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