Christ Church Episcopal Preschool
Our Team
​Emily McKinney
Head of School
Emily McKinney is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, where she earned a double major in Elementary Education and English, and of the University of Virginia, where she received her Master’s degree in Public School Administration.
Now in her third year as Head of School at Christ Church Episcopal Preschool, Emily has been a dedicated member of the school community for more than a decade, previously serving as LightKeepers Coordinator, Bike-A-Thon Coordinator, and Member-at-Large on the CCEP Board of Directors.
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With thirty years of experience working with school-aged children as a teacher, administrator, volunteer, and parent, Emily is deeply committed to nurturing each child's creativity, social-emotional growth, and love of learning through play. As a former elementary school principal, she is passionate about ensuring that students are well prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of their elementary years.
Emily values the opportunity to partner with families throughout their preschool journey, fostering meaningful experiences and lasting memories that lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning. As Head of School, she is dedicated to preserving Christ Church Episcopal Preschool’s strong sense of community and commitment to academic and spiritual growth by cultivating innovative, caring, and faith-centered learning environments.
Emily is the proud parent of two Christ Church Episcopal Preschool graduates. She enjoys reading, traveling, and volunteering, and finds her greatest joy on the beach, surrounded by family laughter and the sound of children at play.
Ms. Meg Sterbenz
Assistant Head of School
"Ms. Meg" has been part of Christ Church Episcopal Preschool since 2017, first as a preschool parent and later as a staff member. She holds a B.A. in Foreign Languages with a concentration in Spanish from George Mason University. Before stepping into her leadership role at CCEP, Meg worked in sales, was a PreK teacher, and taught English both in the U.S. and abroad to underprivileged youth.
As Assistant Head of School, Meg is passionate about supporting both teachers and families while helping to nurture a joyful, faith-filled learning environment for young children. She manages CCEP’s social media and loves giving families and prospective families a behind-the-scenes look at all the CCEP magic—a magic that wouldn’t be possible without our incredible teachers!
Meg has 2 children (both CCEP grads!) a yellow lab, Poppy, and loves spending as much time outside as possible. In her free time, Meg also enjoys photography and playing pickleball.
Mrs. Elizabeth Witt
Preschool Accountant
Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Virginia and this is her 3rd year as CCEP's Accountant. She is the mother to a CCEP graduate and a current student. We are so grateful for all that she does behind the scenes to keep our school running smoothly. Go Hoos!
Mrs. Allison Simon
LightKeeper (PTA) President
Allison Simon is our LightKeeper (PTA) President, a role she has held since 2023. A former school counselor, Allison brings her expertise, warmth, and dedication to our preschool community. Everything she does behind the scenes for our school is unreal—she actively reaches out to the broader community, building partnerships with local businesses and securing generous donations to support our programs. She's always thinking of ways to make life easier for our teachers and staff—whether it’s supplies, a favorite snack, or a special treat—Allison goes above and beyond to brighten someone’s day. She keeps the magic alive at CCEP and makes our whole team feel loved and supported. A true blessing to our preschool, she is your go-to gal for all things CCEP and a wealth of knowledge. Allison is the proud mother of three children, including one CCEP graduate and one current student, and comes from a dedicated military and law enforcement family.
Mrs. Kristy Anderson
Two-Year-Old Lead Teacher
This is Kristy’s 11th year at CCEP and her 13th year teaching two-year-olds. Her passion is creating a joyful, nurturing environment where children feel safe, valued and eager to learn and grow. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Community Services with a minor in Psychology which has given her a strong foundation for supporting the development of our youngest learners. Outside the classroom, Kristy enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters. She has a serious love for concerts and is always up for a day at the beach.
Mrs. Leigh Ann Klosky
Two-Year-Old Assistant Teacher
Leigh Ann is in her 14th year at CCEP. She has her Master's degree in teaching, coupled with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and management. She brings to the classroom 15 years of experience working with preschool and elementary-aged students, and 12 years of an auditing career before staying home to raise her family of three children.
Mrs. Rachael Panos
Two-Year-Old Assistant Teacher
This is Rachael’s first year teaching at CCEP. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Parks and Sport Management from VCU and a Masters degree in Education from ODU. Rachael loves finding ways to connect with her students and making each child and their family feels valued and supported.
Rachael is married with two children, both of whom are CCEP graduates. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, spending time with her family and walking her beloved pitbull.
