Teachers
Mrs. Folmer
4-Year-Old Program Teacher, 2-Year-Old Discovery Program Teacher, PALS & STEAM program teacher and PARTNERS Program TeACHER
Tina Folmer has a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Educational Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She taught preschool, third grade and Title One Reading in Pennsylvania before becoming a “stay at home” mom to her five sons. Tina devoted the previous decade to being a parent at Forest Hill Nursery School and serving on the Board of Directors prior to transitioning to a teacher at FHNS.
Tina believes that finding a cooperative preschool such as Forest Hill Nursery School is like finding a hidden treasure. “Our students benefit greatly by parents and grandparents being such active participants in their (the child’s) first formal learning experiences.” She is passionate about tailoring her classroom to meet the needs of each individual child.
Tina lives in Bel Air with her husband, 5 sons, one daughter, and menagerie of pets. She remains active in the community by volunteering for many organizations in Harford County, and currently sits on the Board of Directors for Rock Spring Swim Club. Tina loves to give back to the community that has given her so much and looks forward to many years of helping to enrich the lives of young children at Forest Hill Nursery School.
Mrs. O'Donnell
3-Year-Old Program Teacher
Joanne O'Donnell holds a Masters degree in Elementary Education from Towson University with a certificate in Early Childhood Education. She previously taught elementary school in the Maryland public school system and has been a Professor of Education at Harford Community College for over 20 years, where she has taught courses on child development, curriculum writing and supervised prospective teachers and directors in early childhood.
Joanne has been teaching at Forest Hill Nursery School for over 25 years. "I love Forest Hill Nursery School because it provides a unique co-op experience where the parents and the teacher work together to provide a safe and nurturing educational experience for the children. Our partnership enables us to enrich the four areas of development so that each child can grow physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually at their own unique rate. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than helping to maximize a child's natural desire to learn."
Joanne lives in Bel Air with her husband. In 2005, she was recognized in Who's Who Among America's Teachers.
Mrs. Geraghty
Bridge Program & EXplorer Program Teacher
Pam Geraghty has a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education/Psychology from Lynchburg College and a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Johns Hopkins University. Pam worked for the Baltimore County Public School system developing and implementing a preschool program for students diagnosed with autism and communication disorders. Pam’s passion has always been assisting students in being successful communicators, whether it be through verbal communication, non-verbal communication or communication through visuals.
Pam specifically chose Forest Hill Nursery School for her three children’s first school experience because FHNS offered her family the ability to be an active part of her children’s education through volunteering in the classroom on a regular basis and assisting in running the preschool. Pam served on the FHNS Board of Directors as the Membership Chair and also as President working to ensure that the school served its families well.
In 2022, Pam returned to FHNS as a paid classroom volunteer and substitute teacher, working in the classroom on a weekly basis. In 2024, Pam began hosting weekly Lunch Bunch sessions, and is excited to now teach the new Bridge and Explorers Programs.
“Forest Hill Nursery School was such an integral part of my family’s life as my children began their educational journey, developing intellectually, socially and emotionally through the guidance of the dedicated teachers at FHNS who not only worked with the students, but also the entire family through the co-op experience. I am honored to now be a teacher at FHNS offering families this same wonderful preschool experience.”