Meet Christi Karcher, Dutilh Preschool’s Newest Teacher in the 3- and 4-Year-Old Classes

-Published in 2021-

Whether in the classroom or in her own home, Christi Karcher has spent her life helping young children learn and grow. As Dutilh Preschool’s newest teacher in one of the three- and four-year-old classrooms, Karcher brings eight years of classroom experience to her role. She also brings the perspective not just of an educator, but also of a parent.

Since 2014, Karcher has been home raising Kannon, a first grader at Evans City Elementary, and Brooklyn, who will be a Pre-K student at Dutilh this fall. Her own kids were her first introduction to the Dutilh family.

“We moved to Cranberry Township three years ago,” Karcher explained. “I was looking for a preschool that had a Pre-K option, and we toured Dutilh with Miss Diana [Barnett, then the preschool director] while we were up here house-hunting. I fell I love with the preschool, and Kannon started there in March of 2018.”

Kannon attended the four-year-old class that spring and then Pre-K the following year, and Brooklyn followed suit. In the meantime, Karcher said, Barnett also let her know about Dutilh’s MOPS ministry for mothers of preschoolers. Karcher joined the group and eventually took over as the kids’ coordinator, where she planned lessons for the younger children who were in childcare during MOPS meetings.

“I have enjoyed doing that the last two-and-a-half years and I got to meet the awesome moms and childcare workers who were a part of the group,” Karcher said. Some of those same women are also now part of the preschool staff. Their existing friendship has created a strong foundation for a collaborative teaching team.

With Brooklyn entering Pre-K this year, the timing seemed right for Karcher to return to the classroom—a role she loved for many years before opting to stay home full-time.

A native of Duncan, OK, southwest of Oklahoma City, Karcher enjoyed growing up in a small town. Her father was a police officer and her mom was an office administrator for Haliburton, and they preferred to raise their kids away from the busyness of a large city.

Karcher attended Oklahoma State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education in 2006. Her first job after graduation was teaching Pre-K at Comanche Elementary, near her hometown. During her second year of teaching, a co-worker set her up on a blind date with her future husband Jeff. “The rest is history,” Karcher said. The couple married in 2010.

Karcher spent six years teaching at Comanche, until her husband’s job prompted a move to Houston, TX.

“I loved teaching Pre-K; it is such a fun age,” Karcher said. “When we moved to Houston I was hired to teach second grade, which I also loved.” Karcher’s son was born in 2013 and though she returned from maternity leave to finish out the school year, she was feeling a pull to be at home with Kannon. In 2014, she decided to take some time away from the classroom to be a stay-at-home mom.

Though Karcher has loved being home with her own kids, she is looking forward to being back in the classroom at Dutilh Preschool this fall.

“I am so excited to get to meet my new students in the fall and to see all of the fun learning activities we will get to engage in together,” Karcher said. “The excitement the kids bring to the classroom at this age is so contagious and I am looking forward to this journey with them.” She also relishes the chance to work with her new colleagues.

“I know so many of the staff from the preschool already, and from MOPS—they are wonderful, and it will be great to get to work together this fall,” Karcher said.

When she is not preparing her new classroom to get ready for her fall classes, Karcher said she and her husband can be found cheering on their kids. Brooklyn enjoys gymnastics and T-ball, while Kannon likes baseball and is planning to give football a try, too. The family also likes to visit parks, go to the movies together, explore new areas outdoors, and take part in activities at their church.

For her part, Director Julie Willoughby is delighted that Karcher chose this moment to re-enter the workforce.

“With the addition of Christi, we have completed our wonderful Preschool team, and we could not be more thrilled for the gem we have in Christi!” Willoughby said. “Her many years of experience in early childhood education and her passion for teaching are exactly what we were praying to find in our additional teacher. She has a natural gift for teaching young learners and she is already well connected with the Dutilh Preschool family due to her years of leadership with MOPS. We can’t wait to see her gifts continue to unfold as she pours into the students and families here at Dutilh Preschool!”

To find out more about Dutilh Preschool or register your child for the fall, check out https://dutilhchurch.org/dutilh-preschool-1.