Mrs. Heather Belcher
3 -Year -Old Lead Teacher
This is Heather's 5th year teaching the 3's at CCEP. She is a graduate of UVA (Bachelor's Psychology) and Simmons College (MSEd). She worked for more than 20 years with learners of all ages and abilities in both public and private schools, and then in a variety of settings as a BCBA, until she left to be home with her children. During this time, she joined the CCEP family and feels beyond blessed to come to work each day. Heather loves the feeling of community that is found within the walls of this school and enjoys watching young families grow through the years. She finds great joy in seeing how much each child grows each year and is grateful to be a small part of each child's journey. Heather is married with 2 children (and 2 very loved doodles).
Mrs. Tracy Peddicord
3-Year-Old Assistant Teacher
This is Tracy’s 3rd year teaching at CCEP. She is a mom of 3 CCEP graduates and was a frequent substitute at the preschool prior to joining the 3’s team. She attended UVA for undergrad and earned her Master’s in Psychology from George Mason. Previously, she enjoyed a career as a school psychologist before taking time off to stay home with her children. She loves working with children, nurturing them and seeing them grow. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, running, and cozying up with a good book!
Mrs. Marcie Perryman
3-Year-Old Lead Teacher
This is Marcie’s 7th year at Christ Church Episcopal Preschool! She holds a BA in Human and Community Services from Lenoir-Rhyne University and brings many years of experience in early childhood education to our team. Marcie has a heart of gold and has loved teaching children—and later, even their siblings! She is passionate about fostering independence, kindness, and creativity in her classroom, helping each child grow and thrive.
Marcie is married with 2 children and is also a proud dog mom to Clarence, a spirited double doodle. What he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in personality! While he doesn’t always enjoy sharing his mom, he is willing to make an exception for our preschoolers.
Mrs. Kendra Villasana
3-Year-Old Assistant Teacher
This is Kendra’s 5th year teaching at CCEP. She is a former CCEP parent and beloved member of the CCEP family! Kendra is a graduate of Michigan State University where she completed a Bachelor's in Business Administration and a minor in Spanish. Her love for Education began after living in Mexico where she taught for 3 years. She enjoys working with preschool aged children and is passionate about finding creative ways to foster independence and help develop critical thinking skills. Kendra strives to make sure that every child in her class feels heard and understands that their feelings, thoughts and opinions are valuable. Kendra is married with two children.
Mrs. Beth Lighthiser
3-Year-Old Lead Teacher
Beth is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a BS in both Accounting and HR Management. After working at a big four accounting firm, she realized her passion was teaching and received her teaching license through the University of Richmond. She taught middle school math for 5 years while coaching cross country and track & field. Beth was an assistant for one year at CCEP, has been a substitute for two years, and is excited to be a lead starting this year! She has 2 children, one CCEP grad and one who will graduate this spring. She loves spending time with her family, running, going to the beach, and spoiling her chocolate lab!
Mrs. Becka Vint
3-Year-Old AssistantTeacher
Becka is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management and a minor in Communications. This is her 4th year teaching at CCEP, but she is no stranger to the preschool classroom having taught for 4 years prior to joining our team. She is a mom of 3 and spends her time running between fields, gyms and sporting events with her kids
Mrs. Angie Fairman
4 Day PreK Lead Teacher
Angie is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University where she earned her degree in Advertising and a minor in Business/Liberal Arts. Before switching over to teaching, Angie was a Media Buyer and Stay-At-Home mom/volunteer extraordinaire! This is her 9th school year at CCEP, starting out as an assistant with the Pups and now leading the Happy Hoppers PreK class. Angie brings so much joy and energy to the classroom and understands the value of children learning through hands-on play. When not at school, Angie can be found cheering on her two kids that play all the sports, walking her dog, planning her next vacation, and enjoying time with her family.
Mrs. Jennifer Autry
4 Day PreK Assistant Teacher
Ms. Autry is a proud graduate of James Madison University with a degree in Kinesiology and Business. As a mom of three CCEP graduates/students, Jennifer values the importance of a well-rounded, faith-based education, and she is dedicated to fostering an environment that nurtures both academic growth and spiritual development in young learners. Outside of the classroom she enjoys staying active by running, working on her needlepoint projects, and spending time with her children—especially when they’re enjoying the beach together.
Mrs. Kristin Coyle
4 Day PreK Lead Teacher
Kristin is in her 14th year at CCEP in the Pre-K program. She graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Sociology and Special Education and has over 25 years of experience teaching young children. Kristin loves watching preschoolers grow, discover, and gain confidence as learners. She is married and the proud mom of three children, all CCEP graduates, which makes her especially appreciative of the special years of early childhood.
