EDUCATOR – 1s

Teresita has been working here at First Presbyterian Preschool since September 2013.  She is certified as a community health worker, which allows her to work with disabled children, and is also a certified Iridologist. She is a bilingual teacher, and offers all of her lessons in both English and Spanish. She is honored to have a job that requires her to not only take care of children, but also help care for them with heart and mind and lead them along the path of education.

EDUCATOR – 3s

Adriana Pamela De La O was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. Her experience educating children began when she became a volunteer at her daughter’s Pre-K class at Head Start Region 19 in 2007. There she took a teacher course which helped her better assist the educators that requested her assistance. In January of 2019 she was given the opportunity to be a substitute teacher at First Presbyterian. There she had the chance to work with different age groups starting with the beautiful MMOs up to the preschoolers.

EDUCATOR – 3s

Elihana was born in El Paso and raised in Mexico. She lives with her husband and two beautiful dogs. Elihana has an Associate of Arts in Teaching and majored with a BA in Early Childhood Education through 6th grade- Bilingual Education. She has sixteen years of experience teaching 2s, 3s, Pre-K, and Kindergarten.

EDUCATOR – 3s

Erika Gamero was born in Durango and raised between the states of Durango and Jalisco in Mexico. She worked in the Human Resources field before she decided to become a full-time mom. She moved to El Paso back in 2010 and her son started his early childhood education at First Presbyterian Preschool in 2013. A year later, she started working here while her son was in Pre-K. She absolutely loves working with three-year-old children! This will be her eight-year at First Pres and ninth-year teaching three-year-old friends. In addition to teaching at the preschool, this will be her first year working at First Presbyterian Elementary School as a Spanish teacher. It is her goal to teach my students not only another language but the value of diversity and respect for other people’s backgrounds and cultures.

TEACHING ASSISTANT

Avary is attending UTEP and studying music with an emphasis on the piano.  She also plays the violin and guitar.  She plans to share her love of music with children using her guitar to introduce the children to different types of music.  Avary started working at the Preschool during Summer Camp and joined our staff in the Fall of 2022. 

EDUCATOR – 2s

Tina is a native southern Californian who moved to El Paso in August of 2012, when she began teaching at First Pres. She started her teaching career in 2006 and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California. Tina believes Preschool teaching is her calling and considers it a blessing. Her belief is that each child is unique, and her desire is to respectfully, and lovingly be a positive difference in their lives, the lives of their families’ and our community.

EDUCATOR – Pre-K

Melissa Gonzales was born and raised here in El Paso and holds an Associates Certification in Child Development. Melissa and her husband Jesse have two daughters, Italia and Denali. She has been working here at First Presbyterian Preschool since October of 2015. Prior to that she worked with different age groups in the El Paso Independent School district. Melissa is fluent in English and Spanish and can teach in both. She really enjoys working with children and knows that is her calling. She feels each and every child is unique in their own way and looks forward to teaching your children to love, respect, and to be kind to one another.

TEACHER ASSISTANT

Yoke Wan Gunstream was born and raised in Malaysia and moved to El Paso in 1996. She has been teaching since 2010. She officially joined the staff at First Presbyterian Preschool in 2018. Yoke Wan loves to sing and play the guitar.

EDUCATOR – Kinder

Lila is originally from El Paso. She has been at FPP since August of 2007. She completed her studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. She loves helping children develop socialization skills and find acceptable means of expressing emotions. She sees each child as being unique, therefore, they learn and thrive at their own pace.

EDUCATOR – Music

Vanessa began her musical training in piano at age 3, and graduated from the Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, Massachusetts with a major in composition. She additionally studied music at New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Southern California, where she received her B.A. in International Relations and French. She also has a M.A. in Latin American and Border Studies from UTEP. A 2003 graduate of Leadership El Paso, Vanessa has served on numerous nonprofit boards in El Paso and the region. She works as the Music Director at First Presbyterian Church.

INTERIM PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR

Charlene Lievanos has been teaching here at First Presbyterian since August of 1999. She became the Assistant Director in August of 2019. She attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs, where she studied sociology. Charlene holds a CDA credential –a credential that helps promote the emotional, physical intellectual and social development of young children. She believes that children are capable participants in the planning and implementing of all learning. She has lived in El Paso for over 20 years with her husband and has two grown children.

TEACHING ASSISTANT

Ashley was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She began working for First Presbyterian Preschool in July of 2021and continued on that Fall.  She currently attends the University of Texas at El Paso, studying Education, in hopes of one day becoming a speech teacher. The love she shares for children continues to grow everyday as she works with the children, as well as her love for music and art. 

EDUCATOR – 3s

Michelle has been teaching for over a decade, starting with teaching psychology to high school seniors at Loretto Academy. She then moved to Austin and spent ten years teaching at Westlake Hills Presbyterian Preschool. She has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso and has taken classes in Child Development at Austin Community College. It is her goal to guide each child to grow, learn, and explore in this new place.

TEACHING ASSISTANT

Kayla joined First Presbyterian Preschool during Summer Camp 2022 as a student helper.  She graduated from Austin High School in the spring of 2021.  Kayla was part of the Child Development Learning program while in high school.  She is currently attending El Paso Community College studying psychology. She plans to be a child psychologist.  She spends her weekends with her family watching sports.

EDUCATOR – 1s

Lauren is currently a 3 – year Education Major studying Early Education at the University of Texas at El Paso. Lauren has been a childcare provider for a local family for the last 2years. She is a native El Pasoan and local entrepreneur starting her own craft business. Lauren loves to travel and document her travels with friends. She loves to read fiction and teach young children life skills.

EDUCATOR – 1s

Teresa has been working in this profession more than 30 years. She has an Associates degree in Child Development, and is a past board member of the Paso del Norte National Association for the Education of Young Children. She’s been working at First Presbyterian Preschool since August of 2004, and enjoys serving as a mentor for new teachers and parents. 

EDUCATOR – 2s

Samantha, a proud El Paso native, has cultivated a rich tapestry of experiences through her travels to various destinations. Alongside her husband, son, and two dogs she loves exploring new cultures and landscapes to deepen her appreciation for diversity. Her educational journey has been multifaceted, having studied Early Childhood Education at Grand Canyon University and currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Texas at El Paso. She believes in fostering a nurturing environment where every child feels valued, supported, and inspired to explore the joy of learning. Through her dedication and genuine care, Samantha strives to make a lasting difference in the lives of young learners and their communities.

EDUCATOR – Sprouts (1st Grade)

Marina has been working in early childhood education for more than 20 years and has been with First Presbyterian Preschool since August of 2012. She loves to work with 3 and 4 year olds and help them develop basic foundational skills on which they rely as they move forward, such as social skills, math, science, language, and literacy – disguised as fun and play. She wants every child to develop a love for learning and a positive outlook towards school.

EDUCATOR – Pre-K

Alma was born and raised here in El Paso, Texas. In 2001, she started teaching in the elementary school setting and has greatly enjoyed working in the field of education. Since 2016, she has been teaching here at First Presbyterian Preschool. Her teaching experiences have encouraged her to continue education and she has now obtained her Child Development Associates Certification.

EDUCATOR – 2s

Claudia was born in El Paso and raised in Juarez, and holds a degree in Child Development. She started teaching here at First Presbyterian Preschool in August of 2014. She loves working with kids and applying the most current practices in early childhood development. She believes that children are young individuals with needs and wants that need to be catered to and carefully nurtured. She strives to support her students as they leap forward in motor development, increase mental reasoning skills, explore language abilities, and blossom in social, emotional, and spiritual growth.