Little Shepherd's Nursery School

Sharie Dunn Telles

Sharie Dunn Telles

Director, Little Shepherd's Nursery School

Some people have a calling to sing or to become a doctor or to be a lawyer, but Sharie Dunn Telles knew at an early age her calling was to be an Early Childhood teacher. And now she directs First Presbyterian Church’s Little Shepherd’s Nursery School in its mission to nurture, teach and care for the children enrolled in the preschool. She has had a lifetime of care giving to young children in mostly private school settings, and currently has six years of teaching at Little Shepherds. Now she holds the leadership role in the school, which is located on the church’s campus and is a ministry of the church.

She began her Early Childhood career with the Burbank Children’s Centers after which she ran a successful home day care business when her 2 boys were young and has since worked for private church related preschools both in Burbank and in Santa Clarita. She directed a preschool in Burbank prior to moving to SCV and then taught at a local preschool for 25 years during which she served as a mentor teacher for many years through College of the Canyons Early Childhood program which allowed her to share her passion for teaching in her classroom with practicum college students. She was also part of a transition team for the preschool and served as director assistant until she retired. Shortly after her retirement she was called to serve at Little Shepherd’s Nursery School and has been serving this wonderful preschool ever since that calling. In addition to a college degree she holds an Early Childhood Site Supervisor Permit with the State of California. She has also helped with preschool startups in navigating the licensing requirements. She now has competition in her passion for Early Childhood as she is blessed with grandchildren.

Chris Ward

Chris Ward

Co-Director, Little Shepherd's Nursery School

Chris Ward is a firm believer that, as she says, “play is a lifetime pursuit,” which she intends to always pursue in her life. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and Master’s in Social Work from Tulane University, she spent many years in child/adolescent and family counseling and play therapy with children. She also taught elementary school for 6 years and preschool for 5. When she needed a preschool for her 6 children, Ward discovered Little Shepherd’s, and she sent all 6 to the preschool, describing Little Shepherd’s as “ the perfect first school experience.” Now she is co-director at Little Shepherd’s Nursery School, and she says the experience reminds her why she went into preschool teaching in the fist place, which is to give every child the best educational start in life.