Training Station Staff

Terri Poloney

Terri has been the Director at the Training Station since 1994. She attended both St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Salisbury University with a focus in elementary education and child development. She is currently attending the training program for the Maryland Model for School Readiness.

Ms. Terri is an experienced classroom teacher who has, over the years, taught in each age group at The Training Station. Ms. Terri enjoys working closely with staff to construct a challenging, yet age appropriate curriculum that will start children on the path to a lifelong love of learning.

Along with her duties as a Director, Ms. Terri teaches our pre-kindergarten program. Being in the classroom is her first love. She finds that encouraging our children to develop the skills, both socially and academically, that they will need for a future filled with successful learning is the most rewarding aspect of teaching. Ms. Terri believes that children learn best through hands on experiences and strives to fill each day with a variety of learning opportunities to challenge each child according to their developmental abilities.

Ms. Terri is married with 4 children, all of whom previously attended the Training Station. She also regularly attends CrossWay Church and helps out with the family boardwalk business during the summer break from school.

Mary-Michele Davis

Ms. Mary-Michele has been a member of the Training Station staff since 1996. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Notre Dame College in Maryland. Ms. Mary-Michele has had experience teaching in each age group and is known for her creative artistic perspective, which she shares enthusiastically with each student.

Ms. Mary-Michele’s first desire is to see the children excited about their school experience. Her favorite part of each day is listening to the children talk about their play, their artwork, and their families. During the summer months Ms. Mary-Michele can be found teaching art lessons in her home studio, spending time on the beach with her extended family, or painting faces at Fish Tales.

Sharon Wittmann

Ms. Sharon is one of our Assistant Directors as well as a teacher in both the 2 & 3 year old programs. Ms. Sharon has been teaching at the Training Station since 2002. She has a BA from Cedar Crest College and an M.ED from Ohio University. She has experience as both a director and teacher in a church based preschool.

Ms. Sharon’s commitment to each child as an individual is reflected in her enthusiasm for providing meaningful classroom experiences through a variety of well planned activities. Ms. Sharon delights in the interactions that occur during circle time activities, such as story-time and music and movement.

Ms. Sharon is married with three grown daughters. In her spare time she enjoys reading, gardening, and visiting the beach at Assateague.

Grace Engle

Ms. Grace has been working at the Training Station since 1990. She is an active member of CrossWay Church. She was part of the original church planting team.

Ms. Grace has many years of child care experience having run a home daycare prior to becoming part of the Training Station. She has two grown sons and four grandchildren. Ms. Grace is our expert baker, playdoh maker, and Bible leader. Ms. Grace especially enjoys celebrating the wonder of God’s creation as presented in the uniqueness of each child as they reveal their individual personalities through play, art, and music.

Pat Langford

Ms. Pat has been assisting teachers at the Training Station since 1998. She has a lifetime of early childhood experience both as a professional and mother of four adult children. She is also the proud grandmother of 3 granddaughters and 1 grandson. Ms. Pat brings a special warmth and loving kindness to each child and teacher with whom she works.

Angela Shaffer

Ms. Angela is a teacher in the Monday/Wednesday First Steps Program and the Tuesday/Thursday Older Two's Program. She earned an Associate's Degree in Medical Office Assisting in Pennsylvania. She is a parent of 2 children who attended the Training Station. They are now in elementary school and intermediate school.

When Ms. Angela is not busy caring for her husband and children, she can be found playing with her pets! In her spare time, she scrapbooks family pictures and represents the Longaberger Company.

Carolyn Hyde

Ms. Carolyn joined us this year to teach our MWF afternoon 3's class. She has a BS in Early Childhood Education from Carson-Newman College and is licensed as a highly qualified teacher. Before coming to The Training Station, Ms. Carolyn taught kindergarten for 5 years in the public school system. She is excited to now be teaching at this preschool.

Ms. Carolyn values learning through play and discovery. She encourages creativity and independence. One of Ms. Carolyn’s favorite times of the day is story-time and she provides her students with lots of opportunities to read good books.

A long-time member of CrossWay Church, Ms. Carolyn is very involved in Christian ministry. She designs computer graphics and printed materials, maintains the church website, and serves in the children’s ministry. Ms. Carolyn’s husband, Nathan, is the pastor at CrossWay. On June 7 they celebrated the birth of their first child, Laura Marie.