MEET THE STAFF
Our leadership and staff are the heart and soul of IPS.
Our philosophy to implement bigger, worldly ideas at the preschool level is unique, with a curriculum and methodology based on current research in education, psychology, linguistics, and the sciences. Degreed and certified teachers, who are continuously trained in the latest instructional strategies and child development, create a fun, engaging, activity-based learning environment where knowing and growing become synonymous.
Read more about our Leadership team here.
Our philosophy to implement bigger, worldly ideas at the preschool level is unique, with a curriculum and methodology based on current research in education, psychology, linguistics, and the sciences. Degreed and certified teachers, who are continuously trained in the latest instructional strategies and child development, create a fun, engaging, activity-based learning environment where knowing and growing become synonymous.
Read more about our Leadership team here.
IPS Faculty and Staff
Isaac Cady
Mr. Isaac started teaching in 2018 and joined IPS in 2021. He has traveled to various parts of the US, Mexico, and Europe and loves to integrate Reggio Emilia style practices and research teaching in the classroom. His hobbies are tinkering with cars and electronic hardware, as well as art and design in a variety of forms. He is currently teaching 4K.
Sasha Friedman
Ms. Sasha began her teaching career about 20 years ago. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Theatre and then went on to Mercer University to receive a teaching certification in Early Childhood Education. Due to her theatrical background, she loves to use drama in the classroom. She worked in Dekalb and Gwinnett counties as a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade teacher. Sasha has also taught at the International School in Israel for 5 years.
Victoria Howard
Ms. Victoria has been working with children for 14 years, and is a proud mother of a 9 year old. When she is not being a teacher, she loves working on her floral business and most of all, loves being a mother to her artist daughter. She is looking forward to being part of your family-team to guide your children to success. She has an open door policy, so don’t ever feel shy to say hi. She can’t wait to have fun with her students this year!
Dia Huszar
Ms. Dia was born in Budapest, Hungary. After getting her BA in English Linguistics, she moved to Austria and got her MA in Language Education at the University of Vienna. She has worked as a teacher in Hungary, Austria, China and Spain, before arriving in Atlanta in 2015. She’s fluent in English, Hungarian and German. She enjoys cooking, hiking, watching movies and reading – but her favorite hobby is traveling! She has been to every continent but one, and Antarctica will just have to wait a bit longer.
Savanna Keo
Ms. Savanna grew up right outside of Washington, D.C. and has been living in Atlanta for the past 16 years. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Literature from Georgia State University and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Social Work. She is passionate about cultivating emotional intelligence as well as intellectual & social development in children and strives to use art in her classroom as a means of understanding the self and the world around us. She has previously taught students within programs at the Atlanta International School, the Suzuki School, in various volunteer positions, and also as an English Tutor at the high school and college levels.
Kirsten Krehbiel
Ms. Kirsten was born and raised in small town Kansas. She has a Performing Arts degree from Tabor College. Her passion for acting is coupled with her passion for children as seen through song, dance, and story telling. In 2011 she went abroad to teach English to kids in South Korea.
She enjoyed being a teacher and continues to teach ESL online in the mornings. When she is not teaching or acting, you can find her reading on her back porch with her cat Dobby.
Saskia Owoade
Ms. Saskia lives in Lake Claire, Atlanta with her husband and three sons who all attended IPS. She read Politics and Sociology at Brunel University in London UK and holds an MSc in International Business and Emerging Markets from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She has worked in various Industries, including import export, infrastructure development and ecommerce over the years.
After electing to stay home as ‘Chief family Engineer’ in 2016, she joined IPS as our German teacher, building and teaching a fundamental early language skills curriculum. In her spare time she enjoys cycling, reading and traveling with her family.
Angela Robinson
Ms. Angela joined International Preschools in Spring 2006. She now has 32 years of teaching experience and has over 60 education and child development certificates. Ms. Angela and her husband Ray have two children: her son Jamario and her daughter Shatara. In her spare time Ms. Angela enjoys shopping, reading, going to movies, and sometimes babysitting. When she gets time off from work, she loves to vacation at Disney World.
