Staff image of Mitzi White
Mitzi White, Director
Mitzi White has been at Covenant since 2007. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a B.A. in Education and has worked with preschool age children for over 20 years. Mitzi has three grown children, Allison, Jason, and Spencer, who were all raised in Staunton. She enjoys working with the Covenant Preschool children and their families. Mitzi really appreciates the preschool’s developmental approach to learning. [Read More...]
Staff image of Sarah Foster
Sarah Foster, Preschool Assistant
Sarah is a Staunton native, attended Staunton High School, and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Early Childhood Education. She has been a preschool teacher, computer trainer, and insurance agent and was the coordinator for the Quality Child Care Initiative at the Family Resource Center before working as a middle school teacher. She enjoys younger children and is very excited to return to preschool. Sarah lives with her husband, John, in an old log cabin and loves birdwatching, hiking, and wildlife photography. She has 6 cats and one daughter, Katie, who recently moved to Williamsburg. Fun Fact: both Sarah and Katie attended Covenant Preschool. [Read More...]
Staff image of Kristin Reichert
Kristin Reichert, Preschool 1 Teacher
Kristen has enjoyed working with children of all ages her whole life in settings ranging from camps and outdoor education cents to middle and high school classrooms. She has volunteered with chorister program at Trinity Episcopal Church for many years, co-directing the K-3rd grade choir and assisting with the elementary, middle, and high school choirs. In her free time she loves to sing, spend time with her husband and two children, and read as many books as she can! [Read More...]
Staff image of Bonnie Starcher
Bonnie Starcher, Preschool 1 Assistant
Bonnie Starcher has lived in Staunton for 23 years, and could not be happier. She has been in preschool and elementary school classrooms for 15 years with a mix of full-time, substitute, and long-term substitute experience. She loves her husband, their three teenage kids, their cats and chicken, and always has space for one more houseplant! [Read More...]
Staff image of Karen Martin
Karen Martin, Preschool 2 Teacher
Karen is re-joining our Covenant team this year as an office assistant. She has spent the last four years working as a special education instructional assistant at McSwain Elementary. Prior to her time at McSwain, Karen was an assistant teacher here at Covenant Preschool. She and her husband Michael have two children, Chase and Samantha. Both of her kids are graduates of the Covenant Preschool program! As a family they enjoy soccer, swimming, camping and caring for their pets. They have two dogs, two geckos and two snakes! Karen earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from California State University, Northridge. [Read More...]
Staff image of Emily Gardiner
Emily Gardiner, Preschool 2 Assistant
Emily is a career early childhood specialist making a return to teaching after having her daughter, Ezra in 2021. She is thrilled to be a part of the Covenant Community and to be teaching littles and learning from them as well. Outside of teaching, Emily can be found in nature with her friends and daughter, usually by a river. She can also be seen playing with her band (Boxed Lunch) and her solo musical project (June Baby). [Read More...]
Staff image of Lana Doncov
Lana Doncov, Pre-K Teacher
Lana was born and raised in Kazakhstan. After moving to the U.S. in 1997, she settled in the town of Bridgewater. Lana has over a decade of experience working with children and is excited to return to the preschool classroom. She stays busy teaching piano to children ages 3 and up at her music academy and also serves as a substitute pianist at Bridgewater Baptist Church. In her free time, she enjoys taking nature walks and spending time with her two grandsons, who live in Staunton. [Read More...]
Staff image of Crystal Fiechtl
Crystal Fiechtl, Pre-K Assistant Teacher
Crystal has had a love of children since she was a young girl. She has worked in a variety of roles as a teacher in Tennessee, before moving to Staunton in 2008. Crystal then used her associate degree in Early Childhood Education in her most important role as mother of 7 children she has been raising in Staunton with her husband, Joe. She enjoys photography, traveling and spending time with her family as they participate in choir, ballet and band here in town! [Read More...]