| Our teachers and staff |
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| Sandy K. Pennington she/her. Preschool Director, 21 years. Favorite Things |
| I am so proud to be the director of First United Methodist Preschool. I have my degree in Child and Family Development from Texas State University. This is my 21st year as director, along with an additional 5 years as a teaching assistant at FUMP while attending UT. My husband and I have 4 adult children which keeps us busy! I spend my time with family and friends, reading, and exercising especially with our German Shorthaired Pointer. |
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| Ms. Rosa. she/her Office Assistant, 15 years. Favorite Things |
| I am an Austin native and live with my 11-year-old, Lina, and 3-year-old cat, Estrella. We are quite the homebodies, for the most part, otherwise, you will find us eating at some of our favorite Asian spots around town. After spending 14 years in the classroom I decided to step into a new role as an administrative assistant in the office. This will be the start of my 15th year at FUMP. The wonderful children, families, and skilled teachers have kept me returning every year. The memories I have made here are invaluable, and I look forward to making more this school year. Happy to be part of this beautiful community with you! |
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| Ms. Erin she/her. Three Year Old Lead Teacher, 17 years. Favorite Things |
| I am a veteran teacher of 22 years (wow - hard for me to even believe!) and mother to our wonderful triplets: Sparrow, Dexter, and Lincoln, who attended FUMP. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Elementary education from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. My husband, Michael, and I are both from Nashville, although this year will mark my 19th year living in Austin. Outside of teaching and being a mama, I love to travel (especially to my home-away-from-home Charleston), fashion, sing in the choir, and play the piano. |
| What our parents say "I was so comforted at conferences knowing that Erin actually *knew* my child and had noticed specific areas of progress (and improvement still needed) that were very similar to what we had seen at home. Great observation of the individual children and I know she pushed my child to become more independent and try new things in a supportive way." |
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| Ms. Stacy she/her. Pre Kindergarten Lead Teacher, 24 years. Favorite Things |
| I joined the staff of FUMP in 1999, while attending the University of Texas. I quickly came to love the atmosphere, the students, and the families. The preschool years are such a fun time in a child's life and I love being a part of it. My very first class is now in college and I still keep in touch with them and their families. I am a native Austinite, and I love being on the trail or at any of the local parks. I love all things related to cooking, and am constantly trying to find healthier versions of my favorite foods. I am the oldest of four children, and I come from a family background of teachers and administrators. I live in South Austin with my fur children; a 9-year-old rescue Boxer named Patsy from Austin Boxer Rescue, and a reformed street cat named Millie. Millie makes friends with all the neighbors and loves to visit them. Just like any proud parent, I am happy to regal you of all of her adventures. My favorite book for parents or teachers is Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline by Becky Bailey, it discusses a guidance approach called Conscious Discipline. “When I say to a parent, “read to a child”, I don’t want it to sound like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate.” –Mem Fox. On rough days I remind myself of this quote and try to be kind to myself and others: Don’t be so hard on yourself, the E.T. Mom had an alien in her house for several days and she didn’t even notice. Most of all, I love teaching and watching children learn new skills. Having a classroom that is fun, challenging, and a nurturing place is extremely important to me. Thank you for sharing your most precious children with us at FUMP. |
| What our parents say "We love Stacy! We will sorely miss her next year. My two children were not particularly interested in art, and Stacy pushed them to do some painting, cutting, and drawing. As a result, I think both of them found art to be more enjoyable than they thought it would be. Stacy's always great about answering our concerns about our children. She let's us know if they are on target, needs a little work in a certain area, or if we just need to observe the behavior. It is always great to hear Stacy's stories about our child as well! Stacy is great! We couldn't be happier!" |
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| Adrian they/them. Older Infants Lead Teacher, 13 years. Favorite Things |
| I have been at FUMP since 2010 and worked with all age groups until I realized that toddlers were my absolute joy to work with. Their curiosity and development are always able to keep things fresh! As for myself, I was born in Florida but have been in Austin for over two decades now. I enjoy reading, writing, table top RPGs, and spending time in nature. |
| What our parents say "Adrian is a great teacher. She is so patient with the kids, which is so important with her age group! Her approach to dealing with some of the challenging toddler issues is so helpful to us in dealing with them at home as well. We are so thankful for her!" |
