Preschool
About Us
Our Mission is to develop the whole child, by providing a safe, supportive and respectful environment while providing a high-quality education through hands-on learning activities and while teaching Christian values.
Our Philosophy
We believe that each child is a unique individual who needs an enriching learning environment that will allow for experiences that promote the whole self; mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. Our desire is to provide an environment that is safe, loving and nurturing so that children will take risks in order to discover their potential to solve problems, collaborate with and respect one another and their environment.
We believe that children learn best through a variety of developmentally appropriate, hands-on approaches that focus on the development of the whole child. We know that no one child is the same in how they receive feedback from their world. Our research-based curriculum guides teachers in implementing activities that engage children through a variety of approaches that are designed to foster a love of learning for the many unique personalities in the classroom.
We believe a child’s family is an integral part of their learning and development. When families and program staff are united and partner together to set goals, this provides a strong and consistent foundation of support for the child. We encourage families to be active participants in their children’s education through volunteering, communication of the child’s needs and attending important activities throughout the school year.
We believe in teaching children about their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Children are taught through stories, Bible lessons and modeling that Christ embodies love, kindness, compassion, acceptance, forgiveness, giving, honesty and humility. This focus on Christ helps to build positive character traits in children and sets the foundation for a lifelong relationship with their Savior.
Our high-quality education provides a well-rounded curriculum that is tailored to meet the individual needs, interests, and skills of each child. We provide an enriching environment that helps develop the whole child through encouragement, play, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration with peers. Our program helps children lay the foundation to have a relationship with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through Bible lessons, songs, and dance.
A typical day includes free play, teacher-directed activities, small group activities, art, music, and reading.
We serve children who are 3-5 years of age.
Cornerstone Kids Preschool follows the Weld Re-5j school district calendar.
Meet the Team
Farin Musgrave
Director
Joy Schwarz
PreK Lead Teacher
Rachel Hardesty
Preschool Lead Teacher
Trisha Kotman
Farin has been the director at Cornerstone Kids Preschool since January of 2019. In 2005 she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies with an emphasis in Youth and Family Studies, from Colorado State University. Following graduation, she went to work as the Colorado Preschool Program Manager (CPP) for 5 years, as well as the Assistant Education Manager, serving both CPP and Head Start programs. Her work with CPP and Head Start served to intensify her passion for working with young children and their families. Farin took a hiatus from early childhood education for a period of time to stay home with her growing family. During this period, she ran her own fitness business, Positive Light Health and Fitness, where she taught group fitness classes and conducted personal training. Farin extended her love of learning by home educating her son and daughter, for 2 years. She has a passion for sharing the love of Christ, through her work with children and families. Farin is an active member of Cornerstone Evangelical Free church, where she teaches the Cubbies class in the AWANA program and is the director for the annual Vacation Bible School. She and her husband, Tim, have been married for 19 years. Her hobbies include caring for her plants and flowers, hiking, reading, playing card games with her husband and children, and spending time with her extended family.
Cornerstone Kids Preschool welcomed Joy in the fall of 2019. She is the lead teacher for the 4-year-old class (pre-k), as well as the music teacher for the program. Joy transitioned to the Lead Pre-K Teacher in the fall of 2020, after being the lead teacher in the 3-year-old classroom (preschool) for 1 year. Joy has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Calvin University. She has been teaching in various capacities for over 30 years. Joy began her teaching career as a classroom teacher and a choir teacher, working with middle school age children. While raising her family, she continued to teach choir and taught as a substitute and a volunteer in various classes in her children’s school. After her children were grown, Joy taught kindergarten for 3 years. This is where she found her passion for working with young children. Her enthusiasm can be seen in the excitement on her face when she interacts with children, whether teaching them a new concept or skill, joining them in play, or sharing her love of music. Joy continually strives to learn new and interactive ways to teach children, and she can frequently be found at the school, working in her classroom. She is eager to teach children more about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through songs, stories, and activities. Joy has been a faithful member of Loveland Protestant Reformed Church for over 30 years, attending services and Bible studies, singing in the choir, and serving on various committees. She has been married to her husband, Ray, for 34 years, and they have three daughters and one son. Joy’s favorite hobbies are bike riding, paddle boarding, camping, playing the piano and trumpet, and relaxing on a beach with a good book.
Rachel joined Cornerstone Kids Preschool in fall 2021, as the teacher assistant in the 3-year-old classroom. Rachel has a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree with an emphasis on Education and History, from California Baptist University. While living on the Western Slope of Colorado, Rachel worked at Gypsum Christian Academy, teaching children 2 to 5 years of age, for 2 years. She also served as the director for 1 year. Rachel has been a part of Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church since 2012. She has worked with the youth of Cornerstone for over 11 years and has a passion for seeing the next generation faithfully committed to Christ. Rachel is a volunteer for the annual Vacation Bible School, where she is utilized in a variety of roles, due to her knowledge and experience working with multiple ages of children. Rachel has been married for 24 years to her husband, Patrick, who and Elder and Worship Leader at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church. They have three daughters and have lived in the Johnstown/Milliken community since 2011. Her hobbies include fitness, paddle boarding, hiking, reading and yard work.
Trisha Kotman has been a part of Cornerstone Kids Preschool since the fall of 2020. Her daughter attended CKP from 2020-2022, which allowed Trisha the opportunity to understand the needs of CKP families and how to best support those needs. During her daughter’s time at CKP, Trisha stepped into a substitute teacher’s aide role, serving in both the 3-year-old and 4-year-old classrooms. In the spring of 2024, Trisha was hired as the PreK teacher’s aide. She naturally fell into this role because of her time as a parent and experience as a substitute teacher’s aide. Trisha has a passion for crafting that is reflected in the imaginative projects she creates for children, as well as the decorative style in the classroom. She is a member of the Loveland Protestant Reformed Christian Church. Trisha has a heart dedicated to serving Christ. Her desire is to shine His light to the children and families she serves through CKP. Trisha is married to her husband, Brian, and along with their daughter, they have one son. Trisha enjoys the beach, the mountains, traveling, paddleboarding, crafting and spending time with her family.
PreK Teacher Aide
Stephanie joined the CKP family in the fall of 2023, after serving as a teacher’s aide in both the 3-year-old and 4-year-old classrooms. She has enjoyed working with children as long as she can remember – from early days as a babysitter, to working summers at Bible camp, to starting college to pursue a degree in elementary education. However, shortly after starting college she left to marry her husband, Jesse, and to start her own family. Stephanie began homeschooling her four children in 2010 and graduated her eldest in 2023. She is an active member of Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church and has always been involved in children's ministry in the churches she has been a part of, including AWANA programs, VBS, Sunday school, and serving as nursery director/head nursery volunteer. Coming alongside young families who are wanting to raise their children to know and love the Lord is a joy and privilege for her. Stephanie also enjoys trying to keep her plants alive, mountain drives in the rain, and a good bookstore
Stephanie Rousset
Preschool Teacher Aid