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WECC Staff


WECC Office



Marilyn StalheimMarilyn Stalheim
I have been engaged in the ministries of Westwood Lutheran Church since 1977.  In 1984 a group of volunteers from the then Birth to Three Committee helped to begin a small nursery school.  Today, we are licensed to serve 99 children from 6 weeks through kindergarten.  I received my undergraduate education degree in English and Library Science from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.  My graduate degree from U of W, Stout, was in Media Administration.  My Early Childhood graduate credits are primarily from U of MN, Mankato.  My most recent stimulating educational experience was attending the World Forum for EC in Belfast and studying at Reggio Emilia.
My Hopes and Dreams for the community of WECC?
That every child, parent and staff member is blessed through their time here and that excellence is our norm.






Nancy Wallin









 









 

WECC Classrooms



    INFANTS

My name is Sara Clements and I am a teacher in the Infant room.  I was graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Psychology.  I wanted to work at WECC because I enjoy watching and taking part of the developmental process young children go through.  I have been at WECC since September, 2010.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To provide a caring and nurturing environment where children feel loved and are supported as they grow and develop.




My name is Michelle Daniels and I am a float at WECC.  I was graduated from Bethel College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Family and Child Development.  I have been a teacher at WECC since October, 2002.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To provide love, security, opportunities to grow, learn, and be successful at the skills they are developing.  I want each child here to feel and know the love of Jesus and one day develop a personal relationship with him.



Lisa Denninger












My name is Cheryl Hanson and I am a teacher in Infants.  I was graduated from Concordia University, St. Paul with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education.  I have been at WECC since January 2000.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
I hope to provide the children with a safe friendly environment.  I hope that t he children will be treated equally no matter who they are or what they chose to do in life.  I want the children to learn that they are special people, and can be anything they dream.


My name is Larissa Johnson and I am a teacher in the Infant Room.  I was graduated from Teacher's University in Moscow (1988) and from Technical College in Minnesota (2003) with a degree in Early Childhood Careers.  I have been a teacher since August, 1988.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
The future of the world is in my classroom today, a future with the potential for good.  I hope and dream that my students will find joy in learning and it will be a long life process for them.  I see them like respected individuals surrounded with a lot of love for the rest of their life.



My name is Charlene Kirschbaum and I am a teacher in Infants.  I was graduated from University of Wisconsin Stout with a degree in Early Childhood Education.  I have been at WECC since September, 2005.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To provide for the needs of the children in a loving and respectful manner. To work with the parents as a team to provide nurturing and consistent care.




My name is Nancy Peterson and I am a teacher in Infants.  I was graduated from Hennepin Technical College with a CDA degree.  In 1995, I received my Rule 3 Teacher certificate in Early Childhood.  I have been an infant teacher at WECC since June, 1991.  I love coming to work seeing all the wonderful smiles from all the children at WECC.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To provide a loving, safe and happy place for all our children; to have a partnership with each family so they will feel comfortable leaving their children in my care; and to provide an environment for each child to learn at his or her own pace.



   TODDLER I
David VeVea










My name is Karen Walburg and I am a teacher in the Toddler I room.  I am qualified as a teacher through MN, Department of Human Services Rule 3 with classes from the University of St. Thomas, Mankato State and Hennepin Technical College.  I have taught at WECC since 1986 because there is so much good here, of which I am honored to be a part.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To provide a place and opportunities for safe, creative growth, exploration and learning where the children will always be surrounded by and filled with love, respect, wonder and appreciation for all of God's creation.



  My name is Madelynn Peterson and I am excited to join the Toddler I teaching team.  I was graduated in 2009 from the U of M - Twin Cities campus with a degree in Elementary Education and a Spanish minor.  I received my license in June of 2010 after a year in grad school and student teaching.  I love working with children of all ages and look forward to working with all the children and watching them grow and learn.  I enjoy reading, traveling, scrapbooking, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family. 




  TODDLER II
My name is Lori Campos.  While based in Toddler II, I circulate throughout our classrooms as a Floating Teacher.  My educational background includes a BA degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education from Crown College along with an AA in Chicano Culture and Early Childhood Education from Bakersfield College in California.  I have been an educator for over 20 years.  Finally, I am the proud mother of three wonderful children.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
By teaching stewardship over the earth, it will spark the children's inquisitive nature in order to provide new learning experiences and a deeper appreciation of the outdoors and their place in it.

My name is Blair Okey and I am a teacher in Toddler II.  I was graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work.  I have been a teacher at Westwood since May, 2003.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To provide encouragement, knowledge and above all else, love to the children in my care.  To give the children an environment filled with respect, peace, and support to help them grow in their independence and social interactions giving them strength to become the person that they are and in which they continue to strive.



My name is Crystal Jewett and I am a teacher in Toddler II.  I was graduated from Rasmussen College with an Associates of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education.  I have been at WECC since October of 2005.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To provide a safe, nurturing environment where each child is seen as a unique creation of God.





   PRESCHOOL I
My name is Jenna Colehour and I am a teacher in PreSchool I.  I was graduated from Mn State Mankato with a BS degree in Early Childhood, Family Life Science and MCTC with a Degree in Nursing.  I have been at Westwood since July of 1994.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To provide a safe, warm, nurturing environment where children love to attend and look forward to visiting and playing with friends.  I want them to feel valued, secure and confident in their thoughts and actions.



































My name is Danette Isaacs andI am a teacher in the Preschool I classroom.  I received my degree from St. Cloud State University in Elementary Education.  I have been at Westwood since December of 2011. 
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To create a comfortable, safe and loving atmosphere in our classroom.  To provide opportunities for children to learn through play, discover their full potentials and to feel a sense of belonging.




My name is Roza Lipovskaya and I am a teacher in Preschool I.  I was graduated from the University with a Master's degree in German language.  I have been teaching German language for twenty-five years in the High School and young children for over ten years.  I have been at Westwood since 2003.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To provide a safe, caring, and loving environment for the children.  To carry out the WECC philosophy in loving, respectful, and creative care for the children, to prepare them for the future and make sure that their early experiences are bright and will inspire them for the road ahead.  There are many good things ahead!

































 
PRESCHOOL II
My name is Jan Olson and I have been a teacher in Preschool II since May, 2010.  I was graduated from Metro State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Child Development Core.  I want to teach at WECC because it incorporates faith, creative expression, excellent environments and respectful teaching.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To provide a nurturing, safe environment where learning is valued and faith can grow.  I want children to develop their own styles of learning and creativity.  I look for opportunities to help the children relate well to others and value themselves.


My name is Amie Whiteside and I am a teacher in Preschool II.  I was graduated from Northern State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education/Early Childhood Education.  I have been at WECC since August, 2006.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To provide a safe, developmentally appropriate environment in which children in my care can explore all areas of their development.  To create a classroom climate of peace and acceptance that allows participants of the class to build a positive self-image.





































    PRE K/K

My name is Kara Kuehn and I am a teacher in Pre K/K.  I was graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education/Pre Primary from Bethel University.  I have taught at WECC since 2005.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To provide a safe environment for all children that has rich learning experiences for all different learning styles.  To have all children know they are accepted and that God loves them for who they are. 





My name is Grace Kerandi and I am a teacher in PreK/K.  I was graduated from Hennepin Technical College with an AS degree in Child Development.  I want to join God's family at Westwood and through the Word of God I want to serve children and families sharing the love of God.
My Hopes and Dreams for the Children at Westwood:
To provide a blessed and safe environment for God's children and help them know that we can have a little heaven down here by enriching them with knowledge in their developmental stages, in their different learning styles.  In doing this, God will be praised.