Meet Our Team
At Little Angels Preparatory, our teachers are at the heart of the nurturing, engaging, and supportive environment we provide for our children each day.
Our team brings a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and strengths to the classroom, while sharing one common goal: helping every child feel safe, loved, supported, and prepared for what's next.
Get to know some of the caring educators who make Little Angels Preparatory special!
Ms. Alma
Ms. Alma joined the Little Angels Preparatory family in 2022 after previously working in the medical field, where she specialized in pediatrics. Her love for children inspired her to explore a new career path and earn her credentials in early childhood education.
One of the special things Ms. Alma brings to LAP is her love of sharing Spanish language and culture with the children she teaches. She enjoys creating opportunities for children to learn new things while building meaningful relationships with them along the way.
Outside of the classroom, Ms. Alma is a mother of two who loves spending quality time with her family.
Mrs. Marlene
Mrs. Marlene brings more than 35 years of child care experience to Little Angels Preparatory and has been a beloved member of the LAP family for many of those years.
She helps care for our center in more ways than one—from preparing meals for our children with just the right amount of seasoning and love to supporting our teachers and classrooms wherever she is needed. She takes great pride in helping keep LAP clean, welcoming, and ready for our families each day.
Mrs. Marlene has been singing gospel music since she was 12 years old and continues to enjoy singing with her musical family. Her faith, love for people, and joyful personality are a special part of our LAP family.
Around here, you may also hear Mr. Rodney call her “Mar Mar!”
Ms. Joy
Ms. Joy brings more than 38 years of experience in early childhood education and a genuine passion for helping children learn, grow, and develop independence.
Throughout her career, she has supported children in reaching important developmental milestones—from potty training and early writing skills to learning shapes, building independence, and gaining confidence in the classroom.
Ms. Joy holds an Early Childhood Education Certificate along with CPR and SIDS certifications. As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, nurturing children has been an important part of both her personal and professional life.
She looks forward to partnering with LAP families and supporting each child as they grow!
Ms. Kierstin
Ms. Kierstin's connection to Little Angels Preparatory began as a parent before she ever became a member of our teaching team. After seeing firsthand the impact LAP had on her own children and family, she decided to become part of creating that same experience for other children.
Since joining the LAP team in 2022, Ms. Kierstin has continued to grow as an early childhood educator while building meaningful relationships with our children and families.
She especially enjoys getting to know each child's personality, watching them learn new skills, and creating a classroom environment where children can learn, laugh, and grow.
Ms. Kierstin also assists with curriculum implementation and supports our teaching team in providing meaningful learning experiences throughout the center.
Ms. Arlene
Ms. Arlene joined the Little Angels Preparatory family in 2022 after bringing years of experience working with children in the public school setting.
For Ms. Arlene, one of the most rewarding parts of working with children is being able to contribute to their development while creating meaningful and lasting bonds with them. She enjoys watching each child's personality emerge and supporting them as they learn and grow.
As a mother herself, Ms. Arlene understands how meaningful it is for families to know their children are surrounded by people who genuinely care for them. She is grateful to continue her career alongside the children, families, and team at LAP.
Ms. Carkneshea
Ms. Carkneshea has been part of the Little Angels Preparatory team for several years and brings both a teacher's and a parent's perspective to the LAP family.
She enjoys working with young children, getting to know their individual personalities, and building strong relationships with the children and families she serves. Watching children grow, gain confidence, and reach new milestones is one of her favorite parts of being an early childhood educator.
Outside of work, Ms. Carkneshea especially enjoys being a mother and spending time with her family and friends.
Ms. Sharon
Ms. Sharon brings many years of experience caring for children from infancy through school age and joined the Little Angels Preparatory family in 2024.
Of all the stages of early childhood, infancy holds a special place in her heart, with the toddler years coming in a close second! She enjoys nurturing our youngest learners, watching them reach new milestones, and building trusting relationships with their families.
Ms. Sharon is a mother of four, grandmother of 11, and a great-grandmother. Outside of LAP, she enjoys spending time with her family, shopping, going to church, and working on crafts and DIY projects.
Ms. Kelly
Ms. Kelly brings 10 years of early childhood education experience to Little Angels Preparatory, including seven years dedicated specifically to caring for infants. She has worked with children from newborn through age five and holds her North Carolina Early Childhood Credential (NCECC).
After taking time away from the classroom to stay home with her youngest child, Ms. Kelly returned to early childhood education and joined the LAP family in 2025.
In addition to her work in the classroom, Ms. Kelly assists with administrative responsibilities at Little Angels Preparatory, helping support our families and the day-to-day operations of the center.
As a mother of two, she values creating nurturing relationships with both children and their families. She loves watching little ones learn, grow, blossom, and reach the milestones that make the early years so special.
Outside of work, Ms. Kelly enjoys spending time with family and friends and trying new restaurants.
Hi everyone! I’m Makayla. I am new to LAP as far as working goes but believe it or not I attended LAP from an infant until I was 12. Now I’m 21 and so excited to be here. Currently, I am a teacher assistant in the infant room and a floater. Infants are definitely my favorite. They smell so good and are the sweetest and I just really enjoy watching them grow.
Outside of work, I enjoy hanging out with family and friends and shopping! I look forward to adding my touch to the infant room and LAP as a whole. My coworkers have been so great at making me feel welcome and this is my new favorite place to be.