Teachers & Staff

Elizabeth Weddle
Elizabeth Weddle
Meet our Managing Director, Mrs. Elizabeth Weddle. Elizabeth graduated from James Madison University with a BA in English and Early Childhood Education and received her Master’s Degree in Literacy, Training, and Curriculum Leadership from the University of Missouri. Prior to becoming the Managing Regional Director, Elizabeth was our Director, COO of our two Midlothian schools, and taught kindergarten and first grade for ten years. Elizabeth now oversees operations at all three of our Primrose schools. She and her husband, David, are the proud parents of Jackson, a junior at Auburn University, Preston an eleventh grader, and Hannah a seventh grader. All three of her children are Primrose graduates so she has seen the benefits of our program from both managerial and parental sides.

Joy Harris
About the Director, Joy Harris
Joy is our Director here at the Primrose School of Swift Creek. Joy joined the school in 2009 as an Explorer teacher and then as one of our Pre-Kindergarten teachers. Joy is a proud graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and she earned her Master’s Degree in School Counseling form Liberty University. She and her husband Carlton are the proud parents of two boys who are both Primrose graduates, Carlton Jr, a sixth grader, and Josiah, a third grader. Joy is onsite and ready to help your family each and every day!

Nicole Pruden
About the Assistant Director, Nicole Pruden
Nicole is our Assistant Director at the Primrose School of Swift Creek. Nicole joined the team in 2014 as a preschool teacher and made the transition to the leadership team several years ago. She is a proud graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in traditional mathematics. Nicole and her husband Josh are the proud parents of Hallie, a Primrose graduate, and now in the fifth grade. Nicole is at the school every day to greet you and your little ones and help welcome you to our family.

Ms. Londy

Ms. Hassan

Ms. Perez

Mr. White

Ms. Culpin

Ms. Patterson

Ms. Logan

Ms. Brown

Ms. Thompson

Franchise Owner
Rita, Nick, Dylan, & Alexa Patel
Greetings – We are Rita, Nick, Dylan, and Alexa Patel the proud owners of the Primrose School of Swift Creek! I, Rita, grew up in Montreal, Canada and moved to Illinois as a teenager. I attended University of Illinois, and subsequently went on to become a Dental Assistant. Since the 1980s, my husband, Nick, and I have resided in Richmond, where he pursued his education at VCU Pharmacy School and where we began our family. Subsequently, my husband and I founded a full-service, Virginia based company providing management, development, consulting, and accounting expertise for the hospitality industry. Our two children, Dylan and Alexa, received their education within the Virginia school system from early childhood through high school. They continued their education at the University of Virginia and are now engaged in careers within the business and architecture field.
As a working mother, I understand the paramount importance of selecting a childcare center that you can fully trust to take care of your child while at work. Upon learning about Primrose’s ethos, we saw how closely their business model mirrored ours, prioritizing the children, parents, and employees above everything else. We fully embraced the Primrose mission and are thrilled to be a part of the Primrose family and to share this amazing school with the Waterford community. Having two children ourselves, we empathize with the difficulty in finding a school that not only aligns with your values but also acknowledges your child’s potential. We also recognize the significance of fostering a nurturing learning environment for children early on and how it has a pivotal role in shaping their educational outlooks for the future.
We were drawn to Primrose due to its acknowledgment that education isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Valuing each child individually, they diligently cultivate their educational potential through proven programs, unparalleled curriculum, and innovative methodologies. The exceptional level of care and individualized attention provided to each child at Primrose surpasses any other childcare center I’ve encountered. My husband and I talk often about how we wish Primrose was established in Chester when our children were growing up. As citizens of Virginia, deeply invested in shaping the future generations, we are so excited to have this opportunity to lead the ultimate early childhood education experience for both children and parents through Primrose.
In our free time you can find me hosting dinner parties for our friends and family, Nick playing pickleball with Alexa, and Dylan working out at Barry’s. We enjoy having fun, staying active, and, above all, cherishing quality time with our loved ones, as we believe that’s what life is truly about. Therefore, we deeply appreciate your trust in us to care for your most precious family members. Rest assured, as members of the Primrose family, we are committed to treating them as if they were our own. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to meet and extend a warm welcome to you at the Primrose School of Swift Creek!
Sincerely, Rita, Nick, Dylan, & Alexa Patel




