Staff

As usual, we are excited to have the following wonderful teachers on our staff this year!  We are always happy to touch base with parents during pick-up and dismissal times when important information for the day needs to be shared.  We request that any extended discussions with your classroom teacher occur at a predetermined time outside of class by a phone call or through email so that drop-off and dismissal flow smoothly for all.  Office hours for the preschool are generally 8:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. M-F.

Dianne Sefter
Director/Teacher
Dianne has been with the preschool since its inception in 1993- 27 years!  She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Art Education from Penn State University.
She is in her 22st year as director of the preschool.
She is currently co-teacher of the 5-day/combination morning class for 3-5 year olds.
Dianne is a member of Fairbrook United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania Furnace.

home phone: 234-2421
Email

Amber Patrick
Teacher Assistant
This is Amber's third year as an assistant in the Almost Three's class.  She has 5 children and has had experience as a mother and home childcare worker for 21 years.  She is a doula who works in the State College Area with new mothers.  She had one son attend our program.
Amber is a member of St. John's Byzantine Church.
Email

Mary Kay LaPlante
Teacher Assistant
Mary Kay has been with the preschool since 2011 and had two of her four children in our program.  She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology.
She is currently the teacher assistant in the Monday/Friday portion of our downstairs 3-5 year class.
Mary Kay is a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Port Matilda.

home phone:  238-4522
Email


Heather McIntosh
Teacher
Heather has been with the preschool since 2012 and had taught a toddler class in Florida for 12 years before moving back to State College.  One of her three daughters attended the preschool.
She is currently the teacher of the Almost Three's class for 2 yrs. 7 mos.- 3 year olds and the M/W/F teacher for the 5-day class.
Heather is a member of Access Church in State College.

home phone:  850-221-9475
Email

Jaci Johnson
Assistant Teacher
This is Jaci's third year with our preschool, having one of her three sons attend our program.  Jaci holds a certificate in Children, Youth and Family Services from Penn State.
She is currently teacher for our Lunch Bunch program and teacher assistant for the M/W/F upstairs class and T/TH downstairs class..
Jaci is a member of Port Matilda United Methodist Church in Port Matilda.

Catherine Droske
Teacher
Catherine is in her fifth year as as teacher at Good Shepherd, having formerly taught at Fairbrook First Steps Preschool for 12 years.  She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Arts in Child Development from California State University in Chico, CA. She is currently a teacher of the M/W/F  morning class for 3-5 year olds.
Catherine is a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in State College.

home phone:  692-2206
Email

You might see Lillian Garbrick, Beth Hlywiak and Cindy LaBarca helping in our classrooms this year! They are retired from our staff, but love to add a little excitement to their days by coming back to preschool to help.  They are a tremendous boost to our program and bring their own special gifts to our classes.  The children love them, too, with all of the special attention they get!!  All staff  attend coursework for Early Childhood Education and take classes for CPR and First Aid training for Infants and Toddlers