Valley Christian Preschool Staff

• Taundra Pitchford - Valley Christian Preschool Director

• Susan Masson - Lead Teacher, Fours

• Stephanie Holguin - Assistant Teacher, Fours

• Karen Broome - Lead Teacher, Threes

• Jennifer VanDitti - Assistant Teacher, Monday/Wednesday Threes

• Laurie Scott - Assistant Teacher, Tuesday/Thursday Threes

• Maggie Thoresen - Lead Teacher, Young 2’s and 2½’s

• Heather Koukel - Assistant Teacher, Young 2’s and 2½’s

• Kristina Kurtz - Lunch Bunch Coordinator

Taundra Pitchford

I’ve been in the early education field for 13 years and seem to gravitate toward church-affiliated preschools. While living in Santa Barbara, CA, I worked closely with the County Education District to develop our school’s early intervention program. I was also a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and an eight-year board member of the Santa Barbara Family Child Care Association.

I went to school at San Diego State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies for Educators with a Minor in Psychology. I continued to earn additional Early Child Education units toward completing my administration requirements.

After living in Calfornia for almost 20 years, I returned to Oregon with my husband and twin daughters in 2004. Some of my passions include skiing, kayaking, golfing, hiking, traveling, and just simply exploring the area.

My vision of a successful preschool is to create an enriching environment that promotes quality learning through play. We achieve this by fostering kindness, intellectual growth, and the joy of discovery for the children, staff and families.

Susan Masson, 4’s Lead Teacher

Susan Masson has been working with children as a teacher since 1991. She received her Master’s in Fine Arts from Pratt Art Institute in Brooklyn, New York. Susan lived in New York for 16 years, teaching art in numerous settings. She taught at the Birch Wathen Lenox School for six years, working specifically with grades 3-7. It was here at BWL, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, that Susan fully developed her style as an art teacher.

Susan moved to Portland in 2001. She started studying Spanish at Portland State University, and teaching Spanish to younger children as a result of these studies. Susan developed a Spanish Immersion program at a preschool located in the Fulton Park Community Center, a Portland Parks and Recreation center in Southwest Portland. Susan taught through Parks and Recreation for a total of six years, four of them at Fulton Park. After leaving Fulton Park, Susan taught Spanish for a year at a Montessori school in Vancouver WA., Cascadia Montessori.

Susan is now very happy to be teaching in the four’s room at Valley Christian Preschool. Her creative abilities and language skills provide her with many fun, creative ways to teach young children the skills needed to successfully and confidently move into a kindergarten setting. She loves to laugh, have a good time and hone her ability to pass on information in a fun and light manner.

Stephanie Holguin, 4’s Assistant Teacher

Throughout my life I have always worked or been around children, which led me to want and decide to become a Preschool Teacher. First of all, I come from a big, close-knit family that includes three sisters and many cousins, the majority of them younger, so even from a young age I had a lot of exposure to young children. When I was 12 years old I began babysitting and later volunteered at my church in the Children’s Religious Education program and worked in the local school district’s Extended Care program. After I graduated high school, I attended Southern Oregon University for two years; which was where I was able to, for the first time, work in a preschool setting located on the school’s campus. It was while working there that I decided to pursue a career in education. That decision led me to attend Northwest Nannies Institute and becone certified as a Professional Nanny. Upon graduating NNI I worked as a Nanny and a Preschool Teacher before going back to school to complete my Associate Degree in Early Education and Family Studies, which I did in 2006. In order to complete my degree I was required to perform practicum in a group setting. I chose to complete mine at Mentor Graphics CDC in their Pre-K room and later accepted a substitute teacher position there, which I have been doing for the past two years and will still continue to do on a limited basis. I will also continue to nanny part time for the same family that I have been working for over the past eight years. I’m very excited to get this year started so I can get to know the children and adults better, as well as watch and enjoy the children in their progression, learning and development.

