Our Teachers

Donna Fernandez has been teaching at Hopemark since 1990. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education from Fontbonne University, and holds a lifetime certificate in elementary education. No one can bring a room full of preschool age child together quite like her! She also is a private tutor for preschool through high school age children. Once families find her, they don't let her stop teaching their child!

Leslie Higgs has been teaching at HopeMark since 2008. Mrs. Higgs holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Masters degree in Instructional Technology, both from Southern Illinois University. She has over twelve years of classroom teaching experience prior to her tenure at HopeMark. Her kindness and confidence in her students is reflected in her teaching style which makes her students excited to get to see her every day.

Jen Barber has been teaching at Hopemark since 2017. Jen holds a business degree from Meramec Community College, St. Louis. Jen is actively pursuing a teaching certification in Early Childhood Education. Her "can do" attitude is picked up by her students and she helps them master many independent skills. Parents love the confidence this brings home with their child!

Photo to come! Angela Faul has been teaching at HopeMark since 2022. She holds a Master's Plus and a lifetime certification in Elementary Education. Her prior nine years of experience teaching Kindergarten prior to joining HopeMark comes in handy to help prepare her students for the years to come!  

Rei Kato has been teaching at HopeMark since 2023. She holds a Master's in Education specializing in English as a Second Language. She also has a BA in Spanish! Creating, teaching, and caring for animals are her passions. We are excited to call her a HopeMark teacher!

Jacob has been at HopeMark since 2009. "Mr. Jacob" is an animated, energetic musician with lots of experience teaching young children. In addition to his HopeMark position, he teaches music at a county preschool, leads children's music classes at the Folk School in Maplewood, and performs music for children at the St. Louis Zoo. You can also find him in the local jazz band, "The Gaslight Squares!" Students LOVE him and music days tend to be the students favorite days! Shhh, don't tell the other teachers!

Jessie Bahr has been with HopeMark since 2021. She holds a degree in architecture from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and has always had a love of teaching through community service, being a mom, and teaching virtually. She became Director in 2022. She is energetic, engaging, and above all has a passion for building community and young minds.

Rachel Osborn joined HopeMark 2022. Ms. Cheryl and Ms. Rachel run our Lunch Bunch program that helps to extend HopeMark Kids days. Her background as a Child's Librarian helps keep the calm in the lively preschool environment! 

Cheryl Reiter joined HopeMark 2022. Ms. Cheryl and Ms. Rachel run our Lunch Bunch program that helps to extend HopeMark Kids days. Her background in music, event planning, and teaching music brings creative ideas and organization to Lunch Bunch!