Meet the Teachers

Lataree SpannLataree J. Spann, AS
Lead Teacher
lspann@lsu.edu 

I am the Infant 1 teacher and Director Designee for the Infant and Toddler side at LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool. I was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I received my Associate Degree in Early Childhood Development from Post University and have worked in the early childhood field for over twenty years. I have one son and in my free time I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family. There is nothing more gratifying than witnessing a young child learn something new and knowing you have been a part of that growth.

Ursula Pursley

Ursula Pursley, AA 
Teaching Assistant
upursley@lsu.edu 

I received my Early Childhood diploma from Baton Rouge Community College and continually take courses in child development. I have been working in the early childhood field since 1990. I am single and have no children of my own but feel as if the children I take care of are like my own. I have lived all my life here in Baton Rouge. In my free time I enjoy working in my flowerbeds at home and spending time with friends and family. I also help to maintain ECELP’s Vegetable and Flower Gardens that are located within the playgrounds. During the years I have had the pleasure of watching children grow and discover the world around them. I like knowing that I played a small part in that and that this is only the beginning of a wonderful journey.

Infant I Daily Schedule

Materials for Young Infants

Demika GilmoreDemika Gilmore, BS
Lead Teacher
dgilmo3@lsu.edu

I am a graduate of Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Science with a concentration in Child Development. I have been working with young children since 2010. I am from Baton Rouge, LA. I have a 10-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I have always loved working with young children and I believe as a teacher it is my job to provide your children with a warm, positive, safe and loving environment that offers a wide variety of activities and hands-on experiences that promote learning.

 

Katie Slaughter

Katie Slaughter
Teaching Assistant
cslaughter1@lsu.edu

I received my Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications with a minor in Business Administration from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La. I was born and raised in Baton Rouge, LA. I have been working with children since 2014. I joined the ECELP family in November 2023, and I’ve been enjoying the experience of being a part of a well-oiled machine. In my leisure time, I enjoy traveling, crafting, and spending time with family and friends. I enjoy working with children, especially infants because it gives me an opportunity to view the world through their eyes.

Infant 2 Daily Schedule

Materials for Older Infants

Amarie HeadshotAmarie Rowan, BA   
Lead Teacher
arowan@lsu.edu

I received my Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from The University of Southern Mississippi. I was born in New Orleans, La. I’ve been working with children since Highschool while receiving a certification in CNA. Children are the ability to bring change, positively. To shape and develop their minds for future accomplishments while bringing in nurturing, love, and providing safety. I take pride in working with children.

Infant 3 Daily Schedule

Materials for Older Infants

Jakortni Weber Young JaKortni Weber, BS
Co-Lead Teacher

jweber10@lsu.edu

For the past ten years I've contributed to the care of my brother who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. For that reason, I completed my degree in Family and Consumer Science with a concentration in Child Development from Southern University and A&M College. I am from Plaquemine; Louisiana and my philosophy is that each child is unique, and they learn and thrive in different ways. I feel very fortunate to be a part of a team that promotes child development through learning as well as training and research. I love working with children and learning from them in the process.

Paige

Paige Poole, BGS
Co-Lead Teacher
Ppoole@lsu.edu

I graduated from Southeastern University in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Arts and Humanities, with minors in Behavioral Science and Applied Sciences. I have been in the daycare industry since 2012, and I still love what I do. I am from Denham Springs and have been married to my husband, William, since 2021, and we share our home with our pit bull, Freya. I feel very fortunate to work and be a part of an establishment where we focus on the teaching of young minds and explore the different ways that each one can learn and thrive.

 

Infant 4 Daily Schedule

Materials for Young Toddlers

Priya Ranganathan, BBAPriya Ranganathan
Lead Teacher
jranga2@lsu.edu

I received my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Management from the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) Alaska and my Louisiana Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate in Teaching and Child Development Associate in 2021. I have been involved with young children’s formal education since 2016. I  lived in Kodiak, Alaska before moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I love Louisiana and LSU and Baton Rouge has become my Home Town.  My husband and I are blessed with triplets. My passion for working with children started when I began to teach my triplets.  I have a high level of patience, a good sense of humor, and am a positive individual. I believe in showing positive energy and providing a joyful environment that positively impacts early childhood development, especially in the development of manners and learning skills. I am excited to work with children. In my after-hour time, I enjoy doing yoga, meditation, healing, and spending time with her family.

Young Toddler 1 Daily Schedule

Materials for Young Toddlers

Shannon Hardy

Shannon Hardy, BS
Lead Teacher
shardy@lsu.edu

I received my bachelor’s degree in Family Consumer Sciences/ Child Development from Southern University and have worked in the field since 2005. I was also a Family Service Coordinator working with disabled children for 6 years. I am originally from St. Francisville, LA, but relocated to Baton Rouge in 2010. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and I love working with children.

