Staff members are people of excellence, both personally and professionally; all staff members are screened to assess lifestyle, knowledge, and teaching skills.

All staff members are required to have a college background and experience with children. We employ those who show enthusiasm, creativity, kindness and professionalism.

Staff members are required to participate in continuing education. BTES provides specialized training and opportunities to attend national, regional and local conferences, focusing on the most current developments in early childhood education.

BTES Staff - 2008-2009

Bishop Ray Sutton

The Right Reverend Ray R. Sutton, Ph.D., currently serves as Suffragan Bishop in the Diocese of Mid America of the Reformed Episcopal Church and is Rector of the Church of the Holy Communion.

He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and moved to Dallas at age thirteen. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts [B.F.A.] from Southern Methodist University in 1972, a Master of Theology [Th.M] from the Dallas Theological Seminary in 1976, and a Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D.] from Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, in association with Coventry University in 1998.

Bishop Sutton served in parish ministry from 1976 until 1991; Dean and Associate Professor of New Testament at the Reformed Episcopal Seminary in Philadelphia from 1991 until 1995; and Dean and Professor of Theology at Cranmer Theological House in Shreveport, Louisiana from 1995 until 2001. He was ordained a Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church in 1999, and was called to the Church of the Holy Communion in 2001.

Bishop Sutton has authored four books on theology, his most recent being Signed, Sealed and Delivered: A Study of Holy Baptism. Bishop Sutton is married to Susan Jean Schaerdel of Dallas, also a Southern Methodist University graduate, presently teaching in the Allen Texas Independent School District. They have seven children and two grandchildren. He is an avid reader, listener to classical music, a low handicap golfer and bird hunter.

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Dawn Kastning

Director: Ms. Kastning received her BA from the University of Wisconsin and her Masters Degree in Teaching from Texas Woman’s University. Ms. Kastning has extensive experiences as an educator including preschool and literacy program development, as well as developing program enhancing activities both in and outside of the classroom environment. She demonstrates a passion and excellence in her teaching abilities and is a wonderful asset to the BTES staff.  Ms. Kastning is in her first year as an administrator.

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Monica Dalton

Assistant Director:  Ms. Dalton is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.  She has worked many years in the corporate world doing training and management.  With 3 children of her own, and with many opportunities to volunteer at their schools and church, she is very knowledgeable of child development.  Not only has she been a parent at BTES, but she has also substituted in numerous classrooms and served on the BTES School Board. During the 2005-2006 school year, she taught the MDO and 2 year-old class here at BTES. Monica has worked as an administrator for the last three years.

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Primer/Kindergarten: Shirley Harris graduated from Texas Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts. Upon graduation, she worked as a flight attendant with Delta Airlines until retiring August 1, 2008. While flying, she also taught preschool which ignited her passion for teaching. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at Texas Woman’s University. She will graduate with her Master of Arts in Teaching in May, 2009.

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Kasmarine Klein

2 year olds: Ms. Kasmarine Klein has an Associates degree in Science from Brookhaven. She is currently enrolled in her last year at UTD working towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. Kasmarine was on the National Deans Lists during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 school years. Before joining our staff here at BTES, Kasmarine worked in the Child Development Center at Parish Episcopal School. She was the lead infant teacher while teaching at Parish. Kasmarine also taught in the Child Development Center at Hockaday. Kasmarine is also bi-lingual and brings a wide variety of teaching experience to BTES.

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Dawn Luisi

2 year olds: Mrs. Luisi has been an exceptional addition to our teaching staff at BTES since our first year, 1998. Prior to BTES, she taught for 7 years at another church pre-school and has accumulated vast educational training hours in early childhood development. Mrs. Luisi is a well experienced and nurturing pre-school teacher who is prepared for any classroom situation. Most of all, children love their time with her as much as she loves them.

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Melinda Wester

3 year olds: Having attended Ohio State University and Texas Tech University, studying Family Counseling and Child Development, Ms. Wester brings to BTES more than 17 years of experience and over 250 hours in early childhood training.  Her love of the arts has enabled her to create fun and memorable projects for her students, and allows for their creativity in the classroom. She has been with BTES since the beginning…10 years and running!

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 Esther Sutton

3 year olds: Esther Sutton graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing and a minor in Communication. Her first experience in Early Childhood Development was when she taught Sunday School to children ages 2-5 when she was only 14. Since then she has worked closely with children of all ages inside and outside of the classroom, utilizing her creative mind to inspire them academically, socially and most of all spiritually.  

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Laura Laughlin

Humanities: Mrs. Laughlin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Texas in Art Education. She received an all level Degree in this field. She taught three years in the public school system, and also taught for one year in a pre-school environment. Although she is trained extensively in visual arts, she is excited to take on the challenges of music and movement, and drama which she feels are an important extension of the arts.

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Stephanie Norman

Mother’s Day Out Lead Teacher: Ms. Norman has over 21 years experience working with children. Not only has she been a lead infant teacher, she has also taught 2 yr olds and 3 yr olds. During the past 11 years, Stephanie has focused her professional career on being a nanny. While also being a nanny, she has worked diligently on furthering her education in child development.

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