For the past five years we have been blessed with Jennifer Lapa as our Preschool Director.  She has provided outstanding leadership, direction and teaching, while caring deeply for each child and their family.  Jennifer has been a tremendous gift to our community. 

With a heavy heart we share that Jennifer has decided to resign from her position as the First Steps Preschool Director.  This was a difficult decision for Jennifer, one that she took very seriously.  

The First Steps Preschool Advisory Committee, alongside the Staff Management Team of First United Methodist Church shares with great joy that Hilary Bott has been hired as the new Preschool Director for First Steps Preschool.  Hilary has been a part of First Steps Preschool for many years, as a teacher in the three-year-old classroom, and as a member of the Preschool Advisory Committee when her children attended First Steps Preschool.  Hilary has a tremendous love for the children and families of First Steps Preschool, and will step into this new role with great experience and knowledge of our preschool community.  Hilary and her family are also members of the congregation at First United Methodist Church.

As Hilary steps into the Preschool Director role, a new teacher assistant will be hired for the 2026-2027 school year.