Staff Directory

    • Laura Horn
      Preschool Director

      Laura Horn

      Preschool Director

      Laura joined First Trinity Preschool in August 2021. Her love of children and helping them learn led her to earn her Bachelors in Speech and Masters in Special Education. She has worked in preschool for 18 years. She married her husband Dave in 2008. She loves Jesus, camping, crafting, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

      Personal Info and Fun Facts:
      • Experience:
        25 Years
      • Favorite Color:
        Pink
      • Favorite Children’s Book:
        Too many to list here!
      • Favorite Food:
        Tacos
      • Favorite Ice Cream:
        Cookie Dough
      • Favorite Season:
        All of them!
      • Hometown:
        Lewiston, NY
      • Pets:
        1 cat, Sheldon
      • Hobbies:
        Camping, crafting, reading, spending time with family and friends
      • Family:
        Married to Dave in 2008

    2-Year-Old Teaching Team

    • Karin McGowan
      Head Teacher, 2-Year-Olds

      Karin McGowan

      Head Teacher, 2-Year-Olds

      Karin joined First Trinity Preschool in November of 2012 as an assistant teacher and became the Head Teacher for the Monday-Friday 2-year-old class in 2020. Prior to that she was assisting in the Sweet Home Universal Prekindergarten.  She’s been married to Christopher since 2002 and has two boys, both having gone through the First Trinity Preschool program. She finds the two-year-olds a great joy and so much fun to be around.  She is blessed to have been called to spend her time here.

      Personal Info and Fun Facts:
      • Experience:
        14 years
      • Favorite Color:
        Purple
      • Favorite Children’s book:
        The Napping House by Audrey Wood
      • Favorite Food:
        Berries and Dark Chocolate
      • Favorite Ice cream:
        Chocolate Marshmallow
      • Favorite Season:
        Fall
      • Hometown:
        Buffalo, New York
      • Hobbies:
        Gardening
      • Family:
        Husband, Chris and 2 sons
    • Jennifer Cullipher
      Assistant Teacher, 2-Year-Olds

      Jennifer Cullipher

      Assistant Teacher, 2-Year-Olds

      Jennifer first came to First Trinity Preschool as a mom, when her son attended the 4-year-old program in 2022. During that school year she helped in the preschool as a parent volunteer sub. Jennifer began working as the assistant teacher in the 2-year-old classroom in September 2023. Before coming to the preschool, Jennifer taught in Maryland and worked as a flight attendant in Georgia. Jennifer loves cooking, watching the Ravens play football and traveling with her husband Darren and son Sutton.

      Personal Info and Fun Facts:
      • Experience:
        13 years total – 7 years teaching & 6 as a mom
      • Favorite Color:
        Purple
      • Favorite Children’s book:
        Go Dogs Go by P.D. Eastman
      • Favorite Food:
        Steamed Crabs
      • Favorite Ice cream:
        Mint Chocolate Chip
      • Favorite Season:
        Fall
      • Hometown:
        Baltimore, Maryland
      • Hobbies:
        Cooking, Watching Ravens football, Traveling
      • Family:
        Husband, Darren and son, Sutton
      • Pets:
        Cat named Espy

    3-Year-Old Teaching Team

    • Darcy Fesmire
      Head Teacher, 3-Year-Olds (M/W/F and T/Th)

      Darcy Fesmire

      Head Teacher, 3-Year-Olds (M/W/F and T/Th)

      Darcy began working at First Trinity Preschool in 2008 as an assistant teacher and became the 3-day 3-year-old Head Teacher in 2020. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Grove City College in Pennsylvania.  She has been married to Eric since 1993, has 4 handsome boys, Caleb, Samuel, Isaac, and Joel and a pet turtle, Floyd. Her family enjoys theater, reading and vacations to visit her parents in North Carolina.  She started at the school because her youngest 2 were students, and it gave her the chance to still be home after school with her kids. She has stayed because she loves the people she works with and the chance to meet some special little people and love them with the love Jesus has for them!

