Hi, I’m Graysen Parker, the art teacher! A little about me - I grew up in Grabill and later moved to Leo. My family attended Central Ministries for many years. In 2023, I married my husband, Tyler, and in April 2025, we welcomed our sweet baby boy, Colesen! In my free time, I enjoy baking, playing golf and pickleball, drawing, hiking, cleaning, and spending time with family and friends.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to become a teacher. After high school, I moved to Marion to attend Indiana Wesleyan University, where I initially studied graphic design. During winter break, I felt the Lord calling me back home. I returned to Fort Wayne and enrolled at Purdue University Fort Wayne, where I switched my major to psychology with the goal of becoming an art therapist. But again, I felt the Lord leading me—this time more clearly—toward teaching. I switched my major for the third time and earned my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Language Arts.

My first year at Central was an amazing experience! The staff here is incredible—it truly feels like a family. Everyone is kind, supportive, and fun to be around. One of my favorite parts of working at Central is our weekly staff devotionals, which have helped ground me in my faith. As a new mom and teacher, life can get busy, and these moments help me stay intentional in my walk with the Lord. What I love most about Central is watching the students grow—not just academically, but spiritually as well.

I grew up in a Christian home and attended church regularly. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at a young age and was baptized at church camp when I was 10. My aunt and uncle served as my youth pastors for many years at The Crossing Church, and some of my fondest memories are from those Saturday services and summer church camps.

My faith remained strong until college, which became a difficult season as I tried to discover who I was outside of high school and into adulthood. Although I felt the Lord calling me to teach, I struggled to accept that path. I battled anxiety for years—worrying about what I should do with my life and what the future would hold. Even though I knew the Lord was near, there were times when I felt distant from him. I knew something had to change. I began digging deeper into Scripture and eventually found a home church (Central) and even started my own bible study at one point. 

It wasn’t until I became pregnant and gave birth to my son that my faith truly deepened. Motherhood brought me closer to Christ and reminded me daily of his love, grace, and guidance.