Welcome to
Greenwood Forest
Children's Center
An inclusive community
4-Year-Old Teachers
Goals for our four-year-old classes include:
-COMFORT WITH CLASSROOM STRUCTURE AND ROUTINES
-INTRODUCTION AND OF HANDWRITING SKILLS THROUGH FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT
-BUILDING INDEPENDENCE IN PREPARATION FOR KINDERGARTEN
-LETTER RECOGNITION AND SOUNDS
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Mary Mason
Young 4s Co-Teacher
Mary grew up in Cary, NC. After high school, Mary studied Business Administration at Wake Tech in Raleigh. She began teaching Older 2's at GFCC in 2002. She taught that class for 8 years and for the last 4 years she was here, she was the GFCC secretary in the office with Sandy. "Teaching and being a part of this outstanding preschool has been life changing for me."
Mary met her husband, Mike, in 2012 and they married in 2014. Soon after, Mary and Mike moved to Oklahoma and have recently moved back to NC. Mary rejoined our staff in the fall of 2018.
Mary and Mike each have 3 beautiful children in their combined family. Mary's son, Alex, is 25 and a full-time soccer coach at NCFC. Her daughter, Anna, is 20 and a Junior at UNCW studying Math and pursuing a teaching degree. Her youngest daughter, Anna, is 16 and a Junior at Holly Springs High School, focusing on theater. Mike's children all live in Tennessee. His son, Robert, is 30 and pursuing his Master's in French after he spent six years in the Air Force. His daughter Grace is 27 and works as an Administrative Assistant with a gymnastic company. His youngest son, Daniel, is 21 and attending college in Tennessee while working part time.
Mary and Mike love to travel and spend time with family. Mary enjoys cooking with Addison, taking walks with Anna, and watching Alex play soccer.
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Jennifer Leonard
Young 4s Co-Teacher
Jennifer grew up in Livonia, Michigan and attended Western Michigan University where she graduated with a degree in Occupational Therapy. Jennifer worked as a pediatric OT in inpatient and outpatient settings for over ten years in Muncie, Indiana and Charlotte, North Carolina.
In 2004, Jennifer began teaching in the 2s class at GFCC, a position she held until 2014. Following this, Jennifer worked for the Town of Cary as a Preschool Instructor with a focus in math, science and kindergarten readiness.
Jennifer has been married to her husband, Jim, for 24 years and they live in Cary. Their children, Cameron (23) and Cooper (21) both attended GFCC. They now attend Penn State University and Mount St. Mary's University respectively, and they both play Division I sports (ice hockey and lacrosse).
When she has the time, Jennifer enjoys traveling, reading, and walking her dog, Piper.
Susan Hunger-Batts
MWF 4s Co-Teacher
Susan is a native of New York. She attended the State University of New York in New Platz, New York, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. She has many years of experience working in Property Management and also enjoyed teaching preschool at a Raleigh church based school for a few years.
Susan and her husband live in Raleigh with their two sons, both who attended GFCC. During their years in preschool here, Susan substituted for GFCC on a regular basis. Before joining the GFCC staff, Susan enjoyed tutoring in their classrooms at Farmington Woods Elementary.
Susan's spare time is spent enjoying photography, reading, walking trails, and studying health and nutrition.
Susan is a co-teacher in the 3-day 4s Super Stars classroom.
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Lisa Williams
M-F 4s Lead Teacher
Lisa grew up in central Washington State then moved to Northern Virginia. She is from a big family (the youngest of 7).
She moved to Cary with her wonderful husband Brian in 1991, who started his commercial construction business in 1995. She received an AA from Wake Tech in Business Administration with the intent of working in the business community. But after her children were born, she realized she wanted to be on their schedule.
Lisa began teaching preschool when her children were in preschool and knew it was where she wanted to be.
Lisa taught preschool at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Cary for 16 years. After a year hiatus, she began working at SAS in their preschool program.
She worked at SAS for 41/2 years. She left SAS to take care of her elderly mother. The timing was perfect when the opportunity arose to teach again at GFCC. It is her first year teaching at GFCC. She is excited to be among the smiles and energy that 4 year olds bring to school every day!
Lisa and her husband Brian have been married 30 years and have two grown children, Logan (29) and Mackenzie (27). Logan works and lives in the area and Mackenzie works and lives in Denver.
In her spare time, Lisa loves going to Lake Gaston, kayaking, photography, traveling and visiting her siblings who are all over the country.
She lives by the mantra: “life is short, make the most of it”