Karen Stump, Executive Director
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I have been at Holly Street since 1986! I grew up in Chicago along with my four brothers. I was right in the middle. We were an outdoor family and I have nothing but great memories. I went to college at St. Mary’s of Winona Minnesota and majored in Environmental Biology. It was nestled in the bluffs along the Mississippi River near LaCrosse, Wisconsin. It was beautiful. I married and moved to Mammoth Lakes California located in the High Sierras. Talk about beautiful. Snow was a way of life. A foot an hour was no big deal. Daughters, Mikella and Jamie were born there. In 1986, we moved to Nashville not knowing I was pregnant with twins, Karl and Janet. I landed at Holly Street and you would not believe the then and now of East Nashville. I should have been keeping a journal so that a book could have been written. Though it has been quite a journey, working more than full-time, raising four children and commuting from Robertson County, I feel very blessed to have been at Holly Street. I love seeing Holly Street children grow into young adults and being a part of all of the families. And now I have five Grandchildren and I feel young all over again!! Life is good.
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Tiffany Whittemore, Assistant Director
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Hello! My name is Tiffany Whittemore and I have been at Holly Street Daycare since 1997. I worked in the evenings after school and loved it. My favorite thing about Holly Street is the people I work with and the children we get to see growing and learning. I can not imagine being anywhere else. I graduated in 2005 with a Technical certificate and in 2021 with an A.A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education. I also have a current Child Development Associate (CDA). I have 5 nieces (Ms. Makayla is one of them) and 3 nephews that I love spending time with. I also enjoy watching NFL football "Go, Titans"!
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Kaneshia Marsh, Office Manager
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Hi! I’m Kaneshia Marsh. I have enjoyed working at Holly Street since February 1999. I have a
caring husband and we have 2 talented children. For over two decades, children have brought me so much joy! Their happy faces and curious minds are what keep me invested in this career. Throughout my years in childcare, I have obtained a Technical certificate in Early Childhood Education and a Child Development Associate. Another great passion of mine is real estate, it also makes me happy. I obtained my license in 2005 and am actively a realtor serving middle TN. Children are so much fun and bring me so much happiness, you never know what each day is going to be like! Holly Street is full of wonderful people who have a passion to care for children and I wouldn't trade it for any other job in the world! "Holly Street is my family" |
Micheal (Shell) Rainey, Office/School Age
Hey Y’all! My name is Micheal “Shell” Rainey. I blew in with the 1998 tornado and I’m still here. I was
born and raised in East Nashville off of Shelby Street. I have a CDA in early childhood. I also have 3 wonderful daughters, Cheyenne, “Ms. Chenelle”, and Chemille. They are my world! My favorite thing about Holly Street is we are family. The children bring so much joy and happiness to my life. I love each and every one of my “Pumpkin Pies”. I am truly blessed to be a part of their sweet little lives.
born and raised in East Nashville off of Shelby Street. I have a CDA in early childhood. I also have 3 wonderful daughters, Cheyenne, “Ms. Chenelle”, and Chemille. They are my world! My favorite thing about Holly Street is we are family. The children bring so much joy and happiness to my life. I love each and every one of my “Pumpkin Pies”. I am truly blessed to be a part of their sweet little lives.
Laura Johnson, Office/ Floater
Hello! My name is Laura Johnson and I graduated from Austin Peay State University in 2012 with a Psychology Degree and am currently pursuing my Masters Degree in Business Management and Leadership! I never knew that taking a job at Holly Street Daycare back in Feb. 2009 would turn into a career that I am blessed to be a part of. From the Nursery all the way to our School-Age program, I have enjoyed getting to know every age and being a part of their development! They have helped shape me into the person I am today and I am forever grateful for this opportunity. Not only do I get to work with children on a daily basis but I also get to work with a staff that I feel is more like family.
Marissa Swanson, Pre-K
My name is Marissa Swanson, and I have been working at Holly Street since I was a teenager. I attended Holly Street as a child and then starting working. I've been here my whole life! Holly Street really is my home away from home. I started teaching Pre-K in 2011. I have a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Belmont University. I also have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee. I enjoy watching football (Go Vols!), Netflix, hiking, and spending time with my family and friends. I absolutely love working with children, especially in the Pre-K. We truly are one big family here at Holly Street, and that’s what makes my job so special!
Isaac Deter-Wolf, Preschool
I was born some time ago deep in the woods of North Carolina outside a small town called Hillsborough. Early on in life I decided that I wanted to be 3 things: an artist, an archaeologist, and a teacher. After attending North Carolina School of the Arts and Oberlin College I landed in Nashville where I've had jobs as a gardener, an usher, department supervisor at Home Depot, and much to my surprise, an artist and archaeologist. All of these jobs led me towards what I really want to in the end- teach, and to a deeply held belief- a day is wasted if you don't learn something new.
Dietrich Eitzen, Preschool
Hello! My name is Dietrich Eitzen. I have been a teacher at Holly Street Daycare since moving to Nashville in the Fall of 2014. Before becoming an educator at Holly Street, I served as an assistant special needs teacher at Goshen High School in Goshen, IN from 2010 to 2014. I graduated from Goshen College in 2010. I am an avid outdoorsman and I love most things nature-related. In my spare time, I enjoy foraging, gardening, hiking, and camping, along with many other wilderness-related hobbies. When I’m in the field, I am constantly searching to observe and learn about things I have never encountered or don’t fully understand. This passion allows me to bring a bevy of unique science-related activities and knowledge to the children at Holly Street. Me being able to provide kids with these learning experiences is one of the things that makes Holly Street Daycare unique, special, and one of the best daycare centers there is!
