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 , Mini Camp 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'/STEM Camp 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! 
Katelyne Turner, B.S.
investigators' Lead Teacher STEM Camp manager 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! 
ASHLYN WEAVER, B.S.
Junior Scientists'/MINI CAMP 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! 
Ren Hunt, B.S.
Innovators'/STEM CAMP Lead Teacher I am so excited to be returning as a lead teacher as part of the ADS team! I graduated from Auburn with a degree in Early Childhood Education and will be pursuing a masters degree in School Counseling this fall! I have previously been an assistant at ADS and am overjoyed to be moving into a lead role. It is my privilege to work with your sweet students and ensure their time in my classroom is full of love and learning. 
Adeline hardcastle, Assistant Teacher
Hi! My name is Adeline Hardcastle, I am so blessed to be a part of the Auburn Day School Team! I am currently a sophomore at Auburn University in the Human Development and Family Science Program. I have always loved working with children and am so excited to build my experience here at ADS. It is so rewarding to see children grow, learn and make connections! Can’t wait to grow alongside the children and my co-workers! 
Rachel Taylor, SPROUTS Assistant Teacher
Hi! I’m Rachel, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Auburn Day School team! I'm currently a sophomore at Auburn University, majoring in Human Development and Family Science. With a passion for early education, I have always enjoyed working with children and supporting their growth and development. I truly enjoy helping kids learn, thrive, and reach their full potential. In my free time, I like staying active, spending time with friends, and working out. I am so excited to contribute to this wonderful team! 
Kellyn Murch, B.S., SUbstitute Teacher
Hi! I am delighted to be returning to the Auburn Day School team as a substitute teacher this summer. I am a recent Auburn University graduate with a B.S. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and a minor in Leadership Studies. This fall, I am moving to Boston, MA to pursue my master's in Higher Education at Boston College, and am thankful for ADS for contributing to my passions for continuous learning and education. I am excited to continue contributing to ADS's enriching learning experiences that allow students to grow and have lots of fun! 
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! |
Sharon Zhang, M.Ed.
adventurers'/STEM Camp 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! 
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! 
Lani SHIVERS, Asst. TEACHER STEM CAMP
Hi! I am thrilled to be a part of Auburn Day School for the summer! I am graduating next semester from Auburn University with my bachelor's degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. From there, I plan to start graduate school for speech language pathology so that I can practice speech therapy in a setting such as this! I am so excited to learn more about child growth and development through an opportunity to serve these children. In my free time, I enjoy anytime I can be out in the sun touching grass, hanging out with my friends, or shopping! I look forward to both learning and laughing with the children at Auburn Day School this summer! 
Madison McGeorge, B.S.
Innovators Asst. Teacher Hey ADS! I’m so excited to be joining the team! I’m from Atlanta, GA, and I recently graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Business. I’m continuing my education at Auburn to pursue a Master’s degree in Chemistry Education. I am passionate about everything math and science related, but more importantly, I love teaching and encouraging children to help discover what they’re passionate about! In my free time, I enjoy playing recreational sports, painting, and spending time with friends and family. I can’t wait to help these kids learn, while having tons of fun along the way! 
Ric Browning, B.M.E
Summer Assistant Teacher/Camp Lead Teacher I am thrilled to be back at Auburn Day School for another wonderful summer! I’ve been honored to work at ADS for the past three summers, and just recently graduated from Auburn University with my bachelor’s in music education (Instrumental). During the school year I teach band and music to students of all ages, and I love helping them build confidence, express and explore their creativity, and learn the value of collaboration with others. When I’m not teaching, you can find me playing trumpet, cheering on Auburn sports, playing pickleball, or building a really good Lego set. I can’t wait for another amazing summer at ADS! 
Rachael Harper, Assistant Teacher
I am so excited to join the Auburn Day School team! I recently graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in Psychology and am currently pursuing a master's degree in Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation at Auburn University. I have a strong passion for working with children and have developed a unique connection with them throughout my academic and professional experiences. In the future, I aspire to specialize in supporting children with learning disabilities. Outside my academic pursuits, I enjoy spending time at the beach, shopping, and socializing with family and friends. I look forward to building strong relationships with the children at Auburn Day School and positively impacting their lives. |
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! |
Raley Barnes, 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. 
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! |