Teachers
DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF
THE POPLAR SCHOOL
Nancy Coll is Director and Lead Teacher of The Poplar School. She has a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from James Madison University. She is celebrating her 12th year anniversary of opening The Poplar School. Before founding The Poplar School, Nancy taught kindergarten and first grade for thirteen years in public and private schools in Virginia and Rhode Island. Her focus is educational activities that prepare children for success in kindergarten and first grade. A gifted artist, she likes to paint and sculpt, and she brings her artistic gifts to the classroom to nurture children's love of art. She is the mother of two children, Albert and Celia.
Debbie Carney has been at The Poplar School for four school seasons. She is an active parent volunteer within the Portsmouth School community and the mother of two children, Patrick, 17, and Jessica, 14. Ms. Deb believes that play is the main process through which children learn. She enjoys helping the children in their listening and understanding, their speaking and communicating.
Pam Griffiths joins the Poplar School this year. She is a certified elementary education teacher and has previously worked at Countryside Day School. She is a Portsmouth resident and has two children.
