Mary Holmes
Director
My name is Mary Holmes and I have the privilege of being a part of Jonesville Preparatory from the beginning. My family and I have lived in Alachua for 17 years. My husband is an Investigator with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. We have two grown children, Allyson, and Branden, whom I am lucky to have both living close to us here in Gainesville.
This will be my 23rd year teaching in Early Education, with the last 14 years teaching VPK. I am excited to expand my role here as a teacher and Director. Together with a team of incredible and creative teachers, I am committed to providing your family with a loving and developmentally sound foundation for a lifetime of learning. At Jonesville Preparatory, we believe that children learn best through play and meaningful interactions, and we strive to create and maintain an environment where your child can grow and flourish while exploring the world around them. Thank you for sharing your precious children with us.
Karen Hom
4 year old teacher
My family and I have lived in Gainesville for more than 25 years. My husband, Bobby, is a professor at Santa Fe College and we have two teenagers, Jack and Brooke. I have a Bachelor's Degree in English from The University of Florida. I have been teaching preschool for more than a decade. I love to learn! I love working with children! I like to have fun and be silly all the while teaching children new concepts and skills.
My philosophy is that children learn through playful experiences with materials, objects, and with their peers. My job is to facilitate learning through play. I use the method of PLAY to achieve the outcome of LEARNING. When children explore and play guided by their interests and are allowed to experience things first-hand, the learning naturally follows.