Staff

Ms. Amber Warmbier

Administrator

Ms. Amber Warmbier was born in Florida, but has called Monticello home from a young age. After graduating high school, she went on to Eastern Illinois University, where she obtained a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. Ms. Amber worked at a couple of preschool centers in Champaign and gained some administrative experience as an assistant director before accepting God’s calling to come to MCA. MCA continues to be a great source of joy for Ms. Amber as she sees the way God is working through the families that are involved with the school. It has been so exciting to see MCA continue to be a source of light in our community. She’s excited to see where God will lead the school this year, and all of the ways that He will use her to further His kingdom.

Mrs. Katie Gambrill

Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Mrs. Gambrill was born in Lincoln, IL. She grew up in Decatur, IL, and she moved to Cisco, IL in 2016. She received her degree in Early Childhood Education from Liberty University. This is Mrs. Gambrill’s first year as Assistant Administrator at MCA. She taught the last four years at MCA. Before accepting the call to MCA, Mrs. Gambrill worked at Faith Christian School. She attends Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Decatur, IL. She is happily married to Shawne, who works for ADM in Decatur, IL. They have two children, Hannah (16) and Daniel (10). Mrs. Gambrill has a passion for teaching and could not be more excited to be working at MCA! Mrs. Gambrill enjoys being with family, going to plays, reading, crocheting, snuggling her two dogs, and drinking coffee!

Mrs. Elisha Gail Smith

Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Mrs. Smith was born in Ohio and moved to Iowa as a teenager. She attended Iowa State University, majoring in Teacher Education, and then Lincoln Christian College (now Lincoln Christian University), majoring in Early Childhood Education. She worked for Odd Fellows Children’s Home in Lincoln as a teacher for three years and moved on from there to become a Head Teacher at Christian Child Care at Lincoln Christian Church for five years.
After she and her husband moved to Monticello in 2000, she worked at Ducky Day Care for fifteen years and then was led to MCA in 2015. She is a member of Monticello Christian Church in Monticello and has had the blessing of going on a mission trip to Taiwan, teaching Sunday School, and singing in the worship teams, and is a member of the missions team. Her husband, Jim, is an employee of Kirby Medical Center and an elder at Monticello Christian Church. Their child, Esther Joella, attends fourth grade at White Heath Elementary.

Mrs. Smith came to MCA because she wants to provide opportunities for children to learn God’s truth and to develop a relationship with Him through the teachings of His Word. She hopes to increase their knowledge of and love for Him, to grow their desire to follow His guidance, and to help them learn to accept His grace and mercy. She desires to teach them how to excel as servants in His Kingdom and wants them to experience the joy of following God’s word and living under His grace.

Miss Riley Childers

Preschool Teacher

Miss Riley was born in Champaign, and grew up in Cisco, Illinois. When she was 15 she received her worker’s permit and began her journey at MCA as a student worker. After two years as a student worker, she became an After Care Leader. After graduation she began working during the day as a floater/lunch staff, as well as continuing as an After Care Leader. When she began working during the day, she knew she wanted to become a teacher to share her love for teaching and share God’s word with the children. God led her to become the preschool teacher for the 2024-2025 school year. She is very blessed to have this position this year, and she can’t wait to create her Sunflower family at MCA!