Our Staff
Liza Drennon
Owner/Director
K Barattini
Assistant Director
Liza Drennon is the owner and director of The Crescent School. She has 10 years of child care experience that ranges from infants through 4th grade. Liza is dedicated to early childhood education and enriching the lives of every student she meets and has the opportunity to teach.
Liza grew up in Austin and San Antonio where she attended schools that were neighborhood and community focused. She found her love for education through the education she was given at a young age. Liza has lived in New Orleans since 2012 and has a degree in Sociology from Loyola University. She now resides in Algiers Point with her dog and cat.
​
Hi everyone, I'm K. I started my journey in early childhood education six years ago as an assistant teacher and slowly worked my way up to lead. Recently, I transitioned into a new role as the Assistant Director, which I am very excited about! I live in the Point with my spouse and our two dogs. Outside of work, I enjoy cozy hobbies, singing, and organizing a community resettlement group for LGBTQ+ forced migrants. My passion for learning and my love of my community is what drives me to work with children. I look forward to helping create a safe, loving learning space for all kids!
​
​
Miranda Schultz
Sweet Olive - Lead Teacher
Miranda is a Louisiana native whose daughter attends our oldest class! Miranda is a Certified Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Advanced VBAC Doula, Placenta Encapsulator, and Childbirth Educator. She is currently working towards becoming a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist. She strives to continually learn how to best support families in their pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond.
​
Miranda is a co-lead teacher in our newest class, The Sweet Olive Class! She hopes to be a peaceful presence for our youngest class and is excited to help make the babies and young toddlers feel loved and cared for at school.
Miranda resides in Algiers Point with her two children Ruby (4) and Oliver (6). In her spare time, Miranda likes to hang out with her kids in the neighborhood, walking the levee with friends, coffee shops, live music, and gardening!
Wenona McClain
Sweet Olive - Assistant Teacher
Wenona is originally from Reno, Nevada, but has been spending most of her life in Dallas raising her family and pursuing education. Wenona found her passion for education after raising her daughter, teaching her daughter and friends, and eventually opening and running her own in-home childcare center. Wenona moved to New Orleans in 2022 to be closer to her daughter who is also an incredible educator. She has continued her career in early childhood education here in New Orleans and is now a co-lead teacher in our newest class, The Sweet Olive class!
Wenona now resides in Algiers Point. In her spare time, she enjoys tending to her garden, decorating her home, sit with her cats and watch sci-fi!
Ciara Long
Magnola Class - Lead Teacher
​Ciara is originally from New Orleans! She attended the University of Monroe where she studied Cardiac Rehab, but after some experience with kids, she found that her passion lies in teaching. After teaching in Monroe, she moved back home and has been teaching at Bright Horizons. She used to be Wilder June's teacher! And now gets to teach Cosmo! We love to see our community connect with each other in different ways! Ciara hopes to move to the Westbank soon and in her free time, she enjoys listening to audiobooks and podcasts and drawing. She is excited to bring a lot of creativity to The Magnolia Class!
Jenn Reid
Magnolia Class - Assistant Teacher
_JPG.jpg)
Jen is a New Orleans native who has always had a deep appreciation for the strong sense of community in New Orleans. Jen is filled with patience and kindness and she believes that it takes a village to raise a child. Jen is a former EMT who has also spent her time babysitting and nannying for families around Algiers Point.
​
Jen is dedicating her life to helping and caring for others. She is excited to help our students navigate what it means to be human and have fun while doing it!
​
Jen lives in Algiers Point with her dog, Honey. In her free time, Jen enjoys taking bike rides, painting, and sewing.
Clove Valentine
Palmetto Class - Lead Teacher
Clove Valentine (he/they) grew up in Kentucky, just south of Cincinnati, and I have lived in the 9th ward with their partner, Cypress, and their beloved chihuahuas, Peanut and Ducky for the past 4 years! They have always done care work (working in hospice care and supporting adults with developmental disabilities) but Clove really found a love for teaching little ones since the beginning of the pandemic. He has found that teaching preschool combines his love of care work, education, and art! Clove enjoys working with a child-centered approach where the childrens’ interests inspire the learning in the classroom ! Clove views their work through a social justice lens and am inspired by seeing the classroom as a microcosm of the world we are all working to create!
Javier Banks
Palmetto Class - Assistant Teacher
Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Javier (They/Them) is a teaching artist with six years experience in early childhood education. They're a classical ballet dancer whose teaching journey began with pre-ballet classes for three year olds at Brooklyn Ballet. Javier has since taught in various New York public schools, the lower school at St. George's Episcopal School in New Orleans, and many after-school programs. By utilizing music and movement, they seek to help children discover more about themselves and their relationship to the world. Currently, they teach the preparatory and level 1 classes at the New Orleans School of Ballet.
​
When Javier isn't dancing or teaching they enjoy crocheting, gardening, and playing catan. They reside in the Marigny with their cat Sula.
​