ELC Staff Members
Administration
Ashley Drechsler started at St James Lutheran Church Early Learning Center in 2020, as their Assistant Director. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Walden University in 2016 in Child Development with a concentration in Infant and Toddler development. She also received her PA Director Credential in 2018. Prior to her start Ashley was an Assistant Director at St. Paul Children’s Center in Chambersburg, Pa. Before taking on her administrative role Ashley was a talented Older Toddler teacher at the Gettysburg Growing Place for 17 years.
Ashley enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, taking care of her animals, and sewing. Ashley and her husband Joshua have 4 children; Jeremy, Isabella (Izzy), Chase, and Alexis.
Infants Teachers
Amanda Reed started at the Early Learning Center in early 2000 and left for a few years before realizing her heart was with children and returning in 2019. Amanda has many years of experience working with a variety of age groups.
She is a mother of two children Brian and Maggie. In her spare time, she loves to bake, decorate cakes, and spend time with her family at their cabin. Ms. Amanda is also an Osborn Book consultant.
Angela PungLung started working at St. James Lutheran Church Early Learning Center in 2008, after leaving Burma where she worked as a midwife. Ms. Angela also known as NuNu spends her day in the infant classroom. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Rendar, and four sons: David, Jeremiah, Thomas, and Hudson. Angela likes to go for walks and watching her boys play soccer.
Young Toddlers (1year olds)Teachers
Courtney Mumaw started working at St. James in December 2018. She graduated from Gettysburg High School, completing the Tech Prep Program in 2016. She received her Associate’s in Early Childhood- Elementary Education from HACC. She is currently attending school online, working towards her Bachelor’s degree. Courtney is the lead teacher in the Young Toddler classroom. Courtney enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her fur baby Bandeit and loves to travel.
Megan Bello started working at St. James Lutheran Church Early Learning Center in February 2017. She is a graduate of Gettysburg Area High School where she took one year of the Child Development program with Adams County Tech Prep. Megan enjoys spending time with her family, her daughter Kinslee, friends, and their children. Megan works full-time in our Young Toddler classroom.
Mackensie Vance (Kensie) started with us in the spring of 2022; left us for a few months and returned in 2023. She is 2022, a graduate of Biglerville High School, and has completed 2 years at Shippensburg University studying education. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, spending time with her fiancé, and her two dogs Oakley & Ember, reading, and traveling.
Two Teachers (Older Toddler)
Erica Hartlaub started working at St. James in January 2021. I have been working with children for 18 years and have worked in many different settings with various age groups. I attended Lock Haven University where I majored in Elementary Education and I graduated, with honors, from Harrisburg Area Community College receiving an associate degree in Early Childhood Education.
I am originally from Lewistown, PA, and moved to the area when I got married in 2012. I currently live in Littlestown with my husband, Toby, our son, Cullen, our 3 cats, Bella, Dash, and Meeko, and our 2 dogs, Lily& Gunner. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, camping, boating, traveling (especially to the beach), gardening, taking pictures/scrapbooking, and singing karaoke. I also love football…Go Steelers…and dirt track racing.
Dominique Frazer is a graduate of the Early Learning program at the Adams County Technical Institute and has more than 15 years of experience working with young children. Dominque has her Infant Toddler CDA.
In her spare time, she enjoys working out at the gym and spending time with her friends and family.
Preschool Teachers
Kimberly Shultz started working at SJELC in May 2013 after completing 2 years of Child Development with the Adams County Tech Prep program. She is a 2013 GASD Alumna & graduated from HACC in August 2018 with an Associate’s Degree in Early Care & Education. Ms. Kim has also had training in The Incredible Years; this social-emotional curriculum promotes social interactions between students.
Her mom & twin sisters make up her small immediate family, among other half-siblings & many nieces & nephews. She lives in Fairfield, PA with her boyfriend, Brad; & 4 dogs, SJ, Nitto, Abi & Zara. Kimberly enjoys reading, spending time with friends/family, going to car/truck events, & spontaneous getaways.
