As a native Memphian, I have spent my professional life working with and on behalf of children.  I hold two degrees from the University of Memphis, a B.S.Ed. in Child Development (Aug.1975) and a M.S. Ed. in Educational Leadership and Administration.

My history with Lipman School dates back to 1975 when I did my student teaching here and then in 1986-1987 when I was honored to be a graduate assistant.  Before becoming the Director of Lipman School in July 2000, I was a tenured Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at Southwest Tennessee Community College. I have served on numerous local, state, regional and national boards, task forces, committees, and presented workshops or keynotes all over the United States.  I am published in a variety of professional journals with a particular interest in the development of spirituality in young children. It is my joy to come here each day and see the growth and development of the children, their families and their teachers.

Sandra Brown Turner
Director

Odette Patrikios
Office Coordinator

I was born in Zimbabwe, Africa, and attended business school and later immigrated to the United States with my husband and children.  I joined the university several years ago and have been at Lipman School since 2003.  Since becoming a staff member at the U of M I have received the university’s Outstanding Customer Service Award and was a nominee for the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences’s Dean’s Excellence Award for Support Staff.

Carol Cordeau Young
Supervising Teacher
Reggio Emilia-inspired Preschool I, 2 year olds

I have been a Supervising Teacher at Lipman School since 1995. After receiving a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education in 1987 from Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, Connecticut, my passion for teaching has taken me to a variety of early childhood and collegiate experiences.

In addition to working with young children and university students, I present workshop sessions at the local, state, and national levels, as well as publish articles on curriculum and parenting. As the Tennessee Association for Childhood Education International 2008 Teacher of the Year, my professional interests include reflective practice, science, and literacy.

Erin M. King
Supervising Teacher
Reggio Emilia-inspired Preschool II, 3 year olds

I have a long history with Lipman School. My journey began many when I attended Lipman as a kindergartner. I believe my early experiences in this caring and creative environment set the stage for my later academic and artistic pursuits. I returned to the University of Memphis as a young adult and earned a B.F.A. After pursuing different venues for a career, I decided to return to the University to earn a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. While working on my M.A.T., I was fortunate to be a Graduate Assistant at Lipman School. In the 2007-08 schoolyear I became Lipman's first atelierista/art teacher. I found that I could combine my art background and my knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice. I became the Preschool II Supervising Teacher the next year which I thoroughly enjoy. I continue to develop my own artistic yens and am an active artist in the Memphis community.

Jodie Friedman
Supervising Teacher
Reggio Emilia-inspired Preschool III

I have been a Supervising Teacher at Lipman School since January, 2006, just after completing my student teaching assignment which was fulfilled at Lipman School and finishing my M.A.T. at the University of Memphis (May, 2006). I received my B.S. in Business Administration from Boston University in May, 2003. It was then that I knew that I wanted to be a teacher of young children. I am currently taking courses in English as a Second Language (ESL) and hope to get a certification in it. I believe that children learn best while actively engaged in a comfortable learning environment; I work daily to achieve this in my classroom.

Harmony Swenson
Supervising Teacher
Kindergarten

I am a native Memphian and my husband and I have a two-year-old daughter. I received my B.S. Ed. in early childhood education in 1999 here at the University of Memphis. After teaching with Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools I was pleased to come in 2001 as the kindergarten teacher and become a part of the unique and magical environment of Lipman School. I am currently pursuing my Master's degree in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership.

Jan Kidder
Supervising Teacher
Montessori I, 3, 4 and 5 year olds

I am a native Texan and received my undergraduate degree from the University of Dallas in 1976.  After receiving my Master’s degree from Vanderbilt University in 1979, I adopted Tennessee as home and I have been teaching in Memphis ever since.  I hold an American Montessori Society Pre-Primary certificate from Memphis Montessori Institute, and have taught in Montessori schools, Memphis City Schools, and adjunct for Southwest Tennessee Community College.  I have been the Supervising Teacher in the Montessori I classroom at Lipman School since 2000.

Rachel Crown
Atelierista/Art Teacher

I am originally from Kansas City, but have spent the past five years living in Des Moines, Iowa. I have two degrees from Drake University – a B.F.A. in painting and a B.A. in art history. I am currently working on my Masters of Arts and Teaching at the Memphis College of Art. My goal for the children is to help them find their own creativity and to make a safe environment for them to take risks in expressing themselves. I hope to be a guide in their journey to self-expression. It is important for the atelier/art studio to be a place where failure doesn’t exist – every child is an artist, and everything he or she creates is important.