Angel Hanner, Early Learners
Hi, my name is Angel Hanner and I have been working at Holly Street since August 2009. I live in Hendersonville with my husband (Tyler) and our two daughters (Abigail and Bridget). In my free time I enjoy cooking, traveling with my family, and spending time on the lake. I love working at Holly Street, learning new things to better myself, and spending time with my coworkers. One thing that keeps me going everyday is seeing the kid's faces light up when they learn and accomplish something new.
Audrey Luck, Early Learners
Hi my name is Audrey Luck and I am a born and raised Nashvillian! I graduated May 2021 from Roanoke College in Salem, VA. There I earned my B.A. in Education Professional Studies with a Concentration in Pre-K-6th Curriculum. I have wanted to be a teacher since my first classroom of stuffed animals! Though I am new at Holly Street, for the past five years I have dreamed of being a staff member…as I picked up and dropped off the family I nannied. I love to cook and to travel. Currently, I am looking forward to getting married this summer and having my own Pre-K classroom in the future.
Makayla Whittemore, Toddlers
Hi my name is Makayla Whittemore and I’ve been around Holly Street as long as I can remember. I became an employee the summer of 2020. I was born and raised here in East Nashville. I have always enjoyed being with children. I am very excited to spend my days with the toddlers! I’m grateful to be able to come to work and build a relationship with the kids, and watch how much they learn and grow.
Chenelle Rainey, Toddlers
Hello! My name is Chenelle Rainey. I was born and raised in Nashville. Holly Street has always been a part of my life, from the nursery to school age. Growing up I’ve always said I wanted to work at Holly Street with my mom (Ms. Shell). I started at Holly Street in 2016. Although I did leave for a while to do VA work, Holly street was always in the back of my mind. Here you find a family, outside of your home. I find so much joy in knowing we make such a big impact on all of our kiddos. It is so amazing to be able to watch them learn everyday. I take pride in knowing that we make a safe and fun environment for them to look forward to every time they are here.
Sarah Niles, Nursery
Hi! My name is Sarah Niles and I’ve been working at Holly Street since the summer of 2014 on and off during my school breaks. I just graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a degree in Child and Family Studies. I am so happy to be back at Holly Street full time! I was born and raised in Nashville and when I’m not working I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family.
Brianna Rogers, Nursery
Hi! My name is Brianna and I started here at Holly Street in February 2022. I’m from Southern California and I’ve been in Nashville since June of 2017. I grew up loving babies, and working with babies and kids whenever I got the chance. I love seeing them grow and learn and become little humans! I love being able to be apart of the growth of every child that comes to Holly Street. Currently I am going taking classes to get my CDA (Child Development Associate). In my free time I love to go on hikes, concerts, reading, and being able to hang out with friends and family!
Addison Whittemore, Nursery
Kaylah Lockett, Floater
Hello! My name is Kaylah and this is my 2nd Summer at Holly Street! I was first introduced to Holly Street working on a school project and I knew I wanted to be a part of the family. I am currently studying Psychology with a minor in Child Studies at Western Kentucky University. If I’m not working or studying, I’m most likely spending time with my twin sister, playing soccer, taking pictures or listening to music. When I have a break from school, I am always eager to get back to work to the kids and staff.
Janet Stump, Floater
Hi my name is Janet Stump. I have grown up at Holly Street and started volunteering at the age of 12 and worked here on and off since then. I moved to Hawaii to see more of the world and when I came home I eventually decided to come back to Holly Street. Since then I have become a certified personal trainer and am focused on starting my career path in that field. I feel like I will always be a part of Holly Street because it has been in my life since I was born and now that I am a mother my daughter can enjoy coming here too! I love how children always live in the moment and it’s a beautiful thing to watch them grow.
Bonnie Putty, Floater
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Holly Street Daycare has been my second home since 1986 and I love it! It is the greatest place to be. Ms.Karen and the staff are like my second family. I love spending my day with the children. Watching them learn and grow is a wonderful experience. I have been married since 1970. I have two children, a son and a daughter, two grandchildren and two beautiful great grand-daughters. I went back to school and received my CDA in 1999. Later I went to NSCC and graduated with a Technical Certificate in Early Childhood Education in 2005 at the age of 53! Thank You for the opportunity to love, nurture and have fun with your children. I Love Holly Street!
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Rosie Mahoney, Floater
Hi there! My name is Rosie and I am thrilled to be reacquainted with the Holly Street community, enrolled 1991-1995 and returned as a teacher in 2022. I attended St. Joseph School (Madison), Pope John Paul II High School (Hendersonville), and earned a Media Communications degree at Cornell College (Mount Vernon, IA). My hobbies and interests include animals, outdoor excursions, and all types of games and challenges: sports, puzzles, trivia, card and board games, etc. The best testament I have to the magic of Holly Street is that two friends I made here in the 90’s remain two of my closest friends to this day. I am proud and excited to carry on that legacy of transformative experiences with the newest generation of Nashvillians.
Cornelia Rowe, Floater
Forever Jamie Stump
Hello Everyone! I have been at Holly Street since I was an infant. I have 2 sisters and 1 brother. I also have a wonderful and sweet dog named Marley and really enjoy being outdoors. I just recently graduated from the University of Memphis.