Janay Smith
Ms. Janay grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida. She has a background in Early Childhood Education and a long history of teaching kids of all ages. She recently moved back to Atlanta and was excited to join IPS as a 2K teacher. She loves to read, shop, listen to music, play board games, and spend time with her family. Her passion lies in teaching and spending time with children, and loves to be energetic and outgoing. Unique quality? She is a twin!
Johanna Thibodeaux
Ms. Jo Jo has been a teacher for ten years. She studied Early Childhood Education at Georgia Perimeter and has taught at several wonderful schools in the Atlanta area, including teaching STEM to 2-6 year olds! In addition to cultivating a love of learning, she loves to play a part in students’ social and emotional development. Outside of school, she loves adventures: from exploring nature and the city, to trying different flavors and types of food. She also loves working with all different kinds of mediums to create art. She loves spending time with her family and is so proud to have a son in kindergarten this year!
Susan Thomas
Ms. Susan joined the teaching team at IPS in 2014. She was born in Birmingham, MI and after spending her childhood there, her family moved to Roswell, Georgia. She attended Georgia Southern University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development in 2005. What she loves most about teaching is that there is never a dull moment! She loves to take advantage of every teachable moment that arises during the day. Her goal as a teacher is to provide children with a rich environment where they feel safe to explore, initiate learning, and feel free to express themselves. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, gardening, photography, and playing with her dog, Murphy. She also likes to visit family in Seattle, WA as often as possible!
Quinn Watts
Ms. Quinn joined IPS in the summer of 2021. She studied Psychology at the University of Phoenix and went on to receive her TEFL certification. Outside of school, she loves music and plays the ukulele and the kalimba. She loves to sew, make jewelry, weave baskets, and can’t wait to share her love of crafting with her students. When she's not creating something with her hands, you can find her doing yoga or camping, hiking, and exploring the outdoors.
Maia Vernon
Ms. Maia is a native of Atlanta and a graduate from Georgia Southern University with a B.B.A. in Computer Information Systems. She began her teaching career as a substitute teacher for Atlanta Public Schools and was then a Kindergarten Teacher's Assistant at Garden Hills Elementary School. After studying teaching techniques and mental development of children through United Way, she obtained a national certification as a Child Development Associate. During her time at IPS, she has taught 3K, 4K and 5K.
Joy Fredericks Winslow
Ms. Joy is a graduate of Atlanta Christian college, where she majored in Music. She has been teaching private music and theatre lessons for 6 years and was previously a dance and music instructor for ages 3-adult. She has experience working with all types of learners through music, art, dance, and tutoring, and especially loves the fun, energy, and creativity of working with toddlers. She felt a pull to the classroom and joined IPS in 2015 as a 2K teacher.
Mr. Isaac started teaching in 2018 and joined IPS in 2021. He has traveled to various parts of the US, Mexico, and Europe and loves to integrate Reggio Emilia style practices and research teaching in the classroom. His hobbies are tinkering with cars and electronic hardware, as well as art and design in a variety of forms. He is currently teaching 4K.
Sasha Friedman
Ms. Sasha began her teaching career about 20 years ago. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Theatre and then went on to Mercer University to receive a teaching certification in Early Childhood Education. Due to her theatrical background, she loves to use drama in the classroom. She worked in Dekalb and Gwinnett counties as a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade teacher. Sasha has also taught at the International School in Israel for 5 years.
Victoria Howard
Ms. Victoria has been working with children for 14 years, and is a proud mother of a 9 year old. When she is not being a teacher, she loves working on her floral business and most of all, loves being a mother to her artist daughter. She is looking forward to being part of your family-team to guide your children to success. She has an open door policy, so don’t ever feel shy to say hi. She can’t wait to have fun with her students this year!
Dia Huszar
Ms. Dia was born in Budapest, Hungary. After getting her BA in English Linguistics, she moved to Austria and got her MA in Language Education at the University of Vienna. She has worked as a teacher in Hungary, Austria, China and Spain, before arriving in Atlanta in 2015. She’s fluent in English, Hungarian and German. She enjoys cooking, hiking, watching movies and reading – but her favorite hobby is traveling! She has been to every continent but one, and Antarctica will just have to wait a bit longer.
