Introducing our Religious Education Staff
Administrative Staff
Interim Director of Religious Education (IDLRE) Barbara Stoddard. Reach her at .
Youth and Young Adult Religious Education Coordinator Andrew Young. Reach him at .
Childcare Coordinator Karyn Skwarek. Reach her at .
Assistant to the IDLRE Liz Cook Reach her at .
Childcare Workers
Suzanne Lander says “Working in the [Childcare Rooms] has been a way to make myself begin to get a little more involved in the church community – with the extra benefit of seeing all those cute kids on Sundays!”
Miriam Yarber loves sewing and crafting. She says, “I enjoy working with children because we can laugh at silly things together, like clouds and bugs.”
Milenko Loncar is interested in all kinds of art. “Working in child care makes my day better when I am able to bring a smile to someone’s face.”
Zoe Taylor says “I love working with kids because they’re so much fun to be around.”
Donna Porter has been working at First UU for more than five years.
Children and Youth Sunday RE Teachers
Preschool Teacher Silvia Giebitz is an artist by trade as well as a ballroom dancer, passionate cook, avid reader and traveler. Silvia says: “The children always surprise me with their candor and honesty. I have great fun and feel very honored to work with our little ones at First UU Austin.
Kindergarten-2nd Grade Teacher Laine Young joined First UU in 2007. She loves volunteering for the Hogwarts Summer Camp. Some of Laine’s hobbies include baking, gardening, and reading. She says, “I am very excited to not only have this wonderful opportunity to teach this great group of kids, but to learn from them as well”.
3rd-5th Grade Teacher Zoe Enberg is a lifelong UU. She loves reading, being outdoors, making new friends, discussing social issues & learning things. “I love discussing things with the kids & watching them make connections between what we’re learning and their own lives.”
6th-8th Grade (Middle School) Teacher Star Maddox has many hobbies including sewing, gardening, and aikido. Star began teaching the Middle School class last year. “Children and young adults are in the middle of an especially intense period of learning and exploration,” Star says. “This makes them particularly rewarding to work with.”
8th and 9th Grade OWL UUA Certified Instructors
Andrew Young has been active in the church since 2007. He has helped out with the Web Committee and Camp UU. When he’s not working as a software engineer or helping out around the church, he likes to camp, hike, and geocache. He can sometimes be heard speaking in Esperanto or Japanese, though he admits that he is far from fluent in either.
Chelsea Blake is an artist, a blues dancer, and a maker of delicious food. She attends First UU as well as Austin Friends Meeting. She says, “I am jazzed about getting a chance to teach the OWL curriculum and getting to know the youth of the church!”
YRUU Sunday RE Teaching Team
Dwayne Windham loves anything involving bright lights, music, a stage, or a microphone! Dwayne joined the church in 2006. He never thought he’d find so much that would challenge his beliefs and push him to stretch his definition and willingness to be a better person. He is excited about the chance to connect and share and to see a part of the youth’s spiritual journey.
Ryland Trahan likes exploring nature, playing basketball, and playing music. He has been attending First UU Church of Austin for about two and half years. Ryland says, “I am looking forward to helping the high school youth develop their leadership skills and have a fun time.”
Anne Praderas wanted to get involved in the youth program in part to get to know the church better, and in part because she thinks teenagers are interesting.
Karen Franks loves to sew, cook, read, travel, dance, garden and connect with others. She started attending First UU ten years ago. She enjoys and admires the youth she has met here and hopes to engage with them more this year. “They are our present and our future,” she says.
Wendy Robertson is the chair of the Young Adult Committee at first UU and is excited to be working with the youth as well.