Pekinite Theresa Justus is a 1984 high school graduate of FBCS. She later received her Christian Education degree from Fellowship Baptist College and has been on staff at FBCS for 27 years, serving as the preschool director and the K4 classroom teacher. 

Mrs. Justus is married to Pastor Randy Justus of Grace Baptist Church here in Pekin. She is a mother of three (also FBCS graduates) and a grandmother of four. She enjoys serving in her church, spending time with her grandchildren, and, of course, working with the preschool students at the school. 

Mrs. Theresa Justus came on staff as an aide in 1995. Seeing the growth in the K4 and K5 classes, the school separated the classes, and Faith Baptist Preschool had its beginning. 

Faith Baptist offers preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, offering full-day and half-day options as well as 5-day and 3-day options. The goal of their program is to help children develop in academics, Bible time, physical play, and social skills. 

The strengths of the program include: 

• Phonics-based curriculum. Children develop good pre-reading skills, and many are reading simple words and sentences by the end of their K4 year. 
• Bible time. Families of faith appreciate the Bible education the children receive, and non-religious families say they appreciate the good values learned in Bible time, as well as developing memorization skills by learning our Bible verses. 
• Quality staff. Over the years, we have had different teacher’s aides and co-teachers. All have been an asset to our program. Our current K3 teacher, Peggy Sathoff, also brings over 20 years of early childhood experience to our program. 
• Family feel. Our teachers are able to develop a close relationship with the children and with their families. 

Mrs. Justus says, “Over my many years teaching at Faith Baptist Preschool, the thing I love most is watching the children grow. They come into our K3 class, kind of still toddlers, but they develop into little people. When I get them for K4, I get to watch ‘the lights come on.’  Their minds open up so much at that age, and it’s exciting to see their faces when they sound out a word for the first time. 

All the academics are great, but the icing on the preschool cake is how creative and funny they are. These children make my job interesting every single day. I am able to keep touch with many of the children and their families, and just love it when I run into one of my former students and they say, ‘Mrs. Justus!’  That always makes my day.”