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| Ms. Keely she/her. Older Toddlers Lead Teacher, 4 years. Favorite Things |
| This will be my fourth year with FUMP and I could not be more excited! Though a significant amount of my early childhood experience is gained via motherhood, I possess complementary skills via babysitting, AmeriCorps, and as a CPS caseworker. Formally trained in business, I have a bachelor's degree(BBA) in international business from SFA and a master's degree in public administration (MPA) from College of Charleston. I am on target to obtain a Childhood Development Associate (CDA) credential and plan to follow that with an early childhood teaching certification via the state. I am a wife and a mother to a daughter (10), a son (7), a black lab mix, a mini-lop bunny, and a kitten. In addition to time with family, I enjoy reading, crafting, and living room dance parties. I look forward to working with your precious littles and helping them grow in a FUN, safe, and nurturing environment. |
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| Ms. Shannon she/her. Young Toddlers Lead Teacher, 2 years. Favorite Things |
| Hey there! I am super excited to be working with your kiddos this year! I’ve worked with very young children and families for over 12 years as a preschool teacher, and as an Early Intervention Specialist for the State of Texas. I believe the most important thing in childhood is for kiddos to find their voices, even when they aren’t sure what to say yet. We’ll be learning about important things like playing next to friends, communicating, being active, exploring the outdoors, and taking care of ‘stuff’. My role with your children will be to help them learn those words and translate all of those big feelings into expressions and actions to connect with the community around them. My daughter Kiana and I share a love of tea, the month of Halloween, and painting (she paints and I hang it up). My husband and I share a passion for traveling, wine tasting, and live music (ACL Forever). And if I had to name a favorite kiddo book, it’d be anything in the Skippy Jon Jones world because, at the end of the day, we all have a superhero chihuahua inside us just waiting to take over the world. |
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| Ms. Erica she/her. MTW Twos Lead Teacher, 2 years. Favorite Things |
| My passion for teaching preschool started in 2012 when my college plan, to become a nurse, took a sharp 90 degree turn. A friend of mine asked if I might be interested in working with young children with disabilities. I took that opportunity and haven't looked back ONCE! I quickly discovered that I had found 'my calling in life', working with young children. My teaching style includes play based learning, messy projects, and a focus on social/emotional development. If you walk by my classroom, you might find us elbow deep in slime, or making faces in the mirror as we practice naming different emotions. I also lean into the benefits of outdoor play and exploration. We spend lots of time taking walks, playing at the Capitol grounds, and learning about nature. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to work at FUMP! In my spare time I enjoy crafting, volunteering at church, hiking, foraging, and trying new foods! My family means everything to me! My husband and I have 2 beautiful kids, Liam (5) and Ava (2). Life is busy but wonderful! |
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| Ms. Anissa she/her. Young Infants Lead Teacher, 2 years. Favorite Things |
| My name is Anissa Acosta. I have worked at FUMP, for 1 year as the Lead Infant Teacher and I have loved every minute of it. I have worked in Childcare for 12 years. I have had the opportunity to work as a Lead and Assistant in classrooms ranging in ages from Infants-3 years of age. I love teaching and watching children learn and grow. I was born and raised in Austin, TX. I have three children of my own Julissa (11) , JC (10), and Julius (4). In my free time I enjoy baking, watching movies, listening to music, and being outdoors. I look forward to working with your little little ones and helping them learn and grow. |
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| Ms. Lizbeth she/her. Assistant Teacher, First year. Favorite Things |
| My teaching career started 6 years ago in a Montessori school as an assistant guide but after going through many trainings and courses I became a Lead Guide in less than 2 years. I am thrilled to be joining FUMP and all the wonderful team of amazing teachers. I believe every child is unique and deserves a caring, inspiring, and engaging atmosphere in which to grow emotionally, intellectually, and socially. I am looking forward to making new memories! I was born in Mexico but raised here in Austin. I am a mother to two wonderful girls: Sophia (8) and Amy (1). My husband, Jonathan, and I have been together for 10 years now. Outside of school I love spending time with my family, traveling, and exploring new places. |
| OUR TEACHING ASSISTANTS |
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| Ms. Janie she/her. Assistant Teacher, 8 years. Favorite Things |
