Meet our Preschool Staff
Mrs. Nancy Danna, Director of Early Childhood Education
Mrs. Danna has served the Early Childhood Center Ministry at Epiphany since 1988 and became the director of the program in 1992. Nancy attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Nancy and her husband, Mike, have two grown children. Over the years she has also enjoyed serving on VBS teams and volunteering in many church events. In her spare time she enjoys cooking , movies, and traveling to visit family.
Mrs. Pam Groeschel
Mrs. Groeschel, though born in Chicago, has lived in Houston since she was two years old and considers herself to be a native Houstonian. Before coming to Epiphany, Mrs. Groeschel worked as a programmer in the oil and gas industry in the areas of terminal automation and gas chromatography. She has been married to her husband, Kerry, for 24 years and has boy/girl twins who are seniors at Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball. Her children started in the MDO 2’s class at Epiphany and went all the way through 8th grade here before going on to Concordia. Mrs. Groeschel started working at Epiphany in 2009 teaching handbells, chimes, and recorders to the 3rd and 4th graders. She began working in the preschool office a couple of years later and loves greeting the little ones each morning.
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Mrs. Diana Blaha
Mrs. Blaha was born in Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California. Her father was in the Marine Corps there at the time. She moved to Houston, Texas with her parents and brother at a young age. She and her husband (Rodney) of 25 years and her three sons, Austin, Tyler and Cooper are members at Epiphany. Mrs. Blaha teaches a 3-day Pre-K class. She has previously taught Pre-K and Kindergarten at different Christian schools. Mrs. Blaha enjoys teaching and working with young children. Her other interest include the outdoors, she likes to hike, kayak, bike and go skiing. She also enjoys crafts and making jewelry.
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Ms. Diana Blanco
I was born and raised in Mexico City and I moved to Houston about 20 years ago! Teaching is my passion. I realized that learning from my students is an important part of the teaching process! I have two kiddos. One is a former student from Epiphany and my younger one is still at Epiphany in middle school. Epiphany is more than my work it is my home.
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Ms. Donna Cotton
Ms. Cotton is a native of Houston, Texas. She has been teaching at Epiphany Lutheran Pre-School since 2002. Ms. Cotton began teaching in the 2-year-old class and is presently aiding in the Pre-K 4’s class. Before Epiphany, she worked in the Finance industry for over 25 years. Ms. Cotton has been blessed with two wonderful sons.
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Mrs. Anita Edwards
Mrs. Edwards serves as the preschool music teacher and chapel leader. Her work in Early Childcare Education began in 2001 and she began working at Epiphany in 2009. Mrs. Edwards and her husband, Aaron, have three children. Her church home is called Sondays Community Church in Tomball, where her husband serves as pastor. She and her husband also have a non-profit organization in Tomball called The Renewal Center that serves the recovery community in and around Tomball. Her favorite scripture comes from the book of Matthew where Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
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Mrs. Gina Fingleman
Mrs. Fingleman was born in Washington D.C. At a young age her family moved to West Virginia where she and her three siblings were raised. She and her family moved to Houston in 1984. She met her husband, Gary and they were married in 1991. They have two children, Adam and Anna. Adam is in the United States Air Force, and Anna is a student. The Finglemans have been members at Epiphany since 1994. Mrs. Fingleman has taught Pre-K since 2002 and had been teaching here at Epiphany since 2008. In her spare time she enjoys attending her daughter’s sporting events, and spoiling her two dogs, Sammi and Zelda.
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Mrs. Rosanne Foty
Mrs. Foty has been with Epiphany since 2008. She started in the MDO/1s and worked her way up to the Preschool 3's teacher. Mrs. Foty has three girls who have all attended the preschool. She loves animals and gardening and, of course, children. She loves working at Epiphany surrounded by a loving staff.
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Mrs. Renee Harrington
Mrs. Harrington attended Bowling Green State University from
1972-1976, majoring in Elementary Education. In 2000 she began teaching the MDO 2’s in our Preschool and has remained dedicated to the two-year-olds in our program. Her love of God and children make her position at Epiphany the perfect calling. She adores her husband Mike and two teenage boys. Alex attends Texas State and Michael attends Blinn in College Station. Mrs. Harrington loves to have fun with family, friends and the children in her classroom. |
Mrs. Tracy Harris
Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Mrs. Harris moved to the Houston area in 2007 with her husband and four boys. She worked in the accounting field for 13 years before starting a family. Mrs. Harris was a substitute teacher for the preschool before joining our staff as an aide to the 2's classes. She believes God has given her a strong passion for working with children and feels blessed to be able to work with young children. In her spare time she enjoys teaching Sunday School, reading and being outdoors.
