Teachers
Teaching Staff
Toddler’s Morning Out
Christina Spalding Dunkelberger has been in Richmond since elementary school. She has 3 children, all whom have attended preschool here. Her family has been involved with this preschool program for over 20 years. Her Aunt is Mrs Gill, our music teacher. She has been teaching here since 2006 and the Toddler group is her favorite to work with. She is very excited to start the 2012 season!
Toddler’s Morning Out
Playgroup
Katie Porter has been working at Lakeside since 2009, although she attended the school when she was a child. Her mother is Barbara Porter, who is also a teacher. Katie started as an assistant with the Pre-K program. She currently teaches Playgroup. She studies at J. Sargent Reynolds to achieve her associates and transferring to VCU to get her Masters in Early Childhood Education. When Katie is not working she is babysitting, working out at the gym, or spending time with her friends and family.
Playgroup
Pam started at Lakeside 2 years ago after taking 5 years off when she had her son, Max. She is married and has two awesome boys, Aaron is 16 and is in 10th grade at Glen Allen High School. Max is my 7 year old and is in 2nd grade at Echo Lake Elementary. Aaron plays football and loves it, Max plays soccer. Most Saturdays in the Spring and Fall you will find me at the soccer field. Reading is one of her favorite things to do in her spare time.
Preschool
Carol Hudson has been with LPCWP for almost 10 years. Starting in September 2002, when her son was in Mrs. Lawton’s preschool class she was the assistant in the playgroup class with Mrs. Oliver. She is married and has two children, Heather who will be attending Longwood University in August 2011 and Tyler who will be in 6th grade this year at Hungary Creek Middle School. When she not working, she enjoys going to Tyler’s football or basketball games, shopping with Heather, scrapbooking and putting together digital picture books. She loves to ride her bike and her favorite place to go for a vacation is the beach!
Preschool
Kim Johnson has been associated with LPCWP since 2003 when her oldest daughter was in playgroup. She started as a substitute teacher and then into a teaching position. After taking a couple of years off when her second child was born, she came back again when she was in playgroup in 2007. Prior to having children, Kim earned an MBA and worked as a Human Resources Manager with Cavalier Telephone. Outside of work she is busy with her children’s sports activities, reading, and scrapbooking.
Pre-Kindergarten
Sherrie Oliver came to the preschool in September, 2000. She is married with two college-age children who attended Lakeside in the 1990’s, and she has twin tabby cats. She has taught in the Playgroup, Preschool, and currently teaches Pre-K, in addition to teaching 1st grade Sunday School at her church. In her spare time, Mrs. Oliver enjoys reading, scrapbooking, and listening to “oldies” music.
Pre-Kindergarten
Shannon Cooke has worked with Lakeside since 2009. She has worked as an assistant to the Toddler’s morning out and Pre-k. This year will be her first year teaching Pre-k. She has a son, now 7, who came up through the program as well as a daughter 4, who attended the playgroup and preschool. In her “spare time” she enjoys reading, cooking, hiking and hanging out with her kids.
Pre-Kindergarten
After 20 years of working as a Medical Assistant, Barbara decided a change was in order. At the urging of a friend who worked at the Preschool, she applied for a position.
She began teaching at Lakeside in 1999 at the same time her oldest granddaughter began Preschool here. She started in a Preschool classroom but have also taught Pre-K classes and helped develop and teach our Kindergarten Program. Her youngest daughter, Ms Katie, and two other grandchildren also attended the Preschool. The youngest one will be in our Pre-K Program next year. She has 5 children, 3 girls and 2 boys, and when they were young she provided home based child care. Her favorite place to be is at the beach. She enjoys reading, cross stitching, Italian food, and anything chocolate!
Happy Hive Administrator
Leigh came to LPCWP in Jan. 2011 after moving to Glen Allen from Michigan. Leigh has one son, Adam, who now lives in Portland Oregon. Besides training and teaching many people in a business environment, Leigh learned about teaching children from her mother who spent her life teaching children at school and church. She spent many years in the corporate world of supply chain management before relocating to this area to be near family and learned of LPCWP through their connection to the school. Her love of teaching and children drew her to the school. Leigh has nieces and nephews who have attended Lakeside in previous years and one currently attending. For hobbies, Leigh is an avid reader, loves to refinish old furniture and travel.
Program Assistants:
Andrea Hackenberg is beginning her 5th year as a classroom assistant with the Playgroup. She found our preschool in 2001 and enrolled her, now 13 year old, son. Her daughter started in the playgroup class in 2005 and Andrea became a classroom sub the following year. When she is not playing with a room full of 2 year olds, she is spending time with her family. Her favorite place to be is sitting on the beach.
Weekday Programs staff are required to have had previous experience working with young children. Each needs to have demonstrated a sincere desire to work with and nurture young children in a developmentally appropriate, Christian environment. A college degree with certification in Early Childhood Education is desirable but not required.
All staff are required to participate annually in continuing education in Early Childhood and maintain membership in the national, state and local associations for Early Childhood Educators. All staff are trained in Infant and Child First Aid and CPR and are required to keep their certification current.