Our staff are highly qualified and prepared to teach young children. We seek to employ teachers with early childhood knowledge and/or experience. We continue to learn each year as we participate in local workshops designed for early childhood teachers. There are two teachers in each classroom in order to maintain appropriate child to teacher ratios.
The preschool staff has been led by Melissa Lancaster for the last 18 years. Melissa has a passion for early childhood learning. She began in college working in a full day child care center, taught public pre-k for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and then came to Good Shepherd as the Director of Children’s Ministries in 2005. Melissa has a BA in Elementary Education and Child and Family Development and a MEd in Child and Family Studies: Early Education. Her role at Good Shepherd is a blend of teaching children, leading staff to teach children, partnering with parents to parent children, and sharing her faith in God with all of them.
Robert Austell, or Pastor Robert as the children call him, has an active role in the life of the preschool. Robert meets the children each week for chapel time. This is a sweet time of singing, sharing the Bible, and praying with the children. The children love to talk about Pastor Robert and his red guitar!! Robert has three daughters who came through the preschool program here at Good Shepherd. We are thankful to have him be a part of the preschool family!