Bluebird Staff

Cyndy Jones

Director
Cyndy Tharp Jones joined Bluebird in 2013 as the lead teacher for the 3 year old classes. She is a native of Ft. Thomas, a Highlands graduate and holds a BA and MA in Education from Northern Kentucky University. After 33 years of teaching at Ludlow Elementary, she retired in 2011. She is also an active member of Highland United Methodist Church and Delta Kappa Gamma Society for Key Women Educators. She and her husband Dan have 5 children and 9 grandchildren. God has blessed her with a wonderful teaching career and she feels blessed again to have this opportunity to lead Bluebird Christian Preschool. 

Kelly Horner

Financial Director
Kelly has a BS in Business Administration from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Northern Kentucky University. After working in the IT department at Fifth Third Bank for 17 years, Kelly decided to stay at home with her children. She and her husband, Steven, have 6 children and reside in Fort Thomas. Four of her children are Bluebird graduates and 1 daughter is enrolled at Bluebird presently. 

Mary Scott

Pre-K 5's Lead Teacher
Mary is a certified teacher with a Master’s in Education from Northern Kentucky University. She was a grade school teacher for many years and then stayed home to raise 3 children who now live in 3 different states. She has been teaching remedial reading as a private tutor and volunteers at an inner city tutoring center. She is a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Newport. Mary is excited to be a part of the faith based learning environment at Bluebird. She joined the Bluebird team as a 4's Assistant in 2017 and worked with all ages the following year as our Learning Coordinator. She was instrumental in writing our curriculum at Bluebird. She will be leading the Pre-K 5's class again starting in the fall.

Renee Rust

Pre-K 5's Lead Assistant
Renee is very excited to be going into her 13  year at Bluebird as a lead teacher assistant in the PreK5 class. She thoroughly loves and enjoys working with these children and considers it the most fun and rewarding experience. She graduated from NKU with a bachelors degree in psychology. She is married and has 2 grown children, both Highland High School grads.

Caren Hamilton

3s Lead Assistant
Caren is excited and looking forward to starting her 11  year at Bluebird Preschool. She assisted in the  5s classes for many years, and will be the lead assistant teacher in the 3s classes  this school year.  She is a graduate of Highlands High School and Eastern KY University with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design.  She lives in Ft. Thomas with her husband Fred  and 2 children: Jacqueline  graduated from Highlands High, and Max is a student at Highlands.  She attends Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church.

Shelley Frey

Pre-K 4s Lead Teacher
Shelley has been affiliated with Bluebird Preschool for many years.  She has been our Spanish Teacher  and worked in 2s in the past, however this year decided to take the job as Lead Teacher for 4 yr olds.  We are so blessed to have her back on staff!

Amy Gastright

3'S  Lead Teacher
Amy has been at Bluebird for many years and became the 3s Lead Teacher after Ms Cyndy became Bluebird Director.  Amy is a mother of three and spends most of her time with her family. She has a degree in English and enjoys cooking, reading, gardening and spending time with her family.

Karen Thompson

Pre-K 4's  Class Lead Assistant/ Music Teacher for 3s, 4s, and 5s
Karen grew up in Southgate and earned a Bachelor of Music from Northern Kentucky University, where she also met her husband Gary. They raised their three children in six different states, moving back home to Fort Thomas in 2013. She has seven grandchildren, four of which attended Bluebird Preschool, and treasures her time with each of them. Combining her passion for music and love for children, Karen taught private piano lessons for over 40 years. She joined Bluebird in 2019.

Amy Yeager

3'S Lead Teacher
Amy joined the Bluebird team during the 2018-19 school year as the 3's 8:45AM class lead teacher. She is a life-long Ft. Thomas resident, and her three daughters attended Bluebird. In 1996 Amy felt called to serve with children. She volunteered in many different roles at her church and in her daughters’ schools. Amy was on staff at Highland Hills Church in Ft. Thomas as the Minister to Children for 12 years. She feels blessed to have this new opportunity at Bluebird to continue pouring her love and energy into the lives of young children. Amy loves spending time with family and friends and is enjoying her role as “Mimi” to her grandchildren.

Samantha  Riley

2s Lead Teacher
Samantha joined the Bluebird staff in 2023 after being a stay at home mom and nanny.  She attended Bluebird when she was a child, and has her son Max enrolled presently in Bluebird. She graduated from NKU with a degree in clinical mental health counseling.  We are blessed to have her work with our little ones!

Hilary Dungan

Assistant for all classes
Hilary began teaching our 2's classes in 2012. She worked as an assistant for the 4 year old classes during the 2011-12 school year. She has a BS from NKU in Human Services with an emphasis in preschool. She is married and has two daughters. They are members of Highland United Methodist Church.  She is serving presently as children's ministry director at Highland Methodist, but still helps at Bluebird 2 days per week.

Karen Beymer

2'S M/W and T/Th Lead Assistant
Karen Beymer began working at Bluebird in January 2022 as an assistant in the 2's classes. She is an active member of Highland United Methodist Church and has lived in Fort Thomas since 2006. She enjoys walking, reading and spending time with her grandchildren. She's an excellent Nana to her grandbabies and she will be for your children, too!

Sherry Wolfe is now assisting with the  Wednesday Music Classes. 

Rachel  Burnett is our Spanish Teacher on Tuesdays .
Cherry Hornbach is an additional assistant in the 2s classes.
Ashley Munson is the lead teacher assistant in 3s class, working with Amy Yeager.
Additional information will be forthcoming about these staff members!