Liz Wright – Director

What is your favorite scripture?
Isaiah 40:28-31 – Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Why do you enjoy working at Mt. Olive Preschool?
I have a passion for educating young children and showing them God’s love and what He can do in their lives. Mt. Olive has allowed me to be a part of a wonderful ministry in which I can reach precious young lives and be a part of God’s work in them.

What is your favorite preschool snack?
I’m a big fan of the vanilla wafers… It’s a weak spot.

What is your favorite children’s book?
I LOVE children’s literature, so it’s impossible to pick just one. If I had to narrow it down I would say something by Mo Willems (“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” or “Today I Will Fly”) or Shel Silverstein (“The Giving Tree” or “Where the Sidewalk Ends”)

What is the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard a child say?
“Mommy, you’re the best, I love you. You make me feel so happy.” – My 4 year old daughter Mackenzie

Teachers

Jamie Briede

Lead Teacher 4 & 5 year olds M-F AM

What is your favorite scripture?
Mark 10:13-16 – People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Why do you enjoy working at Mt. Olive Preschool?
I have always been fond of the church & it’s congregation. I feel blessed to be a part of the preschool and play such an important part in the children’s lives.

What is your favorite preschool snack?
Love green eggs & ham for Dr. Seuss’ birthday!!

What is your favorite children’s book?
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

What is the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard a child say?
“I love you”.

Lois McCracken

Lead Teacher: 4&5 year olds – MTW AM & PM

What is your favorite scripture?
My favorite Scripture is Psalm 139.

Why do you enjoy working at Mt. Olive Preschool?
I know working at Mt. Olive will be enjoyable. The leadership is loving, gifted, and has a sound educational philosophy. Everyone is friendly and after the open house I can tell you I can’t wait to see those kids again!

What is your favorite preschool snack?
My favorite snack is any kind of fruit.

What is your favorite children’s book?
It is a crime to ask me to pick one favorite children’s book, but I guess I would say the original, A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh.

What is the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard a child say?
The sweetest thing I ever heard a child say came from a happy little girl who had a birthmark above her eyebrow which made that eyebrow appear to be very thick. At snack time a little boy said, “Why do you have that weird eyebrow?” She smiled and explained with poise, “That’s the way God made me.”

Courtney Young

Lead Teacher: 3&4 year olds – AM & PM

What is your favorite scripture?
Phil. 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

Why do you enjoy working at Mt. Olive Preschool?
The staff is great, and I love getting to work with young children everyday teaching them about life and God’s love.

What is your favorite preschool snack?
It’s a toss-up between fruit snacks or goldfish…It all depends on my mood.

What is your favorite children’s book?
Olivia by Ian Falconer. Cutest little pig ever!

What is the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard a child say?
Poem written by one of my first grade students “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, You are the best Miss Strange” (my maiden name)

Deanna Karch

Lead: 4&5 year olds ThF AM

What is your favorite scripture?
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 – Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Why do you enjoy working at Mt. Olive Preschool?
I love working with children and love how they can turn your day around. I feel so welcome here and I love how everything is so easy going and I’m looking forward to what the year has in store for Mt. Olive Preschool.

What is your favorite preschool snack?
Cinnamon graham crackers

What is your favorite children’s book?
I would say I have more than one but I do like the hungry caterpillar as one of them

What is the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard a child say?
When they tell you I love you out of the blue….it warms my heart being that I don’t have any children of my own just yet.

Megan Dillingham

Lead Teacher: 2 & 3 year olds – ThF AM

What is your favorite scripture?
Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Why do you enjoy working at Mt. Olive Preschool?
I love teaching young children skills that they will build on and use for a lifetime. I am passionate about providing high-quality education for young children.

What is your favorite preschool snack?
Graham crackers and chocolate frosting…yummy.

What is your favorite children’s book?
I have so many! Love, love, love books! I grew up loving all of the Dr. Seuss books especially, but my all time favorite is probably “I Am A Mouse” by Ole Risom.  I remember with fondness reading it to my younger brother when we were kids.

