Program Administration

Ms. Susanna Smith

I received my undergraduate degree in Child Development:  Birth - Kindergarten from Appalachian State University in 1997 and started working as an Early Head Start Teacher/Home Visitor.  I have been at ACS Preschool Program for more than 25 years. In 2004-2005, I served as an adjunct professor at AB Tech teaching in the Early Childhood Education Department as well.  In 2004, I completed my graduate degree from Appalachian State University in Child Development. After 10 years in the classroom, I moved into a coordinating position with the Early Head Start Program.   I became the Preschool Director in the summer of 2019, after holding other coordinating positions such as the Preschool Operations Manager. In May of 2020 I completed a graduate degree in School Administration at Western Carolina University in the Transforming Principal Preparation Grant Program. I love working with the Preschool Program and look forward to assisting the program with continued growth.  

Polly Bolding

I've been with the Preschool since 2007, first as an Early Head Start infant teacher, then the Early Head Start Family and Community Partnerships Coordinator, and most recently the Preschool Program Enrollment and Engagement

Coordinator. I have a Bachelor's degree in History, Master's in Early Childhood Education, and a K-6 teaching license. I'm from Atlanta originally, where I had teaching experience with 5th grade, 1st grade, and toddlers. I love that I can walk to work every day from my home in West Asheville, which I share with my husband and daughter. I also love books, music, coffee, gardening, brain/social science, anything design-related, and most houseplants. My favorite part of working with kids is having conversations, acting goofy, and building relationships.

LeeAnn Wright