Mrs. Margaret Dellaripa
4 Day PreK Assistant Teacher
Mrs. Dellaripa brings over 25 years of both Elementary classroom teaching and School Librarian experience to CCEP. She is a graduate of Longwood University. Mrs. Dellaripa loves all things to do with reading, travel, animals, and trying new restaurants around RVA. She lives in a house divided with her husband, and 2 grown sons having attended UVA and Va Tech! She lives in Hanover where her 2 dogs rule the roost most of the time! Mrs. Dellaripa feels so blessed to work with the wonderful students, their families, and the staff at CCEP.
Mrs. Melissa Parvizi
5 Day PreK Lead Teacher
This is Melissa’s 3rd year at CCEP! She is a VCU graduate with a Masters of Teaching degree. She has taught 1st grade and is looking forward to her PreK class! She is passionate about learning through art, music, movement and equal parts student directed exploration and teacher directed learning. Melissa is married with three children and 3 Holland Lop bunnies!
Mrs. Christy Kelley
5 Day PreK Assistant Teacher
This is Christy’s 2nd year with CCEP. She is a proud Hokie graduate with a degree in Adult Education. Over the years, Christy has realized she is most fulfilled when working with preschool and elementary aged children. She is thrilled to be joining the PreK team, and sharing her excitement of learning. Christy is married and has two grown children.
Mrs. Jayme Klammer
JK Lead Teacher, 5-Day
This is Jayme’s 2nd year as the JK teacher at CCEP, where she is a cherished and well-known member of the Christ Church Episcopal community. With over 29 years of experience in education, Jayme brings a wealth of knowledge, creativity, and joy to the classroom.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Geology and Elementary Education from The College of William & Mary, and a Master’s degree in Reading Education from the University of Virginia with her endorsement as a Reading Specialist. Throughout her career, Jayme has taught in a variety of educational settings, always fostering a love of learning, curiosity, and confidence in her students.
Jayme is passionate about early childhood development and believes that learning through play lays the foundation for lifelong success. She is dedicated to creating a nurturing, engaging, and fun-filled environment where every child feels seen, valued, and excited to learn.
Outside the classroom, Jayme enjoys spending quality time with her family, relaxing at the beach or lake, diving into a good book, and going camping. She’s looking forward to another action-packed year full of discovery, laughter, and PLAY — our favorite way to learn!
Mrs. Courtney de Kanter
JK Assistant Teacher, 5-Day
This is Courtney's 2nd year at our preschool and she is looking forward to being back in the JK classroom! Courtney graduated from James Madison University in 2001 with a BA in English and a minor in French. She previously worked in Human Resources at law firms. She has always been a regular volunteer at her children’s schools and taught a summer drama program at Gulliver Prep in Miami, Florida. She loves hiking with her family in Charlottesville, travelling, and walking her dog, Bart. She also has a cockatiel name Charlie that makes a guest appearance in the spring!
Mrs. Mary Richerson
Music Teacher
​Mary graduated from the University of Richmond with a BA in Music Performance, and then received her Masters of Divinity from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. She has served as a minister in various churches in the Richmond area for over twenty years. Throughout her career she has taught music to students of all ages, including extensive work with children’s classes and choirs. She is passionate about sharing the joy of music, and the growth that comes with music education. Mary is excited to begin her first year as music teacher for CCEP! She loves spending time with her large blended family, going to the beach, swimming, and playing the piano.
Mr. Jimmy Hanks
Preschool Sexton
This is Jimmy's 17th year at CCEP! He is a celebrity here at preschool and always brings a smile to everyone's face! He is grill master and loves to rollerskate!
We LOVE Mr. Jimmy!
Father Ken Malcom
Christ Church Episcopal Rector
Father Ken Malcolm is the Rector of Christ Church Episcopal! He has served parishes and dioceses in Texas, Colorado, and as Program Director for the Diocese of Virginia. We love having him on campus and at Chapel on Thursday mornings. Our preschoolers adore him!
Rev. Drew Downey
Christ Church Episcopal Assistant Rector
We can't wait for you to meet Drew Downey, the new Assistant Rector of Christ Church Episcopal! He is a recent graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary, where he earned his Master of Divinity. Before attending seminary, Drew worked in banking after graduating from Auburn University with a B.A. in Communications.​
Mr. Adam Williams
Christ Church Episcopal Minister to Families
At both CCE and CCEP Mr. Adam helps grow lasting connections that go beyond the four walls of the church. Adam leads worship; ministers to children, youth, and parents; and plans meaningful discipleship programming for young people. We are blessed to see him on Thursday mornings for chapel!