Sunday Morning Faces
Mickie Knapp greets preschoolers and their families each Sunday morning. Mickie has been married for 36 yrs. to Jay Knapp, with whom she has two grown children and a beautiful granddaughter. Mickie has been teaching preschool since 1975 on Sunday mornings and in our weekday program. She is credentialed by the State of Texas to direct a weekday program and has led conferences on the subject. Mickie is our unofficial "Minister of Shopping"—she purchases supplies for all the preschool ministry areas and takes every opportunity to tell people about Paramount and her love for preschoolers while she does it.
Heather Sutton serves as Preschool Sunday School Director. She has worked throughout the Preschool Ministry, including directing the Preschool Camp Paramount each summer. Heather has a degree in elementary education and teaches 1st grade at Woodlands Elementary School. She and her husband, Brandon, are the parents of Jordan and Noah.
Betty Phillips helps greet preschoolers and their families each Sunday morning and records attendance for Sunday School classes. She has over 35 years of experience in working with preschoolers and still maintains her passion for missions by serving as Mission Friends director. Betty is married to Mike and has two grown children.
Brandy Munselle leads our worship time for 4- and 5-year-olds on Sunday mornings and Saturday evenings. She’s been working with preschoolers at Paramount for the last four years, and is currently pursuing an education degree from West Texas A&M University. Brandy is married to Ransom and has three children, Bryson, Shanna and Britian.
Weekday Ministry Faces
Mikka Clear is Paramount's Preschool Associate and Mother’s Day Out Director. She oversees Extended Teaching Care on Sunday mornings and you will also see her greeting and helping with the computer check-in. An Elementary and Early Childhood Education major in college, Mikka has 19 years experience in the child care and preschool field. She and her husband, Gregg, are the parents of three boys: Dalton, Payton, and Kenton.
Sandy Smith brings a wealth of experience to preschoolers at Paramount. She has worked in the preschool area since she was 18 years old. Sandy became Assistant Director of Pre-K in 1999 and was certified through the State of Texas to direct it in 2002. Sandy is married to Jim and has two grown children.
Sonja Stanley wears several hats in the Preschool Ministry. She coordinates child care for Wednesdays and special events and assists with Pre-Kindergarten during the week. She also teaches in one of the baby Sunday School rooms. Sonja began working in the church nursery when she was 16 years old and has worked for Paramount's Preschool Ministry for a total of 20 years. She and her husband, Jack, have two grown sons.
Joy Cole
Everything labeled Preschool at Paramount falls under Joy’s leadership in one way or another. She joined the staff on January 1, 2002, after moving to Amarillo from Shreveport, Louisiana. Joy has a ministry degree but didn’t really get interested in preschool ministry until her own son Nathan was born. In searching for creative ways to involve him in learning the stories of the Bible, she found that she enjoyed teaching and writing for other children. Joy’s preferred ministry style is to equip and encourage others to lead as God has gifted them. "I had a great mentor when I first started out," Joy says. "She gave me many opportunities to learn. I still think of her example and her advice today. One of my prayers is that someday a young woman will be able to say of me, 'I had a great example.'"