What is the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard a child say?
Having worked with young children in child care, Sunday school and preschool programs for 15+ years, and raising 4 kids of my own, I have some awesome quotes from kiddos! My favorites, though, are anything regarding their salvation. My 5-year-old said during grace one night at supper, “Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cwoss for me.” That one just really touched me! What an amazing God we serve.

Aides

Heather Reece

Aide 3 & 4year olds Aide ThF AM

What is your favorite scripture?
Proverbs 22:6 – Teach your children to choose the right path and when they are older, they will remain upon it.

Why do you enjoy working at Mt. Olive Preschool?
Working at Mount Olive will be a chance to teach children and learn from children. Most people forget that we can learn from children.

What is your favorite preschool snack?
Rice Krispy Easter Eggs with m&m’s in the middle (It was a huge success with Mrs. Beth & Miss Marie’s class)

What is your favorite children’s book?
Any Dr. Seuss Book

What is the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard a child say?
I love My mommy and daddy just like Jesus loves me.

Danielle Luttrull

Aide 3 & 4 year olds – MTW AM & PM

What is your favorite scripture?
Isaiah 58:6-7….”Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to lose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter–when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

Why do you enjoy working at Mt. Olive Preschool?
There isn’t a more enjoyable person to hang around with than a three year old. It’s not only amazing to help children grow and learn–but to do so in a Christian environment, where they can also be learning about the Lord, is a privilege.

What is your favorite preschool snack?
Shark fruit snacks.

What is your favorite children’s book?
Heckedy Peg by Audrey Wood

What is the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard a child say?
Holding her toy phone to her ear (at a baby shower–not Sunday school), two-year-old Mikayla says, “Zacchaeus? Come down! We’re going to your house!”

Deanna Karch

Aide: 4&5 year olds MTW AM &PM

What is your favorite scripture?
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 – Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Why do you enjoy working at Mt. Olive Preschool?
I love working with children and love how they can turn your day around. I feel so welcome here and I love how everything is so easy going and I’m looking forward to what the year has in store for Mt. Olive Preschool.

What is your favorite preschool snack?
Cinnamon graham crackers

What is your favorite children’s book?
I would say I have more than one but I do like the hungry caterpillar as one of them

What is the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard a child say?
When they tell you I love you out of the blue….it warms my heart being that I don’t have any children of my own just yet.

Krisha Adams

Aide: 4&5 year olds ThF AM

What is your favorite scripture?
“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is like rottenness in his bones.”   Proverbs 12:4

Why do you enjoy working at Mt. Olive Preschool?
I love the joy I see on a child’s face as he/she discovers something new.

What is your favorite preschool snack?
Apples and peanut butter.

What is your favorite children’s book?
Pinkalicious

What is the sweetest thing you have ever heard a child say?
Jesus loves me.

Kelly Hawkins

Aide: 2&3 year olds – ThF AM

What is your favorite scripture?
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. - Philippians 4:8

Why do you enjoy working at Mt. Olive Preschool?
I love & enjoy interacting with kids. I am very excited to be involved with a Christian based preschool.

What is your favorite preschool snack?
My favorite preschool snack is animal crackers served with milk!!!

What is your favorite children’s book?
One of my favorite children’s books Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (My little girl’s favorite too)

What is the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard a child say?
The sweetest thing I’ve heard my children say to me is… Just Simply I Love You!

Heather Nestleroad

Aide: 4&5 year olds – M-F AM

What is your favorite scripture?
Proverbs 3:5, 6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight.  Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God.  Philippians 4:13 – I can do everything through Him who gives me strength

Why do you enjoy working at Mt. Olive Preschool?
I am looking forward to working with Jami Briede. Jami was my son’s preschool teacher and she is also my neighbor and friend, I am excited to make new friends and hit the ground running on this new adventure!

What is your favorite preschool snack?
Veggies with ranch or apples with peanut butter

What is your favorite children’s book?
I Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. I received it as a baby shower gift for my 1st child and find the messages hold very true, as I watch her grow into a beautiful young lady. I read it often and tell them daily I will love them forever

What is the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard a child say?
What my son tells me every night after stories and prayer – “May God be with you” he says to me as I leave the room. To which I respond “and also with you my son I love you – forever”.