My name is Stephanie and while I am originally from the cornfields of Illinois, New York City has been my home since 1983 with the exception of one year in Boston to get my master’s degree. I am a country girl at heart who loves the rich diversity of people in New York City. I am still in awe when I pass the Statue of Liberty while getting groceries, or see the skyline lit up at night. God has placed me here and made it home. I have been married to Jay for almost 29 years and we have raised our 5 children in a little third floor apartment. I homeschooled all of our children through high school and gained a great education in the process- not only from the curriculum we used but learning how to best meet my children’s specific needs for learning. We are far from perfect, but God has given grace and kept His hand on us through this journey. Our children are grown now with one pursuing a career in the Army, two in Emergency Medical Service, one Entrepeneur, and one still in college. My husband and I have a little park model cabin in the Poconos of Pennsylvania, and we love to spend time there whenever possible. We love the woods and seeing God’s creation. Gardening, exploring roads unknown, and shopping thrift shops are some of my favorite things to do while we are there. Whether we are there for one night or a week we always return to Brooklyn refreshed.
My work with children began when I was in high school. I babysat, spent 9 years working in various residential camps, worked with the Boy’s Club both in New York City and Boston, led classes at a Childrens Museum, taught school groups in Central Park, and even completed an internship teaching at the Bronx Zoo for my master’s degree! Once I became a believer in Jesus Christ in my mid-twenties, my real education of how to teach began.
As a Christian, teaching has become richer as Jesus deals with my life, cleansing my heart so I can hear Him more clearly. I am so grateful for the Bible and the Holy Spirit to open God’s Word to make it real in a creative way. Regardless of the subject or lesson, having the Lord to turn to makes all the difference. Besides currently teaching Children’s Church weekly, I have taught crafts to 4-18yr. olds at our summer VBS for the past 5 years, organized and taught homeschool co-op classes, and led both my local homeschool group for 10 years and Operation Christmas Child for 4 years. In the past 2 years I have been stretched in new ways as I created the weekly Childrens Church lessons for 4-12 yr. olds. This website will eventually share many of those lessons and I pray it will be a blessing.
Shepherding Little Ones: Resources and lessons for Children's Church 