SPED

SPED

Rachel Wooten
ELA & Special Education Instructional Coach / MTSS and Dyslexia Specialist

Organization wizard, reader of westerns, writer of all the feels, ice cream connoisseur, goat and chicken mama

"Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Meet Rachel
Katy Boyd
SPED & Math Support Team Member

Math minded motivator, fitness instructor, mother of boys, sunshine seeking bird lover

"The most significant of changes are those that are made within."
Meet Katy
Gabriel McPhearson, Ed.S.
US History, Biology, Math, & Special Education Support Team Member

Versatile, Christian, Family Oriented, Outdoor Enthusiast, Cuisine Connoisseur, Information Junkie

No matter how hard it gets, stick your chest out, keep your head up and handle it. – Tupac Shakur
Meet Gabriel
Gwen Cobb
Special Education Support Team Member

Resourceful, Effective Communicator, Music Lover, Dollar Tree junkie

“It’s not so much what we have in this life that matters, it’s what we do with what we have.” Fred Rogers
Meet Gwen
Mary Ruth Wright
Special Education Team Lead

Honest Advocate for ALL students, Family Oriented, MSU loving dog and horse fanatic

“I not only impact my students today, but I am an impact on their children’s children.” --unknown
Meet Mary Ruth
Paige Norwood
ELA Support Team Member/MTSS Specialist/Dyslexia Specialist

Science of Reading Enthusiast, Fun-Loving Friend, Southern Cookbook Collector/Junkie

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” Albert Einstein
Meet Paige
Penny Zito
Special Education, Social Studies, & MTSS Support Team Member

Planner, Researcher, Dedicated List Maker, Grandmother of 5, Doxie Mama, & Genealogy Fanatic

”Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
Meet Penny
Kristen Crawford, Ed.S.
Special Education & Leadership Support Team Member

Joy Seeker, Creative, Consistently Punctual, Lover of Family and all things Coastal

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is be asked to dance. Equality is being on the planning committee.”
Meet Kristen
Tara Scott
Special Education & Early Learning Support Team Member

Effective Communicator, Avid Fisherman, Fun Grandmother, Dog Lover

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” Maya Angelou
Meet Tara
Susan Johnson, Ph. D.
Special Services Support Team Member

Goal Driven, Loving Grandmother, Gym Rat

"There is no future without education." - Rosa Parks.
Meet Susan
Alfreda Hoskins, Ed.S.
Leadership, ELA, SPED, & Federal Programs Support Team Member

Optimistic, Detail Oriented, Avid Traveler, Family Focused, Addicted to Thrift Stores

"Success isn't about how much money you make, it's about the difference you make in people's lives." - Michelle Obama
Meet Alfreda
Shelley Rea Burke
SPED, Dyslexia, & SLP Support Team Member

Creative collaborator, ability to adapt, Angler, animal lover, Obsessive plant collector

“I shall be telling this with a sigh; Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” - Robert Frost
Meet Shelley
Angela McKinnon
SPED Support Team Member

Collaborator, Team Player, Christ Follower, Prayer Warrior, Dog Mom, Avid Reader

"One child, one teacher, one pen can change the world." - Malala Yousafzai
Meet Angela
Kim Wyatt
SPED Support Team Member

Reliable, adaptable, Christian, extrovert, grandmother, traveler, Real estate agent

"Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch." - Judy Blume
Meet Kim
Mary Elizabeth Bullock
Science, ELA, US History, & SPED Support Team Member

Passionate student advocate, avid reader, family-oriented, traveler, dog mom

"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." - Aristotle
Meet Mary Elizabeth
Susanne Trollinger
History & SPED Support Team Member

Enthusiastic teacher, positive reinforcer, dedicated to family, obsessed with Hallmark movies and TikTok

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" - Eleanor Roosevelt
Meet Susanne
Susan Dudley
Special Education Support Team Member

Lifelong learner, Dependable, Wife, Mother, & Nana, Ham Radio Operator

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault
Meet Susan
Danelle Peterman
Leadership and SPED Support Team Member

Optimistic, organized, enthusiastic, A believer of excellence; Fitness enthusiast, dedicated wife and mother; follower of Christ; Lover of all music and dancing

“Empower yourselves with a good education, then get out there and use that education to build a country worthy of your boundless promise. '- Michelle Obama
Meet Danelle
Amber Dunn
ELA, SPED, & MTSS Support Team Member

Passionate advocate with respect for diversity, Real Estate Investor, recent empty nester, Paddle Boarding Enthusiast, Beach Bum

"In Special Education, there's too much emphasis placed on the deficit and not enough on the strength." - Temple Grandin
Meet Amber
Regina Pearce
Special Education Support Team Member

Responsible, Respectful, Christ follower, family first, & Lover of the beach

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says “I’m possible!” - Audrey Hepburn
Meet Regina
Mary Jo Shephard
Special Education & ELA Support Team Member

Caring Mentor, Promoter of Others, Devoted Mom/Grand, Jesus Girl!, Lover of War Eagle, SEC Sports,  & Beaches

“There may be people that have more talent than you, But there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you.” -Derek Jeter
Meet Mary Jo

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PO Box 6512
Laurel, MS 39441

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About Kids First

KIDS 1st Education LLC was founded out of a sincere desire to improve teaching and learning by placing KIDS First. Our coaches and specialists have successfully teamed and worked together for more than a decade, passionate and committed to making a difference for KIDS.