Together, our staff of 19 has a total of 312 years of teaching. We have a lead teacher and an assistant in each room. We have a low adult to child ratio in all our classes. We are growing again and are super excited to be adding another 2-year-old class this year. Our weekday director and assistant director are also involved with the day to day happening within the classrooms.
Lynda Arsenault
Lynda is an assistant in the one-year-old room. She has worked as both a lead teacher and an assistant with the 1, 2 and 3 year old classes during her years here at First Baptist Preschool. Prior to working with us she had 8 years with Montessori School of Sanford. Lynda and her husband have 2 daughters and a son. Lynda enjoys gardening and reading historical fiction.
Amy Brafford
Amy is an assistant in a 4-year-old room. She began at First Baptist in 2008 working with a 2 year old class. Amy is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill. She and her husband have 3 children and 3 grand dogs. She loves everything summer, especially the beach! Her favorite children’s book is “There Was An Old Lady”.
Joelle Cooper
Joelle is a lead teacher in a 2-year-old class. Joelle has been with FBWEC for 28 years. Over the years she has worked in all age groups and in the office with the director. She has 2 children and a granddaughter. She lives in Sanford with her husband Paul. Her favorite color is purple, and her favorite candy is Peanut Butter M&M’s!
Kimberely McGraw
Kim is a graduate of Towson University. She has spent 16 years volunteering and working with children. She currently serves in her church’s children ministry. She is joining our staff as a 2-year-old lead teacher. Mrs. Kim lives in Sanford with her husband and 4 children. She enjoys running, spending time on the field and in the gym cheering on her favorite athletes. Her favorite color is blue, vacation spot is the beach, and she loves chocolate.
Tricia Hathcock
Tricia is an assistant in a three-year-old room. She has been working with First Baptist preschool for 3 years. Before coming to First Baptist, she worked with her husband in their Insurance agency. She and her husband have 2 children. She loves boating and the beach. Her favorite book is “The Little Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings”.
Robin Hudson
Robin is an assistant in a 2-year-old room. She has worked with children for the past 22 years. Before coming to First Baptist, she had a in home daycare for 16 years. She has her Early Children Development Degree from Carolina Community College. She and her husband have 3 children and 1 grandson, who started at FBWEC this year. Her favorite book is “Are You My Mother?
Michele Kellogg
Michelle is Lead teacher in a two-year-old class. She began working at FBWEC in the fall of 2021. Before coming to First Baptist, she was a teacher assistant & tutor in the Lee County school system. She has 3 children and has been married for 21 years to her husband Dave. Her favorite color is purple, and she loves to read anything written by Nicholas Sparks.
Alley Key
Alley is the lead teacher in the one-year-old class. She has been with FBWEC for 5 years and has worked with several different ages groups. She and her husband have 3 children with one more on the way. They live in Sanford. Her favorite holiday is Christmas and her favorite snack is Flamin’ Cheetos!.
Rene Long
Rene is a lead teacher in a 3-year-old room. She has been working with children for 35 years. She has been with FBWEC for the past 18 years. She and her husband have 2 sons and 1 granddaughter. She also has a sweet puppy “Bogey” she welcomed into her family last year. She loves the beach and Chocolate!
Brittany Nau
Brittany is Lead teacher in a three-year-old class. Brittany started in FBWEC in 2022. She volunteers in the kid’s ministry at her church. She is also a small business owner. She and her husband have 2 girls and lives in Sanford. She enjoys traveling and making memories.
Regina Miller
Regina serves as an assistant teacher in 1 of our 4-year-old classes. She joined our staff in 2004. Prior to joining our FBWEC staff she worked for Harnett County Schools. She and her husband have 2 sons and 5 grandchildren, 3 of which attended First Baptist Preschool. She enjoys the beach, chocolate and all shades of blue. Her favorite children’s book is “The Pout Pout Fish”.
Michelle Grigston
Michelle has worked for us for 3 years and after a brief absence is returning to us as a 3-year-old teacher assistant. She lives in Sanford with her husband & 2 daughters (who are both FBWEC alumni). Mrs. Michelle loves going to the beach and playing with her 2 dogs. Her favorite color is purple.
Amanda Thomas
Amanda is an assistant in the one-year-old class. She came to us as a sub many years ago but started on staff in 2022. She has 2 daughters, and both are FBWEC alumni! She loves spending time at the beach with her husband & family. Her favorite color is orange, and her favorite book is “Caps for Sale”.A
Jenny Wehrly
Mrs. Jenny has been with FBWEC for 24 years. She is a lead teacher in one of our 4-year-old classes. She has taught in every age group but found her love in the 4’s. Jenny taught at Lee County School before coming to FBWEC. She has her BS in Education from Campbell University. She and her husband Eric have 3 grown children and 1 sweet grandchild on the way. Purple is her favorite color. Her favorite quote is “Put some lipstick and get yourself together”.
Cindy Valtin
Cindy is the lead four-year-old room for 29 years. She began at the preschool 1994 and has worked with 2- 3- and 4-year old’s during her time here at First Baptist. She and her husband have 4 grown children and 9 grandchildren. She loves all the colors of the rainbow. Her favorite children’s book is “Pete the Cat”.
Brookie Brewington
Ms. Brookie is the 6th of 11 children. She has 5 children, 15 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Ms. Brookie has been working in childcare for the past 4 years. She will be a teacher assistant in a 2-year-old classroom. Ms. Brookie favorite book is the bible. Her favorite color is blue. She enjoys sports and having fun. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her 7 sisters. She always loves being with family.Ms.
Cara Thompson
Cara has been a wonderful sub for us, and we are excited to bring her into the FBWEC family as a teacher assistant in a 2-year-old classroom. She is a graduate of Fayetteville State University. She likes to spend time with her husband, twin boys and 2 dogs. Mrs. Cara enjoys crafting, being active and all things hot pink. She is an Autism advocate and has a passion for volunteering in the special needs community.