Karen Stump, Executive Director
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.
Tiffany Whittemore, Assistant Director
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 and 3 nephews that I love spending time with. I also enjoy watching NFL football "Go, Titans"!
Laura Johnson, Office Manager
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.
Kaneshia Marsh, Office Assistant
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"
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.
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.
Lakin Waszil, Early Learners
Hello! My name is Lakin Waszil and I moved to Nashville and began working at Holly Street in October 2023! I am originally from a small town in eastern Kentucky, but I moved to Nashville to expand my horizons! I graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2022 with a B.A. in Sociology. Before coming to Holly Street, I worked with kindergarteners and first graders at my local elementary school back home. I love working alongside the staff and families at Holly Street to nurture the minds of the students I’ve been given the privilege to get to know. I’m so excited to continue to get to know the kids as they learn and grow here!
Abbey Vickers, Early Learners
Hi, I’m Abbey Vickers! I grew up in Nashville and am a proud Holly Street graduate. I now live in Greenbrier and graduated from Greenbrier High School in the spring of 2025. I’m currently attending Vol-State, pursuing a degree in Business & Marketing. I started working at Holly Street in August of 2025, and I’m so excited to be part of the team! I’m the youngest of three siblings, with a brother and sister, and I love spending time with my niece and nephew whenever I can.
Sarah Niles, Toddlers
Hi! My name is Sarah and I have worked at Holly Street since 2014. I started working seasonally while I was in school and went full time when I graduated college in 2020. I went to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and got my degree in Child and Family Studies. I have always had a passion for working with kids. It brings me so much joy to watch their growth and development and also to be a part of it! I was born and raised in Donelson and just bought a house with my husband in Goodlettsville. When I’m not working I enjoy spending time 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!
Mj Smith, Nursery
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela. My name is Mj and I grew up in downtown Pittsburgh where I discovered my passion for creating accessible, equitable, and quality educational resources through Homeless Children's Education Fund. I have a B.A. in Psychology from Trevecca Nazarene University and hope to eventually pursue my master's degree in therapy and a trauma informed yoga license with the intention of continuing to work closely with the families of East Nashville. Working with infants has been one of the most unexpected and life giving experiences. I'm passionate about fostering a communicative and compassionate classroom and implementing creative expression, nature based play, yoga, and psychology into the curriculum! Out of all of my previous childcare facility experiences, Holly Street has always felt the most like home, I'm extremely grateful to be here!
Lizzie Douglas, School Age (Floater)
Hi, I’m Lizzy! I’m from Greenbrier, Tennessee, and I graduated from Greenbrier High School in May of 2025. I’m currently attending Vol State, where I’m majoring in Early Education K–5. Teaching has always been a passion of mine—growing up, I was often “playing teacher,” and now I get to live out that dream every day. I love watching children grow and learn, and getting to work with the children at Holly Street is truly amazing!
Jenna Pratt, Nursery
Hi! My name is Jenna Pratt! I’m 22 years old, and started at Holly Street in November of 2025! I’ve always had a passion for working with children and love helping them learn and grow each day. I plan to start school soon to pursue a degree in a child-related field, though I’m still exploring exactly which direction I want to go. My boyfriend’s family grew up with Holly Street, so it already feels like such a special and familiar place to me. I love being part of each child’s growth and watching them reach new milestones—it’s such a rewarding experience. I’m so excited to begin this journey and be part of the amazing Holly Street family!
Kat Burns, Floater
Hi! My name is Kat Burns, and I’ve been working in childcare for over seven years. I’m currently pursing a B.S. in Early Childhood Education through University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. I absolutely love getting to create new bonds with the kids and watching them learn and grow each day—it’s truly the best part of what I do! Helping little ones discover their confidence, creativity, and joy in learning is something I’m so passionate about. When I’m not at school, you can usually find me paddle boarding, hiking, or spending time with my sweet kitty, Yoshi. I’m so excited to be part of this amazing community at Holly Street and can’t wait for all the fun and learning ahead!
Bonnie Putty, Substitute
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!
Ana Bergin, Substitute
Oi, tudo bem? My name is Ana. I was born and raised in Brazil. My native language is Portuguese. I always worked with fiction and non-fiction stories in different jobs. First, I wrote articles as a journalist (I have a bachelor’s degree in communications). A few years later, I fell in love with the publishing world, becoming editor-in-chief of children and young adult books. Working with authors and illustrators, giving “life” to their stories that deeply enchanted children’s imaginations was an incredible experience for 20 years. When I moved to Nashville, I wanted to continue being part of the world of the children. So, I decided in 2022 to go back to college and work towards my CDA in Early Childhood Education. Fortunately, Mrs. Karen and the coworkers opened the heart of Holly Street to me, giving me the opportunity to work with children, especially infants and toddlers. Every day there are different stories told through their smiles, babbling, cries, and beautiful mad, funny and happy faces. It has been amazing and I am loving your children!
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.
Forever Jamie Stump
Many of you may wonder who Jamie Stump is. To start off Jamie is the daughter of our director Karen. She grew up at Holly Street with her siblings Mikella, Janet, and Karl. Jamie was bright, silly, beautiful, and always knew how to make you smile. She was also great at working with children who sometimes needed a little extra patience. In 2012 Jamie tragically passed away due to a car accident at the age of 27. She will forever be missed!
