Church Staff

Dr. Paige Maxwell McRight
INTERIM PASTOR

Paige McRight is a retired Presbyterian minister. She has been ordained since 1971. She has served two congregations as an Associate Pastor and one as Interim Pastor. She has also served as a hospital chaplain and as college chaplain at her alma mater, Agnes Scott College. In addition to her BA from Agnes Scott, Paige holds a Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary. For about half of her years as ordained minister, Paige served as part of the staff of the presbyteries of Greater Atlanta, Charlotte, Central Florida, and in North Alabama as interim presbyter. She was head of the Central Florida Presbytery staff, serving 78 in ten counties from the Orlando office for nine years prior to her retirement in 2012. Through the years, she has assisted individuals and congregations in spiritual and leadership development and provided pastoral care to church members and pastors and to people sensing God’s call to full-time ministry.

Paige is the mother of two adult sons, Bill, an artist in Los Angeles, and Robert, who teaches airplane mechanics for Aviation Institute of Mechanics in Casselberry, FL. For recreation, she enjoys reading fiction, bicycle riding, and line dancing, as well as walks that allow her to experience the wonder of God’s creation.

Tiffany Goggans
DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Tiffany began her ministry at Oakland in October of 2007. She hails from Albany, GA, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Child Psychology from Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, VA. In 2007, she earned her Master of Arts degree in Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA. As Director of Christian Education, Tiffany oversees the education ministry of the church for children, youth, and adults. She also equips and trains our volunteers for educational ministry.

Tiffany and her husband, Israel, live in Winter Garden and have a five-year-old daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth. They enjoy the beach, cooking, and watching movies together. Tiffany’s love for children is evident in everything she does here at Oakland Presbyterian Church. You can often find her crafting or playing games with our young friends.

Michael Shortal
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

Conductor, composer, and organist, Michael has a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Florida State University and a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from UT, Knoxville. Michael was the Chorus Master for the UT Choral and Opera Theater Departments. He has also taught in the Orange County Public School system. He has served at many churches over the years, including the Cathedral Church of Saint Luke, First United Methodist of Orlando, Westminster Presbyterian, Church Street United Methodist, and Lincoln Park United Methodist in Knoxville.

Laurie Templin
PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR

Laurie was born and raised in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management. Laurie enjoyed a career with Walt Disney World as an area restaurant manager, opening Disney Hollywood Studios and Disneyland Paris. She also spent five years in Japan in association with Tokyo Disneyland. Laurie has her staff and director’s credentials through the State of Florida, as well as VPK certification. Laurie taught at Second Presbyterian Preschool in Knoxville, TN as well as Trinity Christian Academy in Orlando.

Laurie loves to run and participates in races whenever she has the chance. She is married to Cort, and they live in Independence with their son, Cade. They also have two adult children, Steel and Evan. In her free time, Laurie enjoys watching the antics of her cat, Maks.

Bonnie Litteral
DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S CHOIRS

Bonnie has been directing our children’s choir program since 1986. She has built a thriving program, with three choirs ranging in age from 3 – 11. Bonnie received her Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance degree from Stetson University in 1974. She received a Master’s degree, magna cum laude, from Boston Conservatory, and was an apprentice artist at the Sante Fe Opera in 1980. Bonnie holds Level I and II Orff certifications and is an active member of the Central Florida Orff Chapter. Ms. Bonnie retired from Orange County Public Schools after teaching elementary music for over 40 years.

Bonnie and her husband, Jack, have been married for 49 years. They live in downtown Winter Garden, and they have three adult children: Lisa, JT, and Kristin, and four grandchildren.

Diane Flagler
ORGANIST

Born in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, Diane received her Bachelor in Elementary Education from East Stroudsburg University and is certified in Middle School Language Arts. Diane moved to Florida in 1980, where she worked as a teacher for over 35 years before retiring in 2010. She served as assistant organist for Community United Methodist Church in Casselberry prior to coming to Oakland in 2000, where she serves as our organist and pianist.

Diane’s daughter, April, is a Dr. of Clinical Psychology, working for the Veterans Administration in Orlando. Diane is available for weddings and funerals and thoroughly enjoys being a part of the wonderful spiritual music ministry at Oakland.

Alecia Spence
BUSINESS MANAGER

Alecia was born in Orlando and has lived in West Orange County all of her life. She graduated from West Orange High School and received her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Florida Southern College. She is a Certified Public Accountant, and has worked as an accountant for 29 years. Alecia works as a self-employed CPA in addition to her part-time duties at Oakland Presbyterian Church.

Alecia is married to her high school sweetheart, Rick. Their twins, Caleb and Cassandra, graduated from Dr. Phillips High School in May of 2017. Alecia and her family are active members of First Baptist Church of Orlando. Alecia enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends.

Jim Gordon
PROPERTY MANAGER

Jim is originally from Kansas. He was in the Navy for 20 years as a Nuclear Machinist Mate, responsible for the operation and maintenance of the nuclear-powered engine room of a submarine. He was assigned to three tours on submarines in Charleston, S.C. and two tours as staff at the nuclear power school when it was based in Orlando. After retiring from the Navy, Jim went to work at Walt Disney World as the operator of the power plant by the Magic Kingdom. After 25 years there, he retired again in 2016. Jim began working as Property Manager at OPC in 2020.

Jim and his wife, Holly, were married in 1971. They have two adult children, Laurie and Matt, and two grandchildren. The Gordons have been members of Oakland Presbyterian since October 2007.

Stacey Gillespie
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Stacey joined our staff in March of 2016. She was born and raised in St. Augustine, FL, where most of her extended family still reside. In 2004, she graduated from Flagler College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She then worked for 8 years in the health insurance industry prior to moving to Winter Garden in 2013.

Stacey and her husband, Joe, live in Winter Garden with their four children: Lyla (11), Logan (10), Noah (7), and Owen (5). When Stacey is not spending time at home with her family, she enjoys visiting her parents and large extended family in St. Augustine. She also loves to bake, watch TV, and read.

Amy Duncan
(VOLUNTEER) YCM BAND INSTRUCTOR

Amy is originally from Halifax County, Virginia. She received her BS in music from Radford University. She taught for six years in the Virginia public school system where her bands consistently received Excellent and Superior ratings at state band festivals. She spent eighteen years as an at-home mom, homeschooling her two children. During that time she developed and conducted the Young Christian Musicians Band Program in Richmond, Virginia and served as pianist for the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program.

Amy moved to Florida in 2001 and taught for ten years at Central Florida Christian Academy where her students won numerous awards at FACCS Regional Fine Arts Festivals and State Competitions, as well as Superior ratings at CFPS and ACSI Concert Band and Solo and Ensemble Festivals. In addition to conducting the Young Christian Musician’s Band Program, she is currently a private instructor at Family Music of Clermont. She has a passion for making music education available to everyone.