Meet Our Preschool Staff
At Holy Apostles Preschool, we are blessed to have compassionate and highly qualified educators with a love for Jesus Christ who are dedicated to nurturing children as they grow in faith and knowledge. We are honored to partner with parents in guiding their little ones on this special journey.
Kristi McGarry - Director
Mrs. McGarry has been part of the Holy Apostles Preschool family since 2016 as an assistant teacher, lead teacher, and director, and was a volunteer for many years before that when her three children also attended HAP. Mrs. McGarry has a degree in Elementary Education from Regis University, along with a special endorsement in Early Childhood Education. She holds her professional teaching license and director credentials through the state of Colorado. She is deeply passionate about early childhood education and has a genuine love for nurturing young learners. She feels incredibly grateful to be doing what she loves every day.
Outside of preschool, Mrs. McGarry loves spending time in the beautiful Colorado mountains with her husband and children. She also loves reading, music, crafting, and teaching children about God’s love.
Paula Cooper - Lead Teacher
Mrs. Cooper has been teaching at Holy Apostles Preschool since 2008. After teaching second grade and kindergarten for 10 years, she volunteered at Holy Apostles Preschool when her oldest son started preschool in 2007. She believed in the program so much, she started working at the preschool. She has a Human Development Degree with an emphasis in Early Childhood Development from Oregon State University and a Masters in Education from Colorado College. She has enjoyed educating preschoolers in faith, academics and social skills.
Mrs. Cooper has many hobbies outside the classroom. She enjoys the Colorado outdoors by hiking, kayaking and camping. Her indoor activities include paper crafting, tutoring and spending time with her family, which includes her 2 sons, husband and dog.
Samantha Ross - Lead Teacher
Mrs. Ross began as a volunteer at Holy Apostles Preschool in 2011 when her oldest son started preschool. She then joined our staff in 2018. Before working at Holy Apostles Preschool, she taught first grade. She has a master’s degree in Elementary Education, Curriculum and Instruction from CU, Colorado Springs. However, she found that her true passion is teaching in the early education preschool setting.
Mrs. Ross is a Colorado Springs native, and she and her husband have three sons, all of whom attended HAP. She enjoys hiking, biking, and keeping up with all of her children’s sports and band activities.
Kimberly Naftanel - Co-Teacher
Mrs. Naftanel is faithful Catholic wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher. She graduated from Texas A&M and holds a degree in Elementary Education with a Mathematics Endorsement. She taught first grade for five years before she and her husband Steve were blessed to begin their family. Together they raised six children and supported each other as Steve served 25 years in the Air Force, living in Texas, North Dakota, Hawaii, California and finally Colorado. Throughout her time at home, she volunteered in many classrooms and parishes as her children grew. Mrs. Naftanel’s youngest four children attended HAP 20 years ago and that’s when she became part of the HAP family, first as a parent volunteer, then an assistant and a lead teacher. Mrs. Naftanel loves reading, hiking, paddle boarding and traveling to see all her children and grandchildren.
Pamela Heyler - Co-Teacher
Mrs. Heyler is a wife, mother, and soon-to-be grandma who has been married for over 30 years and has three amazing children and one wonderful daughter-in-law. She has a master’s degree in Counseling that she earned while living in Germany. Her husband served in the Air Force for 26 years and that took their family to Germany and around the U.S. They ended up in Colorado Springs in 2014. The Lord directed her to teach Pre-K after earning her master’s degree, and she has taught as an aide, lead teacher, co-teacher, and music teacher. She loves Jesus, people, and being in the classroom. She is thrilled to be part of the Holy Apostles team and to get to continue to share the love of Jesus with the kids. Some of her favorite things to do are spending time with family and friends, traveling, being outside walking, hiking, and paddle boarding, and doing Bible studies.
Jessica DiGiovanna - Assistant Teacher
Mrs. D. holds an undergraduate degree in adolescent education, as well as a Master of Science from Long Island University.
After nearly a decade in the classroom, she made the decision to step away from her teaching career to focus on raising her three children, all of whom have been students at Holy Apostles Preschool. In 2015, Mrs. D. and her family relocated to Colorado Springs, where they have since made their home.
Mrs. D joined the Holy Apostles Preschool staff in 2024, and is known for her gentle presence and natural ability to help our little learners feel safe, connected, and cared for.
