Preston created Pop, Hop & Rock™ in 2000 when her children were preschoolers. What started as a simple exercise program has evolved into one that focuses on creating opportunities for kids to hone fundamental strengths and skills allowing them to develop physical literacy and build aerobic, core and other foundational strengths proven to make kids better learners. Preston believes that kids who are confident movers are also confident on the playground, sports field, classroom and most importantly, in life.

Preston has been teaching fitness classes to grown-ups since 1992 and is trained and certified in many formats including:

• American Council on Exercise (ACE) certified Health Coach
• American Council on Exercise (ACE) Group Fitness Instructor
• American Council on Exercise (ACE) Youth Fitness Specialist
• Les Mills certified BodyPump Instructor
• Healthy Moms certified prenatal and postpartum instructor
• ICG Indoor Cycling Instructor
• Plant Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies through Cornell University. 
• Trauma Sensitive Yoga for Children from Little Flower Yoga

As a former NCAA athlete Preston brings her knowledge of sports mechanics to every class. In addition, her passion for wellness, nutrition and health drives her love for helping kids develop strong bodies and brains.  When she isn’t with children, she can be found around Richmond teaching anything from Bootcamp to BodyPump, Spin to Step and more.

Her love for sharing her talents and knowledge has led her to work with some amazing non-profits. 

• In 2017 she was honored to be a keynote speaker at the second annual Move2Learn Summit hosted by Runningbrooke in Alexandria, VA. 
• In 2018, Pop, Hop & Rock™ was chosen as Youth Life Foundation‘s Community Partner of the Year.   

Preston is honored and humbled to work with the following groups which support our next generation:

• LeafSpring School Health and Wellness Advisory Board, board member
• Shoes That Fit, Virginia Chapter Founder
• Play Ambassador, Genius of Play

Preston’s Professional Memberships

• International Play Association (IPA World)
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• Virginia Association for the Education on Young Children (VAAEYC)

In 2019, Preston created Pivot to Play™, the next generation of Pop, Hop & Rock™ to help schools get kids active.   With the singular goal of helping support successful kids, Pivot to Play™ offers two avenues to deliver purposeful play programming in school settings:

1. Pivot to Play™ professional development, consulting, and training for teachers and schools.  Offered in person and virtually, these trainings are designed to support educators in getting kids moving in and out of the classroom.  With tools, lesson plans, workbooks and in depth training on the vital importance of physical activity to learning, these schools have committed to getting their students active for improved classroom success. Learn more here.
2. Pivot to Play™ Coach Certification.  This certification helps those who value the importance of physical activity to a child’s success in and out of school build a business just like Pop, Hop & Rock™ in their own community.  With in depth training on purposeful movement, proven lesson plans and business building strategies, Pivot to Play™ Certified Coaches are highly valued for their knowledge and expertise.  Learn more here.

Most importantly, Preston’s proudest accomplishment is being a mom.  Though her own preschoolers are now twenty-somethings taking on the world, they were the best inspiration for Pop, Hop & Rock™ and Pivot to Play® and continue to inspire, while adding a little of their own support and creativity to the program even today!

Terry has a BA in Liberal Arts from VA Tech and a M.Ed in Counselor Education from VCU. She was a middle school counselor for 5 years before deciding to stay home to raise her family. During that time, she became certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, one of the largest internationally recognized fitness certifying bodies. She began teaching in 2000 and has been sharing her love for fitness as well as her thoughtful, creative and fun classes to Richmond area grown-ups ever since. Terry can be found teaching almost anything including Barre, Step and Strength style classes.

Terry joined the Pop, Hop & Rock™ family in 2014 and has brought her enthusiasm and sense of adventure to schools all over Richmond. Her knowledge of fitness coupled with her counseling background make her classes energetic, creative and FUN!  

Terry has acted as primary tester for all games and classroom management tricks helping propel only those that are wildly successful into the Pivot to Play™ repertoire.  

Katherine joined the team in 2018 and brings a lively spirit to Pop Hop & Rock™. Before leaving corporate work to raise her family, Katherine enjoyed volunteering in various community outreach programs that supported at risk families.

Since joining Pop, Hop & Rock™, Katherine has lent her creativity and humor to many of our programs, especially through the Snack and Roll™ offering.  It is this same sense of humor and creativity that has made her lead game developer launching new ideas and activities into the Pivot to Play™ library.  

Before joining the Pop, Hop & Rock™ team in 2021, Kelsey was a classroom teacher for 10 years. She gained most of her experience in a preschool setting, then enhanced that base working with children with special needs. Currently, she is working on finishing her degree in Early Childhood Education and hopes to take all of the experience and knowledge she’s gained over the last several years, and put it into expanding the goal and mission of Pop, Hop & Rock™ to share with children throughout the area.

Kelsey also has a passion for health and fitness. She believes in teaching young children about the importance of a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle and intentional movement as a necessary building block in their development. Recently, she finished The Richmond Marathon, and plans to complete either an ultra marathon or Ironman in the future.

Kate’s professional career in the fitness industry spans almost 25 years and due to her vast experience in the central Virginia area, she is well known in the wellness community as a resource for other instructors and trainers in achieving methods for their own clients and programming.  Kate has attained the highly specialized Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) level 1 & 2 Fitness Certification allowing her to coach golfers and tennis players to hone their physical capabilities for ultimate performance.  In addition to TPI, Kate is a Master Trainer for Gliding and is certified in multiple areas, including: Cycling through Reebok and Lamond, Strength through STRONG, STOTT Pilates Mat and Reformer training.

Kate joined the Pop, Hop & Rock™ family in 2021 and has not only brought fun and high energy to all of her classes, she has developed numerous games and activities that drive the fun while supporting developmental growth.

Ilyse, a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist with almost two decades of experience, holds a certification from Learning Without Tears.  As the founder of “The Write OT,” a company that specializes in fine motor skills, pre-writing and handwriting, Ilyse has worked with children of all ages in all types of settings.  Ilyse understands that a multi-sensory approach (visual, tactile, auditory, and movement) makes the work of practicing supportive writing skills feel a lot more like play than work.  Ilyse has been consulting with our team since 2021.

Sara has spent 20 years learning alongside young children. Over that time, the children taught her that real learning happens when we use our whole bodies and all of our senses. And, that kind of learning happens outside as well as inside. So, together with the kids and some great teacher friends, Sara learned to take the classroom outside – to the playground, to the woods, or just to an open grassy space. Add some sand, water, hay bales, logs, dirt, boots, rain jackets, paint, PVC pipe, soup pots, watering cans, shaving cream, trees and whatever else you can find and let the learning begin. Since leaving the classroom in the spring of 2019, Sara has been consulting on topics ranging from early childhood education quality to family literacy and has been serving as our team’s editor and academic consultant.