Meet Our Staff!

 

Christie Epperly-Lawless Virginia State Champion– Level 10 (Age 10) Elite Level Gymnast (Age 11—Youngest Elite ever in the State of Virginia!) McDonald’s Championships of the USA & Elite Classics Qualifier Trained at the Nationally Acclaimed Olympic Training Center, Parkettes, in Allentown, Pennsylvania Pre-Olympic Trials in 1988– Placing 21st in the Nation Competed With Olympians: Kristi Phillips, Phoebe Mills, Brandy Johnson, Hope Spivey, Kim Kelly, and Dominique Dawes Scholarship Gymnast at California State University-Fullerton & Radford University NCAA Individual Regional Qualifier for Three Consecutive Years BS Degree in Commercial Fitness at RU Coached Level 10 Gymnast Suzanne Sears and assisted her in receiving a scholarship to the University of Georgia (Look Suzanne up on google to see her outstanding college career!) Gymnastics Coach of Levels 4 through Elite since 1990 Established Epperly Elite Training Center (New River Valley Gymnastics, Inc.) in 2001 Resides in Christiansburg with Husband, TSgt. James Lawless, US Air Force Recruiter and Their Two Children, Cheyenne and Justin

Debra Timperio With 28 years experience teaching in preschool programs, she has come to the New River Valley to care for our growing, precious children. While Debbie is also currently the Child Care Director for Blacksburg Baptist Church's Sunday program, the children she now cares for at Epperly Elite Learning Center are excited to attend our program every day. Debbie lives in the area with her daughter, Nicole and her family, which includes two of her beautiful grandchildren. Attended Eastern Michigan University - Major: Early Elementary Education/Preschool (Pre-Kindergarthen - 5th Grade3), Minor: Health Education and Art Education Worked with special needs children for two years at Eastern Michigan's on-campus school Worked with the Special Olympics and helped coach six-year-olds John Tyler Community College - Attended the Preschool Director's course Over 1,000 hours in continuing education studies for preschool teachers Six months of clinicals as a nursing assistant CPR-certified and has her first aid card Former Assistant Director of KiddieLand Day Care and Kindergarten Former Assistant Director of Henderson Child Care Development and After School Program Owned and operated Kid Kare Child Development Center