Together, our staff of 17 has a total of 298 years 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 have a very low turnover of staff members. 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!
Julie Davis
Julie is a lead three-year-old teacher. She has been with the preschool for 8 years. She has been an assistant in a 3-year-old and 4-year-old classes before coming into this lead teacher position. She has 2 girls and lives in Sanford. She enjoys spending time at the beach with her family. Her favorite color is pink, and she loves Starbucks!
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 Keilogg
Michelle is an assistant in a 2-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 Mau
Brittany is an assistant in a three-year-old classes. 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”.
Casey Nordquist
Casey is a lead teacher in a 2-year-old room. She began working at First Baptist in 2012 as an assistant and then moved into a lead teaching role in 2016. She and her husband have 2 daughters, both are alumni preschool. Her favorite color is pink and loves the book “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”
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”.