Dogwood Preschool Board of Directors
Katie Baskind (2021-2024), President
Ryan Grammer (2022-2025), Treasurer
Lolly Hodge (2021-2024)
Kari Hyman (2021-2024)
Mike Innes (2022-2025)
Jeff Johnson (2023-2026)
Paul Rice (2023 - 2026)
Lauren Robertson (2022-2025), Vice President
Rev. John Rohrs (2023-2026)
Paul Saunders (2023-2026)
Frances Wilkinson (2022-2025), Secretary
Dogwood Preschool Founders
In 2020, after the closure of St. Stephen’s Preschool, a group of seven parents and teachers came together with the goal of preserving the St. Stephen’s Way and continuing to provide an early childhood education for children in the greater Richmond area that would foster curiosity, honor empathy and kindness, and allow children to explore their interests. They hoped to reconnect children with their teachers, the school and its families, and continue to build the community that has been behind the success of so many. Long hours on Zoom calls late into the evening paid off, laying the foundation for Dogwood Preschool to become a reality when the school opened in September 2021.
Sarah Innes
Sarah Innes is excited to continue her teaching career at Dogwood Preschool. With an undergraduate degree in French from Hamilton College and a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Pennsylvania, her prior teaching experience covers Middle School and Elementary School in Charlottesville and Tampa as well as Preschool in Richmond.
Sarah, her husband Mike, and their three children enjoy traveling and playing golf together.
Kari Hyman
Kari Teagno Hyman is a stay at home working mom with an inquisitive eight year old, Jett, a vivacious five year old, Hawkes, and several businesses in the construction industry. She and her husband, Heath, reside in the Fan with their energetic Australian Labradoodle named Kwazii. Kari enjoys pilates; playing squash and tennis; serving on the Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) Board; vacationing on Bald Head Island and visiting family in California.
Mary Lewis
Mary has a Bachelor of Science in Communications from The University of Texas at Austin. She spent nearly a decade in Washington, DC, as a Presidential Appointee at the US Department of Commerce, working on Capitol Hill, and at the World Bank Group helping to launch major reports and planning the World Bank Group/IMF Annual Meetings. From the very beginning, Mary’s parents taught her to think carefully about education - both for herself and for her children. They led by example, spending their free time teaching, writing curriculum, and founding what is now one of the largest private schools in Austin, Texas. Mary hopes to raise her children to think critically, explore the world, and treat others with kindness. Mary enjoys oil painting, cooking, and time spent outdoors with her husband, three children, two dogs and a cat.
Amy Hauser Nelson
Originally from Connecticut, Amy lived on Nantucket for many years where she was a personal assistant and met her husband Robert, a Richmond native. For over 15 years there, she ran her own daycare for preschool age children. In 2012, Amy and Robert, with their children Henry and Charlotte, moved to Richmond to be closer to family. Amy fell in love with volunteering at their preschool. When her children left for Kindergarten, she stayed on to teach. With a passion for the importance of early childhood education, she is committed to nurturing the growth of each child. She enjoys cooking and creating, camping and time outdoors with family.
Katie Noland
Katie is a Boston native with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of New Hampshire. With her background in sales and marketing, she spent the first ten years of her career working in Washington, DC, before settling in Richmond with her husband, Dave, and their four young children. Her involvement in the creation of Dogwood Preschool stems from her passionate belief that children should be treated with respect, that their inherent curiosity should be celebrated, and that giving them the freedom to make age-appropriate choices is pivotal in their development. She is thrilled to bring her enthusiasm and diligent work ethic to the Dogwood Preschool team, working alongside a group of women who are equally impassioned about sharing this early education philosophy with the Richmond preschool community.
Mary Douglas Rice
Born and raised in Richmond, Mary Douglas is excited to be part of the inception of Dogwood Preschool. After earning English and French degrees at UNC, she spent eight years in the retail brokerage business. She and her husband, Paul, have three lively daughters who have made life so much fun! A desire for their social and educational experiences to be intentional and positive, reinforcing respect and independence, led her to become involved early on in Dogwood’s foundation.
Kay Tyler
Kay earned a BS in Business Administration at the University of Tennessee (1986) and MBA from The University of Richmond (1992). Her professional experience has been sales and marketing, technical graphics artist, managing director of a historic house site, owner of staging consultation, administrative assistant in local preschool, a substitute teacher at St. James’s Children’s Center and most recently, a Music Together Specialist for Richmond Public Schools. Married to William, they have three grown children. She is a volunteer with Greater Richmond SCAN, the Garden Club of Virginia, the Science Museum of Virginia, a member of the St. James’s choir, and enjoys playing tennis, reading and yoga.