A Congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Serving Christ in the Greater New Bern Area

in Eastern North Carolina

 

 
 

 

Left to right:  Marie Baldree, Gwyn Rice, Lynda Rackley, Charlotte McConnell, Maria Cobb.
 

Charlotte's Biography
 

Charlotte McConnell was born in South Carolina.  She attended college at Francis Marion University and the University of South Carolina.  She has an Early Childhood Teaching Certificate, as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology.  She has experience teaching special education and elementary education classes.  She has been at Noah’s Ark since 2001.  She is currently the director and teacher of a 4/5 year old class.  She is married and has two children, ages 9 and 19.
 
 
 

Gwyn's Biography
 
Gwyn Rice started at Noah’s Ark in 1999. Working with preschool kids and watching them discover new things while learning brings great joy to her. She has an Early Childhood Credentials and Effective Teacher Training Certificate. She is also First Aid and CPR certified. Previously, she worked for the Craven County schools in a variety of areas. She has lived in New Bern for over 20 years. Her husband, Wayne, and has two sons, Phillip 16 and Colby 12.
 
 
 

Lynda's Biography
 
Lynda Rackley was born in Kinston, NC and moved to New Bern in 1992. She taught in Craven County for nine years. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education. She is a math tutor as well as a teacher in her church. She has enjoyed the past two years at Noah’s Ark Pre School, where she teaches the four/five year olds. She also enjoys spending time with her husband of eleven years and her daughter who is five years old.
 
 
 

Maria's Biography
 
Maria Cobb was born in Frutigen, Switzerland, in 1964, Maria feels quite at home living in New Bern. She remembers seeing the Swiss bear emblem on the side of the Glenburnie exit and thinking to herself, “This is it! We’re home.” She loves kids and always has. When she was a teenager, she babysat every weekend until she went off to college. She and her husband, Steve, have two children, Caleb, 13 and Danielle, 11 (going on 18). She didn’t realize how much she enjoyed working with children until she became a pre-school teacher, quite by chance. The job was convenient and on the same schedule as her kids’ school schedule – what more could you want? She has now been teaching the 2 ½ year olds for six years – has it really been that long? She learns more from the children than they do from her. She loves each and every one of the kids and would take each one home with her if she could.
 
 
 

Marie's Biography
 
Marie Baldree is originally from Wilkes County. She worked with the Smart Start program four months prior to moving to this area. She moved to Grifton in 1998 to assist her husband’s parents when needed. Upon settling here she attended Craven Community College to get her Early Childhood Associate Degree. Her work experience during college and after was at Ben D. Quinn Elementary School and the Lion and Lamb Daycare. She also keeps children after school and during the summer. She enjoys working with children and seeing them grow. She is married to Make Baldree and has two great children, Melissa and Ashley.