Sandra Tolmasoff

As a recent arrival here at NCUMP, I’m struck by several things. The dedication of the teachers shines through immediately and I’m impressed by the collective longevity of the staff. The outdoor learning space is absolutely amazing. We have the best yard in all of Orange County! And of course, the Christian values here are apparent. It’s a joy to work in an environment that incorporates God’s love into every aspect of the classroom and daily life.

Rochelle Armendariz

Hello Families! My name is Rochelle Armendariz, and I am the Assistant Director at Newport Center United Methodist Preschool. For the past 23 years, I have worked in the field of early child education. I am pleased to say that I have been a teacher at NCUMP since 2004, and a parent of three alumni students. The genuine warmth from the staff and involved parent community create a beautiful learning environment and I could not be happier to be a part of your child’s first preschool learning experiences.

My education in the field of Early childhood Education started at Orange Coast College where I earned my ECE teaching certificate. I completed my Montessori Certification in Infant/Toddler studies at the University of Irvine Extension Program and I hold a BA in Early Childhood Education from Brandman University. I maintain a California Site Supervisor Program Permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Most recently, I have completed a Certification for the Outdoor Classroom Project Specialist in Leadership Training. I am a strong advocate for supporting professional development and continued education in our field. I am excited to share my love of learning in all areas of child development with our staff and families.

I love our beautiful and spacious outdoor educational environment at NCUMP. The children have an array of opportunities to explore nature, create, and participate in learning experiences both indoors and outdoors with their peers and loving teachers.

Kris Tate

My name is Kris Tate, and I am the new minister here at Newport Center United Methodist Church.  My wife, Kinsie, who is a licensed professional clinical counselor, and I have three children; Patrick, 12, Henry, 10, and E.V., 6.  We have been blessed to have all three of our children attend childcare centers and preschools at the churches I have served.  I have personally witnessed how beneficial it has been for them individually and for us as a family for them to attend places connected to communities of faith.  Please know that as a parent of young children and as the minister here at Newport Center UMC, I am personally committed to supporting our Preschool because I have seen the difference a faith-based preschool can make.  If there is ever a way I can be of support to you, your children, or your family, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  

Jennifer Hett

There are so many reasons to love this school, but topping my list would be the ability to create an environment in which the “whole child” will thrive.

Shawnte Behn

The loving staff, families, and community make NCUMP a very special place. The play-based curriculum allows children to learn and grow through cooking experiences, gardening, outdoor exploration, and creating art.

Dani Palomares

I love working at NUCMP because of the wide open outside space, the talented staff, and the wonderful families!

Michelle Johnson

I am a tree hugging, bee loving, nature enthusiast; sharing my love of the outdoors and respect for all living creatures is my passion. I hold a BA in Psychology from Bethany University and I’m certified as an Outdoor Classroom Specialist through the Outdoor Classroom Project. I began my career at NCUMP in 1998 and I’m a proud mama of my only child who is a NCUMP alumni and is now a student at OCC.  After many years of teaching Pre-K and 3’s “inside” the classroom, I’m excited to combine my love of teaching pre-reading and math skills with my love of nature into our newly reimagined Outdoor Classroom.  I firmly believe that learning happens ALL the time, EVERYWHERE, and that the process of mastering the fundamentals of literacy, math, and science is greatly enhanced in a curriculum that is holistic and complete. Children need a connection to nature in order to be whole and learn best when they spend a significant amount of time participating in child-initiated activities that are teacher supported.

I enjoy singing, dancing, reading, storytelling, messy art, making mud pies, and laughing with children. There is nothing more sacred than the love and trust of a child, being a part of their growth and development is a tremendous joy and honor. 

Jennifer Trujillo

I have been in the Early Childhood field since 2008, I have an Early Childhood Education Permit and Coastline Regional Certificate on “Careers in Education”. I joined the NCUMP family during the fall of 2021.

What I enjoy most about NCUMP is that everyone is so welcoming and supportive. I enjoy the loving environment that the children get to experience, I have seen the dedication and passion that help enrich the children’s growth and I am proud to be a part of such wonderful school.

