Skip to main content
#
Westover Bapist Church
GIVE
DIRECTIONS
CONTACT US
our twitterour facebook page youtube
Our Staff

Reverend Michael Youngblood, Senior Pastor

                                                      Contact Rev. Youngblood here.                                                      Ext.102

Reverend Youngblood has served congregations, as both senior pastor and an associate pastor. He served as Pastor of First Baptist Tabernacle, and True Love Baptist Church in Sacramento, CA, and Associate Pastor and Interim Pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Washington, DC. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Excelsior College in New York and he is a candidate for the Master’s Degree at John Leland Center for Theological Studies. Pastor Youngblood had a long and successful career with the military, retiring as a Colonel in the US Army Reserve, as well as a successful career with the Federal civil service.

Lay Leaders

Charolette Brown,
Chair, Trustees

Contact  Charolette here.

Charolette has been a leader in the Chair of Trustees since 2014, but was in the Chair of Finance since the early 2000's. Charolette has been a member of Westover since 1969. She worked twelve years in banking, four years as a house care provider and in Arlington Public Schools for 26 years. Over the years she has had many experiences with Westover and feels truely blessed by them all. 

Ministry Leaders

Karen Smithson,
Children's Coordinator

Contact Karen here.                              Ext. 801

She has been in this position for 7 years. She is responsible for Children's Church on Sunday mornings where she leads Arts and Crafts and Recreation and Games. "I love my job because it allows me to teach children about the love of God." She also co-directs Vacation Bible School and coordinates Movie Nights at WBC with her sister.

During Covid-19 my sister and I have instituted an online bible study for kids called Jesus and Juiceboxes and a Children's Message for Sundays on Class Dojo.

Karen has a Bachelor of Arts in Education with an emphasis on Early Childhood Education from Marymount University. Currently, she teaches a Third and Fourth Grade Combination class at the Merit School of Prince William. In her tenure as an educator, she has served in the role of a Reading Specialist and taught Preschool as well as grades Kindergarten through Second. At Riverview Baptist Church, she was an active leader in the Children's and Youth Ministries.

Alma O. Sanford
Music Ministry Coordinator

Alma O. Sanford, a pianist, whose deep passion for music goes beyond the keyboard, she worships and serves God through music. She is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she began formal piano lessons at an early age and became an accompanist for her musical family and church activities. Recipient of several awards, Mrs. Sanford studied with Virginia Kline of Philadelphia, PA and attended the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music. As a concert pianist, Mrs. Sanford has performed solo and two-piano works in the Philadelphia and Washington metropolitan areas. Mrs. Sanford has served as the accompanist for numerous groups, churches, schools and professional vocalists in the Metropolitan area in churches, schools in Fairfax County, Prince George's County in Virginia, and Prince Georges County and Montgomery County in Maryland. Presently, she leads the Music Ministry at Westover Baptist Church in Alrington, Viriginia and teaches piano students in her private studio in Alexandria, VA.

Lanette Smithson,
Children's Coordinator

Contact Lanette here.                            Ext. 801

Lanette has been in that position for 7 years. She is responsible for Children's Church where she teach Bible Lessons to kids from birth to fifth grade. She also co-directs Vacation Bible School with her sister. During Covid-19 my sister and I have instituted an online bible study for kids called Jesus and Juiceboxes and a Children's Message for Sundays on Class Dojo.

Lanette has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Marymount University and Masters of Arts in Legal Administration from Marymount University. She graduated with her Juris Doctorate from Ohio Northern University in 2005. She is the Adjunct Instructor for the University of Valley Forge and she has worked as an Adjunct Professor at Marymount University.

Amy Kaetzel,
Preschool Director

Contact Amy here.                                  Ext. 202

As the Preschool Director, Amy manages the daily activities fo the school, sets educational standards, hires staff, trains teachers, establishes policies and monitors student progress. Amy  was born and raised in Arlington. 

Amy has a Bachelors degree in Communication and Psychology from Radford University, and her Master’s degree in Education from Marymount University. She taught in elementary schools in Arlington and has been with Westover Baptist Preschool since 2012. At WBP, she has taught multiple age groups from infants to four-year-olds and also served as the student accounts coordinator. Her youngest two children attended WBP. She still lives in Arlington with her husband, Keith and 3 children – all attending Arlington Public schools.

Anne Michel,
Assistant Preschool Director

Anne Michel has been on staff at Westover Baptist Preschool since 2011, and her two daughters are both Westover graduates. She is thrilled to be support the Preschool Director and the preschool staff as Assistant Director.

Anne has a Master of Social Work Degree. Prior to working at Westover, Anne worked as a Program Manager for Catholic Charities and the Catholic Health Association, a school social worker, a maternal and child health specialist, and she served as Scheduling Director for Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D.

Administrative Leaders

Ed Koch,
Administrator

Contact Ed here.                                      Ext. 103

As Administrator, Ed oversees the day-to-day administrative operations of the church as well as building management, finance, human resources, and information technology. He joined the staff in January 2000 and has served as Administrator since September 2014. An Arlington native, he received a Bachelor in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from The College of William and Mary. Before coming to Westover, he managed medical practices for 20 years in the DC area and served in financial roles at Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, Redeemer Lutheran Church of McLean, and Foundry United Methodist Church in DC.

 Jennifer Morris,
Communications Coordinator   

Contact Jennifer here.                         

Jennifer has fulfilled the position as the Communications Coordinator since April 2020. She has worked as the interim administrative assistant for Westover since October 2018 and also worked at Westover Baptist Preschool from September 2018 through March 2021. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from National University and has a background in supply administration through her military service.

    Westover Baptist Church
    1125 Patrick Henry Drive | Arlington VA 22205-3517
    P 703.237.8292 | F 703.237.3864
    powered by ChurchSquare