St. John’s Baptist Church

Worship | Sundays @ 10:30am

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Leadership

Lydia Garza Olmsted
Weekday School Director
Lydia became the Weekday School Director in 2007 and is responsible for children enrolled in the six classrooms serving infants through TK. She, Rev. Kheresa, and the WDS team of teachers are dedicated to nurturing a child’s growing awareness of themselves, through education, play, learning about God, and promoting a safe, trusted, and fun experience while they attend the WDS. In addition, she also supports educational and professional development opportunities for the team. She has striven to maintain a high teacher and family retention rate. One of her contributions to SJBC is her work to license the WDS in 2014. This was possible through support from the church and the WDS Board. Lydia also established partnerships with Central Piedmont Community College to recruit students enrolled in Early Education, the Make and Grow Gardening outreach program, and the YMCA Summer Literacy Program, all of which benefit the WDS community. 

She and her husband Kurt have lived in Charlotte since 1994. Kurt is retired from his position as GIS Director with Mecklenburg County. They have two children and a dog; Samuel, Eliana, and Tico. Lydia has an M.A. in International Trade from Eastern Michigan. She and her husband are University of Michigan alumni and die-hard University of Michigan football fans. She enjoys family outdoor time especially summers on the Great Lakes, cooking, and yoga.