Tressa Andrews
School Director
Nature-Based Science Teacher in our Outdoor Classroom

I am from Harford County and hold a B.A. in Early and Elementary Education from Notre Dame of Maryland University. I have 20 years’ experience in education, 15 of those years in Pre-K! This past year I became certified as a Nature-based and Forest Teacher. Last year I was the Interim Director during our return for in person learning during COVID. This year I am honored to be the Director and be the Nature-Based Science Teacher in our New Outdoor Classroom. It is essential that our youngest learners begin their educational journey loving nature and protecting their future environment.

Family is an important part of my life. I have a daughter Sara who is a graduate of Hollins University in Roanoke, VA, and a published author. I have a dog named Charlie who I love very much! I have a father who was also a teacher for many years, two older sisters, and four nieces. I enjoy photography, painting, and everything about nature. I love my Ravens and my O’s!

I also support the Special Olympics by being a Super Plunger for the past six years. This event involves plunging into the cold waters of the Chesapeake Bay at the end of January 24 times in 24 hrs. It is a challenge, but the Special Olympians inspire me to be as brave as they are when they compete. As a super plunger we are also dedicated to raising awareness and financial support to aide all those with intellectual and physical disabilities, so they have the same opportunities to compete in sports and leadership experiences.

I chose to become a teacher because my very first teachers, my mom and dad, encouraged me to be curious, ask questions, and to love learning. They instilled the importance of community and giving back to others.

I am looking forward to another year working with the families of Trinity Preschool and watching our youngest learners blossom throughout the school year and gaining a solid foundation not just in education, but in being a good neighbor and a kind human being.

Mandy Wells
Lead Two-year-old Teacher

My name is Mandy Wells and I live in Essex, Maryland. I have my 90-hour Certificate in Preschool, a 45-hour Infant/Toddler Certificate and many other classes in Early Childhood Education. I have 30 years’ experience working with preschool age children.

I am the proud mother and wife and have been married for seven years to my wonderful husband David. We have a daughter Averie who is five years old and goes to Trinity. I’m also a mom to our fur baby Rottweiler Bella. My hobbies are being a dance mom and watching comedy movies with my husband. My family means everything to me.

I love teaching and being a part of the Trinity family.

Lora Robertson
Two-year-old Teacher

My name is Lora Robertson, but my students refer to me as Ms. Lorraine. I was born in Greenville North Carolina for a short time and then my family moved to Baltimore where I was raised throughout my childhood. I graduated from high school and continued my education at BCCC.

I have been a teacher at Trinity for 20 years and love everything about helping shape young children. Teaching young children is my calling and my hope is to continue teaching for many years.

I am looking forward to returning as a Two-Year-Old Teacher and nurturing the students to independence.

Susan O’Neill
Two-Year-Old Assistant Teacher

My name is Susan O’Neill, originally from Rochester NY. I moved to Syracuse, NY to teach school and eventually stayed there after I married to continue teaching and raise my family.

I have 3 children. Kristen my oldest is a Special Education teacher in Syracuse, my middle child Megan teaches preschool at a Montessori school in Denver, Co., and my son Tom works and lives in Hendon, Va.

I went to college in Missouri and did my graduate work at The University of Rochester and Oswego state in New York. After graduating from school, I taught second grade in the city of Syracuse and after the birth of my third child I owned and operated a preschool in Syracuse with another certified preschool teacher.

I returned to teaching after my son was in fourth grade, I based a lot of my teaching on children’s literature. An example is using James and the Giant Peach written by Ronald Dahl. I based all my lessons in Reading, Writing, Math, and Science on this fabulous book. It is enriching to using literature across the various subjects.

I moved to Towson, Maryland to be closer to my son Tom and have grown to love this area.

My interests are reading, cooking, and traveling. You could say teaching is in my blood as my mother taught for 30 years in Rochester, NY and my daughters and I are teachers as well.

I am so happy to be a part of the Trinity preschool family. I live close by the school and I volunteer at the Surprise Shop. Towson is a great fit for me, and the best part is that I love my job working with the two-year-old students at Trinity.

Kathy Tilmes
Lead Three-Year-Old Teacher

My name is Kathy Tilmes and I was born and raised in Baltimore. I received my Associates Degree in Early Childhood as well as my 90-hour certificate from Essex Community College. I continued to take Psychology and Early childhood classes at Towson University. I have worked at Trinity Episcopal Preschool for 24 years and have been a threes teacher for 20 years. Prior to Trinity I worked as a Pre-K teacher for 2 years. I have a passion for music, theater and inspirational books and love to share that with the children. I also love to see how the children grasp concepts through play and social interactions. I am honored to be a part of building a foundation in these children at such an early age.

I have three boys of my own and they have all been a part of the Trinity family as well. Justin (23), Sam (21), and Joseph (10). As a parent I can honestly say that Trinity Preschool had given my children a wonderful start towards their academic successes. They also became more independent, social, and confident. My class is more than just my class for the year. I love to take them under my wing and help them achieve goals and milestones as though they were my own.

Katie Horneffer
Assistant Three-Year-Old Teacher

My name is Katie Horneffer and I grew up in Reisterstown. I currently reside in Cockeysville. I hold a bachelor’s degree from Bethany College in Interdisciplinary Education and Psychology. In addition, I have my 90-hour Certification in Early Childhood Development. I have wanted to be a teacher since high school, and I have been babysitting since the age of 13. I enjoy helping children develop and learn throughout the year.

I have a passion for riding horses and love my cat, Howie. I love traveling to Maine because I enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful area of that state.

This is my seventh school year at Trinity Preschool, and I am so excited to be working with Ms. Kathy for a third year in the threes class!

Linda Bittner
Pre-K Teacher

My name is Linda Bittner, and this is my second year as an assistant Pre-K teacher at Trinity Episcopal Preschool. I have a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Towson University. Prior to working at Trinity, I was a speech-language pathologist working with children in grades K-2 with moderate to severe learning and speech and language disabilities. I love working with young children and fostering their development of foundational skills, as well as encouraging their imagination and self-expression.

I grew up in a large family with 3 brothers and 3 sisters. I do not have any children, but I have many nieces and nephews, as well as great nieces and great nephews whom I try to visit every chance I get. I am a huge animal lover, and I have a sweet Himalayan cat named Naia. I enjoy spending time observing nature and learning about the natural world.

I am excited to get to know each of the children in the Pre-K class this year and to help them grow individually and within their peer groups.

Linda Kerxton
Preschool Substitute Teacher

My name is Linda Kerxton and I have been teaching for over twenty years, most of those years with younger children.
My degree is in Early Childhood Education from Towson University.

I have two adult sons Mark and Nathan. I live in Nottingham and have been at Trinity for eight years. While at Trinity, I have taught two-year-olds and young three-year-olds.

I am honored, blessed, and excited to work with the wonderful staff at Trinity and to be part of a school community that truly works as a team.

Sara Altiner
Preschool Substitute Teacher

My name is Sara Altiner and have been at Trinity for about 2 years. I am currently an elementary education major at Towson University. I was previously studying zoology at SUNY Oswego before I moved back home and found my love of teaching. I was born and raised in Baltimore MD, but most of my family is from Istanbul Turkey.

I am a huge advocate for nature and science, and hope to pursue further education in entomology. My goal as a teacher is to share and foster the love of the planet. I look forward to furthering my education and my time here at Trinity.