Word of Life Preschool

Irene Baker, Director

Hi, my name is Irene Baker. I am pleased to be starting my fifteenth year here at Word of Life Lutheran Preschool. I enjoyed teaching at WOL for ten years before I moved from the classroom to the office to take on the position of Director of Word of Life Preschool. I am thrilled to be starting another school year. I have a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University in Communication Disorders with an emphasis in Speech Pathology. I live in Wheaton with my husband, Tim; we celebrated our 30th anniversary this year. We have three children: Jason, 29 works in Lombard, Kelly, 23 is attending classes at Northern Illinois University and Adam, 22 is completing his degree at Western Illinois University. We welcomed a new member to our family this year our beautiful daughter-in-law Kaitlyn who married our youngest son Adam. We are officially empty nesters. My husband and I are members of St. James the Apostle Church in Glen Ellyn where we participate in a variety of ministries; we are currently working in the marriage preparation program as a sponsor couple. In my spare time (the little there is) I enjoy scrapbooking, going to the movies, an occasional trip to the theater and of course reading. My passion is reading! I’m excited to have the opportunity to teach the Lions Literacy Class for 4 and 5 year olds. Together with the teachers we are constantly looking for new ways to incorporate literacy into our classrooms. You have chosen a wonderful school by choosing Word of Life Preschool and we are blessed to have you as part of our school family.

Barb Bridge, 3 Year-Olds – Guppies

Hi, my name is Barb Bridge. This is my second year teaching at Word of Life Preschool. I will be working with Ann Wilhoite in the Guppies morning classes. I have a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from Northeastern Illinois University. I began my teaching career in the elementary grades. I was a stay-at-home mom while my children were young and began teaching again many years ago. This will be my eighth year teaching at the preschool level. My husband, Ross, and I live in Wheaton and attend St. Daniel the Prophet Church. We have three children. Our oldest, Christine, lives in Peoria and is a nurse at Methodist Hospital. Our son, Mike, lives in Lincoln Park and works for an insurance company. Our youngest, Dan, is starting his second year at the University of Illinois. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, gardening, and reading. I am looking forward to a great year at Word of Life Preschool

Darlene Richards, Pre-K - Penguins

Hi, my name is Darlene Richards. I will be teaching the Penguins Pre-K class. This will be by nineteenth year teaching here at Word of Life. I have a bachelor's degree in Music Education and Elementary Teaching from Elmhurst College. I have also taken early childhood classes at the College of DuPage and attended numerous childhood conferences to keep current on new ideas in early childhood education. My husband, Gary, and I have been Brookdale residents for 25 years. We have three children: Megan and her husband Alfred live in Danbury, Connecticut. She is a music teacher at an elementary school. They have two children: Alex, who is four years old and Jenna, who is 2 years old. Our daughter Kristen and her husband Erick live in Plano, IL. She is the Arts Director at the Fox Valley YMCA in Plano. They have a daughter, Abigail, who is 13 months old. Our son, Michael, lives in Ottawa. He is a music teacher in Seneca teaching at the elementary and middle schools. We also have two dogs, Rudy and Henry. I am the organist at a church in Elmhurst and also teach piano lessons in my home. My hobbies are scrapbooking and reading. Thank you for choosing Word of Life Lutheran Preschool.

Francine Alavi , 3 Year-Olds - Guppies

Hi, my name is Francine Alavi. This is my second year teaching at Word of Life. I will be teaching the afternoon Guppies class with Ann Wilhoite. I am a graduate of Marquette University, Milwaukee, where I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with an emphasis on Family/Child Welfare. I have also extended my education at the College of DuPage, in the Early Childhood Program. For 15 years I taught at Prairie Path Preschool associated with St. Matthew United Church of Christ in Wheaton, teaching 3, 4, and 5 year old children. In addition, I was a teacher assistant in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade classes at St. Irene Catholic School in Warrenville for 4 years. I have taught piano in my home for 11 years. My volunteer experience includes teaching Religious Education to elementary and high school students and Adult Faith enrichment classes. I am presently teaching the second grade religious education formation class at St. Daniel the Prophet Catholic Church in Wheaton. My husband Alex and I have lived in Wheaton for 18 years. We have two adult sons, both residing in California. Smokey and Maya are our cats, who add so much excitement, joy, and love to our lives. In addition to my passion for teaching, I enjoy walking, reading, writing, crocheting, visiting family and friends, and playing the piano. I am looking forward to another exciting and adventurous school year here at Word of Life Preschool.

Kristen Hogsed, 4 Year-Olds - Turtles

Hello, my name is Kristen Hogsed. This is my third year teaching at Word of Life preschool. I will be working with Jan Mallak in the Turtles class for 4 year-olds. I am a graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC where I received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I taught at the elementary school level, primarily first grade, in NC for seven years before moving to Naperville in 2005. My husband, Darrin, and I have two sons. The oldest, 8, is entering third grade. Our 6 year-old, who attended WOL, will be starting Kindergarten. My family and I are members at Harvest Bible Chapel in Naperville. As a family, we enjoy going for bike rides on the Prairie Path, playing board games, and just being outside! Things I enjoy most are spending time with my family, going for walks with our miniature schnauzer named Wrigley, reading magazines, and tending to my vegetable garden in the summer. Teaching children has always been my passion and I am thrilled to be a part of helping to provide an exciting learning environment for your child.