Karen Broome, 3’s Lead Teacher

I have been a teacher here at Valley Christian Preschool since the school was created here at Valley Community Presbyterian Church in 1996. It began as one classroom of 18 three year olds and so it has been a blessing to watch the school grow and evolve into the school it is today. I make the drive from my home in Hillsboro, Monday through Thursday, because I am passionate in VCP’s philosophy that children learn through play and I have seen the proof of this through the hundreds of children and families I have had the pleasure to work with over the years. This school is not just a school where the children grow socially and academically, but a school where families grow as well, as we work to build a community atomosphere and bring parents together so that relationships begin here and continue to grow as the families leave our preschool for the elementary schools.

I am originally from California but recieved my Early Education in Oregon. I have been a teacher for over 14 years but continue to update my education yearly. I am married to Patrick, for over 20 years now and we have three children, Jherika, Brennan and Cameron who are in their teen and college years. They are each completely different in their personalities, gifts and desires and have added to my education and experience that each child is a unique gift from God and learns differently and a classroom should be set up to allow a child to learn in various ways. Through my education, work and parenting experience, I can relate to pretty much any issue families fave these days and strive to be a Christ-like example for my students and families during our time together in the classroom. I have been fortunate to work with two amazing co-teachers, Jennifer VanDitti and Laurie Scott for many years now. Together, we make a strong, well-balanced team. We strive to make our classroom a safe, loving, environment where children are free to explore, investigate and seek answers relating to this wonderful world God created for us.

Jennifer VanDitti, M/W 3’s Assistant Teacher

I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. My husband, Mike, and I have two daughters, Amy and Megan.

I previously worked for the Beaverton School District as a classified substitute, and have been an active volunteer at both of my daughter’s schools. The thing that I enjoy the most about working with children is that no two days are ever alike. It is so amazing to look at the world through each child’s eyes and watch their creative imaginations at work as each day brings new adventures and discoveries.

Go to Top

Laurie Scott, T/Th 3’s Assistant Teacher

My husband, Mike, and I live with our two boys in the Raleigh Hills neighborhood. Our boys, Stephen and Matt, currently attend Beaverton High School; one is a senior and one is a sophomore. Actually, I grew up in this neighborhood (in the same house we currently live in) and went to Raleigh Park, Whitford and Beaverton High School. After high school, I went to Oregon State University where I received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Even though I graduated in business, my first love was working with children. When our children were born, I quit work and became active in our children's school doing everything from classroom help and fundraising to helping in the cafeteria. Even with our kids in high school, I still work in their school and actively participate in their sports activities. Outside of school, I was involved in coaching soccer and helping with the youth football program for the Beaverton area.

In 2005, opportunity knocked and I was able to work for Valley Christian Preschool. I absolutely love working with preschool children. They are like a sponge and love to learn. I feel if we watch children long enough we might learn a few things ourselves.

Go to Top

Maggie Thoresen, Young 2’s and 2 ½’s Lead Teacher

I was born and raised in Massachusetts. I got my bachelor’s degree from Framingham State in Communication with a minor in Child Psychology. After completing my undergrad, I taught in a child development center for four years. Over the course of those four years, I had the opportunity to teach in the two’s, three’s, four’s and five year old classrooms.

Go to Top

Heather Koukel, Young 2’s and 2 ½’s Assistant Teacher

Go to Top

Kristina Kurtz, Lunch Bunch Coordinator

I’m thrilled my days at VCP continue! I am a member of Valley Community Presbyterian Church, and keep active with Children’s Ministries. I teach 3s/4s Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, participate with Wednesday Fellowship Night and Moms’ Bible Study, and have served on the preschool board. I am a Portland native, and my husband and I returned here when we were starting our family. We have two elementary-aged daughters, one of whom finished at VCP a few years ago. At that time, I volunteered with a Vision Committee, and grew to appreciate the uniqueness of VCP and its mission. VCP holds a special place in my heart. In my life before kids I worked for 10 years in the environmental services field. I have found something special in working with young children and families, however, and hope to continue my learning and growth in this area. I believe each of us is a Child of God, and appreciate having the opportunity to work and play with your children.