Jessica Kimball, Preschool Director and Giraffe Class Co-teacher (three-year-olds), is a graduate of Rutgers University with a BA and MA in Social Work. She is also a graduate of the Institute for Women’s Leadership and is a Qualified Mental Health Professional. Jessica worked for the Middle Peninsula Northern Neck Community Services Board as a Therapeutic Day Treatment Behavioral Specialist in elementary and high school settings. She moved into the role of Supervisor and then Program Coordinator for School Based Mental Health Services throughout 12 school districts in the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.
Jessica is the mother of three, two sons and a daughter – the two youngest attended St. Stephen Lutheran Preschool. She served as a volunteer with fundraising, social media, merchandise, and school pictures when she was a parent, and has loved continuing to serve as a member of the preschool community while getting to know all of the wonderful students and their families in her current roles!
Kelly Kirkpatrick, Art Teacher, has her BA in Sociology/Social Work from Christopher Newport University and her Masters in Special Education from Lenoir-Rhyne College. She has over 25 years of experience working in preschool programs in North Carolina and Tennessee. She has taught art at St. Stephen Lutheran Preschool since 2012 and is a member of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church.
Susan Berry-Ruane, Frog Class Teacher (five-year-olds), is a graduate of Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, NH, with a BA in Elementary Education and a minor in Fine Arts. She was a Lead Teacher at Colonial Williamsburg Employee Child Care Center, and taught at St. Stephen Preschool for four years before moving to Japan in 2003 where she worked with the Department of Defense Schools as a Kindergarten aide and for Amie English School teaching English to Japanese students. She is the mother of four boys – two of whom graduated from St. Stephen Lutheran Preschool. Susan is a member of St. Olaf Catholic Church and has taught at St. Stephen since 1999.
Caitlin Deglau, Hippo Class Teacher (four-year-olds), was born in Pennsylvania and grew up most of her life in Suffolk, Virginia. She attended The College of William & Mary, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in History and Elementary Education. Caitlin began her teaching career in Newport News at T. Ryland Sanford Elementary School, where she spent three years teaching third grade. She later continued teaching in elementary settings, working with students in third, fourth, and fifth grades. After the birth of her oldest daughter, Caitlin took a break from teaching outside the home. In 2022, her family welcomed another daughter. Both of her daughters attended St. Stephen for preschool. When Caitlin is not teaching or spending time with her family, she enjoys reading, crafting, and taking walks through Colonial Williamsburg.
Kelly Ann Kelly, Bear Class Teacher (four-year-olds), is a graduate of Boston College with a BA in Elementary and Special Education, as well as a MA in Early Childhood Education from George Washington University. She is a National Boards Certified Teacher in Early Childhood Education. Kelly has worked as a first grade teacher in WJCC public schools for over 30 years. She and her husband call Williamsburg their home as they raised their 3 children here. She is passionate that every child deserves a strong foundation, and is committed to providing a nurturing and stimulating environment where they can flourish and succeed not only in preschool but also in life.
Rachel Maris-Wolf, Giraffe Class Co-teacher (three-year-olds), holds her M.A. in International Education, her B.A. in French and Portuguese Language and Literature, and has her Child Development Associate (CDA). She collaborated on early childhood development, child protection, and community development programs for ChildFund International for seven years. She is the mother of two boys who both graduated from St. Stephen Lutheran Preschool.
Anthony Williams, Music Teacher, is the Director of Early Childhood Music School (ECMS). Anthony began his formal study of music at Randolph-Macon College and quickly became active in choral ensembles, guitar studies, music technology, and composition. He later continued his education at George Mason University where he received his Master of Music degree in Composition. During this time he continued to study guitar with Larry Snitlzer, a student of classical guitar Master Andre Segovia. During his graduate studies he began to teach guitar, piano, voice, and composition full time. His achievements and further training is as follows:
- Certifications in over 8 MusikGarten curriculums
- Published choral works including a Editor’s choice award for children’s choral anthem “Bless You”
- Completion of Chorister’s Guild Institute working with nationally recognized children’s conductors, composers, and program leaders
- Participation in Early Childhood Music in Motion Association’s international conference 2019
- Commissioned and featured composer for churches, school districts, and colleges
Pastor Jon Nelson graduated from Valparaiso University with a BA in History before heading to Wartburg Theological Seminary where he earned his Masters of Divinity. St. Stephen Lutheran Church is the third parish Pastor Jon has served, the first being in eastern North Dakota and the second in central Minnesota. A pastor’s kid, he has been around the church all his life, including involvement in youth groups, serving on committees and councils, and he was a camp counselor at Green Lake Lutheran Ministries. Pastor Jon is married to Christina, and they have two children as well as a dog named Samwise.
Hollie Jones, Parish Administrator, has a 20 year background in business and move management. She owns a fencing company with her husband Brandon Jones. They have 2 children and 3 French bulldogs.