Jan Mallak, 4 Year-Olds – Turtles

Hi, my name is Jan Mallak. I am very excited to begin my fifth year at Word of Life Preschool. I am also very excited to be co-teaching again with Kristen Hogsed. In addition to the Turtles classes I will also be teaching the Guppies literacy class – Book Buddies on Thursday afternoons. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Elmhurst College and a Master’s of Education degree in Elementary Education from DePaul University in Chicago. I taught first grade at St. Mary’s School in Riverside before I had my two beautiful daughters. Lindsay is 9 and entering 4th grade, and Abby is 8 and entering 3rd grade. Both girls attended Word of Life Preschool which is how I came to love it so much! My husband Mike and I have lived in the Brookdale neighborhood for 11 years. We attend St. Thomas the Apostle Church. We love our neighborhood and I am lucky to be able to teach so many wonderful children from around the area! I love to read, watch movies, and spend time with my family, including our two black labs, Blue and Murphy. Word of Life is a wonderful preschool and I am blessed to be part of it. I am looking forward to the new school year.

Diane Lichtenberg, 2 ½ Year-Olds – Teddy Bears

Hi, my name is Diane Lichtenberg. This is my first year as an assistant teacher at Word of Life Preschool. I will be teaching with Melissa Peterson in the 2 ½ year old Teddy Bear class. I graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I started my teaching career teaching Kindergarten in the Elgin area. I then stayed home to raise my 4 children and returned to the teaching profession in Wheaton’s District 200 as a teacher’s aide and from there worked at the Wheaton Park District Preschool program for several years. I volunteer at my church, St. Irene’s Catholic Church in Warrenville, the DuPage Animal Care & Control and help as needed with religious education special events at our church. I live in Warrenville with my husband Bob. Two of my 4 grown children are married. I enjoy going to my son’s Purdue’s football games, family activities, and hosting hospitality at my church. I look forward to working with Mrs. Peterson in the Teddy Bears class and meeting all of you.

Amy Murphy , 3 Year-Olds – Book Buddies

Hi, my name is Amy Murphy. I teach the 3 year-olds Book Buddies Class. This is my fourth year teaching at Word of Life I graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Elementary Education and I have a Masters in Technology in Education from National Louis University. I have been an elementary school classroom teacher as well as a Library Media Center Director at a junior high. My husband Steve and I have been married for fifteen years. We have lived in Aurora for the last eleven with our three boys who all attended WOL. I also teach religious education at Our Lady of Mercy. When I am not running around after my very active boys or volunteering, I enjoy reading, scrapbooking, exercising, and playing volleyball. I was thrilled to join the wonderful staff here after seeing them in action while I was a preschool parent. I considered it a blessing to have found such a wonderful preschool for my children and I know you will too.

Ann Wilhoite, 3 Year-Olds – Guppies

Hi, my name is Ann Wilhoite. This is my third year teaching the Guppies and I am delighted to be working with my fellow experienced teachers, Barbara Bridge (morning classes) and Francine Alavi (afternoon class). I hold a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and learning disabilities/behavioral disorders as well as a Masters of Education degree in severe behavior handicaps from Bowling Green State University. I taught young children with a variety of special needs for fourteen years until my husband Loice and I were blessed with our daughter Joy and I became a full time “Home Manager”. Now Joy is a thriving second grader and I am immersed in discovery each day with preschoolers! My family enjoys spending time together and participating in activities at our home church, Gingercreek Community Church. It is through our search for a Christ-centered preschool of excellence for our daughter that we discovered Word of Life. Joy blossomed cognitively, socially, and emotionally in the loving environment from the moment she entered the building with Mrs. Baker’s daily greetings. Pastor Gary’s chapel talks and the community guest speakers enhanced the solid foundation her teachers provided each day. I am so grateful God led us to Word of Life and am thrilled to be a part of the wonderful staff this year. I look forward to getting to know the children and am honored to be a part of this precious developmental year in their lives.

Melissa Peterson, 2 ½ Year-Olds – Teddy Bears

Hi, my name is Melissa Peterson. This is my fifth year of working with the 2 ½ year old Teddy Bear classes. I graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana with a degree in Elementary Education and a Reading Endorsement before my husband Kirk and I moved to the Naperville area. I have enjoyed many years of working for and with this preschool, starting as a teacher with the three year olds in 1994. I then went on to work with the four year olds before I took a job at St. John Lutheran School in Wheaton, where I taught second and third grades. We have two children who are both WOL alum; my oldest is currently in 5th grade, and my youngest is in 2nd grade this year. We have been members here at Word of Life church for 17 years, and during that time I have been a part of many ministries, with the most recent ones being the Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, Praise Team and Women's Fellowship. Spending time as a family is my favorite part of the day, and we enjoy biking, reading and playing games together. When I have a few minutes to spare, I also enjoy photography and scrapbooking. I am really looking forward to getting to know all of the new students and parents this year. Thanks for sharing your children with us!