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. Three of her children are Bluebird graduates and 2 daughters are enrolled at Bluebird presently. Kelly is an active member of Highland United Methodist Church and has been on the Bluebird Board since 2017. She is excited to join the Bluebird Staff as financial director.

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 12th 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 9th year at Bluebird Preschool. She assisted in the 5s classes for many years, and will be the lead assistant teacher in the 3s 8:30 and 11:00 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 of 18 years, and 2 children: Jacqueline just graduated from Highlands High, and Max is a student at Highlands. She attends Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church.

Katie Haas
Pre-K 4/5's Lead Teacher
Katie joined the Bluebird teaching team in the Fall of 2019. She has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University Aof South Carolina. Katie and her husband (Lan) moved to his hometown, Ft. Thomas in 2011. They have 2 children, Emma and Ben. She worked as an assistant teacher at a Montessori Preschool and Kindergarten from 2011-2017. She feels very blessed to be part of the Bluebird family as the 4’s lead teacher.

Amy Gastright
3'S 8:30AM and 11:00AM Lead Teacher
Amy has been at Bluebird for 13 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 and 11:00 4/5 Class Lead Assistant/ Music Teacher for 3s, 4s, 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, 9:00AM Class
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.

Claire Freppon
3'S Lead Assistant 9:00 AM Class
Claire joined Bluebird Preschool as an assistant in the 3’s class in 2018 after spending 8 years as a Bluebird parent. Her children Ava, Jude and Lydia are now students at Moyer. Claire has an Interior Design degree from the University of Cincinnati and worked in the design field before staying home with her children. She lives in Fort Thomas with her children and husband, Andy, and enjoys baking and decorating cakes and watching her kids play sports.

Hilary Dungan
2'S M/W and T/Th Lead Teacher
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 looks forward to getting to know her students and their families.

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. (picture forthcoming)
Karen Beymer is now assisting in the MW and TTh 2s Classes. (picture forthcoming)
Shelley Frey teaches Spanish to 4 and 5yr olds on Monday. (picture forthcoming)
Shelley Frey teaches Spanish to 4 and 5yr olds on Monday. (picture forthcoming)