Savanna Keo
Ms. Savanna grew up right outside of Washington, D.C. and has been living in Atlanta for the past 16 years. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Literature from Georgia State University and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Social Work. She is passionate about cultivating emotional intelligence as well as intellectual & social development in children and strives to use art in her classroom as a means of understanding the self and the world around us. She has previously taught students within programs at the Atlanta International School, the Suzuki School, in various volunteer positions, and also as an English Tutor at the high school and college levels.
Kirsten Krehbiel
Ms. Kirsten was born and raised in small town Kansas. She has a Performing Arts degree from Tabor College. Her passion for acting is coupled with her passion for children as seen through song, dance, and story telling. In 2011 she went abroad to teach English to kids in South Korea.
She enjoyed being a teacher and continues to teach ESL online in the mornings. When she is not teaching or acting, you can find her reading on her back porch with her cat Dobby.
Saskia Owoade
Ms. Saskia lives in Lake Claire, Atlanta with her husband and three sons who all attended IPS. She read Politics and Sociology at Brunel University in London UK and holds an MSc in International Business and Emerging Markets from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She has worked in various Industries, including import export, infrastructure development and ecommerce over the years.
After electing to stay home as ‘Chief family Engineer’ in 2016, she joined IPS as our German teacher, building and teaching a fundamental early language skills curriculum. In her spare time she enjoys cycling, reading and traveling with her family.
Angela Robinson
Ms. Angela joined International Preschools in Spring 2006. She now has 32 years of teaching experience and has over 60 education and child development certificates. Ms. Angela and her husband Ray have two children: her son Jamario and her daughter Shatara. In her spare time Ms. Angela enjoys shopping, reading, going to movies, and sometimes babysitting. When she gets time off from work, she loves to vacation at Disney World.
Janay Smith
Ms. Janay grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida. She has a background in Early Childhood Education and a long history of teaching kids of all ages. She recently moved back to Atlanta and was excited to join IPS as a 2K teacher. She loves to read, shop, listen to music, play board games, and spend time with her family. Her passion lies in teaching and spending time with children, and loves to be energetic and outgoing. Unique quality? She is a twin!
Johanna Thibodeaux
Ms. Jo Jo has been a teacher for ten years. She studied Early Childhood Education at Georgia Perimeter and has taught at several wonderful schools in the Atlanta area, including teaching STEM to 2-6 year olds! In addition to cultivating a love of learning, she loves to play a part in students’ social and emotional development. Outside of school, she loves adventures: from exploring nature and the city, to trying different flavors and types of food. She also loves working with all different kinds of mediums to create art. She loves spending time with her family and is so proud to have a son in kindergarten this year!
Susan Thomas
Ms. Susan joined the teaching team at IPS in 2014. She was born in Birmingham, MI and after spending her childhood there, her family moved to Roswell, Georgia. She attended Georgia Southern University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development in 2005. What she loves most about teaching is that there is never a dull moment! She loves to take advantage of every teachable moment that arises during the day. Her goal as a teacher is to provide children with a rich environment where they feel safe to explore, initiate learning, and feel free to express themselves. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, gardening, photography, and playing with her dog, Murphy. She also likes to visit family in Seattle, WA as often as possible!
Quinn Watts
Ms. Quinn joined IPS in the summer of 2021. She studied Psychology at the University of Phoenix and went on to receive her TEFL certification. Outside of school, she loves music and plays the ukulele and the kalimba. She loves to sew, make jewelry, weave baskets, and can’t wait to share her love of crafting with her students. When she's not creating something with her hands, you can find her doing yoga or camping, hiking, and exploring the outdoors.
Maia Vernon
Ms. Maia is a native of Atlanta and a graduate from Georgia Southern University with a B.B.A. in Computer Information Systems. She began her teaching career as a substitute teacher for Atlanta Public Schools and was then a Kindergarten Teacher's Assistant at Garden Hills Elementary School. After studying teaching techniques and mental development of children through United Way, she obtained a national certification as a Child Development Associate. During her time at IPS, she has taught 3K, 4K and 5K.
Joy Fredericks Winslow
Ms. Joy is a graduate of Atlanta Christian college, where she majored in Music. She has been teaching private music and theatre lessons for 6 years and was previously a dance and music instructor for ages 3-adult. She has experience working with all types of learners through music, art, dance, and tutoring, and especially loves the fun, energy, and creativity of working with toddlers. She felt a pull to the classroom and joined IPS in 2015 as a 2K teacher.