Preschool Teachers

2's Class

Melissa Saha (Lead Teacher) has been working in early childhood education since 2002. She has been the Twos' Class Lead Teacher at ADS since 2004. Melissa is married and has two children. She enjoys running, reading, singing, and hanging out with her African Grey parrots.

Melissa has a love for teaching young children. She believes that all children are individuals, and that differences should be tolerated and embraced. She starts every day striving to engage and motivate her students to give them an exceptional and fun learning environment.  Creativity and flexibility are definitely part of each day.  Melissa believes in finding teachable moments in every situation. She also believes that patience, love and a good sense of humor are the things that make teaching young children possible. Melissa is so thankful each day to spend time with her students. 

Berhan Abey is originally from Ethiopia and has worked with young children for 10 years. She loves working in a classroom setting and always brings a loving, compassionate approach to her teaching. Both of her children also attend ADS. Berhan is fluent in Tigri, Amharic and Italian.

In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, running, and spending time with her family.

Romina Riccardi Costa (Assistant Teacher), originally from Venezuela, pursued her studies in journalism. Prior to becoming a stay-at-home mom, she gained experience working in radio, TV, and corporate team-building events. Over the past five years, Romina has dedicated herself to being a nurturing caregiver for her daughter. With a strong passion for integrating different cultures, she has been teaching her daughter both Spanish and Italian. 

Romina is passionate about working with children and her desire to be part of a diverse and inclusive learning environment led her to Annunciation Day School, where her daughter also attends. In her free time, Romina enjoys reading, engaging in family activities, and watching documentaries, further fueling her curiosity and passion for learning.

3's Classes

Anna Burns (Lead Teacher) is married and a proud mother of two children. She has been blessed to be a part of the Annunciation Day School as a teacher for more than 12 years.  Anna teaches in the three year old program and absolutely loves it.  She believes that nurturing a child’s natural curiosity and fostering a love for learning is the best gift we can give.  There is nothing she loves more than the excitement in a child’s eyes when they have discovered something new.  Anna is truly thankful to have the opportunity to influence so many young lives in a positive way and to work alongside a team of amazing and loving teachers.  

Amy Cornelius (Assistant Teacher) took a step back from corporate life and discovered the joy of being in the classroom. For several years, she has volunteered as a Sunday School teacher, mentored young girls, and was a substitute teacher for ADS. The children give her a boost of energy and she loves exploring each child's individual interests. Her goal is to provide the children with a strong sense of self-confidence, community, and enjoyment for learning. Amy and her husband, Alan, have two boys who attend ADS.

After school, Amy can be found with her two boys at an ADS sporting events, baseball fields or karate studio.  Her hobbies include cooking, gardening, and learning Italian, but her favorite pastime is enjoying the outdoors with her family and two poodles.

Pre-K Class

Katie Derreberry (Lead Teacher and Art Preschool to 8th Grade) attended the University of Georgia where she gained a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education. Katie has a huge passion for art and specifically loves drawing and oil painting. She has 2 years of classroom experience, and during her undergraduate degree, Katie spent her summers teaching at an Arts Camp in New Hampshire. Katie also studied abroad in Cortona, Italy, and served as a Painting Assistant to one of her professors while she was abroad. During her free time, Katie loves to play tennis, paint, and watch live music with her friends. As an Art Teacher, it is her goal to share a great art experience and inspire creativity in all of her students.

Brooke Tesfamichale has served as a Preschool assistant at ADS for five years and is an integral part of the Preschool team. Her love for children and devotion to early education shows through her strong work ethic and popularity among the Preschool students.

All four of Brooke's children graduated from Pre-K at ADS. She enjoys spending time with her husband and children after work and school activities, and especially loves traveling back to Ethiopia in the summer to spend time with her extended family. In her spare time, Brooke enjoys cooking and volunteering at her church.