KATHY DUNCAN
Director
The preschool team is anchored by Kathy Duncan, who brings 40 years of experience to the program. Not only has she taught all five of her own grandchildren in preschool, she now has as students the children of her former preschoolers!
Mrs. Duncan enjoys following the successes of preschool graduates. “I love watching the children grow and use what they have learned at school in their lives.”
Mrs. Duncan and her husband, Stan, just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! They live in Reserve Township and have two grown children, five grandchildren and two “grand-dogs.” When she’s not planning how to make it to each of her grandkids’ 427 activities on any given weekend, she enjoys cooking, baking, crafts, and hanging out with good friends and family — especially on yearly vacations to Ocean City.
She counts The Sound of Music, Grease, 80 for Brady and Heaven is for Real among her favorite movies and can’t resist watching The Price is Right, Family Feud and Big Brother on TV. Someday she’d like to go to New York City to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in person.
A master at accessorizing, Mrs. Duncan often enjoys wearing glittery tennis shoes. “The kids always point them out,” she says, “And sometimes they even have the same glittery shoes.”
Shiny shoes aside, Mrs. Duncan learned long ago from her own teachers that working with children is serious business. No matter the school year, she says, some basic tenets always apply — do the best you can, learn from your mistakes, be kind, and treat people how you would like to be treated.
”Society presents children with many difficult situations,” she says. “They have little sponges in their minds and, nowadays, they need a steady diet of love, care and inspiration to absorb.”
LAURIE MERWIN
Teacher
Ms. Merwin has so thoroughly embraced preschool culture that she loves dressing up just as much as the children do. She has a silly hat or clever costume for virtually every celebration throughout the year and keeps tabs on the shows, movies and characters that are popular with our preschoolers.
"I am a kid at heart," she says. "Since a young age, I always wanted to work with children." She began babysitting as a teenager and went on to work at Point Park Children’s School before joining our program in 2007. These days, you can catch her getting silly with our ”amazing scholars” and coming up with creative activities for her science lessons.
She brings into the classroom with her the influence of two aunts who helped to raise her after the death of her parents at a young age. "My aunts have influenced me in many life decisions. Both are gone now, but they are still there guiding me through all my daily activities.” She’s had the same influence on her two nephews and niece, who she counts as “her world.” “They bring my happiness, love and, at times, more gray hair!”
When she's not teaching, Ms. Merwin enjoys catching her favorite TV shows — Bones, Only Murders in the Building and Murder, She Wrote — making birthday hats for her students, collecting Build-a-Bear animals and other fun stuff.
After 16 years as a preschool teacher, Ms. Merwin still looks forward to the start of each term. "I love seeing the smiles on their faces when they learn something new,” she says. “I know, at the end of the day and, especially, at the end of the school year, our kids will have learned what is needed to be ready for kindergarten.”
MELISSA NEIDHARDT
Teacher
Amazing Scholar has been blessed to have Mrs. Neidhardt as part of our teaching team since 2017. The Ross resident holds a degree in elementary education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and has more than a decade of experience in childcare.
She began her career in daycare before taking a break to start her family. These days, she brings enthusiasm to her work with our 3- and 4-year-old classes. "I love learning the special qualities of each child," she says.
Mrs. Neidhardt and her husband, Chris, are parents to four boys, including 13-year-old twins, and one spoiled pup named Louie. She loves country music, would love to visit Nashville, has seen the movie Sweet Home Alabama more times than she can count, and never misses an episode of Law & Order: SVU. She also enjoys cooking and movie nights with her family.
She embraces each new school year as an opportunity to meet new students and hear the colorful stories they tell. “I want to give children the best opportunity and experience possible as they start their education journey,” she says.
MIKAELA KNUPSKY
Teacher
Miss Mikaela may be the youngest member of the teaching team, but her ties to the program are long. She and her younger brother were taught by Mrs. Duncan at Mount Assisi Academy Preschool from 2003 to 2005. Over the years, she remained involved in the program as a volunteer before joining our staff in 2017. She works primarily with our 4-year-old classes.
A recent cum laude graduate of Carlow University, where she studied history and child development, Miss Mikaela also works part-time at the Heinz History Center. She is fascinated by the World War II era, and hopes to someday visit Ireland, Japan and Amsterdam — home of one of her heroes, Anne Frank. She also counts musician Jenna McDougall and our own Mrs. Duncan among her greatest influences.
In her free time, Miss Mikaela enjoys listening to music, collecting cards, and going to museums. She gets a kick out of The Office and Abbott Elementary, and enjoys music by SHINee, Tonight Alive, Little Mix and Girls’ Generation. Miss Mikaela has two brothers who drive her crazy and three dogs she can't resist.
This school year, she looks forward to welcoming a whole bunch of new faces and getting to do things we’ve been unable to do the past three years due to the pandemic. "I think the preschool age group is particularly fun to work with, as you get to see their personalities and quirks take shape,” she says.
CHRISTINA UDDSTROM
Teacher’s Aide
We are delighted to welcome Miss Chrissy to our teaching team for the 2023-2024 school year! A 2007 graduate of North Hills High School, she also is an experienced ASAP mom — her youngest son graduated from our program in 2023 and is off to a great start in kindergarten.
“When Eli went to preschool here, I saw how much joy he experienced daily,” she says. “Now I get to join in, and I am so excited!”
Married to her high school sweetheart, Miss Chrissy loves to organize, rearrange and plan things to the point that her three sons — Anthony, Jaren and Eli — tease her about it. She also is a fan of all things Disney. “Chances are, if you came into our livingroom, I’m the one watching Beauty & the Beast — not the kids!”
She is energized by the opportunity to watch our preschoolers grow and flourish in their own way as they gain confidences. “I love watching them grow in every way — overcoming obstacles and learning new things,” she says. “I look forward to teaching them that they can try again and be proud of themselves.”
KATIE WINNER
Teacher’s Aide
Life has come full circle in a wonderful way for Katie Winner, the newest member of our teaching team. Not only is she an ASAP mom with three preschoolers of her own, but Miss Katie also was taught by our own Mrs. Duncan many moons ago.
Her transition from mom to teacher’s aide has been effortless. “I’m so excited to be a part of this wonderful family here at Amazing Scholar and to help teach these precious kids!” she says.
A graduate of North Hills High School, Miss Katie has two daughters, a son, and a German shepherd named Daisy. She loves all kinds of music and is an absolute sucker for the beach. She’d love to visit every beach in the world, but would certainly settle for Hawaii.
When she’s not busy with her kids, Miss Katie can’t resist watching cooking shows on TV, especially the holiday-themed baking championships. She also enjoys shopping for home décor and decorating. Right now, she says, her focus is on our preschoolers. “I love seeing the curiosity and joy from the children when they are learning something new.”