Our Teachers and Staff

All staff members have a personal relationship with Christ. They are loving individuals who, by example, help the children build healthy, positive attitudes toward God, self, and others.

Each classroom is staffed with a lead and an assistant teacher. The children to teacher ratios meet or exceed those required by the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS). Each lead teacher is an active Christian with a college degree or a minimum of 5 years in early childhood education. All staff members receive extensive annual training in child development and education and are routinely trained and certified in First Aid and Pediatric CPR. At least one staff member who is trained in Medication Administration is on site at all times.

Our teachers enjoy interacting with each child, helping them discover new experiences, whether on the playground, in music class, through learning centers, or center time. Pumpkin carving, shadow dancing, dirt/sand digging, meal "making" -- are just a few of the activities our teachers share with their classes each day. Their compassion -- and often silliness! -- help each child feel loved and safe while they are learning and having fun.

Ann Marie Lipton is in her 16th year as the Director of the Parkwood Weekday Early Education (WEE Center) Preschool. She has a Master of Education Degree with a concentration in Early Childhood Special Education and has worked in both private and public education for 32 years. Mrs. Lipton joined the WEE Center staff as a Developmental Consultant in 1999 when her own children attended the WEE Center. She has three adult children and a husband of 30 years. 
Email Ann: weedirector@parkwood.org.

Kathy Buchanan has worked with all age groups but especially enjoys the four- and five-year-olds and is looking forward to her eleventh year working with them. Mrs. Buchanan loves to watch the children grow in their faith as they learn more about God’s word.  She enjoys helping them continue to learn to share, communicate and grow with their friends. Three of her grandchildren have attended the WEE Center and have made wonderful friends and memories. Mrs. Buchanan is looking forward to an exciting, fun filled year ahead with her new Zebra friends!

Penny Canty has been associated with the Wee Center for more than 15 years as two of her grandchildren attended preschool here.  She feels blessed to support children as they learn skills that will help them all their lives:  sharing, cooperating, learning how great God is, and to share His goodness and what He does for us!

Maria Dewing joined the WEE Center in 2020 as a preschool assistant and thoroughly enjoyed it.  After retiring in 2019 from over 33 years of service with Fairfax County Park Authority, she is grateful for the opportunity to assist in the classroom.  She enjoys coordinating art projects, story time and talking to the students during their playground time.  When she’s not at the WEE Center she enjoys spending time with her husband, two grown children and her black lab named Stella. 

Elizabeth Nobles has been working at the WEE Center for 9 years, going from subbing to lead teacher in that time. She has the pleasure of teaching the WEE Center’s youngest population and loves watching the little ones grow and learn. She has attended Parkwood church for over 25 years and went to the WEE Center when she was four. She also works at the church as the Children’s Ministry Coordinator, working with all age ranges. Sharing the word of God with all ages is something that brings her joy.

Sharon Gibson has a passion for working with children. She started teaching in 1997 as an assistant and moved up to lead teacher in 2005. She retired when her granddaughter was born in 2018.  When her granddaughter started attending the WEE Center, Mrs. Gibson returned as an assistant when the pandemic kept many teachers from being in the classroom. 

Kathy Hughes joined the WEE Center early 2019 as an assistant/substitute, and became a lead in 2020. Her son attended for 3 years and she was excited to become part of the amazing WEE staff several years after he left. For 9 years, Mrs. Hughes was an active member of her son’s schools’ PTAs where she volunteered in the classroom and helped coordinate many events and activities. She has also been an FCPS Elementary substitute for several years. Mrs. Hughes enjoys working with children and is constantly amazed by each child’s talents and insights. She loves interacting with the WEE students, whether sitting on the floor doing puzzles or running around the playground and feels blessed to help them discover new skills, experiences, and God’s wonders.

Baukje Kaufmann was born and raised in the Netherlands and immigrated to the US in 2004. Mrs. Kaufmann started working at the WEE Center in 2016 as an assistant and absolutely fell in love with teaching and helping the little ones. She is very passionate about art in her daily life including painting, woodworking and jewelry making, and is looking forward to seeing the children’s creations this year! Mrs. Kaufmann likes being active and exploring the outdoors and says if you cannot see the sunshine, “be the sunshine!” This is truly her motto of inspiring/teaching the little ones in the classroom!