| Hi there! My name is Janie. I am excited to be starting my seventh year with the outstanding group of early childhood educators. I have my Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from LSU. I have 41 years of experience working with young children and families in church-housed programs. During that time, I was the assistant director, nursery coordinator, and lead teacher. My home is Baton Rouge, La., but I have lived in Austin since 1983. I am married and have an amazing son and daughter-in-law. I am so thankful for my beautiful grandchildren. They are the joy of my life - Lily is five, Emersyn is 3 years and Dutton is 1 year old. I enjoy cooking, working in my yard, collecting mid-century modern furniture - most of all, I love spending time with my granddaughters!! I look forward to spending my days with your child. |
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| Mr. Daviss he/him. Assistant Teacher, 6 years. Favorite Things |
| Hello! It can be confusing having a last name for a first name. So for clarification, King is my last name and Daviss is my first name, but kids at FUMP & FUMC call me Mr. Daviss. I was born and lived in Dallas, Texas until I moved to Austin in 2003. I have a business degree from SMU and have worked in commercial real estate as a developer, manager, and owner/investor. I am a member of FUMC and spend a portion my spare time volunteering. I discovered my love of and talent with children as a volunteer Sunday school teacher and vacation Bible school leader at FUMC and as a substitute teacher at FUMP. I became a licensed foster parent in 2017 and adopted my son the summer of 2022. We love our sweet fur baby, a beautiful Shetland Sheep Dog (Sheltie) named Simba. |
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| Ms. Lara she/her. Assistant Teacher, 5 years. Favorite Things |
| I've been at FUMP for a few years and love it so much! I got my bachelor's degree in education at the University of Texas in 2010. I'm married with three children who are now preteens and early teenagers. I enjoy knitting, singing, reading, camping, and playing with children. Thank you for trusting me with your children! |
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| Ms. Frances she/her. Assistant Teacher, 7 years. Favorite Things |
| I have been teaching for seventeen years, and it has been rewarding and a constant growing experience. I've been living in Austin for twenty-five years and have four daughters. I enjoy gardening, taking care of my chickens and dogs. |
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| Jenn they/them. Assistant Teacher, 2 Years. Favorite Things |
| I grew up in Dallas and moved to Austin to pursue my Master's in Social Work, which I earned in 2019. My concentration was community building and flourishing, with an emphasis on systemic social change. I have found during my career that conflict resolution and emotional intelligence are absolutely vital to the healthy functioning of every community. I was thrilled to join the FUMP community after spending a year at a mixed-age, play-based learning community. My first year at FUMP brought me to threes and fours, and I am learning every day alongside them. In my free time, I spend a ton of time snuggling with my kitty, reading and dreaming about a better world, and creating various visual arts. |
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| Ms. Ansley she/her. Younger Toddler Teaching Assistant, 2 Years. Favorite Things |
| Hello! This is my second year teaching at FUMP and I am so excited to have the opportunity to grow with your children and help them excel in life. I moved to Austin from New Orleans, Louisiana last spring and I am really enjoying my new city. In my spare time, I like to hike the trails at Lady Bird and paddle board in the creek. I also have a passion for collecting vintage clothing, going to music festivals (ACL) and traveling. I am currently studying Psychology with the hope of continuing to work with children in the school setting. I look forward to getting to know you and your children as the year goes on! |
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| Ms. Sebrina she/her. Teaching Assistant. First Year. Favorite Things |
| Hello, my name is Sebrina this is my first year at FUMP. I’ve been teaching for 7 years now and enjoy about every age group. I was born and raised in Austin. I enjoy going on walks and spending time with my daughter. Soon to be mommy of two. 🙂 I look forward to growing with FUMP and all the children I’ll get the opportunity to interact with. |
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| Ms. Becca she/her. Floater. First year. Favorite Things |
| I am from Houston and moved to Austin last September. I come from FUMC in Houston, which is where my passion for working with children began. I have mostly worked with infants to 4 years old. I love watching them learn and explore and play. Later I had the opportunity to work with the elementary SPED program for a couple of years. Once I got married and started my own family I worked as a nanny for an amazing family until we moved here. In our free time my husband and two children Isla (5) and Atlas (1) love to go explore new parks, swim, paint, listen to music and find yummy coffee and restaurants. I also love making cakes and other yummy treats. We’ve enjoyed Austin so far and have met so many great people. And I already love working here at FUMP. |
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| Lara Greene she/her. Director of Children and Family Ministries. |
| Lara fills the key role of liaison between First Church and FUMP. She is also the parent of two FUMP graduates. She directs and coordinates the FUMC Sunday School Program, Vacation Bible School, the Annual Easter Egg Hunt on the Capitol Grounds and celebrations around the church calendar. |
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| Coach Bob he/him. PE for Preschoolers |