Kylsea Goodling started at St. James Lutheran Church Early Learning Center on September 11, 2017, as a Morning Floater and afternoon Preschool Teacher Assistant. She is a graduate of New Oxford High School and Harrisburg Area Community College with an Associate’s Degree in ECE. She volunteered in the Kindergarten classroom at New Oxford Elementary School. This is her first job directly in early childhood education.
PreK Teachers
Danielle Harrington started at St. James Early Learning Center in November 2020. She joins our preschool classroom. Danielle is 22 years old, and grew up in Emmitsburg, Maryland, with her younger brother and two younger sisters. Teaching is one of her passion, and she is excited to be a part of the St. James family. She graduated from Frederick Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education in May of 2020. Danielle is currently working on my Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of Phoenix.
Amber Bivens started at St. James Lutheran Church Early Learning Center in 2020. She is a 2020 graduate of Gettysburg High School, where she completed the Adams County Tech Prep Early Learning Program. She has multiple years of babysitting for local families and currently working in our PreK classroom. Ms. Amber has her CDA.
Kids Club Teachers
Kylie Gallagher began working at St. James Lutheran Church Early Learning Center in January 2017. Kylie is a graduate of the Child Development program with Adams County Tech Prep and interned here at St. James. She has been a floater for many years working in all of the classrooms. She recently has become involved in our Before and after-school program taking on this one role.
She is currently enrolled at Penn State Mount Alto pursuing an occupational physical therapy assistant. She has a daughter named Aiyana.
Jessica Reindollar started working at St. James Lutheran Church Early Learning Center in 2017. She has been working with children since 2009. She was a volunteer at Alloway Creek Intermediate School in Littlestown (2009-2011), enrolled in the Adams County Tech Prep Early Learning program (2011-2013), and worked at Childcare Unlimited in Littlestown (2014-2017). Jess graduated from Bloomsburg University with a bachelor’s in Education (2017) and has her teacher certification. Jessica enjoys photography, and softball, and is a Harry Potter fan!
Floating Staff
Thalia Garcia-Amaya started at St. James Lutheran Church Early Learning Center in February 2016 as a part-time employee while she was finishing school in the Adams County Tech Prep program, and has been employed here since. She is currently in the Toddler classroom. Thalia enjoys listening to music and spending time with family and friends. She is also studying to become a Pediatric Occupational Therapist Assistant.
Abby Ford started at St James in the fall of 2020, as a High School intern, as part of the Adam County Technical Institute (ACTI), related to Child Development & Early Childhood. She graduated from Littlestown Area High School in 2021. Abby has experience working with children as a preschool teacher as part of her ACTI training, babysitting children in the community, and having family experience. Abby has been our seasonal floater, coming in during her college breaks, and working in our Kids Club over the summer. She enjoys camping and spending time on the beach.
Kathy Tosten started working at St. James Lutheran Church Early Learning Center in 2019 as the Kitchen Cook. Kathy and her husband, John, have 4 children. Kathy started working in restaurants at the age of 14, and her love of cooking has been with her since. In her free time, Kathy enjoys coffee & lunch with friends, cooking, baking, gardening, and doing puzzles.
ELC Email Addresses
Infants
Ms. Amanda, & Ms. Angela
[email protected]
Young Toddlers
Ms. Courtney, Ms. Megan and Ms. Kensie (in the afternoon)
[email protected]
Older Toddlers (2’s)
Ms. Erica & Ms. Dominique
[email protected]
Pre-School
Ms. Kim & Ms Kylsea
[email protected]
Pre-Kindergarten
Ms. Danielle & Ms. Amber
[email protected]
Kids Club
Ms. Kylie, Ms. Jess & Ms. Andrea
[email protected]
Director
Interim Director
Ashley Drechsler
[email protected]
St. James Church Administrator (Child Care Tuition)
Katy Clowney
[email protected]
Early Learning Center Governance Chair
Barbara Vossler
[email protected]