Central United Methodist Knoxville, Tennessee
Children & Youth Leaders
Betsy and Jared Smith joined Central's staff in February 2011 as the Coordinators for Youth and College Ministries.
Betsy grew up in Ohio, graduated from UT (political science and sociology) and the Tennessee College of Law, and spent a summer in
Europe studying international law. She is an Assistant District Attorney in Blount County and a board member and coach
(at Ft. Craig Elementary) for Girls on the Run, a non-profit after-school program. A native of Georgia, Jared has a degree in history
from Mercer University (which included a year at Oxford University) and a graduate degree in education from the University of Georgia.
He teaches government, economics, and psychology at Heritage High, where he advises the Key Club and Student Government.
Jared and Betsy met at a wedding in Georgia, when Jared's roommate married Betsy's roommate. Jared and Betsy were married at Central in May.
Jeannette O'Neal has been working as the Nursery Coordinator since June 2010.
She grew up in Michigan and Tennessee and attends the University of Tennessee,
where she is studying art and premed. She also works as a babysitter during the
week and enjoys reading, listening to music, photography.
Lauren Gangaware came to the nursery as a child and grew up attending Central. She has a BHHS from the University of Tennessee in Child and Family Studies, has worked in child care for over 6 years, and is a provisional Family Life Educator. Her leisure activities include music and UT football.
