PEOPLES CHURCH NATURE PRESCHOOL
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Now Celebrating our 75th Year Anniversary in 2026!
BASED IN NATURE
The Peoples Church Preschool embraces a nature-based philosophy and strives to connect children with the natural world whenever possible. This influences our curriculum and daily schedules, including the materials and activities available in both the indoor and outdoor classrooms. In 2016, Peoples Church Preschool's Outdoor Classroom received national recognition as a Certified Nature Explore Classroom.
As an urban Nature Preschool, our preschool classes utilize the three-acre Valley Court Park adjacent to the preschool, MSU’s campus, and multiple nature trails and woodlots. We also partner with multiple nature centers located in our community.
WE WELCOME ALL FAMILIES AT PEOPLES CHURCH PRESCHOOL!
Peoples Church Preschool values the family at the heart of every interaction between teacher and child. This includes all forms of family, including legal parents, foster parents, step parents, designated guardians, and other persons operating in caretaker roles. Not all families follow the same religion, family dynamics, or heteronormative structure and we welcome you as you are! We want to best serve our children, and that starts by working with you as our family partners. There are many opportunities for families to become involved with our program whether that is through working with our educators to build cultural understanding, discuss specific values to your family, traditions, or create goals for your child’s educational and social development.
PLAY-RESPONSIVE vs PLAY-BASED TEACHING
Many schools describe themselves as Play-Based learning, which focuses on children leading their own activities in unstructured play. Peoples Church Preschool’s approach to teaching is Play-Responsive. This approach differs from traditional Play-Based teaching joint activity in the way that educators and children are mutually engaged in a specific experience that is led by our staff.
Our educators know that quality play takes time, imagination and risk. It is our job to observe and then motivate children toward wonder, curiosity and joy. Dialogue is encouraged through listening and interaction. Children are guided to dig deeper and reflect on their work/play. Educators are trained to slow down, look closely, and listen deeply. This allows them to gather data that leads to future lesson plans. These will then be based on the children’s interests, while incorporating experiences in language and literacy, cognitive, creative, physical, and social-emotional learning.
Our Peoples Church Preschool
2026-2027 Calendar
Meet Our Preschool Staff
Taurie Konkel
Taurie joined Peoples Church Preschool in 2019. After many years as a Lead Teacher in the Infant Classroom, she moved into the Assistant Director role for nearly a year. In February of 2026, Taurie took on the Preschool Director role. Taurie continues to work with the children in the program, but in her current role, she spends more of her time coaching and mentoring staff members, as well as working to improve the overall program in a variety of ways. Her biggest goal is to create a collaborative environment that allows all staff members to feel valued for their strengths and skills. She plans to implement many new policies and systems that work towards this goal. Improving the environment and support for the teachers will in turn continue to improve the quality of the care we provide to our families and children.
Taurie earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Eastern Michigan University in 2015. She has previously worked as a preschool teacher for three years, and she was an Assistant Director for a different organization before joining Peoples Church Preschool.
Taurie and her husband, David, live in Lansing with their son, Jameson, and two cats. She loves being home with her family, but she also loves crafting, painting, reading, and visiting her parents’ lakehouse.
Preschool Director | (517) 332-2885 ext. 4455
AJ Schicht
AJ Schicht began working at the Preschool in May 2026 as the Assistant Director. In his role, AJ oversees the completion of both state required and auxiliary professional development opportunities for all staff. He assists in staff management and creates the staffing schedule for classrooms each week. AJ supports the Director and Office Administrator in ensuring that the preschool operates smoothly. that staff/parent communication is as concise as possible.
AJ earned his Bachelor of the Art Degree in Music with a focus on Education and Anthropology. Previously, he had served on the East Lansing Housing Commission, as well as the Vice President of Membership for the Spartan Housing Cooperative, assisting 150 individuals in East Lansing with finding a home and living Comfortably.
Outside of work, AJ dips his hands in many different hobbies. He is a bassoonist (though plays several other instruments), he loves arts and crafts such as stained glass work and collaging, hiking in the various natural areas around the state, and cooking! Volunteering with local mutual aid groups, and continuing to organize local LGBTQ advocacy efforts are big priorities for him.
Assistant Preschool Director | ext. 4454 
Office Administrator | ext. 4450Hannah Strayhorn-Bryant
Hannah joined Peoples Church Preschool in May 2026. She began attending The Peoples Church in 2024, when she first moved to East Lansing. Hannah sings alto in the Chancel Choir and serves on the Community Engagement Committee as the representative for the United Church of Christ denomination.
Hannah earned her first bachelor degree in Musical Theatre Directing from Ball State University in Indiana. After working with her hometown's high school and middle school musicals, along with substitute teaching, she pursued a second bachelor degree in Music Education at Western Michigan University. Hannah completed her Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from Ball State in 2024, just before moving to East Lansing. In addition to her studies, Hannah spent nine summers on Camp Life Staff at Interlochen Arts Camp, starting as a Cabin Counselor and working her way up to Division Director.
Hannah and her husband, composer Tré Bryant, live in East Lansing. She is passionate about singing, community, social justice, storytelling, and linguistics.