Helen Bodnarik - Support

I’m from the small town of Welch, West Virginia, where as a child I had fun exploring the mountains and creeks searching for caves and tadpoles and loving life. My mother instilled in me a deep love for God and all people. I have been a part of the Preschool family from its beginning. It has been a joy to work with the children and to be able to watch them grow up through the years.

Lorilee Brizendine - Support

I was born and raised in Osceola County and attended Florida State University. My daughters attended UCP, and they have very fond memories of the preschool. Although my background is in adult basic education, I enjoy working with young children. I feel blessed to be a part of UCP once again. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family.

Margo Cook - Support

I was born in Lorain Ohio but quickly moved to Florida at just six weeks old.  I grew up in south Florida and moved to Orlando after I was married.  I went to college in Tallahassee FL at Florida State University.  I began my teaching career in the middle school setting.  I taught eighth grade science until I had my first child.  I have been a full time mom until this past year when I was asked  to support a 2's class at UCP. I love it.  It is such a wonderful family.  I feel that God has really blessed me by bringing me to this wonderful school.  Being part of the pre-k program this year will be very exciting.  Some things I like to do outside of school are  gardening, horseback riding and fishing.  Our family loves to be outside.

Martha Donovan - Support

I was born in Colombia, South America and came to the United States when I was fourteen years old. I did not know any English, but between school, my friends and television, I quickly learned the language. I lived in Long Island, NY with my family-my mom, 4 brothers and 2 sisters. It was also in New York were I met my husband Eddie, and we were married in May of 1987. In 1998, we moved to Florida and my husband opened his garage door business.

I have two wonderful children- Sean 11 and Melissa 5. They are my passion and greatest encouragement to be a better person.

I have a degree in Business Administration, and worked for Allstate Insurance for 15 years until the birth of my daughter Melissa. When Melissa was attending the 3-year-old program at UCP, I had the opportunity to be a substitute teacher and fell in love with the children and the school. I had the opportunity to teach the 2-year-old program last year. It was a wonderful rewarding experience.

I am continuing my education in Early Childhood and hope to pursue a teaching degree.

Kelly Faber - Teacher

Cathy Forkenbrock - Teacher

I feel very blessed to be joining the staff here at UCP after having taught at Parkway Weekday Program for 13 years. I started teaching when I enrolled my daughter in a 3 year old class. I have enjoyed learning and growing with each one of my students. We think we are the teachers, but from preschoolers we learn as well as teach! They truly are one of lives greatest blessings.

My husband, Ralph, of 24 years and I have two wonderful children, a son who is a freshman at UCF studying Electrical Engineering and a daughter who is a junior at Winter Park High School. They are both avid soccer players - playing for their schools and on state cup teams.

I volunteer at my church, my daughter's high school and with the ALS/Lou Gehrigs Association. I look forward to meeting the many families that are involved in the preschool and getting to know their children. I thank God for my family, friends and the opportunity to teach preschoolers.

Rhonda Iddins - Support

I was born and raised in Knoxville, TN. I am married and have five wonderful girls. My husband was in the military for 22 years so we moved frequently. I have worked at UCP since 2002. I started out as a substitute when my youngest was in a 2 year old class. I have been a 2-year old teacher, and a 2, 3 and 4 year old support teacher. Watching the children grow and seeing their desire to know more about Jesus is so rewarding. I truly feel blessed to work here.

Pam Johnson - Teacher

I was born in Richmond, Virginia. As a child my family moved quite a bit around the States, eventually ending up in Florida when I was around ten. I volunteer on various committees at my children’s school along with being on the PTA Board. I enjoy watching and helping children very much.

When I was in high school, my goal was to be a Kindergarten teacher. Now I have found something much better – early education with preschoolers. They have such high spirits and always love everything we do. Their smile is one of God’s greatest miracles.

I have been teaching at University Carillon Preschool for over six years and enjoy it very much. I also teach faith at my home church.

