Meet the Team
Who We AreOur Staff
Meet our teachers and administrators!
Jennifer Pierce
Preschool Director
Jennifer Pierce joined Fox Hill in 2022 as Preschool Director of Operations and three year old teacher. She has an Elementary/Early Childhood degree & Psychology concentration from California University of Pa and Director’s credential from CCAC. Mrs. Pierce has been in the early childhood field for over 24 years and have taught children from infants through school age.
Mrs. Pierce lives in Springdale with her husband, 2 boys, and their pets…Max, (dog) and Smokey (cat). Her older son plays multiple instruments, including drums, and her younger son plays basketball and multiple sports. In her spare time, she loves to read mystery books, cheer on her favorite drummer and sports player, spend time with her family & friends, and enjoy every moment!
Shell Bailey
Tuition & Finance Manager
Shell Bailey joined the Fox Hill team in 2020. She has an extensive background in finance and business administration with a specialty in nonprofit finance. Ms. Shell is passionate about community building and loves getting to know the preschool kids and families throughout the years.
Shell runs a small family farm in Gibsonia with her husband that helps provide food access in partnership with the Wilkinsburg Thursday Market. They enjoy sailing tall ships on Lake Erie and volunteer with the Flagship Niagara League. In their spare time, Shell enjoys reading, learning new crafts, and takes care of way too many pets.
Diana Curcio
Teacher, Four Year Olds, Extended Day
Mrs. Curcio joined Fox Hill faculty in 2000 and has taught two’s, three’s, and four’s classes. She holds an associate’s degree in Child Development. In past work with children, she has taught ages two though twelve at Western Psychiatric Hospital, for Fox Chapel Area School District as an aide, at Leap Preschool with typical and Autistic children, at Louis Child Care Center, and St. Margaret Day Care. Additionally, she is a volunteer in the nursery/toddler room at her church where she attends with her husband and two grown children.
Diana loves teaching preschool and seeing how much each child grows over the year through many wonderful experiences and opportunities to learn.
Kelly DeLuca
Teacher, Four Year Olds
Mrs. DeLuca has been a faculty member since 2007 and has taught our two’s, three’s and four’s classes. Kelly grew up as part of the Shady Side Academy family. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in education from Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey. She has worked as a behavioral specialist with special needs children and has more than a decade of experience as a preschool teacher.
Kelly’s three children have all attended Fox Hill. She believes that the preschool experience is about providing opportunities for a child to learn and explore in a safe and nurturing environment.
Christie Stevenson
Teacher, Four Year Olds
Mrs. Stevenson has taught all levels of preschool education. She graduated from Bradford School of Business and worked for ten years in customer service and accounting before beginning as a substitute teacher. Her youngest of her three daughters was a student at Fox Hill when she accepted our invitation to join our faculty.
Christie enjoys volunteering for the Girl Scouts and at Gospel Fellowship Presbyterian Church where she has held leadership positions in children’s activities such as serving as the Scout’s Day Camp Director.
Lisa Hoover
Teacher, Four Year Olds, Extended Day
Lisa Hoover joined us at Fox Hill Preschool in 2020 and she teaches the 4 and 5 year-old students, as well as the extended day program. Previously, she was a substitute here at Fox Hill.
Lisa grew up in Fox Chapel and is a graduate of Fox Chapel High School and Slippery Rock University. Lisa returned to Pittsburgh in 2018 after living in Haddonfield, New Jersey for 30 years. Lisa resides in Harmar Township with her husband, Dan. They have 2 grown daughters, Mary and Holly.
The students love Mrs. Hoover’s dance parties and always look forward to extended day activities with her.
Renee Conroy
Teacher, Three and Two Year Olds
Renee Conroy joined Fox Hill Preschool in 2018. She teaches two and three year-old classes and has loved every second of it!
She and her husband, 2 daughters, and 2 dogs reside in the Freeport/Sarver area. Her daughters are involved in many sports and activities, and Mrs. Conroy enjoys watching them and spending time with friends and family.
Sara Sears
Teacher, Three and Two Year Olds
Sara Sears has taught our two’s and three’s classes since 2021 and she absolutely loves it!
She and her husband currently live in Oakmont with their cat, Frankie. When they have free time, she enjoys hiking as well as spending time with family and friends!
Alyssa Kordecki
Teacher, Two & Three Year Olds, Extended Day
Alyssa Kordecki joined the Fox Hill team in 2023. She grew up in Ohio and started teaching while in high school and continued doing so throughout college. She studied music composition at Youngstown State University and writes and performs original music in her spare time.
Ms. K. made the switch to working in early education in 2021, first teaching in Ohio and later that year in Northern Virginia. She recently moved to Pittsburgh to be closer to family.
She has always been passionate about music and working with children, and is grateful that she can combine the two everyday in her career.
Tamara Reese
Teacher, Two Year Olds
Tamara Reese joined Fox Hill as a regular teacher in 2021. Prior to that, she worked several years in the nursery for Faith UMC. She has an 8-year-old named Emma and a 19-month-old named Louie, and three cats and a dog!
Before Tamara moved to Pennsylvania, she was a preschool teacher for three years in South Dakota.
In her spare time, she enjoys getting coffee, taking her dog to the dog park, and reading.
Ellie Simmons
Teacher, Early & Aftercare
Hello, my name is Ellie Simmons, and I am a lifetime resident of the Fox Chapel Area School District. I graduation from Fox Chapel, married my husband 52 years ago (who also attending FCHS) and raised our family of four daughters in the community we both love.
We built our home in O’Hara Township and although we still live in O’Hara, the home we built is now occupied by one of our daughters and her family. Our daughters and sons-in-law have given us nine amazing grandchildren, ranging in age from 15-29.
I spent most of my career working for Giant Eagle in their corporate offices. When I decided to retire, I wanted to use much of my time volunteering and working with children. In addition to my time here at Fox Hill, I volunteer my time at Roots of Faith in Sharpsburg. The three things that most matter to me:
• Finding Purpose in my life.
• Seeing possibilities through my children’s eyes.
• Responsibility to empower children with tools they need to live a happy and meaningful life.
Angie McGowan
Teacher, Aftercare
Hello, my name is Angie and I was born and raised in Aspinwall. I currently reside in Sharpsburg with my husband Chuck, our son Jake and our dog Zoey. I enjoy walks with Zoey, reading, and crafting. 2023-2024 was my first year at Fox Hill Preschool, and I love watching the children learn and grow!
A Word
From Our Director
Coming soon!
– Jennifer Pierce
Students
Classes
Staff
Years Running
Get In Touch
Telephone: (412) 963-8824
For enrollment or student questions, email: jennifer.pierce@foxhillpreschool.org
For tuition or payment questions, email:
Office Hours: M-F: 9am – 4pm
Non-Discrimination Policy
Fox Hill Preschool is a secular program that welcomes children from all ethnic, religious, and social backgrounds as well as families of all kinds. Our curriculum promotes creativity with social and emotional growth, while emphasizing basic universal values, such as kindness, friendship, honesty, compassion, and patience. We believe in creating a welcoming and supportive educational environment for everyone.