The Auburn Day School Team
KATIE WITTHAUER MURRAH, M.ED.
OWNER/DIRECTOR AUBURN DAY SCHOOL IS MY PASSION AND I LOVE EXPERIENCING THE JOY OF LEARNING ALONGSIDE THESE YOUNG STUDENTS. I HAVE OVER 15 YEARS OF TEACHING AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE AND A MASTERS DEGREE IN EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY WITH AN EMPHASIS IN GIFTED EDUCATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. I'VE TAUGHT CHILDREN FROM PRESCHOOL TO EIGHTH GRADE IN A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. OVER THE YEARS I'VE WORKED WITH MANY BRIGHT AND TALENTED STUDENTS AND I'VE DESIGNED THE CONCEPT-BASED STEM CURRICULUM FOR AUBURN DAY SCHOOL WITH EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS IN MIND. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU AND GETTING TO KNOW YOUR FAMILY. |
Lillie Brooks, B.S.
Assistant Director I am ecstatic to be a part of the Auburn Day School family! I have my bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Auburn university and I have a passion for seeing children learn and realize their potential! I have loved getting to know the children and parents at Auburn Day School. In my free time, I love to be with friends, listen to t-swift, and snuggle with my pup-Tank! I cannot wait to continue to learn and explore alongside the sweet students here! |
Linda Roach, B.A. English,
Office Manger
Hi, my husband and I recently moved from Pennsylvania to Alabama. We are empty-nesters and our kids have decided to make their homes in the south! So here we happily are. Watching children grow and learn is the most satisfying career I have had. My early publishing career in NYC gave me a terrific experience in the corporate world but there is nothing that comes close to seeing a child’s love to learn. I love volunteering, especially in wildlife rehabilitation, gardening, watercolor painting, my silly pets and of course my family and friends!
Office Manger
Hi, my husband and I recently moved from Pennsylvania to Alabama. We are empty-nesters and our kids have decided to make their homes in the south! So here we happily are. Watching children grow and learn is the most satisfying career I have had. My early publishing career in NYC gave me a terrific experience in the corporate world but there is nothing that comes close to seeing a child’s love to learn. I love volunteering, especially in wildlife rehabilitation, gardening, watercolor painting, my silly pets and of course my family and friends!
Mary Cordell, B.A.
Sprouts Lead Teacher Hello, ADS! I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Auburn Day School team. I have a degree in English with a focus in secondary education from Auburn University. I have over eight years of experience in preschool classrooms teaching one to three year old children. I am passionate about helping each child reach their next milestone while feeling loved exactly where they are. I strongly believe children learn best by being able to be hands on explorers of their world, and I love to be a part of their experience as a supportive and caring teacher. I am so honored that I now get to do that at ADS! When I’m not in the classroom, I am enjoying my time with my husband, our two children, and our cat, Aubie. I am so excited to meet everyone at Auburn Day School! |
Alison Crosby, M.S.W.: voyagers' LEAD TEACHER
I am thrilled to be a part of the ADS team. After graduating with my Bachelor's and Master's of Social Work from the University of Georgia, I returned to Auburn, my hometown, with my husband. It was then I realized my passion for early childhood education and began my 10 year career in a child development center. I spent 8 years in the Toddler and Twos classroom and 2 years in administration. I love spending time with my husband and two kids (3 & 7). I've loved my first year at ADS, and I can't wait to meet all of you. |
Suz Renneker, Explorers'/Eggs' Lead Teacher
Hi! I am so excited to be an Lead teacher at Auburn Day School! I am from Birmingham, Alabama, and a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor's in Communication and a minor in Psychology. I have always had a passion for working with children. I find it so rewarding to see a child accomplish a task for the first time! Every week brings something new with the children. In my free time, I love to read, listen to music, and spend time with family and friends! |
Sharon Zhang, M.Ed.