Amanda Hessel - Catechist
Mrs. Hessel has been joyfully bringing her children to Holy Apostles since 2017 when her oldest first started preschool. Since then, four more have followed in his footsteps with one more watching and waiting for the day she can go to school, too! Mrs. Hessel has a degree in K-12 music education from the University of Northern Colorado, and joined our staff in 2025. She has completed her Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 1 Certification. While she would never have thought herself to be drawn to teaching in an early childhood setting, the CGS program has drawn her in with such a simple, yet profound way to encourage the faith life of children.
When Mrs. Hessel is not at the preschool, she can usually be found either teaching music around town or being Mom and wife at home with her family of 8. She loves simple outdoor walks, music, homemaking, and exploring hobbies such as crocheting and sourdough bread!
Ashley Hendricks - Nurse Health Consultant
Mrs. Hendricks holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Colorado. Since graduating in 2012, she has served in various nursing roles within the Children’s Hospital System, where she developed a strong passion for working with children and their families.
As a mother of four—two of whom are Holy Apostles Preschool graduates and one currently attending—Mrs. Hendricks has been richly blessed by the loving, faith-filled environment of the preschool. She has witnessed firsthand how the spiritual and academic foundation provided by Holy Apostles prepares children to grow in both knowledge and God’s love.
In her free time, Mrs. Hendricks enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time in nature with her family.
Deanna Johnson - Substitute Teacher
Mrs. Johnson graduated from Colorado College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Romance Languages with Minors in Anthropology and Education Studies. She also received her Master of Arts Degree in Teaching Elementary Education from Colorado College. Mrs. Johnson has taught 4th grade and has been a reading and math interventionist K-5, and she joined our Holy Apostles Preschool team in 2025. She loves empowering students to explore, discover, and develop the skills to become successful lifelong learners. Faith is an integral part of her life and she enjoys sharing the Catholic faith with students.
Mrs. Johnson is a mother of four, including one preschool graduate and one currently attending. She is a Colorado native and enjoys hiking, camping, swimming, tennis, cooking, reading, and making crafts with her family.he also enjoys cooking, reading, and playing tennis.
Cassidy Long - Substitute Teacher
Mrs. Long has an undergraduate degree in History Secondary Education from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in Special Education from Morningside University. Before joining Holy Apostles Preschool in 2024, Mrs. Long taught students with significant and multiple disabilities, and has also worked as a teaching assistant in classrooms with significant physical, behavioral, and/or communication needs. She has three children who have all graduated from Holy Apostles Preschool.
Mrs. Long is originally from Chicago and lived in Iowa for many years, but she and her family now call Colorado Springs home. In her free time, she enjoys camping, hiking and biking with her family. Mrs. Long also enjoys sewing and reading whenever there is a free moment.
Connie Paquette - Assistant Teacher
Mrs. Connie is beginning an exciting new chapter in her career as a Preschool Assistant Teacher while working toward her degree in Early Childhood Education. She is passionate about creating a loving, supportive, and positive environment where young children can learn, grow, and feel confident.
Faith and family are very important parts of Mrs. Connie’s life. She has been a parishioner at Holy Apostles since 2016, and her faith continues to guide her both personally and professionally. She is very family-oriented and treasures the time she spends making memories with the people she loves. One of her greatest passions is traveling with her family and sharing new experiences and adventures together.
Miss Connie looks forward to growing as an educator, making a positive difference in the lives of children, and continuing to learn and grow throughout this exciting new journey.
We’re thrilled to welcome Mrs. Connie to the Holy Apostles Preschool Family!
Rostia Stoecker - Preschool Volunteer
Mrs. Stoecker has a master’s degree in early childhood education and early childhood special education, and has taught preschool, kindergarten, and early intervention. She joined Holy Apostles Preschool in 2011. Since then, she has been welcoming children into our Atrium where she enjoys sharing our faith in a developmentally appropriate way through The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program.
Mrs. Stoecker has two grown children, and enjoys gardening, traveling, and hiking.
Mrs. Stoecker is a former catechist and assistant teacher at our preschool, and we are fortunate that she generously continues to volunteer her time with us.
Robyn Tyboroski - Preschool Volunteer
Mrs. T graduated from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a degree in Elementary Education. She has been working with children for many years, loving every minute!
In her spare time, Mrs. T enjoys reading, baking, and taking long walks with her husband and golden retriever.
Mrs. T is a former assistant teacher of many years at our preschool, and we are blessed that she still spends her time volunteering regularly at our preschool.