Meet Our Teachers!
Alice Patton is the Director of Preschool Ministry for the church She has loved holding this position for over 20 years. Monday through Friday, she is the Director of our Weekday School program and on Sunday Mornings you will find her on the preschool hallway welcoming young children and their families for our Birth – Kindergarten nurseries and programming. It is her honor and privilege to watch these children grow and learn and to go on to great things throughout their lives. In addition, Alice enjoys spending time with her 4 children, their spouses, and her 9 grandchildren!
Giraffe Class
April Roy is the lead teacher in the four-year-old Giraffe Class. She holds a BA in Elementary Education and taught kindergarten at Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School in Asheville before taking time to stay home with her three children. She began teaching our four and five-year-olds in 2016 and is proud to be part of our amazing preschool! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, hiking and traveling.
Jen de Beer is an assistant teacher entering her seventh year in the four-year-old Giraffe Class. She holds a BA in Sociology, along with over 30 years of experience in various aspects of Early Childhood Education. Her previous work has included time at the Reach Out and Read National Center, a non-profit focused on developing early literacy, along with many years of working directly with children in places such as Head Start and Montessori classrooms. She loves being engaged with young children, especially with opportunities to experience wonder and awe through art, science, and books. When not at school, she is busy with her family (spouse, two daughters, and one dog), and can often be found cooking, reading, or investigating something new and fascinating.
Megan Cook is an assistant teacher in the four-year-old Giraffe Class.
Kangaroo Class
Lindsay Blackwelder is the lead teacher in the three-year-old Kangaroo Class. She holds a master teacher certificate in early childhood development and loves working at the BMPC Weekday School. This is her fifth year with us, and before starting here, both of her children went through the weekday school. When Lindsay is not at preschool, she loves photography, writing, reading, and exploring all of the wonderful trails in WNC!
Annie Jennings is an assistant teacher in the three-year-old Kangaroo Class. She holds a BA in Psychology and has a background in ABA therapy working with children with autism. In her free time, Annie likes to make collages, beaded keychains, and do some amateur art collecting. She is excited for her first year at BMPC and anticipates all the positive growth she and her students will go through.
Raccoon Class
Kristina Maldonado is the lead teacher for the two-year-old Raccoon Class. She has her Early Childhood Education Certificate and is excited to be back for her seventh year at the Weekday School. She is grateful to work alongside dedicated educators in serving children and families. Kristina enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and baking.
Carrie Schmitz is the assistant teacher in the two-year-old Raccoons class. This is her 10th year teaching at the Weekday School after taking several years off to enjoy the work of being a grower and designer on a beautiful flower farm. Carrie adores her two teenage sons who both attended and thrived at the Weekday School. She loves being in the outdoors, especially when hiking and backpacking.
Lambs Class
Elisa Nail is a lead teacher in the one-year-old Lambs Class, bringing close to a decade of experience in early childhood education and a deep passion for nurturing young learners. With 7 years of classroom experience and 14 years as a dedicated stay-at-home mom, Elisa offers a rich blend of professional knowledge and personal insights into child development. She holds an Early Childhood Certificate and is committed to creating a safe, engaging, supportive environment where children feel loved, valued, and excited to learn.
Gayle Burgin is the assistant teacher in the one-year-old Lambs Class. She attended AB Tech and is almost finished with her Early Childhood Education Certificate. This is her second year with us but she has worked over a decade in early childhood. She loves her dogs, kayaking, hiking and singing.