Meet Our Staff
“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.”
Lisa Howe, Executive Director
I live with my husband Mark, on our farm, in Wolcottville with one of our four children. We have two wonderful daughter-in-law and 5 grandchildren. I received my bachelor’s degree in Christian Counseling from Summit Christian College, now Taylor University, and in 2014 received my Montessori Administration Certificate from Seton Montessori Institute in Chicago. In my early 20’s I worked with a ministry overseas in the Dominican Republic. I have also directed a local Crisis Pregnancy Center, and have worked at the Lagrange Healthy Families as an assessment worker/home visitor before coming to be the director at Agape. I have been blessed to serve God in so many different ways and feel that children are the heart of my ministry. I am also the director for Lighthouse Montessori Education Center in Ashely. A scripture that rings true to me is “With God ALL things are possible. Matt. 19:26” I feel blessed to serve these two ministries and know that everyone involved (board members, staff and volunteers) are making a great mark on so many children and families lives.
Cheryl Darling, Office Manger/ Support Staff
l grew up in Hammond Indiana and went to Hammond High School. I have been married to my husband since 2019, we have 10 children in our blended family, and 17 grandchildren. So you can say that life is very interesting. I love to garden, hike, horseback ride, and camp. I love spending time with our family, dogs, cats and chickens! I also have a photography business that I love to do on the side. I have been at Agape working with the children for sometime, and now I am spending time on administration duties for the children and staff and love it. Children are our future, and they are precious. I feel that giving them a great start to life is very important, and here at Agape we love that we can do our part!
Laura Weber, Primary 1 Lead Teacher/ Curriculum Coordinator
I was born and raised in the town of Kendallville but spent much time as a child visiting my grandparents' dairy farms. After graduating from East Noble High School, I attended Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana. I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and taught fourth and fifth grades for over a decade for East Noble School Corporation. Due to my passion for helping kids grow as readers and writers I pursued my master's in Literacy and Reading. Along the way, I am happy to have discovered both Agape and the Montessori approach to learning. Both have been a good match for my strong beliefs that children are loved by God and are designed to learn in a way that meets the needs of the whole child. During the summer of 2015, I was privileged to further my understanding of how children learn at Seton Montessori Institute in Chicago and now am in the process of completing all of the requirements necessary to receive formal certification. I love learning, sharing music, and reading alongside children (most especially with my son Evan). I enjoy singing and being involved with my church family. Most of all I love spending time with both my immediate and extended family.
Kiley Gingerich,
Support Staff
Kiley has background experience in Early Childhood Education from Ivy Tech as well as Montessori Experience from Elkhart Montessori school. She worked as a Teen Services Librarian and has been a part of the Garrett Public Library for ten years. Kiley has attend Montessori Training in the summer of 2021 and is in the process of finishing her credential. When not in the classroom, she can be found spending time with her family and pets, watercolor painting, crafting, enjoying her musical hobbies, or focused on reading a novel.
Stephany Sanchez Luna, Toddler 2 Team
Hello my name is Stephany Sanchez Luna. I am the oldest of 7 children. In our big family I have had a lot of experience with helping raise my siblings. I was born in Iowa, but moved to LaGrange with my family when I was 3 months. I graduated from Lakeland High School, and now I am attending an online training course in business through SCI. I am very enthusiastic and out-going, and you will find me in the gym at 4 am in the morning working out! My family and I attend the Saint Joseph Church in LaGrange. I have a big heart and working with children fills me up!
Amanda Brown, Infant Assistant
Hi name is Amanda Brown. I have been a resident of LaGrange County for many years. I have a 3 adult children and a 2 year old granddaughter. I’m employed full time by the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department Office as a E-911 dispatcher. In my spare time, I love listening to worship music, volunteering, serving the homeless, hanging out with friends and family. I love a good book and in the summer, you can find me at the lake. I am looking forward to serving the families here at Agape and getting to know you all!
Amy Ewers,
Infant Assistant Teacher
When I was in high school I knew I wanted to work with children. After high school I went to Ivy Tech in Fort Wayne for my associates degree in Early Childhood. I live near Wolcottville with my husband Jody. We have been married for 27 years. I like being outdoors working in my flower bed and around the house. I love reading and my husband and I like to motorcycle when we can.
Jenny Ratliff, Infant Lead Teacher
I live with my husband, Walter in LaGrange. We have 5 children, 11 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. I enjoy fishing, crafting with my daughter and granddaughters, and playing cards. I love working with the children at Agape and feel that it is important to love every one of them! I also love working with a hard-working staff that makes coming to work rewarding and fun. Working at Agape has helped me spiritually grow and has been a blessing to my life.
