Meet the Staff
Preschool Director
Lea Ann McGlothin has been a part of Trinity for 20 years. Sixteen of those years have been on staff at Trinity Preschool. She taught 4K for five years. She also taught music & movement, art on the cart, and enrichment for five years. Lea Ann is now entering her sixth year as the preschool Director. Lea Ann and her husband, Joey, have been married for 22 years and have 3 children who all attended Trinity Preschool. They also have 3 dogs, a cat, a bunny and a horse. Years ago she received a sign from a student that says “Love What You Do,” and that is exactly what she does. Trinity is “home” to Lea Ann and she can’t imagine doing anything or being anywhere else. She loves getting to lead and learn alongside the staff and getting to see all of the children’s “light bulb” moments. Her mission is that each child that enters the preschool will feel loved and accepted, will know what it means to be a child of God, and will leave with a profound love of learning. Her favorite part of the job is all of the hugs and getting to hear the sweet laughter that fills the preschool each day. Lea Ann’s biggest prayer each year is that God not only fills our hallways with children, but with those that he feels we need the most. If your child attends Trinity, it is not by accident. They were prayed for long before they enrolled. We consider it a huge honor that you have chosen Trinity Preschool for your child’s first school experience. Thank you for trusting us with your most precious blessings. “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”
Matthew 19:14
Trinity in Motion/Preschool Assistant
Laura Aucott has been a part of Trinity Preschool for 6 years, first as a parent, then as our first ever Preschool assistant. This year she will embark on a new journey leading our Trinity in Motion class as well as being Ms. Lea Ann’s assistant. She and her husband have 2 girls, 2 horses, 2 cats, and a guinea pig. She owns a small horse farm called Almost to Whiskey and has a degree in Equine Business Management. She spent many years as a pastry chef as well. In her spare time Laura enjoys camping with her family and reading. She has a big heart for children with special needs and those who just learn differently. Her favorite part of being at Trinity is getting to use her creativity to help plan special hands-on activities for the children. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer” – Romans 12:12
Music & Movement
Alexa Havens is looking forward to her first year at Trinity as the Music and Movement teacher. She’s most excited to give the students a space where they can express themselves freely and find their gifts through music. Alexa found her love of singing when she was only 9 and has pursued it ever since. She has 2 years of professional vocal training, was a part of recording a “Dove Award” winning choir album, and was given the amazing opportunity to try out for “The Voice.” For the past 7 years, she’s been on the worship team at her church and found her relationship with God through worship music. Other than the experience of motherhood, she is a middle school girls small group leader at church and was the Director of an after-school program for a year. Alexa and her husband, Nick, have been together for 5 years. They have two kids, Carter & Raelynn, who keep them busy and the house loud. They love going to the park and traveling. She’s praying for a great year with the kids and developing relationships with them. One of her favorite verses is Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”
4K Teachers
Kacie Sholty is beginning her sixth year as a 4K teacher at Trinity Preschool. Before that, she was a substitute for 4 years and co-taught 2K for one year. She received the Aiken Standard’s Teacher of the Month for March 2022! Kacie has been married to her husband, Jared, for 17 years. They have two wonderful children Alexis and Mayson. They have 2 dogs (Cookie & Brownie) and a bearded dragon (Blaze) who loves to visit the class sometimes. When Kacie isn’t teaching, you can find her drinking coffee and reading a book. She enjoys visiting Beaufort and camping. She also volunteers in the preschool at Kidz Creek at her church, Cedar Creek. Kacie’s favorite part of teaching is getting to interact with and encourage the kids to love learning. She looks forward to seeing the growth the students make each year and the excitement they have when they accomplish their goals. Her favorite quote is, “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.” She says that it describes exactly how she feels about teaching. She lives for seeing the kids happy and learning both socially and intellectually.
This is Leigh Winkler’s third year here at Trinity Preschool. She taught 1K for a year and this will be her second year teaching 4K. Before that, she worked for 13 years in the Aiken County School District for the Special Education Department doing Applied Behavioral Therapy in the Autism program. In between her years with the school district, she enjoyed being a stay at home mom. Leigh is married to her best friend of 22 years, Andrew, and together they have 5 amazing kids and a wonderful son-in-law! She has two pups named Duke and Luna. Leigh most enjoys being with her family. She’s most looking forward to building relationships with her students and watching them learn and grow. The best part of working with kids is knowing you had an impact on their growth & future! Leigh’s favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13, “I can endure all these things through the power of the One who gives me strength.”
Karen Gerard is entering her fifth year teaching at Trinity Preschool, though she substituted for the preschool before that. She has spent the last 4 years teaching 3K and is beginning a new adventure in 4K this year! She and her husband, Chris, have two children, two dogs, and a cat. Karen said that she instantly fell in love with the school when she toured it for her daughter years ago. She loves that Trinity has such a friendly, loving atmosphere where everyone gets to know everyone. Karen loves kids and loves helping others. Trinity Preschool’s motto is “Love First, Teach Second,” and she agrees with this 100%. She “teaches” by this motto and was honored to receive Aiken Standard’s Teacher of the Month for December 2020. Karen works incredibly hard at all that she does, and her favorite Bible verse is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”- Philippians 4:13. When Karen is not teaching, you can find her out at the ball field or some kind of sporting event with her kids. She loves to go camping and enjoys being at the lake or beach. Karen is looking forward to getting to know her students this year and learning each of their unique personalities. We are each unique and different, but together we make a masterpiece!