Cathy McFarland - Teacher

My name is Cathy McFarland and I am a native Floridian. I was born in Melbourne beach and raised right here in Orlando. I have such a wonderful family and enjoy spending time with them. Working here at UCP has been a blessing in my life. The children, parents and fellow staff have brought me much joy and fulfillment. Children are so precious and I feel it is imperative that they receive the best start possible in life. It is my goal to provide the children here at UCP with positive social experiences, a love for learning and a strong Christian faith.

Salece Miller - Support

I was brought up in Daytona Beach before moving to Orlando. The beach was my backyard, so it was an amazing childhood. After working in the corporate world, the opportunity came for me to stay home and start volunteering at my daughter’s elementary school. I believe this was my reason to really become interested in working with children. I love to volunteer at my daughter’s middle school, do things with my family, read, and of course, go to the beach! I have also volunteered with the Special Olympics, which is so very rewarding.

After coming to UCP and taking early childhood education courses, I knew this was going to be a most treasured experience. I am so happy to be associated with UCP, which enables us to continue our early childhood education and to be in a Christian environment, which is how I have been taught since I was a child.

Azar Robinson - Teacher

I was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. I earned my BA degree in English in Tehran and went to England to continue my education in languages immediately after graduation. I speak five languages. After I returned to Iran from England I started to work for an American company which was the contractor of the Ministry of Telecommunication of Iran for several years. I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to travel to many countries around the world. I have lived in Egypt and Spain for several years, but Los Angeles was always home for us. Now I call Florida home.

In 1998 I decided that I like to work as a teacher and I found that early childhood education and pre school level was my passion. I earned my early childhood education credential in Moorpark College, California in 2003. I have been teaching as a pre-school teacher since 1998 while I was taking my early childhood courses.

My favorite thing about teaching young children is to see how the children are always happy and excited about little things in life and I think “it’s neat to be around that kind of spirit.” I like to teach pre-k level because I believe they learn so much at this age, their minds are like sponges. In my teaching, I emphasize socialization and sharing with the other children and being taught academics in a developmental manner.

My hobbies include traveling, reading, amateur photography, painting and drawing with different mediums, gardening, walking and movies.

Linda Shelton- Teacher

I was born and raised in Maryland where a passion for teaching was instilled in me by my high school art teacher. I majored in art education at the University of Maryland and entered the world of teaching at the high school level. I have been in the early childhood field for 22 years. All of those years have been at Christian preschools. What a blessing! My husband and I have been blessed with two children and three grandchildren. They are so precious to us - can you imagine how precious they are to our heavenly father?

I believe that every word, action, gesture and moment of silence is an opportunity to guide children socially, emotionally, academically and spiritually. It is an awesome responsibility that God has placed in your hands and mine. How precious they are in God's eyes. It is my hope that I am able to instill the love of God in each child that I have been blessed to teach. It is through this understanding of God's love that children will understand their uniqueness, creativity and unlimited possibilities God has planned for them.

Terry Tomasetti - Support

I am a native of Orlando, graduating from Oak Ridge High School in 1981 and UCF in 1984. I have been married to my husband, Tom, for 21 years. We have three awesome young adults ages 19, 17, and 14.

I was a stay at home mom until my youngest reached first grade. It was then that I began working with two year olds. I taught at another church preschool for 3 years and have been at UCP for 4 years.

My family has been attending University Carillon Church for 6 years. My husband plays guitar and sings for the contemporary services, and I have been in several WOW groups. We have met some wonderful people here. I feel blessed to have been a part of so many children’s lives.

Penny Vardas - Teacher

My name is Penny Vardas and this is my third year at University Carillon Preschool. I have been teaching preschool for 29 years (!) and I can not imagine doing anything else.

I grew up in south Florida and also lived in New Hampshire, Boston and Alabama. I’ve had the opportunity to work in some very fine schools, so I was happy to bring all of my wonderful and valuable experiences to UCP.

It is my goal to make sure the children in my class have a nurturing, warm and caring environment. I want them to know they are unique, capable and creative individuals who have the tools to explore their world and their role in it.