At Good Shepherd Preschool, our mission is to nurture each child’s unique development by providing a loving, Christ-centered environment where learning happens through exploration, creativity, and play. We are committed to supporting each child’s growth emotionally, socially, intellectually, physically, and spiritually through small class sizes, individualized attention, and a developmental approach that honors the pace of each learner.

Our vision is to be a joyful and supportive community where children are known, valued, and loved. Guided by our core principle of “Learning with Love,” we aim to cultivate a strong foundation of faith, curiosity, confidence, and compassion in every child as they begin their educational journey.

Welcome to Good Shepherd Preschool—A Legacy of Faith, Love, and Learning

For nearly six decades, Good Shepherd Preschool has been a joyful place where young children take their first steps into learning surrounded by faith, care, and community. Here, laughter fills the classrooms, friendships blossom, and every child is nurtured to grow in confidence and love. Our story is one of faithfulness, dedication, and the countless families who have called this preschool home.

Good Shepherd Preschool opened its doors in 1967–68 with a heartfelt vision: to create a loving, faith-filled place where children ages 2½ to 5 could grow, learn, and play. From the very beginning, our teachers have cared for each child’s social, emotional, academic, physical, and spiritual growth—helping every child experience joy and success in their early years.

In the early days, every teacher was a member of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (LCGS). Around 1982, Director Gloria Worden began hiring teachers from outside the congregation—always ensuring they were people of faith who shared the preschool’s heart for ministry.

We started small, with just four classrooms buzzing with laughter and learning. By the late 1980s, S.C.R.O.C. added two more rooms (Rooms 6 and 7), expanding our capacity to six full classrooms. At our fullest, we ran six morning and six afternoon sessions—ten children per class—for a total of 120 happy preschoolers each day!

In 2014–15, the church nursery was lovingly renovated and licensed as a classroom through Social Services, giving us seven morning classes and even more room to welcome new families.

In nearly six decades, Good Shepherd Preschool has had only four directors—Gloria Worden, Lisa Such, Barbara McCamant, and Rachel Marshall—each one bringing her own gifts while continuing the legacy of love and faith.

Teacher turnover has always been remarkably low, something both families and Social Services have celebrated as a sign of stability and joy in our staff community. One inspector even remarked that we’ve never failed a Social Services inspection! In fact, during Gloria’s time, the inspectors once said everything was perfect—but to justify their visit, they jokingly wrote us up for having “leaves on the playground.”

For many years, our preschoolers eagerly boarded the church’s big yellow school bus for adventures at the Weymouth Science Center in San Pedro, where they saw farm animals, learned how food grows, and even fished for crawfish in the pond! (Sadly, the farm no longer exists—but the memories live on.)

Another beloved outing was the walk to Henderson Library, where our Good Shepherd children enjoyed a private story time just for them. Today, that same sense of wonder continues with special visits from the Police and Fire Departments, a tradition Director Rachel Marshall proudly carries on.

Our community celebrations have evolved over time, too. We once held two annual Open Houses—a Thanksgiving Singing Program and Feast and a Mother’s Day Program featuring songs, a slideshow, and refreshments in the church. After the pandemic, these traditions transformed into our Christmas Program and personalized Mother’s Day celebrations in each classroom, keeping the spirit of togetherness alive.

For almost 60 years, Good Shepherd Preschool and Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd have shared more than a campus—they’ve shared a mission. Together, they’ve built a place where children are loved, families are supported, and faith is joyfully lived out each day.

From those first small classes in 1967 to today’s thriving community, Good Shepherd Preschool continues to be a place where hearts are nurtured, friendships are formed, and God’s love is experienced in every smile.

Meet Our Staff

We are truly blessed to have an incredible team guiding our preschool! Our dedicated, committed, and passionate director and staff pour their hearts into nurturing and inspiring young learners every day. With a deep love for children and a commitment to providing a safe, joyful, and Christ-centered environment, our team leads our preschool with care, creativity, and expertise.

Meet the amazing staff who make learning, growing, and discovering a joyful experience for every child!

Meet Mrs. Rachel Marshall – Preschool Director

 

Hello! My name is Rachel Marshall, and I have the joy of serving as the Director of The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Preschool. Since joining the school in September 2016, I’ve had the privilege of teaching both the 3-year-old and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classes before stepping into the director role.

I completed my Early Childhood Education at El Camino College and have been working in the preschool field for over 20 years. Supporting young children in their growth and development continues to be my passion. One of my favorite parts of each day is spending time with our students and having fun, meaningful conversations with them. My deepest hope is that every child who walks through our doors comes to know how deeply Jesus loves them.

My husband, John, and I have two wonderful children, Jack and Olivia, who keep us on our toes with their many activities. We love cheering them on at their softball and baseball games and cherish every moment as a family.

I’m on campus Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and I would love the opportunity to connect with you about your child’s needs. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out in person or by email at Rachel@LCGS.net.

Hello! My name is Ms. Anna, and I am the lead teacher in the vibrant and joyful Room 2 at Good Shepherd Preschool. I’ve been part of the Good Shepherd family for four wonderful years, and I absolutely love guiding our young learners as they explore, discover, and grow.

