Kindergarten
Diane Edwards – Teacher
Diane is married to Ricky and they have 10 children and 16 grandchildren. She graduated from NSU with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Diane started her teaching at Central School in Jennings. After having her first child, she decided to stay home to raise her family. She has taught at FBC School for 16 years! She is a member at OLHC and has taught CCD for 39 years. Diane’s favorite thing about teaching is to get to know each child and helping them learn and grow to the best of their ability. She loves learning and growing with them! One of her favorite verses is: “love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:8
Debi Fontenot – Aide
Debi is married to Josh and they have 3 sons. She has been an aide for 6 years and has prior teaching experience at St. John’s and Bethel. She is a member at FBCJ. Debi is a JHS graduate and attended McNeese and Sowella where she received her CNA/LPN. She likes to fish, craft, photograph, learn new trades and spend time with her family. Her favorite thing about teaching is watching the excitement on the kids’ faces when something “clicks”! She enjoys listening to them read after they realize that they actually read. Her favorite scripture is 1 Corinthians 13:4, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant.”
PreK 4
Sonja Owers – Teacher
Sonja has been a teacher at FBCJ for 21 years! She loves to read, travel and shop. She loves traveling to Disney World and enjoys the smell of candles in her home. Sonja is also a member at FBCJ. She was married to her late husband, Lane, for 20 years. She has 2 adult children, Christian and Brianna. Her favorite scripture is, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
Jolaine McCluer – Teacher
Jolaine and her husband, Robert, have been married for 28 years. They have 3 children: Jacob, Ali and Mia. This is Jolaine’s 5th year teaching PreK 4, but has been an aide since 2007. She enjoys spending time with her family and running. She runs various races and distances each year. She attends Our Savior’s Church. Jolaine’s favorite thing about teaching is seeing the excitement in a child when they learn something new. Her favorite scripture is: “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
Pat Clifford – Aide
Pat is married to Jake and has 3 children and 11 grandchildren. She has been an aide since 2018. She has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Louisiana College. She retired after working for 33 years for the State of Louisiana. Pat enjoys doing puzzles, cross-stitching, crafting, and playing board games with her grandkids. She was born and raised in Jennings and her parents attended and served at FBCJ. She has also been a member, since the age of 7, after accepting Jesus and being baptized. Pat attended the very first Kindergarten at FBCJ. Pat loves craft-time in the classroom and her favorite scripture is: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In All your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
PreK 3
Kendra Laidlaw – Teacher
Kendra is married to Max and they have 2 sons (Christopher and Devin) and 1 daughter (Alexandria). She has 1 granddaughter. She is an active member of FBCJ. Kendra attended La. Tech and Jeff. Davis Vo-Tech and has a secretarial degree. Her hobbies are: traveling, hiking, going to estate and garage sales, collecting antiques, oil painting, knitting, crocheting and flower gardening. Kendra has been teaching for 30 years! She loves watching the kids learn and grow throughout the year. Her favorite verse is: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Ann Robison – Aide
Ann is a lifelong resident of Jennings and a graduate of Jennings High School. Ann has been married to Roy Robison for 45 years and together they have 2 adult children (Cason and Ashley) and 4 grandchildren. Ann has been a member of First Baptist Church of Jennings for 32 years. Ann has been a pre-k teacher’s aide for 12 years. Prior to that, she was the church secretary for First Baptist for 14 years.
A favorite verse is Ephesians 1:13: And in Him having heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
Photography by Aimee Benoit