Presby Preschool Director Retiring After 33 Years
May 14, 2019 at 1:40 a.m.
By Carol Anders-
An open house to honor her years of service will be from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church fellowship hall. The church has supported the preschool since 1984.
Her last official day as director will be May 24; however, she has committed to consulting with the new director, Kathy Shumacher, as needed. They have been reviewing procedures and policies for several weeks in an effort to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Schumacher previously worked at the church from 2013-2015 as the director of Christian growth. She said she moved to Wisconsin in 2017 to be closer to family and near medical facilities needed by her late daughter.
She has spent the last few years volunteering, planning special events and working at camps in both Wisconsin and Michigan.
She said, “My background in recreation will fit into the philosophy at Presby. I look forward to working with young families.”
Schumacher said, “I talked with former Presbyterian Pastor Erik Ohman, new Pastor Jace Broadhurst, and Sandi and knew this would be a great opportunity to serve.”
Lancaster originally studied to become an elementary teacher, but the opportunity to begin teaching in 1985 as an assistant teacher at Presby lead to her career at the preschool level and she never left.
She said, “I started here and fell in love with the little ones.”
After her first three years at the preschool, she took on her own classroom and taught for the next 12 years. She eventually moved to the director position and served for about 20 years.
Lancaster said, “I found I had a real passion to help other teachers.
“We haven’t changed our philology since we started.”
She said, “We believe in playing with a purpose. This is a foundation for the rest of their lives. What we do is important part their social development and learning problem solving.”
Mary Lafountain taught at Presby Preschool for 29 years with Lancaster. Lafountain was an assistant in Lancaster’s classroom for two years before she took a teaching position.
She said, “Sandi loved teaching and watching the kids grow in learning. But it really touched her when the children responded to the Christian message. I learned a lot about teaching from her and she was a great mentor.”
Lafountain said Lancaster has always been a compassionate and kind person.
Lancaster’s son, Jeff Hankins, was a student at the preschool and remembers how special it was to have his mother nearby.
Hankins said, “My mom wasn’t my teacher, but I always knew she was only a few doors down the hallway.”
Hankins youngest daughter, Lorelei, will be the last of the grandchildren to graduate from Presby. Hankins said, “Lorelei and my mom will be graduating at the same time. It has been great to know my mom was there with both of my girls. I knew they were always loved and protected.”
In all, Lancaster has watched all seven of her grandchildren go through the Presby programs including Gabe, Lucas, Simon, Andrew, Alexa, Lucy and Lorelei.
Lancaster said the support of her family has been important to her over the years. She said her husband, Mark, attended almost all of the programs at the preschool and even cooked many dinners when she worked late nights. They are the parents of Randy and Denise Hankins, Jeff and Miranda Hankins, Shawn and Jill Lancaster, Chad Lancaster, Derek and Ellen Patterson, and Evan and Michelle Lancaster.
She said she hopes to have more time with her family after her retirement as well as reading, crafting and traveling.
Lancaster extended her appreciation for both the church and the staff that she worked with over the years.
She said, “There is a true heart for the children and the families that enter the doors every day. I’ve been honored to serve with them.”
An open house to honor her years of service will be from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church fellowship hall. The church has supported the preschool since 1984.
Her last official day as director will be May 24; however, she has committed to consulting with the new director, Kathy Shumacher, as needed. They have been reviewing procedures and policies for several weeks in an effort to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Schumacher previously worked at the church from 2013-2015 as the director of Christian growth. She said she moved to Wisconsin in 2017 to be closer to family and near medical facilities needed by her late daughter.
She has spent the last few years volunteering, planning special events and working at camps in both Wisconsin and Michigan.
She said, “My background in recreation will fit into the philosophy at Presby. I look forward to working with young families.”
Schumacher said, “I talked with former Presbyterian Pastor Erik Ohman, new Pastor Jace Broadhurst, and Sandi and knew this would be a great opportunity to serve.”
Lancaster originally studied to become an elementary teacher, but the opportunity to begin teaching in 1985 as an assistant teacher at Presby lead to her career at the preschool level and she never left.
She said, “I started here and fell in love with the little ones.”
After her first three years at the preschool, she took on her own classroom and taught for the next 12 years. She eventually moved to the director position and served for about 20 years.
Lancaster said, “I found I had a real passion to help other teachers.
“We haven’t changed our philology since we started.”
She said, “We believe in playing with a purpose. This is a foundation for the rest of their lives. What we do is important part their social development and learning problem solving.”
Mary Lafountain taught at Presby Preschool for 29 years with Lancaster. Lafountain was an assistant in Lancaster’s classroom for two years before she took a teaching position.
She said, “Sandi loved teaching and watching the kids grow in learning. But it really touched her when the children responded to the Christian message. I learned a lot about teaching from her and she was a great mentor.”
Lafountain said Lancaster has always been a compassionate and kind person.
Lancaster’s son, Jeff Hankins, was a student at the preschool and remembers how special it was to have his mother nearby.
Hankins said, “My mom wasn’t my teacher, but I always knew she was only a few doors down the hallway.”
Hankins youngest daughter, Lorelei, will be the last of the grandchildren to graduate from Presby. Hankins said, “Lorelei and my mom will be graduating at the same time. It has been great to know my mom was there with both of my girls. I knew they were always loved and protected.”
In all, Lancaster has watched all seven of her grandchildren go through the Presby programs including Gabe, Lucas, Simon, Andrew, Alexa, Lucy and Lorelei.
Lancaster said the support of her family has been important to her over the years. She said her husband, Mark, attended almost all of the programs at the preschool and even cooked many dinners when she worked late nights. They are the parents of Randy and Denise Hankins, Jeff and Miranda Hankins, Shawn and Jill Lancaster, Chad Lancaster, Derek and Ellen Patterson, and Evan and Michelle Lancaster.
She said she hopes to have more time with her family after her retirement as well as reading, crafting and traveling.
Lancaster extended her appreciation for both the church and the staff that she worked with over the years.
She said, “There is a true heart for the children and the families that enter the doors every day. I’ve been honored to serve with them.”
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