Diana Wise, Director of Preschool and Childcare

dwise@firstpresnpb.org

Diana was born in Bermuda in 1958. She married Blaine Wise in 1979. Together they have four children. Diana graduated from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1979 with a Bachelor of Physical Education Degree and minors in Health Education, Biology, and Elementary Education. Since 1995, she has been Childcare Coordinator for First Pres arranging childcare for all church events and on Sundays for the Infant Nursery, Toddler Nursery, and Extended Care programs. In 1997, Diana was called to start the preschool, and has been Preschool Director ever since. During the building and licensing of the school, Diana earned both the Florida and National Designations of the Child Care Professional Credential. She completed her Director’s Credential in 2002, and is trained in CPR and First Aid. Diana is very active in the life of the church, serving on the Children’s Ministries Committee, the Preschool Advisory Board, and helping with children’s activities. All four of Diana’s children have grown up at First Pres and participated in the children’s programs and youth groups. Diana enjoys her family’s large get-togethers and reading, and most of all, being involved with her children, supporting them, their friends, and sports teams.

Ashley Terrana, Director’s Assistant and Substitute Teacher

Ashley grew up in North Palm Beach and graduated from Palm Beach Gardens High School. She graduated from Palm Beach Community College Fire School in 2000, and is currently a Firefighter/Paramedic with Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department. Ashley married her husband Dave in 2008. They have a daughter, and a Yellow Lab named Shelby.

Kristin Coleman, Terrific Twos

Kristin was born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland and graduated from Annapolis Senior High in 1985. She married her high school sweetheart Robert in 1993. They moved to South Florida in 1994. She has a daughter and son who both attended First Presbyterian Preschool. She is a member of First Presbyterian and is a Sunday school teacher and Vacation Bible School volunteer. Kristin is PTA President at Bright Futures International Charter School and a co-leader of a Brownie troop. Her daughter plays softball for PBGYAA, an organization that she and her husband are heavily involved. She feels blessed to be able to work with such wonderful children, families and staff of the church.

Debbie Bierman, Preschool Teacher: Pre K 3

Debbie was born and raised in High Point, North Carolina. She attended East Carolina University and graduated with a BS in Hospitality Management. She moved to south Florida in 1993 and met her husband Craig in 1995. They married in July of 1997 and have three beautiful children, two boys and a girl. Their daughter attends First Presbyterian Preschool. This will be Debbie’s first year teaching preschool but she has volunteered at Vacation Bible School, with the three year olds, for the past four years. She feels very fortunate to be joining such a great group of teachers and is looking forward to an exciting school year with the children.

Sarah Herritt, Preschool Teacher: Pre K 4(1)

Sarah was born in New Jersey. She was raised in a Navy family, so she moved quite a bit. Her family finally settled in Rhode Island, where she graduated from high school in 1975 and went to the University of Rhode Island.

She met her husband, Bruce, in 1978 and they were married in 1982 in Newport, Rhode Island. Bruce and Sarah moved to Florida and bought their current home in 1985. They have two beautiful children, both girls who now attend Florida State in Tallahassee.

Sarah has been working in our preschool for 8 years and loves every minute she spends with these great little four year olds. She wouldn’t trade this job for anything!

Sue Staley, Preschool Teacher: Pre K 4(1)

Sue was born in 1954 and lived in northern New Jersey until she was 16, at which time her family moved to western New York State. She graduated from Jamestown High School in 1973 and moved to Florida in 1982. She worked in the restaurant business until she met her husband, Mark, and started traveling with him. He is a captain and since 1997 has run a 70 foot sport fishing boat. They married in 1989 and have two sons, Shaun and Dyllan. During their years at North Palm Beach Elementary, she volunteered at that school and was the yearbook coordinator for four of the years. Her sons play baseball, so she and her husband are active in the local league, being on the board for North Palm Beach County Little League. Mark has coached for many years. Her love of children brought her to apply for the position at the First Pres Preschool, and in August, 2006, she started as a teaching assistant for the four year olds. She loves working with the children and looks forward to many years at the preschool.

Meghan Karlson, Preschool Teacher: Pre K 3

Meghan was born and raised in upstate New York and joined the Air Force in 1998. Upon leaving the military, Meghan, her husband Ernie, and their two children moved back to NY until her husband’s job brought them to Florida in 2006. Meghan has worked with young children for four years and looks forward to many years here at First Pres Preschool.

Kimberly Cassino, Preschool Teacher: Pre K 4(2)

Kimberly is married and the mother of three beautiful daughters. She has lived in South Florida since 1971 and graduated from Palm Beach Gardens High School. She and her husband were married at St. Clare Catholic Church where her children now attend school. Kimberly came to the preschool in 2005 after being a stay-at-home mom for ten years. She feels blessed to be able to work with such a great group of people.

Carole Atwater, Preschool Teacher: Terrific Twos

Carole graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Mental Retardation and an M.Ed in Specific Learning Disabilities. She and her husband, Jeff, have been married since 1975 and reside in North Palm Beach with their four children. Carole has worked at the preschool as a teacher assistant for the Terrific Two’s since 2004. She also enjoys volunteering at North Palm Beach Elementary School, St. Clare Catholic School, and during First Presbyterian Church Vacation Bible School.

Carol Griffith, Preschool Teacher: Pre K4

Carol taught the Pre-K3 class at the First Pres Preschool since 2000. This year she has moved to the Pre-K4’s. As a resident of South Florida since 1971, she grew up attending First Pres. She and her husband, Mark, enjoy the variety of their four children’s ages and interests. Carol attended Palm Beach Community College for two years and also holds a Child Development Associate Certificate. She has been teaching or working in the education field since 1983.