My passion for working with children has taken me across a variety of settings, with over eight years of experience at home and two incredible years working internationally. At home, I have a 9-year-old son who reminds me daily of the joy and wonder of childhood. We enjoy spending time together as a family—especially trying new things and visiting theme parks!

I believe in creating a warm, welcoming space where every child feels valued, safe, and inspired to learn. Thank you for stopping by—I look forward to partnering with you in your child’s preschool journey!

Love,
Ms. Anna

Hello! My name is Ms. Narmeen, and I am the teaching assistant in Classroom 2 at Good Shepherd Preschool. I have been part of the Good Shepherd family for five wonderful years and absolutely love supporting our young learners as they explore, discover, and grow.

I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Child Development from California State University, Long Beach, graduating in 2020. Fun fact: I was fortunate to intern at Good Shepherd before being offered a position here!

Every day, I look forward to spending time with the children and collaborating with our amazing staff. When I’m not at school, I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and walking around the city, reading, and crafting in my free time.

Love,
Ms. Narmeen

Hello! My name is Ms. Luz Santos, and I’m proud to be the teacher in Room 3 at Good Shepherd Preschool. I’m originally from Puerto Rico, and my favorite color is purple! I became a mom at a young age and have been blessed with three wonderful children—a 31-year-old son and two daughters, ages 28 and 16. In my free time, I love being with my friends and family, especially my own kids.
I’ve been working with children for over 25 years. It all began when I volunteered at my oldest child’s preschool, which inspired me to pursue child development classes and become a teacher. My first job was at the same preschool my two oldest children attended, and I’ve been passionate about early childhood education ever since. Being a preschool teacher is truly a blessing!

In our Room 3 classroom, you’ll find thoughtfully designed learning areas that promote language development, social and cognitive growth, and fine motor skills. I use the Creative Curriculum for Preschool, a play-based and research-driven approach that helps children become confident, creative, and caring learners through hands-on discovery. It incorporates language, literacy, and math in meaningful ways throughout the day.

Room 3 is a place where children are happy, confident, and learning every day—and I’m so grateful to be part of their journey!

Love,
Ms. Luz

Hello! My name is Mrs. Jack, and I am excited to be your child’s teacher at Good Shepherd Preschool for my second year. I feel so fortunate to be part of this warm, Christ-centered community where children can explore, learn, and grow.

My connection to Good Shepherd is very personal—my three children all attended here, and my youngest just graduated this summer! I have been married to my husband, Chris, for 13 wonderful years, and together we have three amazing children: Hudson (4th grade), Jade (1st grade), and Oliver (kindergarten).

In addition to teaching at Good Shepherd, I work for Alaska Airlines at LAX. I am passionate about creating a nurturing, welcoming environment where every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to learn. I’m thrilled to be your child’s teacher and look forward to getting to know each student—and their families—throughout this school year.

Love,
Ms. Jack

Hello! My name is Mrs. Turnbaugh, and I am thrilled to be your child’s teacher at Good Shepherd Preschool. I am passionate about creating a warm, nurturing, and joyful environment where every child feels valued, loved, and inspired to learn.

I have been married to my husband, Brad, for 19 wonderful years. We met while I was earning my degree from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. Brad recently retired from the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator, and together we have three fantastic children.

I am excited to guide your child this school year and look forward to getting to know each student and their families. Every day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and discover the joy of learning in a Christ-centered environment!

Love,
Mrs. Turnbaugh

Hello! My name is Mrs. Sarah, and I am the Classroom 5 Teacher. I started teaching at Good Shepherd in 2020, but I have been working in early childhood education for about 20 years. I spent my first four years teaching infants, and for the past 16 years, I have been teaching 4- and 5-year-olds. I have enjoyed every part of my journey in early childhood education.

I hold an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts. I have been married to my husband, Arron, for 15 years, and we have two wonderful children—a daughter and a son—who are truly my angels from heaven. As a family, we love spending as much time as possible with friends and loved ones.

Love,
Mrs. Sarah

Hello! My name is Mrs. M, and I am the Classroom 6 teacher. I am thrilled to be part of Good Shepherd Preschool. I am passionate about creating a warm, nurturing, and engaging environment where children feel safe and excited to learn. Our classroom is always thoughtfully decorated to spark creativity and curiosity.

I believe in maintaining open communication with families and have an open-door policy. I am always here to support my past, present, and future little ones. Thank you for stopping by—I’m excited to partner with you in your child’s learning journey!

Love,
Mrs. M

Hello! My name is Mrs. Priscila, and I am thrilled to be your child’s teacher in Classroom 7 at Good Shepherd Preschool. I am passionate about creating a warm, nurturing, and joyful environment where every child feels valued, loved, and inspired to learn.

I have been part of the Good Shepherd Preschool family since 2021, and it has truly been a blessing to watch our students grow and prepare for the “Big School” ahead. I enjoy spending time outdoors, especially soaking up the sunshine on cruises, visiting the farmer’s market, and going to the movies.

One of my favorite Bible verses that I love sharing with my students is:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

I am excited to support and encourage your child throughout their preschool journey and look forward to a wonderful year of learning, growing, and discovering the joy of a Christ-centered environment!

Love,
Mrs. Priscila