Our Teachers
Psalm 32:8, NIV: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you
Mrs. Eskoff
I have had the pleasure of teaching preschool at First Church for many years. I am a graduate of Northern Illinois University and I have taught children of all ages. I enjoy working with preschool children; they are always full of excitement and joy.
Mrs. McCloud
I am a Pre-K teacher here at First Church Preschool. My background includes a BA in Elementary Education from Aurora University. I’ve worked with children in several capacities most of my life, including teaching Kindergarten. Preschoolers bring me such joy! They make me smile and I learn from them each day.
Mrs. Morrissey
I have had the privilege of working with each age group over many years at First Church Preschool. I attended Elgin Community College, have taken continuing education workshops, classes and seminars relating to Early Childhood Education. The best part of my job is being able to witness the magic of a young child’s day and sharing in their excitement. It is a blessing to be a teacher at First Church Preschool.
Mrs. Obermeier
I received a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Illinois and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. My experience includes teaching in preschool, Kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms, but preschool is where my heart lies. It is so wonderful to be a part of a great staff and work with amazing families.
Mrs. Pedersen
It is a pleasure to serve as Director at First Church Preschool. My experience in the administration and the classroom has been enriched by working with many talented colleagues. I hold an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and have had the pleasure of working in Early Childhood for over forty years. Children have always been my passion, are the best teachers, and are a delight to be around.
Courtney Sterzik
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to teach in the multiage classroom here at FCP. I received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University and a master’s degree from Concordia University in Curriculum and Instruction. All four of my children attend FCP, and I served on the preschool’s board for many years. Being part of the staff and community here feels like coming home. My hope is to foster a love of learning and exploration with my students each day.
Mrs. Shields
I grew up in Crystal Lake and attended the University of Iowa for a BA in Elementary Education with an emphasis in early literacy. I sent both of my children to FCP, and after experiencing the program as a parent I am honored to have the opportunity to now teach here, as well. My goal as a teacher is to create a loving, fun and safe environment that your child will look forward to every day.
Mrs. Vepley
I have been teaching at First Church Preschool since March 2013. Before starting here, I worked with children in a preschool in Woodstock for six years. I am currently teaching in the two and three year old classrooms. It is a blessing to come to work every day and do what I love to do, work with children.
Katie Bellino
We were blessed to have each one of our four children attend First Church and I am thrilled to become a part of this special community. I received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a masters in Curriculum and Instruction. I have worked with children of all ages in many capacities my entire life including teaching 3rd, 1st and Kindergarten in the classroom and dance instruction to all ages starting as little as 18 months! My passion in working with the littles is to instill a sense of belonging in their classroom and a love of learning and school right from the beginning.
Katie Woodka
I am excited to be a part of the First Church family this year. I moved to Illinois eight years ago with my husband and family after spending 11 years as an elementary art teacher in Indiana. I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in visual art education from Ball State University and Indiana University. I love sharing my passion for art and creativity with students every day.
Mrs. Barajas
I have been honored to be a part of First Church Preschool for the past three years. I’ve worked with children for over a decade and have always loved watching them learn and grow. I am also a parent to a student here at FCP. It brings me so much joy to be a part of the preschool families’ lives.
Mrs. Carlson
I grew up in Crystal Lake, graduating from Prairie Ridge HS and Western Illinois University. After having both my son and daughter attend, I was able to see firsthand what a phenomenal preschool FCP is. I am now blessed to be teaching here with this incredible staff and curriculum. I love nothing more than spending time with little ones and watching them grow and learn!
Mrs. Staley
I am thrilled to be working at FCP! I grew up in Crystal Lake and attended Indiana University. I am excited to bring my organizational skills and passion for education to the classroom. I truly look forward to the chance to contribute tot the growth and development of our students. I am eager to contribute to the vibrant community at Frist Church Preschool.
Mrs. Cotter
I’ve had the privilege of working with First Church Preschool for four years. I have taught children in early childhood education since 1965. I have a BS in education and a Master’s Degree in curriculum design. I love how every day with children is different and it’s amazing to watch them understand new concepts.
Mrs. Baker
I started teaching in 1985. I attended the University of Northern Iowa and McHenry County College. I enjoy teaching because I love seeing the children’s faces when they learn something new or discover something they don’t know. I want to help them a love of learning.
From our families
An exceptional preschool experience described by our numerous happy FCP families!
This is the new ‘elite’ preschool in Crystal Lake! From highly educated, caring and compassionate staff, to a beautiful and comfortable facility, this school is where you want your favorite little people to be! They strive to teach love and kindness, and filter in important academics naturally in a fun and hands-on environment. I’m so proud to have this school in our wonderful town! This is a wonderful preschool. It's warm and inviting and both of my children have grown so much here. The children are well prepared for kindergarten and the staff is excellent. When we lost my father in law unexpectedly this last school year the staff was aware and gave extra attention to my daughter and her needs during the difficult time. I couldn't say enough good things! All four of our children have attended First, and we’ve loved all of their experiences. The staff members are warm and loving and well versed in best practices for early childhood. I’ve alwaus felt my kids have been prepared for kindergarten. Both of my children attended First Church Preschool and loved it! The teachers are wonderful and both of my kids were prepared for kindergarten!! I would highly recommend this preschool! We have sent all 3 of our children to FCP, and we could not love it more! It has provided our kids a wonderful faith-based education and has prepared them academically and socially for Kindergarten. All of the teachers and staff are amazing! They truly care about each and every student and family, always going above and beyond. We are so excited to have several more years here! My son just graduated after 2 years in the pre K program, and I'm amazed at his growth interacting with other kids, as well as his confidence and knowledge. His teachers were amazing, and this is the only pre K awarded Illinois silver award! Send your child to the best! We are new to FCP this year and have truly been blown away by the teachers, staff, and community. Everything runs smoothly from drop off to pick up and the communication with teachers is excellent. Just halfway through the school year and we can the growth in our children; both academically and socially. We love the atmosphere the school provides with the colored room doors and the student's art decorated along the hallway; an improvement from our previous preschool. We have two children enrolled currently and we are excited for our youngest to start in the coming years.
We want to hear from you
Have questions or comments about First Church Preschool? Would you like to schedule a tour? Our staff would love to hear from you, and start a conversation.