Young Toddler 2 Daily Schedule

Materials for Young Toddlers

Vanessa BaltazarVanessa B. Baltazar, BS
Lead Teacher
vbalta1@lsu.edu

I received my bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Science with a concentration of Children Development from Southern University A&M College.  I have been working with children for since 2000. I am from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I am married and have two  daughters along with seven grandchildren.  In my free time I enjoy listening to instrumental music and audio books. My experience working in early childhood has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Working with young children has created a passion to serve, to care, to help, and to love that goes to the core of my being. 

Toddler 1 Daily Schedule

MATERIALS FOR YOUNG TODDLERS & OLDER TODDLERS

Tiarira Williams

Tiairra Williams, BS
Lead Teacher
twil344@lsu.edu

I received my Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies from Louisiana State University in May 2022. I began working with children when I was in my junior year of undergrad. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew that I wanted to work with children. It brings me joy every day to see how I am able to impact the growth and development of young children. 

Delvin Dukes Bynum

Devlin Dukes-Bynum, CDA 
Teaching Assistant
dbynum1@lsu.edu 

I have a Child Development Associate (CDA) degree and have worked in the early childhood field since 2016. I’m originally from St. Francisville but now live in Brusly. I have two girls (14 & 17) and a son (18). In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also love working with children. As an Early Childhood Educator my goal is to provide your child with a positive, safe, loving environment through play.

Toddler 2 Daily Schedule

Materials for Young Toddlers & Older Toddlers

Photo of LaKisha BanksLakisha Banks, AAT
Lead Teacher
lbanks@lsu.edu

I received my degree in Early Childhood Education from Louisiana Technical College. I have worked in the early childhood field since 2004. I am from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I have two daughters and one son. In my free time I enjoy spending time with family, traveling, entertaining, and cooking I have always loved working with children and believe that as a teacher, it is my responsibility to promote the social, emotional, and academic growth of young children.

macy headshot

Macy Fabacher
Teaching Assistant
mfabacher@lsu.edu

I earned my Child Development Associates (CDA) Degree in 2021 and have worked in childcare since 2019. I was born in Lafayette, Louisiana but moved to Baton Rouge in 2012! In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, shopping, and reading! I am a firm believer in "Mindset is Everything" and exemplify this in the classroom by positively encouraging children to think outside of the box or step into a new pair of shoes when faced with a challenge. Every moment is a teachable moment! My favorite thing about working with children is establishing individual relationships with them and watching them flourish in every aspect! 

Corinthian HenleyCorinthian Henley, CDA
Teaching Assistant
chenley1@lsu.edu

I have had the pleasure of teaching, guiding, and nurturing children for more than 35 years in the field of Early Childhood Education. I am married and a mom to 3 wonderfully unique daughters and grandmother to 3 brilliant and precious grandchildren that keep me young at heart. I wake every day inspired to learn something new. I look forward to being a valuable part of your child’s learning experience. I believe children learn best when they feel comfortable and safe in their environment. This allows them to explore and initiate their very own unique learning path and in return, they flourish. In my experience, learning is progressive and every child learns and expresses themselves individually. My hope for each student begins with learning to trust and respect each other and grow from that foundational block.

amanda headshotAmanda Thompson, BS
Teaching Assistant
atho358@lsu.edu

Hello! I'm Amanda Thompson, bringing over a decade of experience in working with children across diverse age groups. My heart is drawn to the early developmental stages, where I find joy in being a part of their foundational journey. I'm committed to equipping each student with a valuable skill set for their academic toolbox. Outside of work, I'm a proud parent to my 13-year-old daughter, and our happy place is the beach or enjoying the outdoors with our dog, Meaux. We're avid LSU sports fans, attending football, basketball, soccer, and volleyball games. We also relish Louisiana traditions, indulging in crawfish and celebrating with family and friends. Life for us is a harmonious blend of professional passion and personal fulfillment!

Bridget Poku, BSBridget Headshot
Teaching Assistant
badupo1@lsu.edu

 

 

Toddler 4 Daily Schedule

Materials for Older Toddlers

Martha PierreMartha A. Pierre, BS
Lead Teacher
trinnym@lsu.edu

I received my bachelor’s degree from Southern University A&M College and have worked in the field of education since 2006. I am from and still reside in Zachary, Louisiana. I have a baby boy and enjoy spending time with him as he grows and develops. As a teacher my goal is to help children achieve their highest potential so they can and will become productive citizens. I enjoy watching them grow and explore the world around them. I want to ensure parents that your child will be my priority and I will strive to make this a successful year.

