It is a joy to share some exciting news with you as we welcome our new Interim Children’s Ministry Director, Tashia Gonzales. Miss Tashia has been a longtime favorite teacher of both parents and students next door at Cornerstone Child Development Center over the past decade and has previously served on staff with the children’s ministry at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church.

Tashia brings a wealth of experience in working with children of all ages and has a proven track record of positivity, passion, and enthusiasm in helping families grow and thrive together through exciting and innovate programs. She will continue to serve as a full-time teacher at Cornerstone during the weekdays and will then serve here at Beargrass on Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, Wednesday nights, and for all of our Children’s Ministry special events (in addition to time for planning and organizing). As our Interim Children’s Ministry Director, Tashia will be focused on continuing our existing weekly programs and monthly special events while helping grow our volunteer base and reach out to new families.

Tashia was unanimously recommended for this position by a committee of representatives from the Executive Board, Mission Board, Personnel Committee, Children’s Dream Team, and ministerial staff. She will serve in this important role with an open-ended timeframe as the search process for our settled leader of the Children’s Ministry is underway over the months ahead.

Please help us welcome Tashia and keep her in your prayers as she begins this exciting new journey at Beargrass. You can send a note of welcome and encouragement to Tashia at her new church email address: [email protected] and read more about her in the welcome note below.

A Note from Tashia…

Hi, my name is Natashia “Tashia” Gonzalez. I’ve been in the early childhood field since I was 18 years old.

I started out as a substitute teacher for the Florida HeadStart Program and after a year I was hired as an assistant teacher. I was privileged to work with an amazing teacher who mentored me for 2 years and showed me what it meant to be an advocate for young children and their families. While working as an assistant, I obtained my Child Development Associate Certificate. When my mentor decided to leave her position, I was encouraged to apply and became the lead teacher for my classroom. Three years later I became the site coordinator for 4 other HeadStart classrooms.

In 2008, after working for the HeadStart program for 8 years, I made the decision to move here to Kentucky. I worked at U of L’s Early Learning Center for three years as an Infant Teacher. Big change in age differences, I know, but I LOVED it!! I left U of L to work at a center called Creative Beginnings. After being with them for 2 years I was very blessed to become a part of the Cornerstone Family in 2013.

Children are my passion. For the 20+ years that I have been in the educational field I can say that I have loved EVERY single moment of it. Their light, joy, love, and curiosity has kept me wanting to learn and improve my knowledge so that I can better help them grow and learn.

A few personal things about me:

I am the eldest of four girls, have seven nieces and nephews, and am the doggie momma to a beautiful pittie baby girl named NeKoda Grace.

Some of my favorite things to do are:

1-) I love to read

2-) karaoke

3-) crochet

4-) do anything creative (Paint, sketch, photography, DIY, etc…)

5-) have game nights with family and friends

6-) light hiking

7-) traveling

😎 babysitting (did I mention kids are my passion? 😊)

I am excited to become a part of the Beargrass Church community and look forward to meeting you all!!