Lutheran Church of Reconciliation

Meet the Preschool staff

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Heather Gunter

Heather Gunter

LCOR Preschool Director

Mrs. Gunter is excited to start her third year as Director at LCOR Preschool! She has worked in the early childhood field for over 20 years as a teacher, assistant director, and director in a Christian setting. She has her degree in early childhood education as well as her administrative credentials from the state of NC. Mrs. Gunter is a native of Wilmington, NC. She has been married to her husband, Jeremy, for over 15 years. Together they raise their 10-year-old daughter, MacKenzie. She is the light of their lives. They also have 2 miniature schnauzers, Rambo and Thrasher, who keep things lively. Mrs. Gunter enjoys interior design, event planning, being a dance mom, and spending time with family and friends. Mrs. Gunter has a passion for working with children and families. She is honored and overjoyed that God has led her to serve at LCOR Preschool!

Emily Wantuch

Lead Pre-K Teacher

Emily Wantuch is starting her second year at LCOR and she is so excited! Mrs.Wantuch graduated from Appalachian State University in 2020 with her degree in Music Education. She has spent the past few years working at the Lucy Brock Child Development Lab School as a lead Infant/Toddler teacher. While working there, Mrs.Wantuch gained a passion for Early Childhood Education and Development. She is currently working on her ECE credentials online and has a goal of earning another degree in Child Development. Mrs.Wantuch loves the Reggio Emilia approach to teaching. One of the core values Mrs.Wantuch upholds in her classroom is that children are competent and capable learners and should be put at the center of their education. Mrs.Wantuch returned to her hometown of Wilmington after seven years of living in Boone, NC. Her husband Andrew, also a graduate of App State, will be starting his first year of teaching middle school band this fall. They live with their cat, Toulouse, and leopard gecko, Mr. Beans. In her free time, Mrs.Wantuch loves to exercise, spend time with friends and family, and further her own education. Mrs.Wantuch can’t wait to spend the year learning and growing with her class!

Russell
Danielle Knipp

Danielle Knipp

Assistant pre-K teacher

Ms. Knipp is starting her third year at LCOR Preschool. She attended CFCC and UNCW where she earner a BA in Psychology.  Danielle is originally from Daytona Beach, Fla. and has lived in Wilmington for over 24 years.  Ms. Knipp has an eleven year old daughter, Braelee, 1 dog and 2 cats.  Danielle enjoys reading, coloring books, taking long walks with my dog and daughter at Poplar Grove, anything to do with Disney, Halloween and Christmas, and, most of all, spending time with my daughter, family, friends and fur-babies.

Whitney Daughtry

Lead three-year-old teacher

Mrs. Daughtry is starting her tenth year at LCOR and her third year as the lead three-year-old teacher.  Whitney is a native of Wilmington and attended CFCC.  She has been married for over 18 years and has a daughter, Parker, who is a senior in high school.  Mrs. Daughtry enjoys reading, working out, puzzles, boating, gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.  Whitney truly enjoys working with young children.    

Whitney Daughtry
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Jennifer Kinard

Assistant Three-Year-Old Teacher

Mrs. Kinard is starting her second year at LCOR Preschool. She attended MS State University earning her BA in Marketing. She is originally from Mississippi and has been living in Wilmington for 15 years. She has two amazing daughters, Vivian (9) and Joanna (7), and a mini goldendoodle named Murphy. She loves spending time with her family, traveling, volunteering, arts and crafts, and being outdoors.

Traci Brodeur

Lead two-year-old teacher

Mrs. Brodeur (Mrs. B) has been teaching at LCOR for over 11 years.  Traci has always had a soft spot for the “toddlers & two-year old’s” and loves watching them grow!  Mrs. Brodeur enjoys spending time with her family, walking her two dogs and working outside in her garden.    

Traci Brodeur

Kim Jacobs

Lead toddler Teacher/assistant two-year-old teacher

Mrs. Jacobs is beginning her fourth year at LCOR and her first year as lead teacher in the toddler class.  Kim has lived in Wilmington for 22 years, has three daughters, Jennifer (21), Katelyn (19), and Lacey (16). She has been married to her husband, Randy, who is an engineer at GE, for 24 years.  She loves spending time with her family and friends.  Mrs. Jacobs enjoys the beach, pools and going to White Lake with family. She has a nine-year-old miniature poodle she loves named Jackie.        

Mrs. Jacobs
Emily Whetsel

Emily Whetsel

Assistant Toddler teacher

Ms. Whetsel is originally from Virginia and has been in the Wilmington area for over four years.  Emily is starting her third year at LCOR Preschool.   Emily loves spending time with young children and has worked as a nanny, as well as doing mission work, VBS and summer camp at her Church in Ashburn VA. In her free time, she enjoys doing crafts, watching sports, and spending time with friends and family. She also has two kitty cats that she absolutely adores!