Advent Preschool + Childcare
Our Staff
Each classroom has a teacher and a teacher’s aide. Our staff includes experienced teachers and teacher’s aides, who really have a passion for early childhood education.
All staff members are certified in First Aid and CPR and have completed the required PA clearances, which include: Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check, and Federal Criminal History Record. Please take a moment to read our staff members’ information below to learn a little bit about each of them.
Alexandra Carden
Director/Lead Teacher
I have lived in West Chester since attending WCU, where I met my now husband Tony. We have a 9-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son, who attend Glen Acres Elementary School and Fern Hill Elementary School. I became involved with the preschool when my daughter, Belle, attended in 2014. Throughout the years, I have been a volunteer, teacher, and board member. As a member of Advent Lutheran Church, I also teach Sunday School. My favorite moments in the preschool have always focused on community outreach, including Movie Nights and our annual fundraisers. In my spare time, I am involved in the Glen Acres PTO and love to learn new crafts and cook.
Education:
WCU Communications
Email:
adventprek@yahoo.com
Hello, my name is Livia Schmied (Mrs. Livy). I am originally from Jalisco, Mexico. My husband, Bob, and I have two wonderful children, Alex, 24 years old and Max, 10 years old. My husband and both of my children, Alex and Max, attended our preschool. I worked at Advent for several years, but took a leave when Max was born. I am happy to be working with the staff and children at Advent again.
Education:
ICTMAR, University in Veracruz, Mexico
Certificate in Marine Biology
Livia Schmeid
Lead Teacher
Sara Kim
Lead Teacher
Hello, I am originally from Seoul, South Korea. I have lived in West Chester for a little over 11 years with my husband, Henry, and four wonderful children, Alice, 22 years old, Alex, 21 years old, Ryan, 14 years old and Brendan, 10 years old. I am more than happy to be working at Advent. In my spare time, I enjoy watching & coaching basketball. I played professional basketball for 13 years in Korea.
Education:
Seoul Eun Kwang Girls High School, South Korea
Email:
sak71@comcast.net
Lauren Mullin is a mom to two girls (Ava and Audrey) whom both attended Advent Preschool. She is happily married to Steve for 13 years! She received her Early Childhood and Elementary Education degree from WCU and her Master’s from Cabrini College. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, crafting and watching her girls play lacrosse, dance and do gymnastics.
Lauren Mullin
Lead Teacher
Jamie Wunder
Lead Teacher
My name is Jamie Wunder and I’m heading into my 2nd year as a Pre-K teacher and am in my 6th year as a Music Director here at Advent. I graduated from West Chester University in 2003 with a Bachelor's in Music Education. Since then, I have had many years of experience as a church music director, teaching classroom music to kids of all ages, and assisting in prekindergarten. When I’m not teaching or playing music, I’m usually found running my teenage boys around to their sports events with a coffee in hand.
Tracy Bechtel
Teacher’s Aide
Tracy Bechtel is a graduate of WCU with a degree in Elementary Education. She has worked with children of all ages over the years. Before starting at Advent, she was a camp director for over 15 years. She is the mother to 2 children, Rachel and Shane and has been married to her husband Paul for over 7 years.
Michele Cheeseman
Teacher’s Aide
Michele has lived in Thornton for 22 years and has three grown children Kayla(31), Kyle(26) and Cassie(24). She loves young children and really enjoy working at Advent Preschool. Her previous experience working with children involves working as a Physical Therapist in both a school and home health care setting.
Janey Wolff
Teacher’s Aide
Janey is married to Dave and has two daughters - Teagan (17) and Bracken (13). She was born in Scotland and moved to South Africa at 12, then moved to America when she was 22 - that’s why, when you hear her talk, you can’t place the accent! In addition to being an aide in Mrs. Wunder’s class, she is the Sunday School Director at Advent and runs VBS over the summer. She loves crafting with her Cricut machine and thinking of new art projects for the preschool class to enjoy making.
Wendy Marulanda
Teacher’s Aide
Wendy Marulanda has spent years working in childcare in a variety of settings. She is fluently bilingual and assists with not only our preschool afternoon enrichment, but also our Before and After Care Program. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her husband and puppy.
Amelia Healy
Teacher’s Aide
Amelia is originally from Vineland, NJ. She is a mother of 2 who has lived in West Chester since she went to college at West Chester University. While Amelia attended WCU she was part of their Dance Team and a part-time Fitness instructor. She also taught Swim classes at the West Chester YMCA and was a group exercise teacher as well. Amelia was a Physical Education teacher in Coatesville Area School District for 16 years, until she had her daughter in 2018. She is currently a stay-at-home mom and after volunteering at Advent last year, was asked to help Mrs. Kim in her classroom as an Aide. Amelia also has her degree as a Fitness Specialist and began her career as a Fitness Trainer. She still enjoys Physical Fitness and Dance.
Chris Congdon
Teacher’s Aide
I am originally from Willingboro, New Jersey. I have lived in Malvern, PA for the past 22 years. My husband, Kevin, and I have a daughter, Shannon, and a son, Keith. We also have an adorable dog named Callie. I previously worked as a Teacher's Aide for the last two years at St. Matthew's Preschool in Conshohocken. This is my first year at Advent and I am looking forward to being a part of our community.
Email:
CMCongdon@verizon.net
Joanne Charamella
Teacher’s Aide
During Joanne’s 4 years with Advent Preschool and Childcare, she has worked in the Before and After School Care program, as a Zoom classroom proctor and as a Teacher's Aide. Miss Joanne also helps as a substitute lead teacher.