At Anchor ELA in Rockwall, TX we believe in providing a nurturing and enriching environment where children can thrive spiritually, academically, socially, and emotionally. As a ministry of Divine Peace Church, our program is rooted in Christian values, offering a loving and supportive foundation for every child.
We are dedicated to fostering a lifelong love of learning through a balanced curriculum that combines play-based exploration with structured educational activities. Our experienced and compassionate educators are committed to nurturing each child's unique gifts and helping them grow in confidence, curiosity, and kindness.
At Anchor ELA, we are more than just a childcare; we are a community focused on building strong families and bright futures, anchored in faith. We invite you to discover the difference our Christ-centered approach can make in your child's early learning journey.
Meet Our Director: Ann-Marie Samford
Ann-Marie Samford brings a wealth of experience and a passion for early childhood education to her role as Director of Anchor ELA. With 22 years dedicated to teaching young children, Ann-Marie deeply understands the developmental needs and unique potential of every child. Her extensive background as an early childhood educator has equipped her with invaluable insights into creating nurturing and stimulating learning environments.
Beyond the classroom, Ann-Marie also served for 5 years as the Assistant Manager of JungleTrek Rockwall, where she honed her administrative skills, focusing on operations, team leadership, and creating engaging experiences for families. This dual expertise in both educational instruction and operational management makes her uniquely qualified to lead Anchor Early Learning Academy, ensuring a high-quality and well-managed program for our community.
Ann-Marie is committed to fostering a loving, faith-filled, and enriching environment where every child can grow and flourish.
Our Pastors
Pastor John Hering was born and raised in Oklahoma City through 8th grade. In order to be trained as a pastor of his church, he attended high school at Martin Luther Preparatory School, Northwestern College, and then Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. His first call from the Lord was to serve as a missionary in Japan in 1989. After serving about 10 years, the Lord called Pastor Hering to serve as the pastor of Divine Peace in Garland. While serving as pastor, he has been elected to serve as the chairman for the Commission on Evangelism, and 2nd V.P. of the South Central District. Pastor Hering is married to June and they have four children.
Pastor Gunnar Ledermann has a heart for people, local non-profits, and his community in Rockwall. He is married to Marinda and is blessed with 5 beautiful children.
Pastor Lederman grew up in Northern California, attended Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Languages (Greek and Hebrew) with an emphasis in Spanish. After college he went to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin to finish his formal eight years of training to become a pastor. During his third year at WLS, he interned in Leesburg, FL. He graduated WLS in May 2016 with a Master of Divinity degree and was assigned to Divine Peace Church Rockwall.