adventurers'/tadpoles' Lead Teacher Hey there! I'm thrilled to be part of the Auburn Day School team! Back in my home country, I earned my teaching certification and later pursued my masteR's degree in ESOL/Bilingual Education at the University of Florida. Coming from a family of educators, my passion for learning and teaching has always been ingrained in me. Over the past five years, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work with ESOL and Mandarin-as-a-Second-Language students, both in China and here in the US. My heart truly belongs to working with kids, and I’m all about fostering a positive and enjoyable learning environment that supports their growth and development. On a more personal note, I made the move from Florida to Alabama. When I'm not in the classroom, you can often find me whipping up delicious meals, capturing life’s moments, or simply hanging out with my furry friends – my dogs and cat. I can’t wait to team up with you as we embark on this exciting journey together, nurturing your child’s growth and development every step of the way! |
Katelyne Turner, B.S.
investigators' Lead Teacher Labelle Dance Company Owner/Director What a delight it is to be part of the ADS family! I am from Elba, AL and I am currently studying early childhood education at Auburn University. I started my journey working with children in 2018 and have since worked with children from age six weeks to preschool. I have gained experience with older children as well through teaching dance! I found that I also love the management side of working with children as I worked as the director for a daycare center in the past. I have a dog named Hank who keeps me more than busy. I also enjoy spoiling and looking after my grandmother (who adopted me) when I visit my hometown. I am more than eager to see how these children at ADS and I can grow! |
Maggie Young, B.S.
Curious connectors' Lead teacher Hey ADS, I am honored to be a member of this school family! I was raised in Auburn where i was very invloved in the community and loved it so much i stayed to attend auburn university. I graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education while also holding leadership roles in my sorority, working summer show offs as a lead counselor, and working as a preschool teacher part time. I now live here with my high school sweetheart and our golden retriever. before coming to ads, i worked as a Kindergarten teacher in the public school setting where I interacted with many students with various learning abilities. I have a passion for children and helping each child find what makes them special. When I’m not at school, I love to spend time with my friends and family, working out, and traveling. I can’t wait to see what great things this year will bring! |
ASHLYN WEAVER, B.S.
Junior chemists'/Frogs' LEAD TEACHER I am overjoyed to be part of the ADS team! I am an Auburn native and graduated with my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Development. I have always had a passion for education, starting with teaching my dolls as a kid to joining ADS in 2022! I have had experience with all age groups from my time at ADS as well as babysitting and serving in my church nursery for many years. I am determined to ensure every student leaves my classroom knowing they are loved, important, and ready to take on the world. I love all things Disney, coffee, and books! I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of ADS and I know we will have a wonderful year! |
Isabel Rodriguez,
Junior Biologists'/Froglets' Lead Teacher (Spring 2025) I am beyond excited to be a part of the amazing team at ADS! I earned a B.S. in Science Education and Geology at Auburn University, and I'm passionate about sparking curiosity in young learners and guiding them through their first steps in scientific discovery. I’m a passionate educator with experience working with children ages 4-18 as a nanny, coach, and teacher. I look forward to creating an engaging, hands-on environment where our little scientists can explore, experiment, and develop a love for the natural world. I can’t wait to get started at ADS- My classroom is all about active learning where students get to construct their own knowledge. In my free time I love to listen to music, go on hikes with my dog Sailor, and try new types of food. |
Kristen Elrod, M.Ed.: Junior scientists' Lead teacher
It is such an honor to teach with the Auburn Day School team! I’m a passionate educator with ten years of experience in the elementary school setting. I earned my B.S. in Early Childhood from the University of Georgia and my M.ED from Piedmont College. During the latter years of teaching, I had a unique opportunity to create a reading intervention program and solely serve as a schoolwide reading interventionist for two years. In this program, I had the privilege of teaching over 220 students individualized instruction in 37 differentiated reading groups. I was able to work with students in all grades ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade daily. I’ve continued online education through Kennesaw State University to stay current on all learning opportunities. My husband’s job brought us to Auburn four years ago, and I’ve been a teacher at home to our son. I love being back in the classroom sharing my love for education with the students of Auburn Day School! 
