Meet the Faculty of #teamholyname
Preschool & Kindergarten
Mrs. Trish Nichols
Mrs. Trish Nichols is the Director of the Holy Name Preschool Program as well as the lead teacher for the Ladybug (3 1/2 - 4-year-olds) Class. She holds a BS in Liberal Studies in Early Childhood Education from the University of Phoenix. Mrs. Trish came to us from KGBSD where she worked for 5 years in the Special Education Department as an itinerate Educational Speech and Language Paraprofessional. Prior to moving to Alaska in 2017, Mrs. Trish lived in California, where she began her work as a Substitute in a 1st - 3rd Grade Deaf and Hard of Hearing Special Education Classroom.
Mrs. Trish encourages her students to be independent and reminds them to make their best choices, to believe in themselves & ANYTHING is possible and we turn their "I cants into I CAN's!!
​
Our classroom motto is; you CAN do hard things!
I was born and raised in a small Central Texas town. I moved to Ketchikan, Alaska in 2010 with my husband and two daughters. I have three dogs ( yes three!!!) and two cats. I completed my Bachelor's Degree in Early Education in 2021 but have been working for the School District as an Instructional/Educational/ESL Paraprofessional since 2011.
I am excited to join the Holy Name team as Bumblebee Teacher and look forward to learning about and growing with your preschooler. I have lots of fun things planned!
In my spare time, I enjoy quiet time at home, spending time with my grandkids, and being outside when the weather permits.
Mrs. Amanda Easterling
I was born and raised right here in Alaska. I was originally born in Ketchikan and lived here for 22 years. My husband, and I, along with our six kids recently moved back to Ketchikan from Anchorage. This year will be my first year as a teacher's assistant.
I enjoy working with kids, and I am very passionate about bringing fun and creativity into learning. I am feeling joyous about joining your preschooler’s this year during their first steps into their school journey. This can be a very challenging time for many of them, I hope to bring some safety and comfort as they go through this transition!
During my down time, I love to spend time with my family, as well as
working on photography and art projects.
Ms. Ashley Straight
I am driven by a passion for helping others and making meaningful connections. With a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in sociology, I have spent the last five years working in the children's mental health department at Community Connections.
Born and raised within the Holy Name School and Parish community, I attended Holy Name from preschool through sixth grade and have remained an active participant in the church.
Returning to work where my faith journey began is truly a full-circle moment for me. Beyond work, I enjoy exploring/traveling, diving into creative projects like photography and arts and crafts, getting lost in a good book, and hosting game nights with family and friends. I am also passionate about developing a faith-based clothing brand, combining my creativity and spirituality.
Miss Amanda Dulay
