Preschool: About Us
Nikole Powell. – Preschool Director
Nikole has been with St. Elizabeth’s Preschool serving on the Board before it WAS a preschool. With the help of the Preschool Advisory Committee she helped to bring the dream of a preschool to fruition in 2012. Within two years of SEEP’s first day, we went from 7 students to 56 students. We have proudly educated and enriched hundreds of students over the years.
Nikole Powell has been Head of Preschool at St. Elizabeth’s Preschool (SEEP) for the past 10 years. She first came to SEEP as a teacher for our 2 year old classes where her own children were also in attendance. After two years she was promoted to Head of Preschool where Nikole found she enjoyed working on the backend of operations allowing her to utilize her skills in marketing, promotion, and customer service for the SEEP community and throughout Richmond Hill.
More recently, Nikole has begun an additional career with her time outside of SEEP in real estate with the local Keller Williams office. Here she gets to use the same talents she’s brought to SEEP: customer service, networking, and being a welcome wagon to helping people buy, sell, and invest in their homes and real estate. This career growth greatly compliments Nikole’s committed development of SEEP!
Nikole went to The Ohio State University with a Major in Early Childhood Development and a Minor in Equine Sciences. She worked for John Hancock Financial Services selling Long Term Care products for many years before welcoming her first child, Luciana, in 2006. She moved to Richmond Hill in 2010 and had Angelina and Lincoln in 2009. Both Angelina and Lincoln are St. Elizabeth’s Preschool Graduates!
Outside of work Nikole has three children, ages 15, 12, and 11. Her family actively fosters kittens and cats through the local non-profit, Castaways Pet Rescue. Nikole is also an avid outdoors gal and loves fishing, boating, and kayaking. In her spare time you can usually find her on the water exploring beautiful Richmond Hill and all that it offers. Even as a 13 year Richmond Hill resident she still finds there is plenty to explore!
Nikole continues to be the proud Director of St. Elizabeth’s Preschool with her wonderful staff and teachers. Nikole would like to add that if there’s anything she could help you with, SEEP related or otherwise, to always feel free to reach out to her at 912-312-8927.
Teachers:
Rector:
Fr. Varas accepted a call to serve St. Elizabeth Church and Preschool as Rector (Pastor) in March of 2020. Fr. Varas arrived in August, but had been working with church and school staff while still living in Thomasville in order to assist with navigating through the early days and months of pandemic life. After tying up loose ends, Dwayne’s wife, Elizabeth, a Special Education teacher, and their two young daughters (ages 9 and 7) joined him in November. Given the circumstances, the farewell and the welcome were equally challenging. However, Fr. Varas has commented on the profound level of thoughtfulness and creativity such circumstances elicited. He also recalls that welcome visits while wearing masks and maintaining “social distance” in the memorial garden were more intimate than usual.
Dwayne was born and raised in Tampa, Florida where he completed a BS in Civil Engineering. Following undergraduate studies, he entered the Jesuits, received an MA from Gonzaga University, an MDiv. from The Jesuit School of Theology at Berkely and a Diploma in Anglican Studies from The General Theological Seminary in New York City. He has served at churches, preschools and elementary schools in Spokane, San Antonio, Oakland, Tampa, Naples, Ormand Beach, and Thomasville.
Dwayne met Elizabeth in Richmond, Virginia where she had been teaching for 11 years. While working at The Peter Paul Development Center in Richmond, he grew madly in love with this southern girl with sweet compassion. They were married in 2010 and have two active daughters who keep them on their toes. Dwayne finds joy in preparing food with his daughters following recipes from their princess cookbook, date nights with Elizabeth which includes sharing a charcuterie board, and crafting a beautiful sermon.
Fr. Varas’ ministerial passions remain the spiritual lives of children, preaching, and faith and the promotion of justice. His hope for SEEP is for it to grow as one; a community of faith which finds God in all things and all things in God.
Contact Us:
Address: 16491 GA-144, Richmond Hill, GA 31324 by Email at office@saintelizabethsrh.com
Main Office (912) 727-2650 – Preschool (912) 312-8927 – Thrift Store (912) 727-2664
Map and Directions: