OUR STAFF
For more than 40 years, Christian Family Care (CFC) has partnered with parents, children, staff, and the communities we serve to make a difference in the lives of children. Our mission is to strengthen families and serve children in the name of Jesus Christ.
The staff of Family Care KIDS is committed to these same goals and values. Our team is comprised of loving, nurturing teachers who have the desire to see your child grow and thrive.
Leadership and Experience
Mark Upton
CFC President
Experience
Mark is a leading advocate in Arizona for children and families. He joined Christian Family Care in 2007 as the President and Chief Executive Officer. Through God’s guidance and his leadership, Mark has grown CFC to be a $10 million organization serving families and children.
As a lifelong learner, Mark graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and has completed courses in business, theology, and biblical leadership at Phoenix Seminary, Fuller Seminary, and Harvard Business School.
Prior to joining CFC, Mark served as the Executive Vice President and Provost of Phoenix Seminary. Today, he serves on the Governor’s Council on Child Safety and Family Empowerment, the Prevention Workgroup of the Council on Child Safety & Family Empowerment, and the Department of Child Safety Community Advisory Committee.
Mark is a true family man. With his wife of close to 50 years, he enjoys spending time with their three children and 12 grandchildren, four of which were adopted.
Wendy Mahoney
Assistant Director
Experience
Samantha Bernard
Enrollment Specialist
Experience
Connie Bruhn
Teacher
Experience
Born in Nebraska, BA degree of 4.0 was earned in Minneapolis in three years with 25 credits a semester, and began my first work just a couple of months later in Brussels, Belgium as an editor in Education.
My three years at the International Correspondence Institute were spent editing, writing sections in Bible courses, computer entries, and adding artwork. I met with each author who came from around the world and learned from them. These completed books then went out into many countries so students could get their degrees without leaving their countries.
During that time, I began at a Children’s Church in Brussels and often had 35-51 children attending. These kids ranged in age from three to 12 years old. I traveled all over Europe and taught children of the missionaries during a spring missions break in Madrid Spain. Developed VBS programs here in USA in several states and was the Director of VBS in Phoenix for 12 years. Developed our Home School movement here in Phoenix from the beginning to end of the 1990s and taught in a small charter school which our son, Aaron, graduated from. He was joined at the graduation ceremony with 50 other Homeschoolers. He has his graduation certificate signed by the State of Arizona. Married, one son, Aaron, and daughter-in-law, Kori. My step-granddaughter, Sara, from a previous marriage, is 21 and now busy working with autistic children in the state of Wisconsin. Met my husband in Colorado on a blind date, he proposed on the Monday after and we will celebrate 44 years together this July.
Thrive on being with children in the classrooms, and at play and seem to have many grandkids experiences this way. Currently, in the Infant classroom, I have been learning all I can from the sweet babies. Any future plans will always include children and helping edit College Courses for students who cannot leave their countries to get their degrees, Global University. I have no agenda to be anywhere else. Experiences learning English (for editing purposes, French, Swahili, and how to order food and where to stay in 12 different countries.
Eileen Wixon
Teacher
Experience
I am a mom to two kids who are now grown and a grandma to four wonderful grandkids. I love to find joy and laughter through life.
I have been doing childcare for over 30 years; 23 of those years were spent providing childcare out of my own home. I have a joy for helping others always have since I was a young girl, which led me to childcare. I am nurturing and love to help children accomplish milestones.
Vicki Fellars
Teacher
Experience
Hi, my name is Vicki Fellars. I began working with infants on June 5, 2023. I’ve worked in the childcare field for 42 years. I knew at the age of 12 that my calling from God was to work in infant care. I’m currently married to my husband Michael for over 42 years. We have two children and two grandchildren. I’m honored to be chosen to be an infant room teacher here at Family Care KIDS.
Julia Alvarez
Teacher
Experience
My name is Julia Alvarez, I never want to be the kind of Christian who portrays themselves as perfect. I have flaws and I have struggles, that’s why I need Jesus. But the longer the tea bag sits in the cup, the stronger the tea. The longer we sit in God’s Word, the stronger our faith. And that starts with having a firm foundation. First Christian Church is my home church, my foundation. During my time at First Christian Church, I’ve been involved with youth and children’s ministry. Planting the seed. I’ve also been part of the worship ministry going on four years. It’s an amazing experience to feel Gods presence in the room through other people. Working at Family Care KIDS has been a great experience. I’m able to grow in my faith as well as love children the way Jesus loves us. Serving God and His kingdom is my purpose and working at Family Care KIDS. Getting to introduce them to who God is and to help the children feel safe, heard, seen, and loved. I’m excited to see how God uses me here in my season with Family Care KIDS.
Sharon King
Teacher
Experience
Hello! My name is Sharon King, and I am blessed to be a young toddler teacher at Family Care KIDS. I grew up in Virginia and lived in “The South” until moving to Arizona several years ago. I have three amazing children and two wonderful grandchildren. I have been an educator for many years, working in Tennessee school systems, and as an owner of a Preschool Center. I have worked as a Job Development Coordinator for adults with developmental disabilities and have worked in the Insurance Industry. Though I have enjoyed many jobs through the years, my passion is teaching and working with young children. I consider my job as a teacher at Family Care KIDS to be a personal mission in sharing God’s love and light to the children entrusted to us.
Karen Tish
Teacher
Experience
Brandi Ray
Teacher
Experience
Diana Galvan
Teacher
Experience
Ashleigh Carter
Teacher
Experience
Olandre Brown
Teacher
Experience
Brenda Mejia
Teacher
Experience
MEET THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY CARE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Christian Family Care’s 40 years of experience as an organization is behind Family Care KIDS.
Michael Hunter – Board Chair
Sheila Mengarelli – Vice Chair
Pastor Burke Montoya – Secretary
Bob Stave – Treasurer
Doug Napier – Member at Large
Linda Bowers
Huron Claus
Brad Edson
Bruce Everette
Steve Whiteman
Margie Youngblood
EN 
ES