United Church Preschool

Anitra Grove has been involved with UCP since 2014 when she taught in the Turtle Class as her youngest child was in the Frog class. Anitra also enjoyed two years as a Frog teacher here at UCP. Aside from being part of the United Church community since 2012, Anitra has also served as Director of Children’s Ministries here at United Church since 2017. This place is home for her in so many ways. Anitra earned a B.S. degree in Child Development from Meredith College, a Birth-Kindergarten teaching license at UNC-CH, and has more than 27 years experience nurturing children and families in our community. Anitra feels strongly in creating a safe space for children to grow, be curious, and develop social and emotional skills that will enhance their ability to navigate our ever changing world. At UCP, we want each child to know they are valued and loved, just as they are! Anitra‘s family includes her husband, Neil, children, Anna and John, and their dog, Willa May. Her children are both competitive athletes so they spend a lot of time on a baseball field or in a gym. Anitra also loves walking, delicious coffee, and spending time with her family and friends.

Chitra moved to Chapel Hill in 2013 with her husband and son. She became part of UCP family when her son joined UCP as a Turtle in 2014. UCP has special place in her heart. When she decided to return to work, after her son settled down in his middle school, she reached out to UCP. She started as a substitute teacher and, currently, is a fish teacher. She is excited to join the Turtle and the Duck class for the 2023-2024 school year. She was a trainer and researcher in India for more than a decade before moving to Chapel Hill. She has a Doctoral degree in Development Communication, and studied early childhood education and child psychology courses in her bachelor’s degree program. Outside of UCP, she is actively involved in her son’s after school activities. She loves to cook, organize family get together, and visit places.

Cherise is originally from Washington state, where she raised three children while homeschooling and running a licensed in-home daycare for a few years. She also worked in private daycares and served as a visitation supervisor for foster children and their parents. In 2020, Cherise moved to North Carolina, fell in love with the South, and recently purchased a home in Durham. Over the past year, she has been a nanny/household manager and is excited to join the Turtle room this year, looking forward to getting to know everyone.

Melissa feels truly honored to be joining the UCP family! Originally from Iowa, she graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Melissa has spent most of her adult life as a military spouse and moved often with her husband and three children. In 2018, they decided to grow roots in Chapel Hill, and since then have been very happy calling it home. Melissa comes to UCP with 6 years of preschool teaching experience. She is especially interested in helping to develop the social-emotional well-being of preschoolers and enjoys incorporating mindfulness, breathing, and yoga into the preschool day. She has found her true passion sharing in the joy and wonder of learning alongside young children. When she is not learning with preschoolers, she can usually be found at a college or high school sporting event, hiking with her dogs, reading, or cooking. For her, a perfect day is spent outside exploring new places with her family.

Karen is excited to be teaching at UCP again! Her first year was in 2008-2009 as a Frog teacher and then again during the 2014-2015 school year. She took time away from teaching to raise her four boys. All four of her sons have spent at least a year at UCP, if not longer and truly loved it! Now that her youngest is in school, she can’t wait to return to UCP to continue her teaching career with the amazing UCP community! Karen and her husband love to watch their kids' sports games and visit the NC mountains (Boone area) as much as they can. She's excited to work with the Fish class and help them to grow and learn how to navigate relationships with their peers.

Liz has been involved with UCP since 2005—as a parent, board member, and substitute teacher—and has been a teacher here since 2017. She uses books, songs, art, and activities to make her classroom a joyful place to begin a lifetime of learning. All four of her children are UCP alums who to this day maintain friendships they first made here at the preschool. In her free time, Liz enjoys walking, reading, and spending time with her family.

Liz graduated from Connecticut College, where she played tennis and majored in psychology.  She grew up in Wisconsin and moved to Chapel Hill with her husband, Chris, in 2010. Before children, Liz did event planning and also coached middle school and high school athletic teams. Liz joined the UCP family in 2017 when her daughter, Olivia, started in the Fish Class. Her son, Henry, started as a Turtle in 2019. UCP has been a special place for her family, and she is excited to join such a wonderful team of teachers. In her free time, Liz loves to play tennis, read, and cheer on the Tar Heels. 

Richard Younger is the new music and movement specialist here at United Church Preschool. Richard has just relocated to Durham from his hometown of New York City, where for more than twenty years, Richard has worked at preschools, libraries, and hospitals in the NYC area. In addition to his skills as a singer and guitar player, Richard has developed a keen ability to work with every class, teaching them all manner of songs, fingerplays, dances, and introducing them to a variety of instruments (percussion instrument, bells, his autoharp, uke, kalimba and various flutes). He readily admits that he’s not very competent on many of them, but as he tells the children, it’s important to try. Prior to his work with children, Richard played in several NYC bands, put out a few records, and performed from Greenwich Village to London, from Denmark to Chad. (Wait for the book!)

Richard is thrilled to call Durham his new home, and to have UCP as one of his new schools.

Feel free to contact him for any inquiries or questions on 917-738-7213.