Staff Bios

Garland Hattman

Hello! My name is Garland Hattman. Layne Mottola and I are co-founders of The Weaver Dairy Community Preschool. We opened the school in September of 1997. During the summer of 1997, we renovated/modified the building in preparation for the fall opening. I had just had my first child, Garrett. She was just 3 months that summer when we were busy knocking down walls, painting, and ordering equipment. I’m pleased to say that we made it through the summer renovation (which was chock full of unexpected challenges/expenses), and have been evolving ever since.

I am a native of Chapel Hill. I have two children, my daughter Garrett (1997), and my son Jonas who was born in 2001. They are both graduates of Weaver Dairy, and doing beautifully in Elementary and Middle School!

I got my undergraduate degree from the University if Georgia, and have taken several courses in the field since graduating. My first job out of college (oh so many years ago) was working as a preschool teacher. Layne and I were co-teachers, working with preschool-aged children. We were a great team in 1991, and continue to complement each other all these years later! I love working with young children, and strive to support both the child and family. I really enjoy the meaningful relationships (with children, parents and staff) that are created by working at a warm and nurturing program.

I enjoy walking with my dogs, reading and spending time in my garden.

Layne Mottola

Garland and I met in 1991 when we taught at the same (now defunct) school in Chapel Hill. We both left that school when things took an unfortunate turn for the worse and I went on to a new job teaching at the Chapel Hill Cooperative Preschool. I taught there for 5 years before Garland and I decided to pursue our pipe dream of opening our own school. After much hard work and red tape, WDCP opened in 1997!

When we opened, I was the sole blue room teacher and Garland was the yellow room teacher. There was no one in the office! Over the next few years we added more staff and had more time to spend doing administrative tasks. In 2000 my husband, Rob, and I had our first child, Maeve, and in 2004 we had our 2nd daughter, Olwen. We live out in Orange County, about 10 miles outside of Carrboro and very much enjoy living in the “country with our dogs, cats and chickens.”

I was born and raised in Virginia and went to UVA as an undergrad. I transferred my graduate studies to UNC Chapel Hill, moved here, got a job teaching preschool, and never went back to my graduate work in speech pathology because I had found the work I love: working with young children everyday!

I enjoy reading, cooking, being outside and wish I could work more exercise into my life. I love working at WDCP because I get to laugh a lot, sing a lot, work with a great staff and I have a great co-director in Garland (which makes all the difference in the world in this job)! Children keep me grounded and help me remember what’s important in this life. And they crack me up!

Sarah Frost

My name is Sarah Frost. I began working at the Weaver Dairy Community Preschool as a teacher’s helper, and then later became a substitute teacher. I attended ECU for my undergraduate degree in Communications with a minor in Child Development. I hope that during my work experience here, I will obtain my Masters in Speech and Language Pathology. I am very excited to become the new addition here at The Weaver Dairy Preschool!! I greatly enjoy working with children of all ages! I’m really looking forward to working with the Purple Room children (ages two to three years old). I love watching children as they explore, discover, and get used to the world around them. Everyday offers new excitement for children, and it helps me to appreciate the “small things” in life. I am definitely a child at heart, and I’m very excited to get to know all the children and their families on a more personal level.

Susan Frost

I am originally from New England, and moved to Chapel Hill in 1992 when my husband transferred to the Triangle. Jeff, my husband, is an engineer. We have three children. My daughter Sarah graduated from ECU and now works at WDCP in the purple room. My son Steven attends NC State. Michael, my youngest, is still at home with us. My free time is absorbed attending sporting events, which various family members participate in. I enjoy working out, reading, and moments of peace and quiet.

I began teaching when my older son attended the Chapel Hill Cooperative Preschool (where Layne was a teacher). I had volunteered in the class, and really enjoyed it. I was hired to work part-time, and continued until Michael was born. When Michael was three, I was excited to learn that The Weaver Dairy Community Preschool was opening up. It was close to my home, and Layne was a co-founder! I enrolled Michael in 1998, and began substitute teaching. I gradually became a permanent teacher at the preschool.

I love working with young children! Every day I receive hugs, laugh out loud, and get to be silly! Watching children grow physically, socially, and emotionally is extremely rewarding.

Lindsay Gold

I grew up in Jamestown, NC, a small town near Greensboro. My family is originally from New York, but most everyone has now relocated to NC. I have a sister who is 2 years older. We both attended UNC at Chapel Hill. At UNC I played the mellophone in the marching band and performed at football and basketball games and still enjoy following Carolina sports teams. I love to attend home games. I graduated in 2000 with a degree in Child Development and Family Studies.

I have been working at WDCP since August of 2000 and have truly enjoyed my experience here. I have known I wanted to teach since early in elementary school. I started babysitting when I was 12 and have many years of experience working with children through my teaching, nannying and college internships. I love watching young children develop and helping them through the process.

Barbara Jones

I am originally from Virginia, where I received a BS in Early Childhood Education and worked in the Lynchburg Public School System. I taught remedial reading for 7 years and during that time I got a Master’s Degree in Reading Education from the University of Virginia. The last 5 years of my public school experience were as a kindergarten teacher. After staying home with my own children for 4 years, I went back to work part time at Binkley Preschool. I started working at WDCP in August of 1999, and I have worked in both the blue and purple rooms. In 2009, I started my first year in the yellow (toddler) room.

I have been a single mom for several years. My son, Graham, is a technician in an animal clinic in Durham. My daughter, Catherine attends UNC Wilmington. I also have 2 beautiful grandchildren, Juliana and Arielle.

I have worked with children of all ages, but I most enjoy working with 1-4 year olds. I love the wonder and curiosity of young children. I try to provide a nurturing environment with many learning experiences and developmentally appropriate activities. The most rewarding part of my job comes when I get a smile or hug from one of my wonderful children.

Christina Lanier

My name is Christina Lanier and I came to Weaver Dairy Community Preschool in February of 2008. I have taught all ages, but have most of my experience with 2's and 3's. My favorite part of working with young children is watching them explore the world around them. All of the things that we, as adults take for granted, children look at as a new adventure. I love watching children accomplish what they thought was impossible and then take pride in their actions.

I grew up in Apex, NC with my three brothers. After high school, I went to East Carolina University and began my degree in Birth-Kindergarten Education. After a year, I decided to move home and finish my Associate of Arts degree at Central Carolina Community College. I am currently looking into online programs to finish up my Undergraduate Degree in Birth-Kindergarten Education.

In my free time, I enjoy working in retail, shopping, running and spending as much time as possible with my friends and family.

Jennifer Rundell

I started working at WDCP in August of 2006. I have a daughter, Elliana who was born in November of 2005. I have lived in the South for 14 years now, but grew up in Massachusettes and New York. I came to work at Weaver Dairy knowing that I would find a place where I would enjoy working as well as a place where my daughter would thrive and love to come every day.

I enjoy being with my daughter, being outside, walking. In my past life (pre-baby) I loved going to the gym, but nowadays I don’t find much time for that sort of thing.

I have worked with children of all ages for many years. I have always loved working with children and families and have learned so much through them, and now that I am a parent myself, I feel that I have so much more to offer.