten, both at Hopewell Elementary, and Luisa, who attends the PPNS three-year-old class. Kendra loves teaching, working with children, traveling, and spending time with her husband and children.
Liz Coats, President, is beginning her fifth year on the PPNS Board. Prior to becoming board president, Liz spent four years serving as board secretary. Liz graduated from TCNJ with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. Liz teaches third grade at Taylor Mills School in Manalapan, NJ. She and her husband Jeff are parents of Connor, 7, who is entering second grade at Toll Gate, and Emma, 5, who attends our PPNS five-morning Pre-K class. Liz enjoys spending time with her family and weekends relaxing in the Poconos.
Chris LaCasse, Facilities Liaison, is beginning his fourth year on the board, although he and his family have been part of the PPNS family for many years. Chris is the owner of LaCasse Construction, LLC, and specializes in custom carpentry and home remodeling. Chris also uses his talents to improve our school’s rooms and the playground. He is married to Sandy, and they are the parents of Taylor, Cassie and Estefan. Chris’ granddaughter Jaelyn, a graduate of PPNS, attends kindergarten at Stony Brook Elementary. A member of Pennington Presbyterian Church, Chris sings in the choir and is the system installation leader for the church’s Living Waters for the World team in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Rich Parker, Treasurer, is in his fifth year on the PPNS Board and brings more than 20 years of financial and accounting experience. Rich is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Valuation Analyst with a B.S. in Accounting from Rider University. He is a former partner in a CPA firm and has held various executive-level finance and operations positions throughout his career. Rich is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Plannernet. Rich resides in Hopewell Township with his wife Meg and their two children. Daughter Leah is in fourth grade and son Jake is in second grade at Hopewell Elementary School. Leah and Jake are both graduates of PPNS. Rich also has three older daughters Madison, Lindsey and Maya.
Cindy Reeder, PPC Representative, is in her second year on the PPNS Board. Cindy graduated from James Madison University with a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology and holds a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Northern Illinois University. After more than 30 years of teaching, Cindy has retired and enjoys spending her free time with their 4 grandchildren, all between the ages of 4 months and 5 years old. Cindy, and her husband Scott, have been members of Pennington Presbyterian Church for the past eleven years and she has been active on both Mission and Christian Education committees.
Stacy Saunders Hartog, Three-Year-Old Parent Representative, rejoined the Pennington Presbyterian Nursery School community in 2017 as the parent of a two-year-old after her older daughter and son had such wonderful experiences at the school. Stacy’s youngest child is a member of the five-morning Pre-K class. Stacy was a New York City public school teacher for several years and has a master’s degree in educational theater and English education. She presently works in the educational events department at Music Together, the internationally renowned early childhood program headquartered right here in Hopewell Township.
Kate Andrew, Staff Representative, – See Kate’s biography on the staff introduction page, under pre-kindergarten teachers.
Hope Anderson, Director, – See Hope’s biography at the beginning of the staff introduction pages.