The Lutheran Church of the Abiding Presence
Preschool Staff

Hello!  I’m Karen and I graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelors in education and taught kindergarten in Brook Park, Ohio until the arrival of my first child.  My husband and I have four children, the youngest of which attended Abiding Presence from 1993 to 1995!  It was then, as my own children continued to grow, that I discovered that I could continue to enjoy the innocence, joy, and zest for learning of very young children by being the three-year-old teacher at Abiding Presence.  This is the happiest place on earth.  I love my job!

Michelle Staarmann, Preschool Co-director

Hello!  I 'm Michelle and I graduated Miami University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.  I taught elementary school in the Cincinnati area before moving to Rochester in 1997.  My son attended Abiding Presence for his preschool years.  I loved the program and the people so much I applied for a position and I have now been with Abiding Presence preschool since 2002.

Mary Sue Ortiz,  Four Year Old /Pre-K Teacher

Hi, I'm Mary Sue Ortiz and I began teaching at Abiding Presence in August, 2008.  I have enjoyed every minute of being at school with the four year old class.  My husband and I have three teenage daughters.  My youngest graduated from Abiding Presence.  I have a degree in Education from Central Michigan University.  I taught for seven years before my girls were born.  Then I was a Teachers Assistant in first grade at Holy Family School for five years.  I'm also a substitute teacher at Holy Family.  I taught four year old preschool at Goodison Preschool in Rochester.  I love teaching and watching these precious young minds grow and develop a love for learning.

Wendy Rittner, Begindergarten teacher. 

Wendy graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.  She received her master’s degree from MaryGrove College.  She has been with the preschool since 2006.  She has a fun productive year planned for the young five children.  She is using an exciting program called Zoophonics to teach letters and sounds.  Both of her children are graduates of the preschool.