Lorrie HoltLorrie Holt
Teaching Assistant

lholt@lsu.edu

I have a Child Development Associate (CDA) as well as an Associates in Liberal Arts Degree and I have worked in Elementary Education since 2012 in Atlanta, GA. I recently moved to Baton Rouge and have two adult children. My daughter is a LSU Veterinarian Student and my son works in I.T. in Atlanta. I’ve been married for over 30 years and have a miniature dachshund I enjoy spending time with while reading and relaxing at home. I love working with children and I am passionate to see children grow in a nurturing environment. 

Young Preschool 1 Daily Schedule

Materials for Preschool & Kindergarten

casie headshotCassandra Riche, MS
Lead Teacher
criche11@lsu.edu  

I graduated from LSU in 2004 with my bachelor's in Family, Child, and Consumer Sciences. I then went to the University of Southern Miss for my master's in Child Development. My first job out of graduate school was at the former LSU Child Care Center and I am so thrilled to be back. I worked with the LSU AgCenter teaching child care provider classes and I have been in the Early Childhood classroom as a teacher since 2009. I love teaching PreK, it is my favorite age! I am so excited to be in an environment that fosters developmentally appropriate practices. I love to watch the growth of the children and form relationships with parents. I am also certified to teach PK-3rd in Louisiana. 

Young Preschool 2 Daily Schedule

Materials for Preschool & Kindergarten

Karen WallaceKaren A. Wallace, BS
Lead Teacher
karenwallace@lsu.edu

I have worked in the early childhood field for over twenty-five years. I have also worked in the East Baton Rouge School system as a paraprofessional for hearing impaired children where I learned sign language from the children and assisted with ELA testing for the children. I am from Addis, Louisiana. I have four girls and seven grandchildren and enjoy my free time with family and friends. I volunteer some of my free time giving back to the community, assisting with the elderly in nursing homes to help brighten up there day. I have enjoyed working with children and am glad be a part of the village that help shapes their future.

Young Preschool 3 Daily Schedule

Materials for Preschool & Kindergarten

caroline headshotCaroline Hargrave
Lead Teacher
chargr9@lsu.edu

I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from LSU in May of 2023. I am from New Iberia, Louisiana and have been living in Baton Rouge for the last four years. I have been very fortunate to see the different stages of child development through my years of student teaching. I have worked closely with children in pre-k through second grade and have had a front-row seat to all of the development and growth that takes place with the students individually and within the classroom. My goal as an educator for early childhood is to instill in children a love of learning in order to build a strong foundation for success in the years to come!


Steph Headshot

Stephanie Thornhill
Assistant Teacher
sthornhill@lsu.edu

I have been working with children for over a decade. I recently received my AAS degree in Care and Development of Young Children from BRCC, and I am currently working towards my bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. I have two dogs named Sir Snuggles and Dr. Taco. I enjoy gardening, reading, and spending time with my friends.Preschool 1 Daily Schedule

Materials for Preschool & Kindergarten

Autumn SmithAutumn E. Smith, MEd
Lead Teacher
asmi435@lsu.edu 

Throughout college, I have spent the summers working at camps. I have worked at Camp Dynamics, a specialized camp for children with learning, communication, and behavioral differences, and Tiger’s Den, a regular summer camp held at the LSU UREC. I have also interned in a pre-k and third grade classroom and was a student teacher in a kindergarten and second grade classroom. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, baking, taking my dog on bike rides, going to LSU football games, and spending time with my friends and family. I believe that the most significant role of the teacher is to provide each student with the tools and techniques needed in order to become critical thinkers and effective agents of change within their society. Every single student is capable of positively influencing the world and with the development of analysis and problem-solving skills, the expansion of their global awareness, and the acquisition of a cooperative, inquiring attitude, students can achieve this goal and thrive beyond the classroom. Society cannot progress without the presence of well-educated, self-motivated individuals equipped with the research skills and the desire to better humanity needed to facilitate change.

Jan York
Jan YorkTeaching Assistant
jyork8@lsu.edu

I received my Ancillary Teaching Certificate in 2021 and am a level 2 teacher. My goal is to acquire my bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and one day rise to the Director position. My Mom was an educator for more than 20 years and instilled in me a passion for education My experience encompasses children from 6 weeks to 5 years old. I began as a floater and advanced to an assistant then lead teacher. I believe every child is a genius and we can learn from them. Watching them learn through their persistence has shown me eventually you will succeed in your life, even if things don’t go the way you wanted the first time. In my free time I enjoy sudoku puzzles, card games, music, singing, reading, spending time with loved ones, attending church, being a praise team leader and writing poetry and songs. My motto is I am greater than I see; I am created for greatness.

Preschool 2 Daily Schedule

Materials for Preschool & Kindergarten

 

Contact

LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool
Telephone: 225-578-7882
4001 Gourrier Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

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