Staff
We are looking for a new Center Director!
Joyce Shepard
Assistant Director
Registry Level: 14
Joyce has been at Faith Academy since June 2021, she started working in Jericho room (one year old). Joyce had her own in home center from 2015-2019 and has worked with children for a long time.
She lives in Franklin with her husband and two children. She is so excited to join the administrative team. Please introduce yourselves and congratulate Joyce when you see her!
Tracy Laverdure
Educational Coordinator
Registry Level: 12
Tracy has been working in early childhood since August 2001 with almost 10 years of directing experience. She worked at Faith Academy from November 2010 to March 2016 and returned in November 2016. She graduated in May 2014 with an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Tracy believes children are a precious gift from God and should be loved unconditionally. She truly enjoys helping and seeing children learn and grow and is committed to providing the best in quality care for children and families. Tracy lives with her fiancé and has two children of her own and two step-children. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, crafting, watching movies and relaxing with their dog.
Ivory Strong
Bethlehem-Infant Teacher
Became a team member: May 2011
Education: Inclusion Credential, ECI, ECII, Infant/Toddler, School Age
YoungStar Trainings: WMELS, Strengthening Families
State Training: SIDS, Shaken Baby, First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse and Neglect
Registry Level: 9
Ivory has been working with children for over 13 years. She believes that children are a special blessing from God, and they bring her such happiness. In 2017, Ivory acquired an Inclusion Credential through Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. In her spare time, Ivory enjoys shopping and traveling. She especially enjoys spending time with family and friends. Her Family is very important to Ivory. She is the second oldest of her four siblings. Ivory also has two sons, named Jayden and Zaire. For Ivory, her sons are her everything.
JJ Mahfouz
Bethlehem- Infant Teacher
Became a team member: December 2019
Education: ECI, Infant and Toddler
YoungStar Trainings: In process
State Trainings: SIDS, Shaken Baby, First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse and Neglect
Jamilah or “JJ” has been a team member since December 2019. She has completed her ECI and Infant & Toddler classes.
JJ likes working with children because she likes to see all the different kids and seeing them grow. She likes all the different personalities and she loves building bonds with all the babies and children.
In her spare time, JJ likes to do different things each weeknd with her daughter. She likes to watch Netflix and have some snacks. She also likes to spend time with her two dogs, Myah and Nala.
JJ grew up in Milwaukee and has a daughter that attends Faith Academy.
Krista Lichterman
Infant Rooms Floater
Became a team member: September 2016
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
YoungStar Trainings: In Process
State Training: SIDS, Shaken Baby, First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse and Neglect
Registry Level: 12
Krista has a Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University. Krista was able to be a stay home mom for 14 years raising her 4 children. She likes working with children because she loves to see each child grow and develop! From when children are babies learning how to roll over, to crawling, and then finally walking. She likes to watch them navigate their world and learn so many new things. In her spare time, Krista likes to travel, bake and cook with her daughter. Krista has four beautiful children of her own with her husband, Kevin who she has been married to for 20 years! Her oldest, Sammy, is a sophomore at Franklin High School. Alexis is in the 7th grade and is on the Franklin Poms team. Charlie is in the 3rd grade at Ben Franklin. He loves school and is a Cub Scout. Finally, Jessica is the baby of their family. She is 3 years old and she loves dinosaurs! They also have two cats named Luke and Leia.
Shannon Knapp
Jordan-Infant Teacher
Registry Level: 11
Bio Coming Soon!
Brittany Burmeister
Assistant Teacher-Floater
Became a team member: February 2022
Bio Coming Soon!
Tara OShea
Jericho- Toddler Teacher
Became a team member: May 2022
Education: EC1, Infant Toddler
Bio Coming Soon!
Lo Yunck
Jericho-Toddler Teacher
Became a team member: July 2022
Bio Coming Soon!
Dima Abuhatoum
Jerusalem- Toddler Room
Became a team member: February 2016
Education: Bachelor’s degree in physical education, ECI, ECII,
YoungStar Trainings: WMELS, SEFEL, Strengthening Families
State Training: SIDS, Shaken Baby, First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse and Neglect
Registry Level: 14
Dima has experience at several child care centers in the Milwaukee area. She also was a physical education teacher for 14 years in an elementary school. Dima enjoys working with children and seeing them learn and grow up. In her spare time, Dima enjoys: walking, reading, and playing tennis. Dima moved to the United States in 2006. She is married and has two daughters of her own.
Pamela Leskosek
Jerusalem- Toddler Teacher
Picture and Bio coming soon.
Izzy Swenson
Egypt- Two-Year-Old Teacher
Became a team member: May 2022
Education: In progress
Cathy Bey
Egypt- Two Year Old Teacher
Became a team member: June 2022
Bio coming soon!
Alisha Tate
Israel- Two Year Old Teacher
Became a team member: June 2016
Education: ECI, currently attending WCTC
YoungStar Trainings: WMELS
State Trainings: SIDS, Shaken Baby, First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse and Neglect
Registry Level: Level 9
Alisha is currently attending Waukesha County Technical College majoring in Early Childhood Education. Alisha enjoys working with children because she loves giving them extra love, show them right from wrong. She loves that the kids learn something new every day. She prides herself in going her best to instill positivity and good values into the children she cares for.
During her spare time, Alisha enjoys hanging out with her friends and family. She tries her best to live life to the absolute fullest.
