Faculty & Staff

Ms. Beard is currently teaching K4. Her degree is in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Beard has been teaching for 7 years. She has 2 children that also attend Hillcrest. This is Ms. Beard's 4th year at Hillcrest. She has an interest in photography, crafts, and gardening.

Libby Davis teaches second grade at Hillcrest.  She earned a BBA with a major in Marketing from Ole Miss in 1977 and her BS in Education from Mississippi College in 1995.  This is her 29th year to teach. She retired from public school in May 2018 and began teaching at Hillcrest in August 2018.  While in public school, she received her National Board Certification.  Mrs. Davis has one son. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping, going out to eat, and going to movies.

Mrs. England is currently the elementary librarian and elementary computer teacher.  She graduated from Mississippi College. She began teaching at Hillcrest in 1990 and has been teaching for 42 years! She has been named Teacher of the Year, Star Teacher, and nominated as MAIS Teacher of the Year. Mrs. England loves SEC sports, hunting and fishing, embroidery, and other craft activities.

Judy Head teaches first grade at Hillcrest. She has taught first grade at HCS for 32 years, and has been a teacher for 36 years. She attended Co-Lin and USM.  Mrs. Head was HCS Teacher of the Year in 2009-2010 and was Farm Bureau's Teacher of the Month in October 2019. She and her husband Steve live in Florence. 

Laureen McDonald is the elementary music and P.E. teacher. She graduated from Mississippi College with a Music Education degree. She has been teaching for 30 years and has been at HCS since 1997.  Mrs. McDonald was Teacher of the Year in 2013-2014.  She and her husband have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. She loves to read and work in the yard in her spare time. 

Kandice McNamee is one of our middle school teachers, teaching 6th - 8th grade. She attended Hinds Community College, and graduated from the University of Southern MS with a degree in K-8 Education. She has an add-on for high school biology and history. She has been teaching 28 years, with 14 of those years at Hillcrest Christian School. Mrs. McNamee graduated with honors from USM, was President of the Science Club at USM, and was awarded on six occasions for 100% of her class becoming proficient or advanced in Hinds County Schools on their standardized tests. She was fireman of the year in Rankin County twice. Mrs. McNamee was named Hillcrest Christian Teacher of the Year in 2016 and MAIS Teacher of the Year 2017.  She and her husband Scott have two children, Connor and Caitlyn, graduates of Hillcrest Christian School. In her spare time, she enjoys woodworking, reading, and crocheting. 

Patsy Stegall currently teaches 4th grade at Hillcrest.  She attended Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, TN. She has been teaching for 36 years. She began teaching at Hillcrest in 2007. Mrs. Stegall was awarded Teacher of the Year for Lower Elementary in 2014-2015. When not at school, she enjoys spending time with her husband Garry. They enjoy working in their yard, doing household projects, and just hanging out with each other. Visiting with their children in North Mississippi is also a favorite pastime. 

Mrs. Watts is currently teaching 5th grade.  She attended Hinds Community College where she received her Associate Degree in Nursing and Mississippi College where she received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.  Mrs. Watts has been teaching for 34 years. She has been at Hillcrest since 2009. Her honors/teaching awards include the following: Graduating with honors from Mississippi College; Member of Phi Theta Kappa at MC; Member of the Laguna Social Tribe at MC; HCS Teacher of the Month (January 2020).  She is married to Walter (Bubba) Watts; they have one daughter, Ashlyn Watts (a 2016 HCS graduate). They are members of Hillcrest Baptist Church. Her hobbies include cooking and painting.