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Meet Our Team

At UCC Preschool Academy, we have a highly qualified team of experienced/degreed educators who are committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for your child. They are dedicated individuals who are passionate about early childhood education and strive to make a positive impact on the lives of children and families. We believe that each child is unique and has the potential to achieve great things. Therefore, our team works together with families to develop a personalized learning plan when needed that will meet the needs of the individual child. 
Our Team
Kristi Plummer - Director
Kristi

I am originally from the Wichita area but have lived in Manhattan for over 25 years.  My husband Randy and I have been married since 1982 and we have four children and seven grandchildren.  I have a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Studies and have been in the early childhood field since 2000.  I have worked in various early childhood settings throughout my career and have been the director at UCC Preschool Academy since 2013.

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Fun Facts:

  • There is a 17-year gap from my oldest to my youngest child

  • I drove tractors and combines growing up on the farm

  • I have not had great luck with cruises (one total rain out, one hurricane, COVID hitting U.S. threatening to keep us at sea)

Mrs. Amanda
Mrs. Amanda

Green Room Lead Teacher 

I am the teacher in the green room. This is my 6th year at the preschool. I have been married for 21 years & have 3 daughters. Our oldest daughter is a freshman at KSU, our middle daughter is a sophomore at MHS & our youngest is a 6th grader at AMS. I love all things sports but especially track & cross country.

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Fun Facts:

  • I spend most weekends watching my daughters run cross country

  • I spend most evenings taking long walks

  • My family enjoys old TV shows

Mrs. Pam
Mrs. Pam

Green Room Assistant Teacher

I have been teaching in the field of special education off and on since 1994. My husband of 25 years and I grew up in Illinois, lived in Colorado for 12 years and now Kansas for 7 years. We have 3 grown children, the youngest of which just married in August. We are also blessed to have 3 grandchildren that just moved here from Tucson in April.

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Fun Facts:

  • Grew up in Oquawka, Illinois on the Mississippi River

  • Water skied on the Mississippi River as a teen

  • Enjoy planning parties & weddings

Mrs. Caralee
Mrs. Caralee

Pink Room Lead Teacher

I've been happily married since 1995 & have 2 grown sons. Originally from southeast Kansas, I graduated from Pitt State University with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. I have been teaching since my youngest child was in first grade. I love spending time with my family & friends, am active in my church community & work with some pretty special ladies. 

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Fun Facts:

  • I have written a children's book (published Spring 2024).

  • I enjoy taking long walks.

  • Crafting doesn't come naturally to me, but I enjoy trying!

Miss Emily
Miss Emily

Purple Room Assistant Teacher

I have been at the preschool for several years now! I've filled both lead and assistant positions, whatever is most needed. I love making connections and conversing with little ones about what they enjoy, and seeing what spiritual conversations can come up! Outside of teaching, I enjoy writing, both fiction stories and devotionals, and spending time with my family.

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Fun Facts:

  • I was homeschooled growing up.

  • My mom was a preschool teacher before she had kids so a lot of the songs I sing or activities I do when teaching are things she did with my siblings and I when I was little.

  • I am constantly creating fictional stories in my head and am working on writing one of these stories during breaks from school.

  • Before I came to UCC Preschool I contemplated attending Spurgeon College, the undergraduate program at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Mrs. Lori
Mrs. Lori

Pink Room Assistant Teacher

Orange Room Assistant (on Mondays)

I have been in the military for most of my life, as a child growing up, moving around, and as a wife. My son served for 6 years in the military. I graduated from K- State and have been married for 37 years. I have three wonderful adult children and two beautiful granddaughters.

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Fun Facts:

  • I love to travel and anything to do
    with planes and boats/ships

  • I have moved approximately 22
    times throughout my life

  • I love butterflies and planting
    flowers

  • Having a new Bible study book
    always brings me joy

Mrs. Donna
Mrs. Donna

Purple Room Lead Teacher

Manhattan has been my home since graduating from K-State. I’ve been married to my wonderful husband, Greg, since 1986 and we have 3 daughters, 3 sons-in-law, and a growing number of grandchildren. I’ve taught for over 20 years and am enjoying teaching the 3-4 year olds at UCCPA. 

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Fun Facts:

  • My son-in-law is a pastor at UCC

  • I’ve gone on mission trips to Mexico & Kenya

  • Our family of 5 lived in a studio apartment while our house was being built & lived to talk about it

Miss Mandi
Miss Mandi

Orange Room Assistant Teacher

I have been a nanny for almost a decade, I graduated with an Associate's Degree in arts from Garden City Community College, and I have 10 published novels. When I'm not teaching the young, I'm writing stories for them. I strive to do both to the glory of God.

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Fun Facts:

  • I am a published author

  • I have a feisty kitten named Aravis and a grumpy hedgehog named Val

  • My nickname in preschool was "Fred" because my teacher often got me mixed up with my many siblings and finally just started calling me Fred... which I still answer to, to this day

Mrs. Tamira
Mrs. Tamira

Red Room Lead Teacher

I’ve been married for 24 years to a loving husband and we have 3 terrific boys: Michael, 22, Jason, 19 and Daniel, 16. I enjoy spending time with my family and I love to travel. I’ve been at UCCPA for 10 years and absolutely love teaching 4-5 year olds.

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Fun Facts:

  • I was a Kindergarten teacher for 10 years

  • I will watch my kids play any sport

  • I think being a surgery nurse would be awesome

  • I would rather use paper

Mrs. Sandy
Mrs. Sandy

Red Room Assistant Teacher

This is my 8th year at UCCPA. I enjoy teaching Sunday School at New Hope Church. I have lived in Manhattan for over 30 years. I spend my time with friends, helping others, and walking.

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Fun Facts:

  • I like to walk

  • I love craft stuff

  • I enjoy time with family and friends

Mrs. Reasa
Mrs. Reasa

Administrative Assistant

I was born and raised in Topeka, KS then attended Manhattan Christian College.  I graduated and got married in the same weekend... and life has not slowed down one bit. Jon and I have been married since 2002 and have four smart and witty children (2 boys & 2 girls). We have lived in 10 different homes over the last 20 years in Arizona, Kentucky, Tunisia, and Kansas.  We have lived in Manhattan since 2012. I have been a stay-at-home mom since having our first child and then started working for the preschool in 2017, after my first three kids were in elementary school. I enjoy getting to know the parents and children that attend the preschool.

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Fun Facts:

  • I lived for 2 summers in a bombed out school building in Kosovo

  • Our oldest and youngest children are 13 years apart

  • I am a girl wrestling mom & a cross country mom & love it!

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