Meet the Staff

We feel blessed to have a team of teachers who love children, enjoy working together and all have the common goal of fostering kind and happy kiddos who are developing through the stages of preschool growth. Take a moment to read about our teachers below.

Angela Helge,
Preschool Director

Experience: 20+ Years in Preschool Education

Hobbies: Sewing and Knitting

I love this preschool! I have been a member of LPC since 2009 and became involved with the preschool and the Christian Education committee of the church about a year later. I received my teaching degree many years ago from Rhode Island College and always knew that educating children was my passion and that I would spend my life doing this in one way or another. This has held true whether in the classroom, with our two girls (now 20 and 17), with the children of the church or the girl scouts. Being the preschool director gives me so much joy as I get to know all the children and their families, support the teachers and connect the preschool with the church. This is a special place to be!!

Annie Stokes,
Music Teacher

Experience: 10 years in music education; 1st year at LPCP!

Hobbies: Reading, writing, baking, researching odd historical facts

I'm so excited to be joining the staff at Leesburg Presbyterian Church Preschool! I grew up in Leesburg and now live here with my husband and two daughters, who both attend LPCP. I was trained in musical theatre and classical singing as a child and teen and branched out into instrumentalism and songwriting in my twenties. I stumbled into music education as a way to support my songwriting career and quickly fell in love with the beauty of sharing music with young learners. I believe that music is the birthright of all children, and my teaching style aims to support the unique learning and regulation styles of every individual. My classes include a mixture of singing, movement, guitar, piano, ukulele, and banjo!

Mary Claire Krueger,

Whales (2s) Teacher

Experience: Second year at LPCP
Hobbies: Reading, baking, traveling and hiking

I’m so thrilled to be working with the Whales this year! I received my degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a minor in Art from Bridgewater College. Though this is only my second year of teaching, I come from a family of teachers and have always had a passion for learning. I’m not new to the LPCP community either! My daughter (now 6) was a Sea Star and Penguin and I fell in love with the school! I’m also the proud mother to a one year old boy who we look forward to attending the school when he gets a little older. I’m a Virginia native and moved to Leesburg after meeting my husband. We love the community, events, food and everything that Loudoun has to offer. When I’m not taking care of the little ones at home, you can find me catching up on the latest Netflix series, baking, or checking out piles of books at the public library!

Maureen Carkin,

Turtles (2s) Teacher

Experience: Second year at LPCP, 3 years as child swim instructor
Hobbies: Spending time with family and our 2 dogs, traveling, running, playing outside with my son

I am very excited to join the LPCP family! I moved to the NOVA area in 2009, and married my husband in 2021, where we settled in Leesburg. We love it here! I graduated from Radford University, and received my bachelor’s degree in Communications. My career has been in the corporate world, but I have always enjoyed working with children, and have always wanted to one day become a teacher. Being with the youngest kids in our school is a lot of fun! My son, Payton who is almost 4, keeps me busy with his many activities. We spend a lot of our time at karate classes, gymnastics, and swim. I look forward to a fun school year, and am eager to meet the turtles class!

Sarah Lebonitte

Turtles (2s) Teacher

Experience: Second year at LPCP, 12 years teaching in Orange and Hillsborough County, FL

Hobbies: new sourdough enthusiast, reading all genres of books and enjoying nature

I am so excited to be back with the LPCP family as the Turtles (2s) teacher! This is my second year teaching at LPCP, but taught for 10+ years in Tampa, FL - grades 2nd-4th. We moved to Leesburg in December of 2021 (from Tampa where I spent my whole life - I still don't do snow!) and immediately found LPCP for Noah to attend. He was a penguin and now, our daughter Maggie, is going to be a Penguin! I graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in elementary education, eventually earning my M.Ed in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of South Florida. Education is my passion and I cannot wait to share my love for learning with your children. In my free time, you’ll find me cooking, reading, hiking, or at a playground with our kids!

DeLani Mathias,
Sea Stars (3s) Teacher

Experience: Fourth year at LPCP

Hobbies: Hiking, Running and Photography

LPC Preschool holds a special place in my heart because when my husband, 3 beautiful children and I moved to Leesburg in 2019 we enrolled our youngest child in the 3’s class.

My passion has always been working with children, which I enjoyed as a school counselor for children ages 3-12, after getting my undergrad and graduate degrees from JMU and earning my MEd/EdS degree in school counseling.

My kiddos keep me very busy on the ball fields and horse rings (which I love).

Tera Quink,
Sea Stars (3s) Teacher

Experience: Fourth year at LPCP

Hobbies: Reading, Crocheting and Hiking

I am excited to be back in the Sea Stars class this year! I have always loved children and have found teaching preschool to be quite a rewarding job for this time of my life.

My husband and I met at West Point when we joined the Army but moved to Leesburg 9 years ago. We have 3 kids ages 13, 11, & 9! We love spending most of our free time at softball and baseball fields.

I am looking forward to another great year!

Deena Faust,
Pre-K Penguins Teacher

Experience: Third year at LPCP - 9 years teaching in the public schools

Hobbies: Gardening, Biking and playing outside with my kids

I am so excited to be a part of the LPCP family!

After earning my Masters in Elementary and Special Education from UVA, I spent many years teaching in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, both as a first grade teacher and as a special education teacher. We moved to Leesburg in 2018 and just love it here! I took a few years off from teaching to be home with my boys (now 9, 7, and 4), and I am thrilled to be back working with young students again!

When I am not at school, I love to spend time working in my garden or being outside with my husband and our boys.

Liz Kubie,

Pre-K Penguins Asst. Teacher

Experience: Third year at LPCP

Hobbies: Walking my dogs, reading, gardening and baking

I'm so thrilled to be back at LPCP after taking time off to deal with an injury. I have been a busy stay at home mom of three kids, spending time volunteering in their classrooms and for their various activities and sports teams. Now that our oldest two are in college we just have our daughter home with us and she is a busy figure skater. We moved here from Boston 14 years ago and we still enjoy going back every summer to catch a Red Sox game and vacation in Maine.

Shanan Burnside,

STEAM Teacher

Experience: 7 years at LPCP

Hobbies: Reading, Hiking and Traveling

I have been an active member of Leesburg Presbyterian Church for 13 years. I have enjoyed being on the Membership and Evangelism committee, serving as an usher, faithfully volunteering at VBS and this year becoming the Elder for our Christian Education Committee. Our youngest daughter Abby attended LPCP so when Angela asked me to join the teaching team, it was an easy yes since the preschool is the reason we joined this church with my husband John and older daughter Erin.

I was born in El Paso, TX but moved around a lot with my dad as a career Army officer. I enjoyed this opportunity to travel and see so many wonderful parts of the country before settling in NoVA in the late 80’s.

Lynn Colavita,

Stingray STEAM Teacher

Experience: 1st year officially teaching at LPCP!
Hobbies: Reading, Tennis, and Travel

I’m excited to be an official staff member at Leesburg Presbyterian Church Preschool! I’ve been a member of LPC for 12 years and have spent much of that time working with and for the children and families of LPC as a Sunday School teacher, Christian Education committee member and VBS volunteer. I’ve loved my time the last few years as an LPCP substitute teacher, and particularly the last 3 years getting to know so many families as the LPCP bookkeeper.

I grew up in Virginia Beach and got my bachelor's degree in math from the College of William and Mary, moved to Northern Virginia, and got my master's degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University. My husband, Jay, and I have three sons - a 19 year old and twin 16 year olds. I love hanging out with them, but I always look forward to some time with the preschoolers! I can’t wait to dive into some STEAM with the Stingrays this year!