Christine Shipley (Director)
Christine has been in education for twenty years and at Christ Covenant Preschool for seven years! She is from Houston, Texas, and attended Baylor University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology/Pre-Med. After staying at Baylor for a post-bachelor’s program in Education, she loved her student teaching so much that she went on to get a Master’s degree in Educational Administration! Chris has six children – Cole (22), Mace (20), Campbell (18), Corinne (16), Charis (14), and Clyde (12). She and her family attend Christ Covenant Church, and her favorite Bible verse is Micah 6:8. Christine LOVES being the director at CCP and is excited about expanding the preschool into Christ Covenant Elementary!
Paige Gendron (Kindergarten)
Paige is from Baton Rouge and she and her husband Scott have four daughters; Jane Anne, Sophie, Grace, and Natalie. Paige has a degree in Elementary Education from Louisiana Tech. She has been in education for 18 years, the CCP kindergarten teacher for three years, and is currently teaching 1st grade!
In her spare time Paige enjoys reading, gardening, and doing puzzles. She is a member of Christ Covenant Church and her favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6.
Dotty Loar (Transitional Kindergarten)
Dotty is from New Jersey. She is married to Danny and they have three children and nine grandchildren. Dotty has a degree in Elementary Education from Mount Saint Mary College in Plainfield, NJ and has been teaching for 37 years! She has been at CCP for 33 of those years. In her spare time Dotty enjoys church work and cooking. She attends Our Lady of Mercy and her favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:28. Dotty feels blessed beyond words to be at CCP!
Nancy Cuccio (Four Year Olds)
Nancy is from Baton Rouge and she and her husband Sam have four children – Matthew, Anna Catherine, Elizabeth and John Michael. Nancy attended U-High and got her B.S. in preschool education from LSU. She has been in education for 27 years and at CCP for 15. In her spare time Nancy loves to read and garden! She attends First Presbyterian Church and her favorite Bible verse is Psalm 42:1, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” According to Nancy, teaching is the best job and CCP is the best place to do it!
Elaine Dupuy (Four Year Olds)
Elaine was born in Lousiville, KY, and at 13 months old she and her family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where she grew up. Elaine has her Bachelor of Arts degree from Brenau College and has been teaching at Christ Covenant Preschool for 22 years! She and her husband Chip have been married for 37 years and have three daughters that are all alumni of CCP; Maddie, Lauren, and Kate and one six year old granddaughter Emma. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, gardening, exercising, and traveling to the beach and national parks. Elaine attends St Aloysius Catholic Church and her favorite Bible verse is the Golden Rule. Elaine finds that the most important part of her day is taking time to teach life skills, and to empower each child to make wise choices. Each day, she works hard to facilitate the school’s mission – love God, each other, and learning.
Melissa Burns (Three Year Olds)
Melissa is from New Roads, LA, and has been married to her husband Bubby Burns for 32 years! They have four sons; Trey (married to Taylor), Reid (married to Bailey), Jack and Hays. Melissa has a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and has been in education for 20 years and at CCP for 18 years. In her spare time she enjoys yoglates, walking the LSU lakes, shopping, reading, and spending time with her family. She attends St. Aloysius Catholic Church and her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Gerry McArthur (Three Year Olds)
Gerry is from Baton Rouge and has her Bachelor of Arts from LSU. She has been teaching for 39 years and has been at Christ Covenant Preschool for ten years! In her spare time, Gerry enjoys music and singing, interior design, sudoku puzzles, and learning languages. Her favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” “Miss Mac” as she is affectionately called says working with young children has been a very fulfilling source of joy in her life and she has the best job in the world!
Michele Morel Nichols (Three year olds)
Michele was born in New Orleans and raised in Luling, LA. She and her husband Keith have four daughters – Madison (26), Miranda (24), Mallorie (21), and Marissa (19). Michele has a degree in Elementary Education from Southeastern Louisiana University and has been in education for 28 years. This is her third year at CCP, and next year she will teach our 2nd grade class! In her spare time she enjoys gardening, reading, and trips to the beach. She is a member of First Baptist Church of Gonzales and her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Amy Black (Two Year Olds)
Amy was born in Michigan, and lived in Texas, Wyoming, and Lafayette, LA, before living in Baton Rouge. She and her husband Barrett have four children – Sofia (16), Naomi (14), Julia (12), and Elliott (9). Amy has a Bachelor’s degree in Education from LSU and has been in education for seven and a half years. She has been at CCP for four years! In her spare time, Amy enjoys baking and playing with the family’s dog. She and her family attend South Baton Rouge Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge.
Toni Deranger (Two Year Olds)
Toni is from Hammond, LA and she and her husband Scott have three children – Taylor (married to Trey Burns), Nicholas, and Allie. Toni has a degree in Marketing and Business from LSU and has been teaching at CCP for five years with an additional ten years of working, subbing, and volunteering in elementary schools. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family, doing pilates, reading, and playing tennis. She attends St. Jude Catholic Church and her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Laura Griffin (Two Year Olds)
Laura is from Abita Springs, LA and she and her husband Brad have two daughters – Novie (7), and Lucy (5). Laura has her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and has been in education for seven years. She has been at CCP for three years! She is a musician who in her spare time likes to sing and play the ukulele and percussion. Laura has always led music at the churches she attended and loves helping out with VBS and children’s choir. She also enjoys crafting with her girls and being outdoors camping, traveling, or heading to the beach. Laura’s two daughters attended CCP before she was a teacher! Her favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Sarah Pittman (Two Year Olds)
Sarah is from Baton Rouge and she and her husband Paul have four daughters; Hannah (married to John), Jenna, Emma (married to Henrique), and Ella. She graduated from LSU with a B.S. in English and Spanish Education. Sarah has been teaching for 14 years with five and a half of those at CCP! In her spare time Sarah enjoys walking, reading, music, traveling to the beach and Phoenix to visit her daughter and son-in-law and spending time with her family. Also of course – LSU football! She attends Grace Life Fellowship and her favorite Bible verses are Psalm 139:1-12.