Jeanne McLarty is a preschool teacher with 16 years of teaching experience and five years' experience as a preschool director. She is a member of numerous associations dedicated to childhood education, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Joanne Matricardi is an early childhood instructor and preschool director with a B.A. in psychology and social work, an M.Ed. in early childhood education and an Ed.S. in curriculum and instruction. She has 25 years' experience teaching young children. She has been recognized as 2000 Teacher of the Year at Maxwell High School and as part of Teachers as Leaders in 1999 in the Gwinnett County Public School System.