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The CHILD Center Staff

Minda Matthys

Hi! I am Minda Matthys, the Center director. I am a graduate of UW-Stout with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education.

I live near River Falls with my husband and our two children. Our oldest is in First Grade and our youngest will be 5 in the fall. We have one pet, Peanut, our dog. We love going camping, riding 4-wheelers, and enjoy the outdoors. In my spare time I enjoy scrapbooking and reading.

I have been at the CHILD Center since 2002. I have enjoyed working with the children and their families as well as the student staff that we employ.

Michelle

Hello, My name is Michelle . I started working for The CHILD Center in July of 2004 as the Program Assistant. I graduated from Hudson High in 1998 and went on to WITC New Richmond to get an Associate Degree in Child Care and Development. I worked in Woodbury, MN for 6 years, where I had the opportunity to work with all age groups from 6 weeks to 9 years old. In 2001 I decided to go back to school at WITC for a business degree. In May 2003 I graduated with an Associate Degree in Marketing Management and an Associate Degree in Retail Management.

I enjoy volunteering for the Hudson Hot Air Affair. It is a wonderful family event that is held the 1st full weekend in Feb. We organize 40-50 hot air balloons to launch from the elementary school playground. There are also many other fun family events around town that whole weekend.

I also enjoy spending time with my family and in the outdoors.

Infant Teachers
Infants: 6 weeks to 24 months, Ratio 4:1. The Infant room closes early so the teachers are able to sanitize the classroom toys for the next day.

Amber

Hello, my name is Amber. I am the lead teacher in the older infant room. I graduated from UW-River Falls with a degree in Elementary Education/Early Childhood. I spent the past three years teaching at a private preschool. I spent time working in the infant room when I was a student here, and I'm glad to be back!

My two children attend the center and I love bringing them to work with me every day.

I enjoy spending time outdoors. My family loves to go camping and fishing. We do quite a bit of both during the summer. I am also a Home & Garden Party designer. I have a lot of fun doing shows in my spare time. I also enjoy going to garage sales and shopping on eBay, especially when I find good bargains!

Toddler Teachers
Toddlers: 24 months to 36 months, Ratio 6:1

Julie

Hi! I'm Julie , the toddler teacher in the Sea Horse room. I am a graduate of UW-River Falls in Broad Area Elementary Education/Early Childhood. I taught kindergarten for 18 years and also worked for UW-River Falls as a University Supervisor of Student Teachers for five years. Now I am so excited to be working at the CHILD Center.

I live on our family's dairy farm run by my husband and his parents. We have four children: one a sophomore at UW-Madison, another a junior in high school, and 2 in middle school.

In my spare time, I like to read, sing in my church choir, volunteer as my church librarian, and attend my family's sporting events. I also raise sheep and have about 40 new lambs each spring.

Nell

My name is Nell . I grew up in Turtle Lake, WI on my parents' dairy farm along with three older brothers. After graduating from Turtle Lake in 1998, I attended college at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. After four years of college, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Sociology and a Minor in Psychology. Before starting at The CHILD Center I stayed busy substitute teaching in Turtle Lake School District. In my free time I stay busy scrapbooking, stamping and spending time with my family and friends.

Preschool Teachers
Preschoolers: 3 years to 5 years, Ratio 10:1

Kayla

Hi, my name is Kayla. I am a lead preschool teacher in the shark room. I am a UWRF graduate with my degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. I first started working at the CHILD Center as a student and am very excited to return as lead staff. I love learning with the children and getting to be apart of their lives during this important part of their development. In my free time I enjoy visiting my family, reading, music, and sports (especially football and baseball).

Karen

My name is Karen and I am the older preschool room teacher. I graduated from UWRF in May of 2005 with a major in Elementary education and minors in Early Childhood and Social Studies. I am also a wife and mother of two boys.

I started working at the center in September 2005, but have previously worked at two other centers in Wisconsin. I have been working in the childcare profession for a total of almost six years. Before working in childcare I was a dance teacher for children ages three to twelve. I have always had a love for children and enjoy watching them develop and grow.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy gardening, landscaping, scrapbooking, and going for walks if I can squeeze it in.

Mauvlette

Hi, My name is Mauvlette and I am one of the lead teachers in the Preschool A/Shark room. I am from the beautiful tropical island of Jamaica. I went to the MICO Teachers College where I majored in English language and Reading. While in Jamaica I taught in a secondary school for over 10 years. I am also a mom of three wonderful children. I have worked all of my adult life with children and enjoy observing, teaching, interacting and learning from them.