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Mrs. Tina Hoppe
Mrs. Hoppe has been teaching at the Preschool for almost 5 years. She loves working with the two-year-olds. Every day with the toddlers is a new adventure. She also works with the four-year-olds on Fun Fridays. Mrs. Hoppe has two school-aged children who attended the preschool when they were younger. She is an avid reader and gardener, and recently has begun crochet. She feels truly blessed to be part of our Preschool.
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Mrs. Michelle Jernigan
Mrs. Jernigan has been on staff at Epiphany Lutheran preschool since 2006. She is a Pre-K aide on Monday and Tuesday, and she also teaches the Fun Friday 4's class. Mrs. Jernigan is married to her husband Dwayne and they have 3 children. All of her children, who are now in high school, attended preschool here at Epiphany. In her free time she enjoys baking, crafts and running.
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Mrs. Angi Lockhart
Mrs. Lockhart is a native Houstonian. She loves children--they are her joy. She started teaching preschool at Epiphany, almost 14 years ago. She taught the MDO 2's class for 2 years. Those years were such a blessing, and she is thrilled to be back at Epiphany! Mrs. Lockhart has 20 years total working with children. She taught the 2's class last year at Bethel Lutheran in Bryan, Texas, before relocating back to the Houston area. Mrs. Lockhart has been married to her husband Scott for 20 years, and they have two boys, both who attended Epiphany Preschool. Mrs. Lockhart enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. Cooking and reading are two more of her passions. She looks forward every day to coming to work and seeing all the smiling faces of the children here at Epiphany!
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Mrs. Cathy Mattiza
Cathy Mattiza was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She and her husband, Dennis, are blessed with sons, Matthew and Jess and their wives. They have been members of Epiphany for 14 years. Mrs. Mattiza has worked in education for the past 35 years which includes preschool and experience working in Cy-Fair ISD and Spring Branch ISD. She currently works as an aide in pre-K with Gina Fingleman. Cathy’s hobbies include enjoying nature, cheering on the Astros, and watching the “wonder” of granddaughters, Violet and Avery.
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Mrs. Salena Mize
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Mrs. Pamela Pena
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Mrs. Mize began teaching the MDO 2's class at Epiphany in 2010. Prior to this, she taught Pre-K and Exploratory Kindergarten for eight years. She currently teaches the 3's classes. Mrs. Mize has been a member of our church for over twenty years and regularly attends services with her husband Keith and three children: Emily, Madelyn and Brandt. Her two passions are working with children and raising awareness and funds for those affected by congenital heart defects.
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My name is Pamela Pena and I am the aide for the T, Th Young Twos. I love it! It is so wonderful working with these little gifts. In my spare time I enjoy baking healthy snacks with my two kiddos that are 3 and 7. We also enjoy discovering the greatness outside at parks, and crafting treasures for our home. I am married to a wonderful guy who God blessed me with.
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Mrs. JoBeth Wesley
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Mrs. Lindsey Williams
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Mrs. Wesley is a native Houstonian. She is married to her husband Paul. They have 3 grown children and have 3 grandchildren. She has taught 35 years in Early Childhood. She taught 4 years of Kindergarten and 6 years of PreK at Temple Oaks and now for 25 years here at Epiphany. Her passion is in teaching children their letters and numbers and especially about Jesus’s love, He has for each one of them.
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Mrs. Williams is a native Houstonian. She worked in the corporate world for 19 years before joining the Epiphany family. Mrs. Williams was a substitute teacher for the preschool before joining our staff. She has been married to her husband Chuck for 10 years, and they have two girls, one who attended Epiphany Preschool and one who is currently attending. Mrs. Williams enjoys spending time with her family. In her spare time she enjoys selling Scentsy, playing bunco and pokeno and being a part of the Cy-Fair Women’s Club. She is excited to be a part of children’s lives.
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