Our Staff
Rachel Wade
Owner / Director
Mrs. Wade has a B.S. and M.A. in elementary education. She taught first grade for five years before staying home with her children, Jackson and Claire. Mrs. Wade fell in love with CDS when her son, Jackson, started attending when he was two. Claire began attending CDS a few years later. Not long after that, Mrs. Wade joined our faculty as a pre-k teacher. After five years as a pre-k teacher, in 2022, Mrs. Wade became our director. Her passion for early childhood education and desire that those who enter our school feel loved and develop a love of learning that lasts a lifetime inspires her to continue Country Day’s legacy on the Eastern Shore.
Mrs. Ashleigh has been a part of our CDS faculty for seven years as a pre-K teacher, our Little Engineers after school instructor, and in 2023 she became our office manager. Mrs. Ashleigh has a passion for all things STEM and loves watching our little learners discover new things. If you have called or emailed CDS, chances are you have been greeted by Mrs. Ashleigh.
Ashleigh Barkley
Office Manager
Teachers
Cindy Burke
2 year old class ~ Tues. & Thurs.
3 year old class ~ Mon., Wed., Fri.
Mrs. Cindy joined our faculty in 2023 after four years of volunteering and substituting at CDS. She fell in love with CDS when her children began attending. She is looking forward to another amazing year with lots of fun, learning, and creating!
Pam Corte
18 month old class ~ Tues. & Thurs.
2 & 3 year old class ~ Mon., Wed., Fri.
Mrs. Corte has been teaching at CDS for twenty-one years. Mrs. Corte’s children both attended CDS and it became a very special place to their family. Mrs. Corte is committed to loving her littles and ensuring that their first school experience is full of fun and learning.
Shawn Eastman
4 & 5 year old class ~ 5 days a week
Mrs. Eastman has been teaching
pre-k at CDS for seventeen years. She has a master's degree in early childhood and elementary education. She taught second grade for nine years before finding her “happy place” in pre-k. Mrs. Eastman is the 2024 Nappie Award winner for “Best Preschool Teacher in Baldwin County."
Sarah Haigh
3 & 4 year old class ~ 5 days a week
Before joining our staff last year as a 5-day teacher, Mrs. Sarah was a long-term substitute and assisted Mrs. Peden as our kindergarten aide. Mrs. Sarah loves teaching preschool and seeing her students light up with joy when they learn something new.
Candice McLaughlin
5 year old class ~ 5 days a week
Mrs. Candice loves preschoolers! She has a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and strives to make each day full of fun and learning. Mrs. Candice was the 2019 Nappie Award winner for “Best Preschool Teacher in Mobile County".
Becky Harrell
2 & 3 year old class ~ Tues. & Thurs.
3 & 4 year old class ~ Mon., Wed., Fri.
Mrs. Becky graduated from the University of South Alabama with a degree in Science and has been teaching at CDS for twenty years. Mrs. Becky loves playing, creating, learning and exploring with her preschoolers.
Kaylyn Murray
Allison Harvey
4 & 5 year old class ~ 5 days a week
Mrs. Harvey loves helping prepare her students for kindergarten. She has taught preschool at CDS for five years. She loves watching her students find the excitement and fun in learning new things every day and is looking forward to a wonderful year ahead!
Erin Peden
4 & 5 year old class ~ 5 days a week
We are thrilled to have Mrs. Murray join our staff this year. Mrs. Murray has been a part of our CDS family as a parent of three CDS students and has served as a long-term substitute. Mrs. Murray has taught both preschool and third grade. Mrs. Murray is passionate about early childhood education and looks forward to a wonderful year ahead.
Kindergarten ~ 5 days a week
Mrs. Peden has a B.S. in elementary education and over ten years of kindergarten experience. She has taught in Virginia, Texas, and Mississippi. Kindergarten is her passion and her favorite thing to do is to teach her students how to read!
Janet Hankins
3 year old class ~ Mon., Wed., Fri.
Mrs. Janet has a degree in Elementary Education and taught first and second grade before falling in love with preschool. She has been teaching preschool for eleven years. Mrs. Janet’s room is full of fun, music, art, and learning!
Kayla Poulos
2 & 3 year old class ~ Tues. & Thurs.
3 & 4 year old class ~ Mon., Wed., Fri.
Mrs. Kayla has been teaching preschool for five years. She loves hands-on learning through reading, art, music, and sensory play. Her goal is for her students to engage and enjoy their learning environment.
Kim Richeson
2 year old class ~ Tues. & Thurs.
3 year old class ~ Mon., Wed., & Fri.
Mrs. Kim joined our faculty in 2023 after ten years of being a Country Day School parent. Mrs. Kim has a passion for reading and creating and loves watching her students learn and grow!
Janna Schmidt
Kindergarten Aide
Mrs. Janna is the proud mother of three CDS graduates and has previously served as our 5-day Spanish teacher and after-school instructor. We are thrilled to have her join our kindergarten team!
Traci Watson
18 month old class ~ Tues. & Thurs.
Mrs. Traci has been teaching our youngest learners at CDS for twenty-two years. She loves to watch her little ones learn and grow throughout the year and partnering with parents to ensure that their child’s first school experience is a positive one.
Janna Williams
2 year old class ~ Tues. & Thurs.
3 year old class ~ Mon., Wed., Fri.
Mrs. Janna has been teaching preschool at CDS for four years. She loves to play, sing, and explore with her little learners. Mrs. Janna loves to create and explore with her little ones.
Ann Jones
Mrs. Ann has been a part of our Country day family since 2010. She brings the fun to our Fine Motor Fun class, where she loves strengthening the fine motor skills of our 3-day students through engaging, hands-on activities.
Dee Pace
Mrs. Dee has a Vocal Music degree and has taught children's choir for over 30 years, and preschool music for the past 10 years. She has a passion to watch children learn their inner rhythm and beat. She is looking forward to "making music" with our 5-day students.