Open Arms Preschool Staff | Gainesville FL | First Lutheran Church Gainesville

Angie has proudly served as the Director of Open Arms Preschool since October 2010 and brings more than 25 years of experience in early childhood education. She is passionate about sharing the love of Jesus with children and believes that every child deserves a safe, nurturing, and faith-filled environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive. Angie is dedicated to supporting not only the children in our care but also the families and staff who make the Open Arms community so special.

Outside of work, Angie enjoys spending time with her family, especially during her favorite season—fall. She loves cheering on her beloved Florida Gators and making memories with the people she loves most. Angie has been married to her husband, Stephen, for 25 years, and together they have two grown sons, Tre and Trevor. She is also the proud dog mom to her chocolate Labrador, Coco. Whether she's taking Coco to the dog park, enjoying long walks, or beach trips, Angie loves making the most of Florida's beautiful outdoors.

She is grateful for the opportunity to lead Open Arms Preschool and continues to feel blessed to serve the children and families in our community.

Brittani is proud to serve as the Assistant Director of Open Arms Preschool and is beginning her 18th school year with the Open Arms family. She is passionate about creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where children, families, and teachers can thrive. Brittani works closely with the staff each day to ensure that every child receives exceptional care while making Open Arms a place where learning, laughter, and faith come together. One of Brittani's favorite parts of Open Arms is seeing the lasting impact the school has on families. Her own son attended Open Arms beginning at just one year old and is now a high school senior. Her daughter, who is in third grade, also started her early learning journey at Open Arms.

Outside of school, Brittani loves anything that involves sunshine and being on or near the water. She enjoys shopping trips with her daughter, getting lost in a good book, and spending quality time with her family. During football season, her house is divided—half cheering for the Florida Gators and the other half rooting for the Florida State Seminoles—but Brittani proudly supports the Gators. She is grateful to be part of the Open Arms community and looks forward to another wonderful year of helping children learn, grow, and thrive.

I have been part of the Open Arms family for 13 years, starting while I was in college. Throughout the years, Open Arms has become my happy place. It has created an environment filled with love, care, and nurturing—not only for the children and families we serve, but also for the staff.

During the day, I teach at Sidney Lanier, and I truly enjoy helping children learn and grow in both of my roles. When I'm not teaching, you'll usually find me cheering on my Florida Gators, relaxing at home, or antique shopping. I also enjoy tending to my plants.

Chrystal has been a VPK teacher at Open Arms Preschool for the past 18 years. Teaching young children has always been her passion, and she feels truly blessed to be part of their early learning journey in a faith-filled environment. She loves creating a warm, supportive classroom where children feel safe, nurtured, and excited to learn each day while helping prepare them for kindergarten and beyond. One of the greatest joys of her career has been watching former students grow up—many of the children she taught are now in college, a testament to the lasting relationships she has built over the years.

Outside of the classroom, Chrystal has been married for 30 years and is the proud mom of three boys. She enjoys spending quality time with her family, reading a good book, and relaxing at the beach whenever she can. She looks forward to another wonderful year of learning, growing, and making lasting memories with her students and their families.

Martha has been a valued member of the Open Arms Preschool family for the past four years. During her time here, she has worked with infants, two-year-olds, and three-year-olds, gaining experience with each age group before finding her true passion in the three-year-old classroom. She loves creating a warm, engaging environment where children can learn, grow, and build confidence through play and exploration.

When she's not in the classroom, Martha enjoys visiting her family in Georgia, taking her dog, Flora, on long walks, and making a stop at Buc-ee's whenever she gets the chance. She is excited to continue helping her students learn, grow, and create lasting memories throughout the school year.

Kylee is excited to begin her first year as a lead teacher at Open Arms after spending the past year as part of our school family. She is currently pursuing her degree in Elementary Education and has always had a passion for working with young children. Kylee is looking forward to creating a fun, nurturing, and engaging classroom where every child feels loved, encouraged, and excited to learn each day.

Outside of the classroom, Kylee enjoys spending time at the beach, attending country music concerts, traveling, and making memories with family and friends. She is excited for the year ahead and can't wait to build lasting relationships with her students and their families.

Isabella has been working with children for the past 10 years and is beginning her second year at Open Arms Preschool. Originally from New Jersey, she recently moved to Gainesville and is excited to continue growing as a teacher while building meaningful relationships with the children and families in her classroom. She loves creating a caring, engaging environment where every child feels valued and encouraged to learn.

Outside of the classroom, Isabella enjoys reading, watching Disney movies, and exploring her new hometown. She is looking forward to another wonderful year of helping children learn, grow, and reach new milestones at Open Arms Preschool.

Alex is excited to begin her first year at Open Arms Preschool as the Wise Owls teacher. She brings more than two and a half years of experience working with children of all ages, from infants through VPK, and has previously served as an Education and Curriculum Lead. Alex is passionate about creating a fun, engaging classroom where children feel loved, supported, and excited to learn every day.

A Gainesville native, Alex loves giving back to the community where she grew up. She is the proud mom of her three-year-old son, Jackson, who also attends Open Arms Preschool. At home, life is never dull with her two cats, Salem and June, and her dog, Dexter. Alex is looking forward to building meaningful relationships with her students and their families while helping every child learn, grow, and thrive during her first year at Open Arms.

Mairelys has over four years of experience working with young children and is passionate about creating a safe, loving, and engaging environment where every child can learn and grow. As the Jungle Monkeys teacher at Open Arms Preschool, she enjoys watching little ones discover the world around them while building confidence, independence, and a love for learning. She believes that every child deserves to feel valued, supported, and encouraged each day.

Outside of the classroom, Mairelys enjoys spending time with her family and her dogs, reading, writing, and creating crafts. She loves nature, peaceful music, beach days, and finding joy in life's simple moments. With a kind heart and a gentle spirit, Mairelys looks forward to making each school day a positive and memorable experience for the children and families at Open Arms Preschool.

I have had the joy of working with children for over 18 years and have been a proud member of the Open Arms family for the past 13 years. I love working in the Infant Room, where I have the privilege of caring for and nurturing our youngest learners. It is such a blessing to watch babies grow, reach new milestones, and begin exploring the world around them. I strive to create a safe, loving, and comforting environment where each child feels secure, valued, and encouraged every day.

Outside of work, I enjoy reading, traveling, cooking, and continuing my studies of the Korean language, culture, and music. I believe that learning is a lifelong journey, and I enjoy bringing that same curiosity, patience, and joy into my work with children and their families.

I have worked with children for over 18 years and have been with Open Arms for 13! I enjoy reading, traveling, cooking, continuing my studies of korean langue, cultire, and music.

OPEN ARMS STAFF