      Personal Info and Fun Facts:
      • Experience:
        15 years in the classroom, + mom years
      • Favorite Color:
        Rose
      • Favorite Children’s book:
        Monster at the End of the Book by Jon Stone
      • Favorite Food:
        Pizza
      • Favorite Ice cream:
        Bittersweet Symphony
      • Favorite Season:
        Fall
      • Hometown:
        Braintree, Massachusetts
      • Hobbies:
        Theater, Reading
      • Family:
        Married to Eric since 1993, 4 sons and 1 daughter-in-law & many exchange students over the years
      • Pets:
        Turtle named Floyd
      •  

       

    • Michelle Helles
      Assistant Teacher, 3-Year-Olds (T/Th)

      Michelle Helles

      Assistant Teacher, 3-Year-Olds (T/Th)

      Michelle has been a First Trinity Preschool mom since 2017 and joined the staff as the Assistant Teacher for the 3-year-old class in 2020. She was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and moved to the US in 1997 with her family. She relocated to Buffalo to attend college and now lives in Kenmore with her husband and two children, Joshua and Gwen. She enjoys travel, reading, gardening and exploring local places. Michelle loves Jesus and spending time with His children, both big and small.

      Personal Info and Fun Facts:
      • Experience:
        10 years in children’s ministry and 3 years in preschool
      • Favorite Color:
        Green
      • Favorite Children’s book:
        The Christian Mother Goose Book by Marjorie Ainsborough Decker
      • Favorite Food:
        Indian
      • Favorite Ice cream:
        Caramel Cone
      • Favorite Season:
        Fall
      • Hometown:
        Johannesburg, South Africa
      • Hobbies:
        Putting together photo albums, Baking and Decorating
      • Family:
        Husband Tom, Son Joshua and Daughter Gwen
      • Pets:
        Two Guinea Pigs named Cakey and Hershey
    • Tracy Bramwell
      Assistant Teacher, 3-Year-Olds (M/W/F)

      Tracy Bramwell

      Assistant Teacher, 3-Year-Olds (M/W/F)

      Tracy began working as an assistant teacher in 1998 and left to pursue a career as a technology integrator in local schoools. She joyfully returned to First Trinity in 2020 as an assistant teacher in both the 2- and 4-year-old classes. She is currently the assistant teacher in the 3-day 4-year-old class. Tracy had wanted to be a teacher since Kindergarten but it took her a while to get there. Never give up on your dreams! She is an avid Bills fan who also likes reading and nature. She loves Vacation Bible School, First Trinity, Jesus and her family and close friends.

      Personal Info and Fun Facts:
      • Experience:
        more than 30 years
      • Favorite Color:
        Blue
      • Favorite Children’s book:
        Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber
      • Favorite Food:
        Peaches
      • Favorite Season:
        Summer
      • Hometown:
        Avon, Ohio
      • Hobbies:
        Reading, Swimming and Jigsaw puzzles
      • Family:
        Husband, Mark
    • Debbie Kopec
      Head Teacher, 3-Year-Olds (M/W/F)

      Debbie Kopec

      Head Teacher, 3-Year-Olds (M/W/F)

      Debbie first joined the First Trinity Preschool staff in September of 2016 as the assistant teacher in the MWF 4-year-old classroom. She took a brief step back from the preschool to be home with her daughters, and worked as a substitute throughout the preschool during that time. Debbie became one of the MWF 3-year-old head teachers in September 2023. She has been married to her husband, Scott since 2005, and has three daughters, all of whom attended First Trinity Preschool. In her free time, Debbie enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and exercising.