Emily Colbaugh

My favorite thing about NCUMP is the community it provides for families and the creative experiences the children get to participate in.

Viola Campos

What I enjoy most about NCUMP is that the children are able to thrive while they enjoy learning, socializing, and growing together. Being in such a beautiful environment among great teachers is just an added bonus!

Emy Lim

I have been teaching since 2008 and started at NCUMP in 2022. I have experience working with students in infants through school age. I attended Saddleback College for Early Childhood Education. In 2019, I was awarded “Teacher of Above and Beyond” by the local nonprofit Child Care Company.

As a teacher, I am committed to creating a fun, safe, and inclusive learning environment for all students. I believe that every child has the potential to succeed and that as educators, it’s our job to help them reach their full potential. My goal as a teacher is to inspire and empower my students to become lifelong learners and critical thinkers.

Connie Schafhauser

I have been teaching early childhood education for over 17 years. I received my BA in Sociology from UCI, a certificate in Child Development and Family Life from Fullerton College, and hold a CA Teachers Permit. Throughout my career I have taught ages 2 ½ to 5 ½, with most of my experience teaching Pre-K. I am passionate about science and literacy, and a firm believer that learning should be meaningful, hands-on and embrace the “whole child”.

I fell blessed to work at NCUMP and to be a part of a school that offers an environment that is clearly child-centered and that encourages the creativity and curiosity of each child. I look forward to getting to know the children, families, and staff!

I-Fen Wu

I enjoy working with children through the discovery process and watching them develop their skills on a daily basis. The most important thing to me is to be able to share the love of Jesus with the children through my teaching. I am proud to be a part of this amazing preschool where I can utilize my experience in order to help children become successful learners.

Joanna McFadden

Betsy Scannell

Sophie Torres

Hanna Hughes

I started working at NCUMP in early 2022. I have emphasized in Early Childhood Education at Orange Coast College and continue to take classes to further my education with the goal of obtaining my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. Prior to working at NCUMP, I was working in applied behavioral analysis for over three years.

I love working at NCUMP because of the community that has been developed, the helpful and friendly staff, and of course the wonderful children that attend.

Jennifer Larson

I started teaching at NCUMP in the fall of 2024. I have an educational background in Early Child Development from Orange Coast College and Child & Adolescent Studies from California State University Fullerton. I worked as a teacher with Elementary and Preschool age students in a variety of classroom settings.

I have a passion for working with children and desire to create a positive learning environment so that they can learn and thrive. I am excited to continue my educational journey as a teacher with Newport Center United Methodist Preschool.

Ellen Curtin

I have a master’s degree in education, specializing in Early Childhood from California State University, Long Beach. I hold a California Program Director Permit and certificate in Foundations and Leadership of the Outdoor Classroom. I have classroom experience that includes infant-toddler, preschool, and school age components. I joined the NCUMP Staff in 2022.

I believe that early childhood education should be relevant to the child not the adult therefore it should be child-centered and play-based as this is how children learn. I love that NCUMP supports a child’s creativity and strives to focus on activities that are developmentally appropriate and geared to the child’s interest. My favorite part about NCUMP is the outdoor classroom!

Carol Hoppe

Music Teacher

I have loved every minute of teaching at NCUMP.  It is amazing to see how creative children are during music and how much they love singing.

Deb Conger

Gardening Teacher

I brought all three of my children to school at NCUMP. When my third child was leaving I told the director I’d be back as a teacher!

Skyler Dickinson

My Morning at Preschool Teacher

Hi! My name is Skyler Dickinson, and I am the Family Ministry Director for Newport Center UMC. I have worked with families in this role for about 10 years. I currently teach our My Morning at the Preschool program and have loved getting to know families in our community on a deeper level. My Morning at Preschool is a parent-and-me class that offers a child’s opportunity to be introduced to the school in an age-appropriate way alongside a trusted adult. Many “preschool experiences” will be presented to the kids within 90 minutes once a week. Each week offers a theme with different hands-on activities to explore.