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
Alexandra has lived in West Chester since she finished at WCU in 2001. She is married to her husband Tony and has two children (Annabelle and Anthony) who are in West Chester School District. She became involved with the preschool when her daughter attended in 2014 and has been active in the school and church since then. Throughout the years she has served as a volunteer, classroom aid, Sunday school teacher and board member. She has been Director of our program since 2020. In her spare time she loves to start (and sometimes complete) projects around her house, go to the beach and read.
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, and Max. 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, Alex, Ryan, and Brendan. 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 her husband Steve! 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
Jamie joined Advent Church as Music Director in 2015 and has been a Pre-K teacher since 2021. 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
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.