      Personal Info and Fun Facts:
      • Experience:
        14 years as a mom, 12 years as a volunteer for VBS & 5 years working at First Trinity Preschool
      • Favorite Color:
        Purple
      • Favorite Children’s book:
        Mo Willems books
      • Favorite Food:
        Spicy Thai Chicken Salad from Core Life
      • Favorite Ice cream:
        Almond Joy Ice Cream
      • Favorite Season:
        Summer and Fall
      • Hometown:
        Tonawanda, New York
      • Hobbies:
        Spending time with family & friends and exercising
      • Family:
        Husband Scott, and 3 daughters Madison, Becca and Alyssa
    • Lisa Pulver
      Assistant Teacher, 3-Year-Olds (M/W/F)

      Lisa Pulver

      Assistant Teacher, 3-Year-Olds (M/W/F)

      Lisa joined the First Trinity Preschool staff in September 2023 as one of the assistant teachers in our 3-year-old classrooms. She has been a part of First Trinity’s Vacation Bible School, children’s Sunday education hour and work camp trips with high school students for many years. Lisa has been married to her husband, Derek, since 2003 and has three children, all of whom attended First Trinity Preschool. In her free time, Lisa enjoys knitting, doing puzzles, quilting and hiking.

      Personal Info and Fun Facts:
      • Experience:
        18 years as a stay at home mom, 14 years + as a volunteer for VBS, High school work camp trips & Sunday School & 3 years working at daycare and after school programs
      • Favorite Color:
        Green
      • Favorite Children’s book:
        Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss and How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen
      • Favorite Food:
        Pizza
      • Favorite Ice cream:
        Cookies and Cream
      • Favorite Season:
        Summer
      • Hometown:
        Pendleton, New York
      • Hobbies:
        Quilting, Knitting, Hiking, Camping, Reading
      • Family:
        Married to Derek for 20 years and 3 kids ages 18, 16 and 13
      • Pets:
        Archer, a wind sprite, Misty, a gray cat, Dottie, a parakeet and a goldfish from the county fair

    4-Year-Old Teaching Team

    • Jaime Christ
      Head Teacher, 4-Year-Olds (5 Day)

      Jaime Christ

      Head Teacher, 4-Year-Olds (5 Day)

      Jaime began working at First Trinity Preschool in 2015 as the head teacher in the 3-day 4-year-old classroom. She is now the Head Teacher for the 5-day 4s class. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Concordia University – Chicago in Elementary Education.  She has previously taught in Texas and Ohio and also worked as a service coordinator for children with disabilities. She loves teaching preschoolers!  Jaime lives in Tonawanda with her husband Jason and her three young children.

      Personal Info and Fun Facts:
      • Experience:
        15 years
      • Favorite Color:
        Green
      • Favorite Children’s book:
        We are in a Book by Mo Willems
      • Favorite Food:
        Pomegranates
      • Favorite Ice cream:
        Chunky Monkey
      • Favorite Season:
        Spring
      • Hometown:
        Cleveland, Ohio
      • Hobbies:
        Theater, Exploring parks with my family, Camping
      • Family:
        Husband, Jason, a pastor at First Trinity and 3 kids
    • Victoria Morin
      Assistant Teacher, 4-Year-Olds

      Victoria Morin

      Assistant Teacher, 4-Year-Olds

      Victoria (Tori) joined the First Trinity Preschool staff in September 2022 as the assistant in the 4-year-old classroom and has worked in children’s ministry at local churches since 2019. She is currently attending Erie Community College where she is pursuing a degree in Social Work. Tori enjoys reading, hiking and going to concerts. She is excited to get married this summer to her fiancé Nate!

      Personal Info and Fun Facts:
      • Experience:
        5 years in children’s ministry and 2 years in preschool
      • Favorite Color:
        Purple
      • Favorite Children’s book:
        Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great! by Sandra Boynton
      • Favorite Food:
        Ice cream
      • Favorite Ice cream:
        Egg nog or Chocolate Chip
      • Favorite Season:
        Fall
      • Hometown:
        Buffalo, New York
      • Hobbies:
        Reading, Hiking, Going to concerts
      • Family:
        I’m getting married this summer!
      • Pets:
        Cat named Kissa and a hamster named Bear