Normandale Preschool is licensed through the Department of Human Services and The Evangelical Lutheran Education Association. We are licensed to serve 75 students per session with a total enrollment of 150 students. The student/teacher ratio is no more than 1 to 10 for children ages three to five years.
Our teachers are well educated early childhood professionals who model their Christian faith daily within the classroom. All participate in programs of continuing education for professional advancement in Early Childhood Education.
RENE GRISWOLD Teacher: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs-day AM… 3/ 4’s Class with Kristi Healy
Rene graduated from St. John’s College in Winfield Kansas as a Parish/Kindergarten teacher. She received her Preschool-Kindergarten & Primary Teaching Degree from Concordia University in St. Paul. She was both a teacher and Director at St. Peter’s Lutheran School in Edina and taught at Mount Hope Lutheran School in Bloomington. Rene was a teacher at Normandale Pre-school in 1978-1981, however, took a num-ber of years off to be with her young daughter, returning to Normandale Preschool in 2001.
KRISTI HEALY Teacher Assistant: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday AM… 3/ 4’s Class with Rene Griswold
Kristi Graduated from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology. Before coming to Normandale, she worked as a Teacher Assistant at Step by Step Montessori in Edina, where she was responsible for assisting with the planning and implementation of daily curriculum and activities. Kristi joined the Normandale Preschool staff in 2007.
JENNIFER KARLEN
Teacher Assistant: M/F with Roberta Lindemann and Kari Warnke
Jennifer has a BA in Psychology graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of St. Thomas. She has experience not only as a psychologist, but as an in-home day care provider. Jennifer’s children attended Normandale Preschool and we now welcome Jennifer to the Normandale Preschool Staff. Jennifer is the Teacher Assistant in our Monday/Friday morning classroom.
SHERI KALB
Teacher Assistant : Monday-Thursday PM … 4’s Class with Kari Warnke
Sheri has a BA in Elementary Education with certifica-tion in both Preschool and Kindergarten from the College of St. Benedict. Her work experience includes teaching at many levels including Kindergarten, Montessori and Headstart. Along with her love for children, Sheri brings her gift of music and art to the classroom. Sheri is the Teacher Assistant in our 4 day Afternoon Classroom.
KAREN KOENIG Teacher: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday PM… 4’s Class with Diane Larson
Karen holds a BA in Elementary Education with a concentration in Kindergarten from Augustana College in Sioux Falls South Dakota. She taught Kindergarten in Akron, Iowa and was a preschool and music teacher at Hillcrest Childcare Center in Bloomington. Karen has also owned and operated her own preschool in Canton South Dakota. Karen began her long history with Normandale Preschool in 2002
DIANE LARSON
Teacher Assistant: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday PM… 4’s Class with Karen Koenig
Diane graduated from St. Olaf College with a BA in Home Economics Education. She is a member of Normandale Lutheran Church and her now adult children are alumni of Normandale Preschool. Diane was a substitute at the school for many years. She began her more full time employment at Normandale Preschool in 2005.
LINDA LARSON Teacher: Monday-Thursday AM… 4’s Class with Michele LeFebvre and Karen Slattery
Linda received her BA in Early Childhood Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her experience includes teaching at a Christian Preschool in Eagan where she not only taught, but assisted in the set up of 2 satellite schools in Apple Valley and Bloomington. Linda taught within these schools for 14 years. She began her long history of teaching at Normandale Preschool in 1992.
MICHELE LEFEBVRE Teacher Assistant: Monday-Thursday AM… 4’s Class with Linda Larson and Karen Slattery
Michele is licensed in both Kindergarten and Elementary and has a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Minnesota. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Her most recent teaching experience was at Aquila Primary Center where she taught both Kindergarten and First Grade. Michele brings with her experience in teaching gifted and talented students and has a strong team teaching background.
ROBERTA LINDEMANN Teacher: M/F and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday AM… 3’s Class with Jennifer Karlen and Kari Warnke
Roberta attended Mankato State College, The University of Minnesota and Wayne State University in pursuit of a degree in teaching. She has been involved with children as a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School Teacher. Roberta joined the preschool staff as a Teacher Assistant and later took on the role of Lead Teacher. She began her long history with Normandale Preschool in 1987.
KAREN SLATTERY Teacher: Friday Plus One Class with Linda Larson and Michele LeFebvre
Karen is our new Plus One classroom Teacher. Karen has a BA in Elementary Education (emphasis in Science and Math) from the University of St. Thomas. Her work experience includes: Junior Kindergarten Teacher at Ave Marie Catholic School, Preschool and School Age Care at Children’s Country Day School, New Horizons and Club Kid. Karen describes herself as a very social person who is self motivated and highly organized.
KARI WARNKE
Teacher: Monday-Thursday PM … 4’s Class with Jennifer Karlen and Roberta Lindemann
Kari graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead., MN with a BA in Elementary Education with Kindergarten Licenser. Her work experience includes that of preschool teacher at Children’s Country Day School and Preschool Project K.I.D.S. in Burnsville. Kari’s two children are alumni of the preschool at which time she held a position on the Preschool Committee. Kari came on staff at the preschool in 2009 as a Teacher Assistant… a role which she keeps in the morning then moves on to the Lead Teacher of the 4 day, 4’s PM Class in the afternoon.
KRISTEN WROGE Teacher: Tuesday-Friday AM…5’s Class
Kristen graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BA in Child Psychology and a license in Early Childhood Education. Her experience includes teaching at Good Samaritan Nursery School as a Lead Teacher and at Especially For Children. Both of her children are alumni of the preschool. Kristen began her long history of teaching at Normandale Preschool in 1999.