Vicky Gutzwiller started at Foothill Christian in 1987, initially as a teacher’s aide, then a teacher and ultimately became the Director, a position she has held now for over 30 years. Under Vicky’s leadership the preschool has flourished... so much so that Foothill had to build a larger facility to accommodate the community’s needs. In 2003 the property located on historic Rt. 66 was purchased and construction of a new preschool began. It was that same year that the half-day preschool at Baseline opened its doors as well. The state of the art facility, outstanding personnel and superior curriculum resources have made Foothill Christian Preschool an ACSI flagship preschool in the Los Angeles area, winning the award of BEST Preschool in the San Gabriel Valley every year since 2012!

Vicky has been a regional preschool leader with the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) since 2001. In this role she is responsible for leading monthly meetings with area preschool directors and participates in convention/conference planning sessions. In 2011, Vicky led the preschool through its first ever dual accreditation with ACSI and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Jennifer Whiteside was promoted to Half-Day Preschool Director in September 2019. Prior to being director she was a teacher in our 2-year old class. However she has been in the field of early education since 1981 and was an assistant director at a preschool in Covina before moving to Foothill Christian Preschool. She knew at an early age that she loved working with children and where God wanted to use her. She attended Mt. Sac, Citrus, and Vanguard where she received the education needed to become a preschool teacher and director. However she attributes most of the knowledge she gained from her daily walks with God and the experiences that went on inside the classroom.

Jennifer believes that children learn best through play and experiences. She claims that she herself learns best by hearing, seeing, and doing so was very happy to discover that her philosophy closely aligns with Foothill's. She loves that FCP is a place where children LEARN, EXPLORE and GROW! One of her favorite quotes is, "The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don't tell you what to see!"

Jennifer is married to her husband Garth. They have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Her prayer is to see her grandchildren grow in their passion for Christ so they can share the Good News with their friends and begin the ripple effect. She is passionate about planting little seeds so that the Word of God can reach the far ends of our earth! She is thrilled see the plans God has for her at Foothill, she writes, "One thing I know for sure is that decisions become easier when your will to please God outweighs your will to please the world!"

Martha Perez came to FCP in 2005 initially starting as a three-year old teacher then moving her way up to Pre-K teacher, Supervisor and now, Assistant Director. She is grateful for the hands-on learning experience that she has acquired in the 15 plus years working for FCP, leading her to the current position. Martha graduated from Pasadena City College with an AA in Early Childhood Education and a BA in Human Development from Azusa Pacific University. Martha has a clear understanding that working for FCP is not only a job but a ministry in which she can help lead children and their families in spiritual formation in order to build a relationship with Christ. Her desire is to pursue God-honoring excellence and creativity in all aspects of life, but specifically at school.