Heather McDonough, B.S., ADS Music Teacher and Assistant Teacher
I'm an original auburn native, although I spent 13 years in Newnan, GA. I have a bachelor's degree in Music Education from Auburn University and 15 years of teaching experience at the elementary and preschool levels. My passion is exposing young children to the many benefits of creative expression through music, movement, and imagination. I'm married with two children and a cardigan welsh corgi. Outside of ADS I'm involved in Girl Scouts and the Auburn Band Parents Association. I'm a textbook Hufflepuff and love to read, belly dance, and nap! |
Madelyn Stocks, Assistant Teacher
Hey! I'm Madelyn and I am overjoyed to join the Auburn Day School team. I absolutely love working with children and this is a wonderful place to do so. Currently, I am a junior in speech, language and hearing at Auburn University, with hopes to one day become a speech language pathologist. I am passionate about working with children and hope to help them improve their speech in the future. I love to see the child-like wonder in the eyes of children as they learn and experience life! I am originally from Birmingham, AL and I enjoy spending time with friends and family and being involved with my church in my free time! I am beyond blessed and excited to be at ADS! 
Blakeleigh Moore, Assistant Teacher
Hi everyone, I am thrilled to back at ADS! I am currently a junior at Auburn University, majoring in Human Development and Family Science with a double minor in Psychology and Counseling. I have always had a passion for working with children. I find it so rewarding and captivating to witness children begin to grow and navigate the world on their own. In my free time I love to read, listen to music, and spend time with my family and friends! I can’t wait for the semester to come! |
Asher Smith,
assistant teacher Hi I'm Asher! Auburn Day School is my happy place; i'm so excited to be leading our junior scientists' this summer! I've been assisting at ADS for nearly two years now and have loved every minute of it. I'm a Senior at Auburn University studying Early Childhood Education and teaching is probably my favorite thing in the world. I adore what I do and I see every second in the classroom as a chance to make an impact on a child's future! Outside of school, I love drawing, playing ukulele, enjoying nature, cooking, and spending time with my friends and my kitty cat Nugget! I look forward to continuing to learn with the ADS family! 
Raley Barnes, Assistant teacher
I am the new Sprout's assistant teacher. I recently moved to Auburn to earn my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Auburn University. I love working with children, and my passion was immediately matched by Auburn Day School’s hands-on learning approach. I plan to pursue my Master's Degree in Special Education, as well. I am so excited to be a part of this team and to be able to grow and learn with the ADS staff and students. 
Allison Ohnegian, substitute Teacher
I am beyond excited to be aN Assistant Teacher at Auburn Day School. I am from Ramsey, New Jersey, but currently live in Auburn to pursue a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Auburn University. I will graduate in May of 2026 and plan to continue my education to get my master's degree in Special Education. My enthusiasm for nurturing young minds and facilitating children's growth aligns with Auburn Day School’s hands-on learning approach. Joining this supportive community allows me to grow alongside dedicated educators while making a positive impact in the lives of students. I'm excited to engage with the children, foster their curiosity, and help them develop a love for learning! |
GRACE GREEN, Assistant Teacher Hi, I'm Grace Green, and I'm so excited to be a part of the Auburn Day School team! I'm currently a senior at Auburn University, majoring in Human Development and Family Sciences with a minor in Counseling. Over the past few years, I've gained hands-on experience working with children at the Early Learning Center and St. Stephen's Preschool, as well as through my involvement in the HDFS program. After graduating this May 2025, I plan to pursue my master's degree in K-12 Counseling to continue my passion for supporting children and families. Outside of work and school, I love spending time with friends, traveling, and staying active. I've loved my time at Auburn Day School so far, and I'm excited to keep learning and growing alongside this amazing team!
Abigail faulkner, Assistant teacher
Hey everyone! I am so happy to be a part of this amazing team at ADS! I am currently studying Mathematics Education at Auburn University because of my passion for inspiring students to develop a lifelong love for learning. I am committed to building engaging learning environments for children where they can find joy in their ability to learn and discover new things, as well as be encouraged to utilize their natural curiosity to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. I am so enthusiastic about education and relational development and truly love kids with my whole heart. I hope to inspire young children to become confident in their ability to reach their full potential. I love playing piano and running when I have free time, and I can’t wait to be with these kids as they grow, laugh, and enjoy their time at ADS! |