Infant Classroom Teachers
Mary Rixe - Lead Teacher
Mary graduated from Martin Luther College in December of 2017 with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Urban Education. She worked as a lead 4th grade teacher in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for two years until she made the decision to stay home with her newborn daughter full-time.
In June of 2021, she and her family moved to North Carolina, and she began working at Refuge as an assistant teacher in the 4-year-old room. After having her second child, Mary pursued her passion for infant learning and development, becoming the lead teacher in the infant classroom in 2023.
Cheryl Mason - Assistant Teacher
Cheryl has been working at our Early Learning Center since September 2019. She received her teaching credentials from Wake Technical Community College and continues to deepen her own learning through different workshops.
She loves having the opportunity to watch infants grow over their first year of life and being able to teach them about their Savior.
In her free time, Cheryl enjoys reading, working out, and watching a good tv show.
Kelie Culver - Assistant Teacher
Keilie brings a wealth of experience to Refuge. Besides having her associate degree in Earlier Childhood Education, she has been involved in childcare for over 20 years. She has been at our Early Learning Center since the summer of 2017.
Kelie appreciates that at Refuge she’s able to combine her love of teaching, caring for little ones, and sharing the love of Christ.
When she’s not working, Kelie loves spending time with her dog, Hazel, and exploring different parks, trails, and the beach.