Director and Teachers
Ms. Natalie is the Director and a Lead Teacher here at PHCP. Ms. Natalie has been with the preschool in different capacities since 2005. Her origins as a teacher are rooted here at the preschool, as she was a practicum student and student teacher here while attending UNM, eventually earning a B.S. in Early Childhood Multicultural Education. Ms. Natalie taught at the school in 2006-2007, then left the state for nine years. During her time in Eugene, OR, Ms. Natalie worked at a University of Oregon based child care center working with children from six weeks old to school age. Ms. Natalie then traveled with her family to Baltimore, MD where she worked to develop and implement early childhood programs through the Baltimore County Public Library System. Upon her return in 2016, she was given another opportunity to return to the preschool. In November of 2023, Ms. Natalie became engaged to her loving fiancé Pete, they plan to be married in November of this year. Ms. Natalie has two wonderful sons named Sage and Sol, and two awesome step-daughters, Charlotte and Tiffany. Ms. Natalie loves working with the incredible teachers and teaching staff, the wonderful office staff, and the parent board members to create an enriching curriculum, engaging environment, and exciting learning experiences for our students to grow and learn. Ms. Natalie strives to connect with every student and their family to build a strong network of support for a rich and fulfilling school year.
Ms. Catherine is one of the Teacher Assistants and who is also our Office Manager. This will be her second year of being in the classroom. She finished off her Early Childhood Qualification this summer with observation hours in other preschools and is excited to bring more learning practices to our school.
Ms. Erin is one of our Teaching Assistants this year. She has 3 kids and has been with PHCP since 2017 when her oldest daughter attended the school. She worked as an assistant for 2 years but then took a break to raise her 3rd (and final) baby and now this will be her 4th cumulative year as an assistant! When Erin isn’t in the classroom, you can find her and her family busy with homeschooling, Irish dancing, soccer, basketball, and baseball! And also loving on their 3 year old golden retriever Shadow. Ms. Erin has a medical background and has a degree in EMS but has always had a love for working with children so now she’s in school getting her Alternative Teacher’s License. “Preschoolers are my favorite age to be with, and I’m excited for another year at the school I love and assist with helping these children thrive and grow!”
Ms. Jenn is one of this year’s Teaching Assistants. She has two boys, her youngest just graduated from PHCP just last year. Originally from Albuquerque, she earned a BS in Criminology from UNM. Ms. Jenn and her husband lived in Oregon, where both of their children were born, before moving back to Albuquerque to be closer to family. She transitioned from the legal field after her oldest son’s birth to stay home with him and then her second son as well. Ms. Jenn’s love for both children and PHCP created a perfect fit for her to return to work now that both her boys are in school. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading with a comforting cup of coffee, singing karaoke, playing golf, and cherishing moments with friends, family, and her two pit-mix rescue dogs.
Office Staff
Ms. Catherine Smouse is our Office Manager. She holds a Masters in Electronic Engineering and was a Commissioning Engineer before becoming a mom. She has been a part of the preschool for 7 years. She has had two children at PHCP. She has served on the Parent Board for 4 years as Fundraising Chair, Vice President and then as President for a few years. She is on her third year as staff and is excited for new things to learn and new student faces at the school.
Mrs. Penny Bakke is our Bookkeeper at the Preschool. After 14 years of working in the corporate world, with her second child on the way she knew she wanted to slow down and be a stay-at-home mom. “I’m extremely thankful for this part time job to help me be able to do that.” She has a 6 year old son Grayson and a 3 year old daughter Adianna. Penny loves to travel and relax by pools or beaches! She is excited to be a part of this amazing preschool and serve in ways to help it prosper. Please contact her at
phcpbookkeeper@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns about the financial aspects of your students’ enrollment.