Miranda Balbaugh,
Toddler 1 Team
Hi, my name is Miranda. I am 31 and a mother of two wonderful children, and I am married to a wonderful husband. I have two mischievous dogs as well! I grew up in Steuben Country my whole life and also graduated from PHHS. I am involved in the community though 4-H with my children, as well as, a coach for the Orland Tiger Softball League. I have been coaching for 5 years, and it’s one of my favorite hobbies. Prior to coming to Agape I worked in the nursing field for 14 years as a CNA. I worked in long-term nursing facilities and specialized in dementia care. With this change of employment, I am so excited to take a leap with the children, into this new adventure God has given me. I will provide the best care and love along with the wisdom of our Lord to prepare your children for the future.
Emily Sonner
,
Lead Toddler 2 Team
My name is Emily Sonner and I am married to my husband, Ian and have a 2-year old son and baby on the way in February. When growing up my family lived in many states (Indiana, Maine, New York and back to Indiana) due to my father being a pastor. I have six sibling, and one that is my twin. I graduated from Lakeland High school and started attending college for art, but switched to being an English major. I love to draw and paint. We attend Fairview Fellowship church in Kendallville.
Connie Amos,
Facility Support / Before and After School Age Teacher
My husband Jim and I have lived on Turkey Lake for 27 years. We have been blessed with dogs and now finally grandchildren! Both of us have volunteered in many ways over the years: concessions, student council, band, and in the special needs classroom. I enjoy looking for different cookie cutters, finding new cookie recipes, and finding time for all kinds of needle work. I feel blessed to be working with young children and love that my work is so rewarding.
Micaela Horden Preschool Assistant
My name is Micaela Horden. I live in Angola. I graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School, and obtained my BA in Early Childhood Education in 2022. I enjoy going to Lake James in the summer and create things like cards with my Cricket machine. I am so excited to work with the children and teach them about the world around them and Christ.
Melissa Limbach
,
Support Staff
Melissa comes to us as a recent graduate of Prairie Heights High School. Melissa participated in theater at PH and also competitive dance at TC Dance in Kendallville. Melissa also participated in Taekwondo for five years and earned her 1st degree black belt. Her hobbies include knitting, drawing, painting, and writing stories. Future goals are to attend college. Melissa will be working in the infant room in the afternoons. She enjoys working with children and is open to learning more about child development.
Candy Slabaugh,
Substitute Teacher
My name is Candy Slabaugh. I was born and raised in Goshen Indiana. My husband, Jeff and I moved to Lagrange 7 years ago. We just celebrated 31 years of marriage. We have one daughter, who along with her husband have blessed us with two grandchildren. Both very active boys, the oldest almost 4 and youngest almost one. I love spending time with the “boys”.
I have been in Montessori education for over 25 years. I have my infant & toddler and pre-school certificates. I have also taught Music Garden, Positive Discipline and Parent and Child classes. I have worked as an assistant, lead teacher, Education Director, Parent Educator, a mentor for teachers in training and supporting Montessori schools and they continue to make their programs the best version of themselves. Christian education and Montessori together warms my heart.
I spend my free time fishing, boating, trail riding in my Jeep, gardening and helping others.
I have worked here at Agapé as a teacher mentor and a Consultant over the last 12 years. I am looking forward to join the team. I will be supporting the staff and children when and where I am needed.
Maria Miller, Toddler 1 Team
My name is Maria Miller. Our family has moved around throughout the last few years, and now we live in Wolcottville. I have 3 siblings and we are very close. I received by GED in 2021. I love the outdoors, gardening and researching plants and natural healing. I also love horses and training them as well. I love working with children and getting to know what excites them so I can help them expand their learning and help build on their development.
Selena Snider,
Support Staff
My name is Selena Snider. My husband and I have been married 41 years. We are blessed with two great boys and three wonderful grandchildren. In 2017 we bought a home at Big Turkey Lake, and my husband retired a year ago after driving a truck for 48 years. We lived in OH for 29 years before moving to this area. We enjoy living on the lake! In my spare time I enjoy all kinds of crafts, my latest craft is making cards for all occasions. I was lookin for a part-time job and saw that Agape was hiring. I applied and got the job! I really enjoy working with the children and I’m looking forward to getting to know all the students and their families, as well as, my staff members.