Julie Ricks-Doneen
Faculty Director
Dr. Julie Ricks-Doneen is faculty director of the Lowry Center for Early Childhood Education. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Child Studies. She serves on several local and state committees to promote quality early childhood research, program development and teaching that is reflective of community characteristics and needs. Her primary research areas are the inclusion of children with disabilities in early education settings, and leadership development of early childhood education professionals. Linking community service with teaching and research is a primary goal of her work. She lives with her husband, two boys, and two dogs in Hadley, MI.
Margaret Mudge
Teacher Liaison*
Margaret Mudge has been teaching at Lowry since 1999. She has taught in the Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten programs. Margaret has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Oakland University. She lives in Oxford with her family.
Theresa Lee
Toddler Teacher
Theresa Lee started as a Teacher at Lowry in 1991. Theresa has taught in both the Toddler and Preschool classrooms at Lowry. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education from Ware College in Ware England. She also passed her WNEB (Nursery Nursing Examination Boards) while in England. Theresa’s daughter, Bryanna, is a Lowry alumna.
Sarah Schraffenberger
Toddler Teacher
Sarah Schraffenberger started at Lowry as a Full Time Toddler Teacher in Fall 2007. Prior to that, she worked as a student teacher’s aide for four years in the half day toddler room at the Lowry Center. Sarah graduated from Oakland University with a degree in Elementary Education. She did her student teaching at North Hill Elementary in a first grade classroom. Sarah has also completed course work in Infant/Toddler Development. Sarah is a graduate student in OU's Early Childhood Education master's program. She lives in Sylvan Lake with her husband, Derek, and their daughter Anna.
Meagan Lynch
Toddler Teacher
Meagan Lynch started at Lowry in August 2007 with the Preschool Half Day Program. Prior to Lowry, Meagan worked in a childcare setting where she worked with preschoolers. She received her bachelor's degree in Child Development with a Concentration on Early Childhood from Central Michigan University. Meagan conducted her student teaching at Central Michigan's Human Growth and Development Lab and Creative Beginnings in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Meagan graduated with her master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Oakland University in 2011 and is adjunct faculty at Oakland Community College in their Early Childhood Development program.
Ashleigh Schenden
Toddler Teacher
Ashleigh Schenden returned to Lowry in 2011, after taking time away to raise her three daughters. She graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, then received her Early Childhood Endorsement from Eastern Michigan University. She lives in Rochester with her husband, Ken, and their daughters, Claire, Lucy, and Ellen.
Ann Ratteree
Preschool Teacher
Ann has been at Lowry since 1999. She has taught in the Toddler, Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten Classrooms. Before Lowry, Ann taught at the Groves High School Wee Care Center for Birmingham Schools. Ann holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Oakland University and a master’s degree in Preschool and Parent Education from Wayne State University. Ann is an adjunct faculty member at Macomb Community College in their Early Childhood Studies program.
Dawn Rewalt
Preschool Teacher
Dawn Rewalt has worked at the Lowry Center since 1999. She started as a graduate assistant and became a full time teacher in January 2001. Dawn has a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University and a master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Oakland University. She also holds her elementary teacher’s certification. Dawn has taught in the Full Day and Half Day Preschool and Pre-K Programs. She lives in Richmond with her husband, Devin, and their daughter, Ava.
Debbie Brenner
Preschool Teacher
Debbie came to Lowry in April 2007, after moving to Michigan from Northeast Ohio. She worked for one year in West Bloomfield School district as a Latchkey Teacher and substitute preschool teacher. In Ohio she worked as an assistant teacher for seven years in Trumbull County, Ohio Head Start. Prior to that, she was an educational aide for three years in the Trumbull County developmentally-delayed classrooms. Before her classroom work, Debbie was a volunteer leader and mom for Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, lunchroom monitor, soccer coach and international exchange students. Debbie has her Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University. Debbie is pursuing an associate's degree in Child Development from Oakland Community College.
Josh Yax
Preschool Teacher
Josh Yax started at Lowry Center in Summer 2001. He has taught in both Toddler, Young Preschool, and Preschool programs and is adjunct faculty at Macomb Community College in their Early Childhood Studies program. Josh has a masters’ degree in Early Childhood Education from Oakland University and a bachelors’ degree in Communications, also from Oakland. He lives in Rochester with his wife, Megan, and their three sons, Rigel, Jacob, and Trevor.
Colleen George
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Colleen George started at Lowry as student staff in 2007 while she worked to obtain her bachelors' degree in Elementary Education at OU. Colleen completed her student teaching in Lake Orion Community Schools. Following graduation in 2009, she worked as a guest teacher in the Lake Orion and Rochester districts. In March 2010, Colleen came back to Lowry as a long-term substitute in Half-day Preschool. Colleen lives in Shelby Twp. with her husband, Chris, and dog, Harley, and is working toward her master's in Early Childhood Education.
Amie Manelski
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Amie Manelski joined Lowry's teaching team in
2010. She has her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Rochester College,
and has her associate's degree from Macomb
Community College in
Early Childhood Studies. While at Macomb,
she did her student teaching at Lowry in the Pre-K classroom. Amie currently
lives in Shelby Township.
Jenny Harp
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Jenny Harp has been with Lowry since 2001. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education from Concordia River Forest in Illinois. Jenny taught Preschool/Pre-K at St. Paul's in Munster, Indiana for six years prior to working at Lowry. While at Lowry, Jenny has taught both the Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten classrooms. She lives in Rochester, MI.
Lisa Ross
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Lisa Ross has been with Lowry since 2002. She began as student staff and was hired as a Full Time Teacher after her graduation in Fall 2005. Lisa has taught in the Pre-Kindergarten and Toddler Classrooms. Lisa has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Oakland University. Lisa is a graduate student in OU's Early Childhood Education master's program. Lisa lives with her husband, Ken, and their son and daughter, in Bruce Township.