Alisha has a little boy named Jaxson, who was born April 2019. She has 3 sisters and 2 brothers that she would do absolutely anything for. She is so thankful for her Mom, Dad and Grandma. She says without her family; she doesn’t think she would be where she is today.
Nadine Nycz
Israel- Two-Year-Old Teacher
Became a team member: January 2022
Registry Level: 9
Bio Coming Soon!
Kara Steele
Nazareth- Preschool Teacher
Became a team member: February 2018
Education: Infant & Toddler Credential
YoungStar Trainings: Inclusion Equivalent, Strengthening Families
State Training: SIDS, Shaken Baby, First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse and Neglect
Registry Level: 13
Kara has completed an Infant and Toddler Credential and her Early Childhood Education Degree. She has been working with children for four years. She started out as a Lead Teacher for a one- the one-and-a-half-year-old classroom for two years. After that, she worked with three to six-year-olds and then became a Floater and Extended day teacher at a Head Start. She was previously promoted to an Early Head Start Teacher and was working with children 6 weeks to 3 years of age before starting at Faith Academy. Kara has two kids: a son named, Jordan, and a daughter named, Aaliyah. Her son is a huge sports fan so they are always doing something sports related: going to games, playing them outside or watching him play a certain sport. They love the warm weather and being able to be outside. They also enjoy going to the beach, water parks, going to her parent’s lake house and visiting them throughout the year. Being a mother keeps her busy, but when she gets time to herself, she enjoys: catching up on TV shows, going shopping, or taking a long nap.
Sally Truettner
Nazareth- Preschool Teacher
Became a team member: September 2020
Education: Associates Degree in Liberal Arts, Administrator Credential
YoungStar Trainings: In progress
State Trainings: SIDS, Shaken Baby, First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse and Neglect
Registry Level: 10
Sally has completed ECI, ECII, Infant & Toddler, and School Age Trainings. She also has an Associates Degree from MATC in Liberal Arts, a CDA, and an Administrator’s Credential.
She enjoys watching children learn and grow. Working with children reminds her of how exciting the world can be and they encourage her to be creative and have fun. She loves that no single day is ever the same.
In her spare time, she enjoys being with her daughters, Evelyn and Madison. They cook, do crafts, go on adventures, and enjoys their Sunday fun days!
Taylor Schlicke
Nazareth- Preschool Teacher
Became a team member: August 2020
Bio Coming Soon!
DeAnna Mageski
Galilee- Prekindergarten Teacher
Became a team member: August 2016
Education: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (81 credits in Early Childhood Special Education)
State Training: SIDS, Shaken Baby, First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse and Neglect
YoungStar Trainings: WMELS, Strengthening Families
Registry Level: 11
DeAnna has been teaching preschool since 2007, and she loves it! She has taught 3K-4K and Kindergarten but loves each one. She loves to have the privilege of teaching young children and she looks forward to getting to know each family. In her spare time, DeAnna loves to garden, mission work travel-Guatemala, exercise, and hanging out with her family. DeAnna enjoys wildlife and taking photographs. She also loves a good cup of coffee! Although most of her time is taking care of her family, their schedules and being a taxi, DeAnna is a proud orchestra band, color guard, and dance and swim mom. DeAnna is a mother of two beautiful busy teenagers as well as a wife to her hard-working husband of 17 years. She also has some lovely animals in her family: a cat named Peanut, and a 5 lb. Yorkshire Terrier named, Tank!
Lynn Jaroch
Galilee- PreKindergarten Teacher
Became a team member: March 2020
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Speech and Language Pathology, Certificate in Elementary Education
YoungStar Trainings: In process
State Trainings:SIDS, Shaken Baby, First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse and Neglect
Registry Level: 11
Lynn received her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Michigan State University. She received a Michigan Certification in Elementary Education from Oakland University in Rocherster, Minnesota. She has more than 20 years’ experience working in the classroom, as a Reading Specialist, and as an Assistant Director at the Carpenter Shop Day Care/Preschool in Whitefish Bay.
Lynn likes working with children mainly for seeing the excitement on their faces when they learn something new and are proud of themselves. She also loves the unexpected hugs when she walks through the door; it is an awesome way to start her day!
In her spare time, Lynn enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. She is an avid reader, loves jig saw puzzles, hiking, kayaking, and canoeing.
Lynn has 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren! Two of her granddaughters live in East Lansing, Michigan. Her other two granddaughters and grandson live in Chicago.
Tori Wielepski
Assistant Teacher-Galilee
Became a team member: June 2022
Education: EC1
Bio Coming Soon!
Abby Bieganowski
Assistant Teacher-Floater
Became a team member: June 2022
Picture and Bio Coming Soon!
Serenity Brand
Assistant Teacher-Floater
Became a team member: May 2022
Bio coming soon!
Gretta Danford
Assistant Teacher-Floater
Became a team member: February 2022
Picture and Bio Coming Soon!
Alexis Lichterman
Assistant Teacher-Floater
Became a team member: August 2022
Picture and Bio Coming Soon!
Christine Cefalu
Cook
Became a team member: February 2020
Experience: Hospitality for over 15 years, currently working on ECI
State Trainings: SIDS, Shaken Baby, First Aid/CPR, Abuse and Neglect
Christine is Faith Academys kitchen helper. She has worked in the hospitality industry for over 15 years.
She loves being with her children because they bring her joy.
During her spare time, she likes to read, workout, and cook!
Christine is married and has 3 children; William, Brianna, and Alyssa.