Kelly Akins has been hired as Wilshire’s new minister to preschoolers and will begin in the part-time role on Aug. 1.
Kelly will be leaving her job as assistant director and curriculum specialist at Wilshire’s Early Childhood Learning Center, a position she has held since 2021. She previously served ECLC as a pre-K teacher. Before that, she worked 32 years as a public school kindergarten teacher, first in Garland ISD and later Richardson ISD.
Kelly holds a master’s degree in education from the University of North Texas and a bachelor’s degree in education with a music minor from Oklahoma Baptist University. She holds endorsements in kindergarten and gifted and talented education from Texas Wesleyan University and UNT, respectively.
A Wilshire member since 1990, Kelly is married to Allan Akins, and they are parents to two adult children, Brian and Emily. Kelly is a deacon and has served Wilshire in many volunteer roles related to music and education. Among other things, she has been a preschool Sunday School teacher, Cooking Camp chef, children’s choir leader and chair of the Weekday Education Committee.