Pictured above are (back row) Anne Bierling, Gabrielle Aker, Jana Van Dyck, Nanette Brown, Sandy Ravana, Nicole Ravana, (front row) Cary Horne, Paige Dunbar, Mary Van Amringe, Sloan Walsh, and Jan Roberts.
Jan Roberts – PEK, Tweens and TweensThese yearlong courses are taught by 21-year LCPC Parent Education instructor, Jan Roberts. Jan graduated from Whitworth University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and a teaching credential in Elementary Education. She was a teacher at Palm Crest Elementary School in La Canada for 8 years and was the “Active Parenting” instructor (a video based parenting class) for Descanso Pediatrics from 1990-1992, before joining the staff of the LCPC Parent Education program.
Over the 21 years Jan has been with the LCPC program, she has made significant contributions to the class offerings and curricula, expanding the curriculum of the PEK classes, spearheading the development and implementation of the Tween and Teen Classes, conducting Parent Ed Seasonal Crafts Workshops, and creating a Parenting College Kid’s Class–which she presently teaches through her in home parent coaching business that she has been running since 2008.
She has also taught parenting classes at Glendale Presbyterian Church and Sherman Oaks Presbyterian church and is a very popular and frequent speaker on topics such as: Family Traditions, Advent for Families, Family Lenten Celebrations and Family Issues. She is known in the community as the “Parent Coach” and writes a popular weekly column for the La Canada and Pasadena Outlook publications.
Jan is the mother of 3 grown daughters and proud grandparent of 3 grandchildren. “When teaching parents in my classes, I love the process of educating them regarding child development, of encouraging parents in the most important, yet demanding job they will ever have, and of inspiring parents to enjoy the fleeting years by having fun with their children.”
Cary Horne – Teens and Tweens
These yearlong courses are taught by Cary Horne. Cary earned her bachelor’s degree in Youth and Family Counseling from San Diego State University. Before joining the LCPC Parent Education Staff, Cary taught pre-school for 9 years and kindergarten for 3. She also taught the “Mixed Ages Class” in the Glendale Community College Parent Education Program for 2 years and at Pasadena City College for 3 years.
Cary is currently in her 13th year at the LCPC Parent Ed program, and over the years has taught a variety of classes such as: Older Babies class, Young Toddlers, Older Toddlers, Twos, Pre-K, Teens and now Tweens. She has tutored reading, writing and math for grades K-3, and has been involved with interview testing and preparedness for children entering private schools.
She has been a small group leader for LCPC high school girls for the past 5 years and also volunteers her time working for Young and Healthy (a health care program dedicated to providing free medical and dental services in low income families in the Pasadena area) where she gives dental hygiene classes to first graders in the Pasadena Unified School district. She has been married for 26 years and has raised 2 children.
Cary says, “I think of this Erma Bombeck quote when I think of teaching Parent Education, ‘It is not until you become a mother that your judgment slowly turns to compassion and understanding.’ I hope that sharing my parenting struggles helps others to know that they are not alone…we are all in this together!”
Mary Van Amringe – Twos
The Two’s Class at LCPC is taught by Mary Van Amringe who has been a LCPC Parent Education Instructor for 12 years. Mary received her bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Mount Holyoke College. Previous to coming to the LCPC Parent Ed program, she worked as a Territorial Underwriting Manager for Allstate insurance and an Advertising Assistant Account Executive for Proctor and Gamble.
Mary has been married for 28 years, and as a mother of three, she has kept herself busy volunteering her time over the years as a Daisy and Brownie leader, and in her children’s schools as an art docent, library aide, and classroom volunteer.
“I love working with parents through LCPC’s Parent Education. It is a privilege to be able to encourage them on their parenthood journey and to be able to give them the feeling that they are not alone… they have me, other parents and most of all God walking alongside them. I love being with the children and being able to delight in their development throughout the year, hold their sweet hands during ‘Ring Around the Rosie’ and getting those good-bye hugs when offered!”
Christa Peitzman – Family Class
This year long class is taught by Christa Peitzman who has been a LCPC Parent Education instructor for 7 years. Christa earned her Bachelor’s degree of Liberal Arts from San Diego State University, as well as her Elementary Multiple Subjects and Secondary Single Subjects teaching credential in English. She taught in the Burbank and La Canada Schools for 7 years, as well as worked for La Canada Unified training teachers new to the district. She is on the Fuller Youth Advisory Board, is an Elder at LCPC, and is a Cal State University Project Fellow. Christa is also an acknowledged contributor to the newly released “Sticky Faith”, by Kara Powell and Chap Clark of Fuller Seminary.
Christa has been married for 25 years, and as a mother of 3 daughters, she has been very involved in the community as a Girl Scout leader, soccer coach, Sunday School teacher and, currently, a small group leader in the LCPC Youth Department. She has a heart for missions and has led many trips both locally and internationally, and is currently the Short Term Mission Coordinator for “Discover the World.”
Christa states: “I love the ministry of Parent Ed at LCPC because it allows families to come together to be a means of support for each other… and I get a front row seat to seeing God work in that.”
Nanette Brown – New Babies Classes, Infants & Older Babies
These parent-child classes are taught by Nanette Brown. She is the mother of seven, has been married for 29 years and has been an LCPC Parent Education instructor for 16 years. Nanette received her B.S. from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Child Development and taught Home Economics at Pasadena High School for 2 years before starting her family.
She is a licensed foster parent and over the years has provided a loving home for many foster children. She has also been involved in street ministry with Young Life in Armenia and continues to do work with an orphanage in Southern Sudan. For the past six and a half years, she has helped lead a church for the homeless in Pasadena’s Central Park each week, providing food, compassion and Bible teaching to all who attend. Nanette’s main focus as a Parent Educator is in fostering the bond between parent and child.
Nanette says “I love teaching Parent Ed because it is an honor to walk with parents on this life-altering journey called parenthood. I don’t think there is a higher calling than raising children.”
Sloan Walsh—Non Separating Toddlers
This “Parent-Child” Class is taught by Sloan Walsh who has been a LCPC Parent Educator and TA for 8 years. Sloan received her BA in Sociology at UC Santa Barbara and her Bilingual Teaching Credential at Cal State Northridge.
She taught in LAUSD and Azusa Unified School District for 13 years total, and was an Early Literacy Coach for teachers K-3. She was voted “Teacher of the Year” in Azusa Unified, as well as “Reading Teacher of the Year”, and published an article entitled: Research on How Children Learn to Read. She has been an Adjunct Professor at the APU Teaching Credential Program, the President of the East San Gabriel Valley Reading Council, as well as conference speaker at University of La Verne and California Reading Association. She is the proud mother of 3 children and has been married for 23 years. She currently serves on the board for Wild Hope, a missionary organization in Tanzania.
Sloan says, “I love teaching Parent Ed because I just love the community of friends I have made over the years here. I also love connecting with the lovely women and children in my classes.”