3K Teachers
Katie Massotti is entering her fifth year teaching 3K at Trinity. She has a passion for early childhood education and loves watching the students learn and grow each day. In her free time, she enjoys crafting and DIY projects. She loves getting creative and using her hands to make something beautiful. Her love for crafting often spills over into her classroom, where she incorporates hands-on activities and art projects to engage the students and enhance their learning experience. Katie is married to her high school sweetheart, and they have four wonderful children together. Family is very important to her and she strives to create a warm and welcoming classroom environment that feels like a second home to the students. Katie has a strong faith that guides her in all aspects of her life, including teaching. She believes in instilling values such as kindness, compassion, and empathy in her students, and strives to create a classroom environment that reflects these principles.
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
This is Sarah Roland’s fifth year teaching 3K at Trinity Preschool. Before that, she was a substitute at Trinity for 2 years. Sarah and her husband Dan have three children, two dogs, and a cat. She is a horse lover, book reader, and painter and loves being in the classroom. Sarah loves watching little minds learn brand new skills. When she’s not at Trinity, she enjoys spending time with her family. Sarah lives by her favorite Bible verses, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself; There is no commandment greater than these.” -Mark 12:30-31. Sarah is excited to start a brand-new year and cannot wait to get to know all of the precious little kiddos.
Jessica Buckholtz is excited to begin her first full year at Trinity Preschool as a 3K teacher! Last year Jessica spent time in 2K as a long term sub. This is where she instantly fell in love with teaching preschool. She loves getting to watch the world through the children’s eyes as they discover and try new things. Jessica has been married to her best friend Benjamin for 7 years. They have 2 wonderful children, 3 dogs, and 4 fish. Their oldest just graduated from Trinity and is headed to kindergarten. Their youngest is enrolled in 2K at Trinity. Jessica loves to read, to go to the beach, anything Disney, skiing (she used to teach ski lessons to children), traveling, and exploring new things with her family! One of Jessica’s favorite Bible verses is “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2
2K Teachers
This is Courtney Lebednik’s third year here at Trinity Preschool. Last year she taught 3k; this year she is teaching 2k. Before taking a full time position with us, she was a substitute teacher. That’s when she fell in love with teaching preschool and seeing the world through the children’s eyes. She loves seeing them make connections and being a part of their growth. Courtney is blessed to be married to her best friend, Daniel. They have 2 sons and a daughter together. They also have a dachshund named Scooter. Outside of teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family, cheering on the Gamecocks, and traveling. Courtney is excited to be a part of your child’s early education and looks forward to all the fun and interesting learning opportunities we have planned for the school year! “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Maria is entering her first year as a 2K teacher at Trinity Preschool. She has been a parent, substitute, and volunteer for 2 years with the preschool. Maria and her husband, Eric, have two children, Samantha and Maxwell. Maria enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, gardening, creating art in many forms, biking and making memories with her family. She loves to see life through children’s eyes and learning from them. She is excited for the opportunity to teach in 2K, knowing she will grow with the children in her class. “Let all that you do be done in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14
This will be Jenna Towns’s second year teaching 2K at Trinity Preschool. She loves teaching 2k because it’s a year that her students’ personalities start to blossom. She loves watching them discover the world and learn to play together. She first fell in love with Trinity when she enrolled her middle son two years ago and now her youngest attends as well. Jenna met her husband David on an 11-month, 11-country mission trip. They have been married for 9 years and have 3 children: Manning, Azariah, and Elliana. Jenna and her family were living in Africa before Covid, but made the transition back to South Carolina in 2020. Jenna loves children and making everyone feel heard and known. Her favorite thing to do is to be outside with her family. She loves hiking, camping, and beach days. Jenna finds joy and relaxation in crocheting and reading. Jenna is very optimistic and knows her worth and confidence come from the Lord. One of her favorite verses is Psalm 119:114. “You’re my hiding place of quiet retreat. I wait for your word to renew me.”
This will be Katie Spragg’s first year teaching 2K at Trinity. Even though it’s her first year teaching, she is very familiar with the school. Her mom was a 3K teacher at Trinity for 17 years, so she grew up helping her mom inside and outside of the classroom. Before teaching preschool, Katie taught 5th and 6th grade Reading and Writing in Savannah, GA and Aiken, SC for 7 years. Katie and her husband Brennen met in youth group as teenagers and have been married for 7 years. They have two children: Ellie (3.5) and Weston (5 months). Katie loves crocheting, the beach, and going to Disney. She believes children are the Lord’s biggest blessings and loves building relationships with children of all ages. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
1K Teachers
This will be Caki’s first year at Trinity Preschool. Caki and her husband will be married 16 years this year and have grown their family by becoming parents to two amazing kids, Makayla (17) and Jack (4). Caki has always had a heart for children and has spent the last 10 years as a stay-at-home mom and taken care of several friends’ and family’s children during that time as well. She and her family have the travel bug and love to explore new places and spend as much time as they can camping at their place in Beaufort. Caki is a novice gardener, and loves to unwind by sewing or learning a new crafty skill. She looks forward to bringing her creativity into the classroom to teach her students new skills. Caki is looking forward to growing her Trinity family and her first year in 1K! One of her favorite verses is Proverbs 22:6, “Start children off the way they should go and they will not turn from it.”
Amanda Hallman has been a part of the Trinity preschool family for four years. She has been a parent and volunteer at Trinity for three years and served as a substitute teacher in the 1K room last year. She is thrilled to join Mrs. Caki in nurturing the minds of young learners. Amanda and her husband, Austin, have been married for four years and have three vibrant children: Raynor, Evelyn, and Novah. Their family is completed by two dogs, a relaxed lab named Kylie and a very spirited husky/German shepherd mix named Sasha. Beyond her role at Trinity, Amanda is an enthusiastic photographer, always striving to capture the beauty of everyday moments. She finds joy in spending quality time with her family, immersing herself in books, and exploring her own creativity through writing. With her warm heart and adventurous spirit, Amanda is committed to fostering an environment where children can thrive and their unique personalities can flourish. Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”