Trustees & Founders

Adrienne Kirby, a New Vernon resident, has been involved with Preschool Advantage for the last ten years and has served on a number of committees as well as on the Board of Trustees.

After a career in Human Resources at Chase Manhattan Bank, Kirby focused on raising her children, while serving on the Parent Association Board of Peck School and the Gill St. Bernard’s School Board. She just stepped off a successful Capital Campaign for the Gill St. Bernard School. Local past leadership positions include the P.G. Chambers School, Morristown Medical Center, and the Church of Christ the King. Kirby is a board member of the Garden Club of Morristown and enjoys the civic nature of her work, as well as the philanthropic goals of the NJ Committee of the Garden Club of America.

Kirby is a graduate of Fairfield University, where a Family Literacy program is endowed in her name to support low-income children. Along with her husband, Dillard, she has two adult children. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, tennis, and travel.

Carolyn Simpson has been actively involved in education for over 30 years, beginning her career as an elementary school teacher in Virginia and continuing as a substitute teacher and tutor after moving to the Morristown, NJ, area in 1992. In addition to her volunteer work at Preschool Advantage, Simpson has served as a member of the Township Twig of the Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center and is a member the Garden Club of Morristown. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey. In her spare time Simpson enjoys gardening, photography, travel, and of course, educational causes.

Gail Reuther is the Executive Director at Mt. Olive Child Care & Learning Center in Budd Lake, New Jersey. She is responsible for managing a long-standing child care and education Center which is both accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and 4-Star-Rated by Grow NJ Kids: New Jersey’s Quality Rating Improvement System.

Children aged 6 weeks through 13 years and their families are served by the Center. Gail is an active member of the Morris County Child Care Directors Association and currently serves as the President. In addition, she maintains a membership in the Coalition of Infant/Toddler Educators (CITE). Gail serves as the Co-Chair of Preschool Advantage’s School Committee. Formal education includes attending Douglas College (Rutgers University) for her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Correction and Spanish and Kean University for her Teaching Credential and Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.

Kyle Colwell has been a financial advisor at Private Advisor Group and a registered principal with LPL Financial since 2012. Kyle works with clients on retirement planning, insurance needs, and investment strategies. When working with clients, Kyle is focused on clear communication and establishing a mutual understanding of all decisions and strategies throughout the process. This approach ensures the clients receive a comprehensive plan to assist them in reaching their financial goals.

Kyle earned a BA in History from the University of Vermont. He holds FINRA Series 7, Series 24, and Series 66 securities registrations through LPL Financial. He holds additional licenses in life, health, and long-term care insurance.

Kyle and his wife, Emily, reside in Morristown, NJ. When he is not working, Kyle tries to spend as much time as possible outside. He is an avid fly-fisherman and skier.

Denise Lanza is Assistant Deputy Director, Morris County Park Commission and Executive Director of The Alliance for Morris County Parks, a New Jersey nonprofit supporting programs and facilities of the Morris County Park Commission. She is involved with numerous local notfor-profits and community organizations, including the North Jersey Health Collaborative, New Jersey Healthy Communities Network and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. Other organizations she has worked with in the past have included the Coalition for a Healthy New Jersey, Morris County Human Relations Commission, and the Morris County Tourism Bureau. Denise graduated from Montclair State University with a BS in Recreation and Leisure Studies and received her Masters of Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is an adjunct professor at Kean University teaching “Fundraising in Parks and Recreation” and “Programs and Facility Design”

Yvette Long is President of ASPIRE, a Teen/Parent Development Consulting Firm, and Executive Director of Platinum Minds, a not for profit organization. Her focus is helping young men acquire an appreciation of the importance of high academic achievement, make better decisions and the development of leadership skills, self-confidence and an entrepreneur spirit. Yvette stresses the importance of education as a means to a better life, with a firm understanding and appreciation of the challenges young men face in society. Yvette is involved in many community organizations, including the Morristown Unity Methodist Church, the Morris County Human Relations Commission, the NAACP of Morris County, the Morris County Urban League and the Market Street Mission. Yvette attended Linfield College, Thomas Edison College and Montclair State University. She holds a BA in Social Science and is a Certified Teacher and Guidance Counselor, and a certified teacher of Psychology.

Ginger Michaels is a licensed Clinical Social Worker (retired), Ginger practiced for over 25 years as a Board Certified diplomate in clinical social work. Ginger holds a BA from Montclair State University, an MSW from Rutgers and a Certificate in Family Therapy from the New Jersey Center for Family Studies in Millburn, N.J.

Judy retired from teaching in 2014, after more than 40 years as a Kindergarten teacher at The Peck School in Morristown. At Peck, Judy was also a long-serving member of the Admission Committee. Judy has volunteered at Preschool Advantage for many years, and, in 2019, she joined the Board of Trustees. Judy participates on the Child and School Committees, the Marketing Committee and the Gala Committee, which she co-chaired for two years. She previously served on the Greater Morristown YMCA Board, the Cornerstone Board and the Morristown Field Club Board of Governors as well as serving as President of the Field Club. Judy enjoys tennis and golf, teaches aerobic classes at the Greater Morristown YMCA, and volunteers at The Bargain Box affiliated with Atlantic Health Care.

Rick Thoeni retired in 2009 from his career as a sales and marketing professional in the IT and Healthcare sectors. He is a former President of the Preschool Advantage Board of Trustees, having led the organization for over four years. He also volunteers for the Jersey Battered Women’s service and for Meals on Wheels. Rick has also volunteered for Cub Scouts and Youth Soccer groups.