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:
  
  20 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:
  
  11 Years
  
  Favorite Color:
  
  Purple
  
  Favorite Children’s Book:
  
  The Napping House
  
  Favorite Food:
  
  Chicken, Cheese, Dark Chocolate
  
  Favorite Ice Cream:
  
  Chocolate
  
  Favorite Season:
  
  Fall
  
  Hometown:
  
  Buffalo
  
  Hobbies:
  
  Reading, Watching Soccer
  
  Family:
  
  Married with 2 kids
- Heather Reed
  Assistant Teacher, 2-Year-Olds
  Heather Reed
  Assistant Teacher, 2-Year-Olds
  Header holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. She joined First Trinity Preschool as a substitute aide in December 2019 and became the 2-year-old classroom assistant in 2020. She currently lives in Kenmore with her husband, Andy, and two children. Heather has been a dance instructor for the past ten years to students of all ages, and is very active in local Buffalo theatre as an actress and choreographer. She is so thankful to have found a home at First Trinity, where she gets to live her dream of working with and teaching young children.
  
  Personal Info and Fun Facts:
  
  Experience:
  
  2 Years
  
  Favorite Color:
  
  Blue
  
  Favorite Children’s Book:
  
  Little Blue Truck
  
  Favorite Food:
  
  Pizza
  
  Favorite Ice Cream:
  
  Mint Chocolate Chip
  
  Favorite Season:
  
  Fall
  
  Hometown:
  
  Olean, NY
  
  Hobbies:
  
  Hiking, swimming, dance, listening to music, reading
  
  Family:
  
  Married with 2 children, a boy and a girl
3-Year-Old Teaching Team
- Darcy Fesmire
  Head Teacher, Monday/Wednesday/Friday 3-Year-Olds
  Darcy Fesmire
  Head Teacher, Monday/Wednesday/Friday 3-Year-Olds
  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:
  
  12 Years
  
  Favorite Color:
  
  Brown
  
  Favorite Children’s Book:
  
  There’s a Monster at the End of this Book
  
  Favorite Food:
  
  Pizza
  
  Favorite Ice Cream:
  
  Mocha Chip
  
  Favorite Season:
  
  Fall
  
  Hometown:
  
  Braintree, MA
  
  Hobbies:
  
  Cooking, Facebook, Scrapbooking
  
  Family:
  
  Married with 4 boys
- Katie Swanekamp
  Head Teacher, Tuesday/Thursday 3-Year-Olds
  Katie Swanekamp
  Head Teacher, Tuesday/Thursday 3-Year-Olds
  Katie worked as a substitute while her kids attended First Trinity Preschool. In 2017 she began working as an assistant teacher and became the 2-day 3-year-old Head Teacher in 2020. She’s a stay-at-home mom when not teaching as well as a volunteer educator at the zoo, leading tours. She’s also an animal handler there, showing off animals around the park and sharing fun facts with kids.
  
  Personal Info and Fun Facts:
  
  Experience:
  
  4 Years
  
  Favorite Color:
  
  Purple
  
  Favorite Children’s Book:
  
  Hope for the Flowers
  
  Favorite Food:
  
  Pizza
  
  Favorite Ice Cream:
  
  One Buffalo
  
  Favorite Season:
  
  Fall
  
  Hometown:
  
  Buffalo, NY
  
  Pets:
  
  2 beta fish: Rainbow and Sowver
  
  Hobbies:
  
  Knitting, Crocheting, Scrapbooking
  
  Family:
  
  Married with 2 kids
- Michelle Helles
  Assistant Teacher, T/Th 3-Year-Olds
  Michelle Helles
  Assistant Teacher, T/Th 3-Year-Olds
  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:
  
  2 Years
  
  Favorite Color:
  
  Green
  
  Favorite Children’s Book:
  
  Jesus Storybook Bible
  
  Favorite Food:
  
  Indian Food
  
  Favorite Ice Cream:
  
  Caramel Cone
  
  Favorite Season:
  
  Summer
  
  Hometown:
  
  Johannesburg
  
  Pets:
  
  A goldfish named Amelia
  
  Hobbies:
  
  Gardening, Reading, Exploring new places, Journaling
  
  Family:
  
  Married with one son and one daughter
- Tracy Bramwell
  Assistant Teacher, MWF 3-Year-Olds
  Tracy Bramwell
  Assistant Teacher, MWF 3-Year-Olds
  Tracy vegan 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:
  
  24 Years
  
  Favorite Color:
  
  Blue
  
  Favorite Children’s Book:
  
  Ira Sleeps
  
  Favorite Food:
  
  Peaches
  
  Favorite Ice Cream:
  
  Peanut Butter
  
  Favorite Season:
  
  Summer
  
  Hometown:
  
  Avon, Ohio
  
  Hobbies:
  
  Jigsaw Puzzles, Reading
  
  Family:
  
  Married
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:
  
  12 Years
  
  Favorite Color:
  
  Green
  
  Favorite Children’s Book:
  
  We Are in a Book by Mo Willems
  
  Favorite Food:
  
  Pomegranates
  
  Favorite Ice Cream:
  
  Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey (Banana and Chocolate)
  
  Favorite Season:
  
  Spring
  
  Hometown:
  
  Cleveland, OH
  
  Hobbies:
  
  Writing, Finding fun places to explore in Buffalo
  
  Family:
  
  Married with 3 kids