ACADEMY TEAM
PRESCHOOL & ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTORS
Stephanie Graeler
Preschool
Stephanie is a returning Preschool teacher and looks forward to another year at DaySpring!
Jessica McMaken
Kindergarten
Jessica McMaken holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Wheaton College in Illinois and a MAT from the College of New Jersey with an Early Childhood Specialization. She taught both Preschool and Kindergarten before staying home to raise and homeschool her own children. During her years as a homeschooling mom, Jess has taught countless classes at homeschool co-ops and even spent a year teaching the Adventurers class here at Dayspring. Kindergarten will forever be her favorite grade level. She is passionate about early childhood education and strives to create an atmosphere of creativity, kindness, and joy in her classroom. In her free time, Jess loves to bake, serve in her church's children's programs, and explore the outdoors with her husband and two teenage sons.
Laura Gill
Preschool
Laura Gill received a Bachelor's degree in Special Education from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas and a Master’s in Social Work with a Concentration in Children and Youth from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. After receiving her Master’s Degree, Laura worked as a social worker primarily in the areas of school social work and adoption, before she began teaching in DaySpring's preschool program in 2008. She loves sharing her excitement for learning with the children that she teaches as well as supporting and encouraging their families. Laura and her husband served for twenty years as foster parents for children ages birth through five years old. She and her husband have four children, all of whom have participated in a variety of classes at DaySpring, including DaySpring's Academy, dance, and other enrichment classes.
Amanda Purdom
Explorers (1st/2nd Grade)
Melanie Carson
Preschool Assistant
Maggie Gray
Adventurers (3rd/4th Grade)
I graduated from Central Methodist University with a BS in Child Development. I have minors in Accounting, Business Administration and Early care & Education. I have been the director and teacher of my bilingual program for 15 years in a small setting with young children. I have two daughters, who are Dayspring Alumni. They attended DaySpring from Kindergarten through high school with me as their at-home teacher. As a DaySpring family, we are very familiar with the DaySpring's teaching method, the materials, and the wonderful education that DaySpring offers.
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUCTORS
Kaitlan Murray
Physics, Trigonometry/Precalculus, ACT Prep, Yearbook Committee Sponsor
Maggie Gray
Consumer & Business Math, Spanish I, Springboarder Computer and Spanish
I graduated from Central Methodist University with a BS in Child Development. I have minors in Accounting, Business Administration and Early care & Education. I have been the director and teacher of my bilingual program for 15 years in a small setting with young children. I have two daughters, who are Dayspring Alumni. They attended DaySpring from Kindergarten through high school with me as their at-home teacher. As a DaySpring family, we are very familiar with the DaySpring's teaching method, the materials, and the wonderful education that DaySpring offers.
Ginger Fulton
Language Arts
My name is Ginger Fulton, and I grew up in St. Louis, Connecticut, Texas, Tennessee, and even Venezuela. I met my husband because of St Louis, and we just celebrated our 30th anniversary with a dream trip to Banff, Alberta. I graduated from Colorado College, studying music and physics, accepting Christ my sophomore year. After college, I earned my Montessori certification and began my teaching experience at Chesterfield Day School. I also taught at Children of Promise and Visitation Academy, and I completed my Master's degree at Maryville University. When my first child arrived, I left the classroom but kept my foot in the door by substituting at my children’s school, tutoring, and volunteering in various ways. When I returned to the classroom, I worked with older students, enjoying their advanced thought and problem-solving skills. Last year was my fourth year at DaySpring, and I love it!
Tracie Fleshman
Earth Science, Biology, Human Body Systems, Oceanography
Jeremy Baartman
Eastern Hemisphere, Western Civilizations, Civics, Student Council Sponsor
Hello friends!
My name is Mr.Baartman. I am 28 years old, and I have lived in Saint Louis for just over a year. I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. When I was in high-school, I played multiple sports, including Football, Swimming, and Volleyball. I also played Bass Clarinet in Concert, Marching, and Jazz band. I have been passionate about history since the first week of my freshman year of high-school, when I read my whole Western Civ textbook within the first week of class starting.
I have been working with Ms/Hs since I was 19 years old. I have volunteered and worked in various internships with multiple different youth ministries and organizations, totaling over 6+ years of ministry experience. I have spent the last two years working as a substitute teacher with 2 different staffing companies. I am beyond excited to continue to learn and grow in my career as I begin to teach in a classroom setting.
Alicia Whitbeck
Health, Personal Finance
Alicia graduated from the Missouri University of Science & Technology with a B.A. in Biology and Psychology with an emphasis in Secondary Education. She started teaching middle and high school science classes at DaySpring in 2014 and became the Academy Director in 2023.
Alicia was formerly homeschooled and she also attended a private, Christian school growing up, so she is familiar with the values that families coming to DaySpring with those backgrounds desire in education. She is passionate about hands-on, creative, and collaborative education and she is excited to work alongside the teachers to foster that at DaySpring! She enjoys getting to know the students and families involved in the Academy and helping the students on their educational journey.