Kay Jennings’ Retirement and Leadership Transition at CDO
Dear FUMC Denton Family,
We write you today to share news of a leadership transition at Children’s Day Out.
After 47 years of dedicated service, Kay Jennings will retire from her position as Director of CDO at the end of September. Kay helped generations of children in our community grow and learn throughout her tenure. The love she shared made an immeasurable impact on so many, and we are deeply grateful for her faithful service to children in our community.
“It has been my honor and joy to have been blessed to work with so many children and their families throughout my time as CDO Director,” Kay said. “Watching children grow and to see their faces light up when they learn something new is truly a blessing everyone should be able to experience. Thank you, CDO families, for sharing your children with me.”
FUMC Denton’s commitment to the Children’s Day Out ministry is core to our mission to shine God’s love into every life. Today we invite you to join us in reflecting with gratitude on what has been and in looking forward with great expectation for what is to come.
Dr. Teresa Starrett, FUMC Denton’s Director of Children’s Ministry, will assume the role of Interim Director of CDO and will work closely with Ms. Kay during this transition. Teresa is widely recognized as an expert in the field of early childhood development, and we are confident in her ability to work alongside Assistant CDO Director Britteny Willard and CDO teachers to ensure CDO remains a valuable part of the lives of the many families it serves.
Teresa’s career is rich with examples of being an effective advocate for children and their parents. Teresa holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education, a master's in Special Education, and a doctorate in Educational Administration. She began her career as a teacher at Hodge Elementary School, served as a principal and administrator in several North Texas school districts, served as a professor who created university-level programs for training early childhood educators, and brings invaluable leadership and education experience to help guide us all through this time.
In God’s Love,
Rev. Don Lee, Lead Pastor
Rev. Jonathan Perry, Executive Pastor
Carol Rogers, Staff-Parish Relations Chair
We invite you to join us in celebrating Kay’s 47 years of service to the children of Denton by sending a personal note of gratitude to her via email at kjennings@fumc-denton.com or by delivering a card to the church office by September 30.