At Peterson Learning Center, our teachers are the driving force behind everything we believe education should be. They are not just educators—they are mentors, guides, and collaborators who understand that every learner is unique and deserves a personalized path to success. Our teachers thrive in an environment built on creativity, flexibility, and purpose, allowing them to design hands-on, meaningful experiences rather than relying on one-size-fits-all instruction. With exceptionally low ratios, they are able to truly know each leader—academically, socially, and emotionally—and adjust in real time to meet their needs. They fully embrace our philosophy that education should be an experience, not memorization for a test, and they work alongside families as a unified team to support each child’s growth. This alignment between passion, autonomy, and intentional teaching is what makes our educators not just a great fit—but the perfect embodiment of the Peterson Learning Center vision.

Who Are We?

Gretchen Tuttle

K -4 Director

Hi, I’m Gretchen! With over 14 years of experience working with children from infancy through early elementary school, I am deeply passionate about early education. My journey has taken me from Western New York to Florida, and I am proud to have called Tennessee home for the past three years.Throughout my career, I have served as both a classroom teacher and a Center Director. These roles have given me a unique perspective on how to best support children, families, and teachers alike. As a mother of two grown children, I know firsthand how vital it is for kids to feel safe, supported, and confident. I love creating hands-on, engaging environments where children can enjoy learning and grow at their own pace. Outside of work, you can find me crafting or spending time with my dog, Roxie!

Jouelle Denny

Gallatin Coach

Ms. J is a dedicated educator with over 10 years of experience in Special

Education, specializing in behavior support and intervention. She is passionate

about creating a structured, supportive learning environment where all students can

grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Ms. J is committed to meeting the

unique needs of each learner and building strong relationships with both students

and families.

She is currently continuing her education to earn her administration license, with

the goal of expanding her leadership and impact within the school community.

Outside of the classroom, Ms. J is a devoted mother of three and values faith,

family, and community. She brings compassion, consistency, and a heart for

service into everything she does, making her a trusted and positive presence in the

lives of her students.

Kaitlin McClard Gallatin Coach

Hi, I’m Kaitlin McClard, and I’m so excited to be part of the Peterson Learning Center family! Teaching here is truly special to me because it aligns so closely with both my personal values and my heart for children. Outside of the classroom, my greatest joy in life is my son, Bryce—he is my whole world and the reason I am so passionate about creating a meaningful, supportive learning environment for every child I teach. When I’m not teaching or spending time with Bryce, you can usually find me enjoying anything Disney—I love the creativity, imagination, and sense of wonder that Disney brings, and I try to bring that same magic into my classroom every day.

I deeply believe in the Peterson Learning Center vision because it puts children first in a way that truly matters. Every learner is seen, valued, and supported as an individual, not just another student in a system. I love that we focus on hands-on, real-world learning experiences and build strong relationships with both our leaders and their families. Education here isn’t about memorizing for a test—it’s about growth, confidence, and helping each child discover their strengths. I am honored to be part of a team that works alongside families to create a positive, engaging, and purposeful learning journey for every child.

Dr. Jennifer Peterson Owner

Hi, I’m Dr. Jennifer Peterson, and I am so grateful you’re here learning more about Peterson Learning Center. At the heart of everything I do is a deep passion for helping learners succeed—not just academically, but in life. I truly love the action of creating learner success—watching confidence grow, seeing understanding click, and helping each child discover their potential in a way that feels meaningful and lasting.

Outside of the learning environment, my life is full and joyful. I’m married to my best friend, Tom, and together we have four incredible children and three amazing grandkids who remind me every day why this work matters so much. Our home is also filled with love (and a little bit of chaos!) thanks to our two rescue dogs, Blaze and Harley, and our cat, Meowzart.

I created Peterson Learning Center with a clear vision: education should be personal, engaging, and built around the learner—not the system. Every child deserves to feel seen, supported, and challenged in the right ways, and every family deserves to be part of that journey. What we are building here is more than a school—it’s a community committed to doing education differently, and doing it better.

Skylar Baker

Gallatin Coach

My name is Mrs. Skylar Baker and I am so excited to be the first & second grade teacher this year! My favorite part of teaching is watching children learn and grow! I have always loved working with children, and recently was a lead teacher for toddlers. I recently got married to my best friend, which has been such a special and sweet time in my life! I’m so excited to spend my days learning while having fun with the kiddos. In my free time, I love reading new books, going camping, and hiking in nature. I’m super big on family ! I live next to my sister, and I get to spend lots of time with my two little nephews. I am so excited for my first year teaching at the Peterson learning center, and I know we are going to have an amazing year full of learning, adventures, and fun!


What I’ll be teaching- first & second grades

Fun facts 

I played division 1 soccer 

I love hiking and camping

I enjoy reading books

I love chic fil a 

My favorite color is yellow 

I lived in New York 

I love playing cards 

Stacy Barrows

Gallatin Coach

Stacy Barrows is an educator with 19 years of teaching experience, honored as the 2025 Social Studies Teacher of the Year for innovative instruction and unwavering commitment to student success. A proud United States Air Force veteran and mother of five, she brings discipline, empathy, and real world perspective to every learning environment. If you ask her what is the most important component of her success, Stacy proudly claims "make it fun, respect all stakeholders, celebrate every victory and create a class of acceptance and belonging."

In 2025 and 2026, Stacy was selected as a national presenter at the annual Promising Practices Convention, where she delivered sessions in 2025 on Dyslexia in RTI for Middle Grades and gamifying instruction to an audience of 500. Her work in this space reflects her deep passion for equity in education and her commitment to meeting diverse learner needs through research based, inclusive practices.

Beyond the classroom, Stacy enjoys reading, travel, and cooking — pursuits that fuel her curiosity, creativity, and love of lifelong learning." Currently Stacy lives in Hendersonville with her husband, youngest children, and her basset hound, Jack."

Paula Waters

Gallatin Coach

Hello! My name is Paula Waters, and I am excited to join the team at Peterson’s Learning Center. With 40 years of teaching experience across a variety of educational settings, including Special Education, Resource, RTI, CDC, and Regular Education classrooms, I have dedicated my career to helping students grow, learn, and succeed.

I am a proud wife, mother of three wonderful daughters, and grandmother to eight amazing grandchildren. Family is one of the greatest blessings in my life, alongside my faith and passion for teaching.

I believe every child is capable of learning and achieving success when given encouragement, patience, and support. My classroom philosophy is built on hard work, kindness, laughter, and creating a positive environment where children feel valued and confident.

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with animals and nature. My home is always full of life with birds, fish, and dogs who keep things fun and lively!

I feel truly blessed to be part of the Peterson family, and I look forward to building meaningful relationships with students and families while making learning both engaging and memorable.