Amy was hired as Director of Ward Preschool in the fall of 2011. She has an elementary education degree from Eastern Michigan University, with an Early Childhood endorsement.
She has served Ward children’s ministry in volunteer and paid positions, including Evening Childcare coordinator, MOPS coordinator, MOPPET worker, WOW Tuesday small group leader, VBS Superintendent, Kids Kamp director, Director of Sunday morning in WardKids Preschool+K (2 years – Kdg).
When your child attends Ward Preschool, something that you will notice is that Mrs. Werthman will stand and greet “her” preschoolers on a daily basis. Her goal is to call every child by name as they enter and exit our halls. That’s all 235+ children, wow! It’s just one of the many things that you will notice makes Ward Preschool different and leave you feeling that you are indeed part of our great family. Mrs. Werthman truly believes that every staff member in our building from pastors, teachers, assistants and custodial staff really do have the ability to make an impact on our families for years to come.
Amy and Bill have 4 grown children who are all Ward Preschool alumni. In her time away from Ward Preschool, Amy loves to read & scrapbook, exercise & soak up the sun outside, but her favorite pastime is being grammy to her four “perfect & beautiful” grandchildren.
Nicole started at Ward Preschool as a parent of two preschoolers. She began teaching the Two Fun class when her younger son Carter was in the class in 2016. Nicole loves watching the continuous growth of the students throughout the school year. She really believes this class is “Two Much Fun!”
When she isn’t at Ward, Nicole enjoys spending time with her husband, Kevin, and her two boys: Aidan and Carter. She is also an active volunteer at her sons’ school. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and crafting.
Katie has been a proud member of the Ward Preschool family since the fall of 2018. With over 20 years of experience in education, she has taught in many settings, including preschool, charter schools, daycare, middle school, and special education classrooms. She earned her degree in Special Education from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Katie has wanted to be a teacher for as long as she can remember—starting with playing “school” in her basement with stuffed animals lined up as students and her brother along for the ride. Today, her classroom is filled with patience, encouragement, and plenty of cheering for those “aha!” moments. Seeing a child’s eyes light up when something finally clicks is her favorite part of the day.
After relocating to Michigan in 2016, Katie made her home with her husband, Benjamin, and their blended family of three daughters. She feels incredibly thankful to be part of the Ward Preschool family and loves creating a classroom where children feel safe, celebrated, and excited to learn—one smile, sticker, and high-five at a time.
