STAFF of Children’s Enrichment Program:

Amanda Galloway has loved music, instruments, and stories since childhood. She shares her enthusiasm with the Pre-K & HS children through songs, movement, and stories weekly in Pickens, Gilmer, & Union Counties. Her passion does not stop there, she’s also a church pianist and children’s/youth choir director as well as piano teacher. She uses her talents in schools, churches, and her community. The Sunny D Community Theater featured her in Godspell. Amanda is native to Fannin County, is a wife of 5 years, and a new mommy to Adia Lauren born in August 2007.



Kim Cheves has a passion to help kids get up and move. Whether it be songs, stories or dance she shares the importance of a healthy lifestyle and creates a positive experience that enables children to stay active while having fun. She serves Appalachian children in Fannin, Gilmer, & Towns Counties. Kim is the Preschool Coordinator/Director at her church and leads Kiddie Camps during the summer. Kim provides storytelling to libraries, elementary schools, and community events. She choreographs routines for the CEP program, for recreational cheerleading halftime shows, and for fit kid and adult programs. She’s a member of the Blue Ridge Mountain Storytellers. Kim is a wife of 10 years and has 2 children.



Crystal Sparks has a passion for using music and movement to enrich the lives of young children, giving to them skills and tools to be successful in school and life. Currently a Kindermusik educator, she also taught developmental gymnastics for 10 years and developed a “Mommy and Me” gymnastics program which she still teaches. She and her husband, Jeff, have been married 21 years and have three daughters, whom she home schools. Originally from West Virginia, where her love for music, reading, writing and creative expression was nurtured, she has made Andrews, North Carolina, her home since 1996. We are fortunate to have Crystal as the Music Arts Specialist in six Head Start/Pre-K classes in Andrews and Murphy, North Carolina.

Tracy Walker is the children's librarian for the Dawson County Public Library. She began storytelling through the Craddock Center under the guidance of storyteller Betsy Doty. Tracy is a member of the Blue Ridge Mountains Storytellers and the Southern Order of Storytellers. Her favorite stories are those that reflect the Southern Appalachian region in which she works. Tracy also shares stories through the library, special events, community events, and national storytelling events. Tracy’s unique style is loved by all. The Dawson County kids look so forward to seeing Tracy each week.

John Beavin is a native Georgian, who was born in Macon and grew up in Atlanta. He has BBA and MBA from Georgia State University.  John is married to Dyanne Thornton Beavin. They have been married for 42 years and have two daughters and three grandchildren.  John became a member of the Southern Order of Storytellers in 1989 and began telling stories to audiences ranging from pre-school to senior citizens. He has performed at storytelling festivals in the southeast. John has been a storyteller in residence for a year at Berry College Elementary School teaching students to be storytellers. He does workshops on story development and presentation skills for storytellers.  John tell stories of all kinds, including folktales, personal stories, how and why stories, scary stories and noodle head stories. John will join the CEP staff in the 2008-09 school year and will be telling stories at Lumpkin County.

JOSE ILLINGWORTH was born and educated in Mexico, receiving his B.S. in Music Education from the University of Montemorelos. Jose and his wife have a four-year-old son and a four-month-old daughter and live in Cumming.

The Head Start/Pre-K students are going to love being introduced to many instruments they have never seen or heard. Jose plays and teaches cello, violin, guitar, clarinet, recorder, piano and harmonica. In addition to teaching music, Jose will be able to translate parent handouts into Spanish, which will be a great help for communicating with the Hispanic parents. Jose will be bringing music to the Head Start/Pre-K classes in Dahlonega and Dawsonville.