"Natural Beginnings"




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Register for the Car Passenger Restraint Systems Class ONLY.
Important info for this class

Minnesota Child Care Professionals:
The Institute has been approved by MNCPD.

Amy Blaubach, founder of Curious Minds and ECE Science Specialist, has over a decade of experience in science and science education.  Amy holds three degrees in the Sciences and Science Education and a Minnesota teaching license, Science, grades 7-12.   Most recently, Amy developed early childhood, elementary, and secondary science curriculum for the Science Museum of Minnesota and conducted teacher training on science education for gifted and talented students.

 

Pamela Beecham, MS, recently retired from teaching grades K-3 for nearly forty years.  After earning an M. S. in Environmental Education from the University of Wisconsin/Stevens Point in 2005 she worked with teachers in St. Francis District #15 as a science curriculum specialist. This extra job involved creating nature based, outdoor classes, and mentoring teachers in the joys of teaching science with an emphasis on using the environment as a context for learning. Pamela is currently enjoying working with Head Start and Early Childhood teachers as a facilitator for Project Wild Minnesota.

 

Jodi Budde, has been a Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for Chisago County for over five years.  She began her career in the corporate arena as a market research analyst at Consumer Research Corporation and a senior marketing analyst and product manager at Sandoz Novartis for nearly ten years.  Jodi is also an inventor and entrepreneur having launched SeeBuddee, Inc. a company that designs, manufactures and distributes a line of patented optics products.  Jodi has bachelor degree (cum laude) in political science and history from Hamline University.  She has a master’s certificate from the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, in Emergency Response and Recovery and is working toward her Master’s degree in epidemiology.Jodi is married with three teenage kids and the family has a chocolate lab named Hershey.

 

Shannon DuFresne, MS, parent educator, and early childhood specialist, has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in early childhood development and family studies from the College of St. Benedict, and a Master of Science degree in family studies with an emphasis on parent education from St. Cloud State University.  She has been working in the field for 27 years teaching young children, parents, and child care professionals and advocating for families as well as the early childhood profession. 

 

Stacie Brown Forbes holds a BA in Studio Art/Art History and a Secondary Education degree in K-12 Art Education.  Stacie has 13 years of classroom experience as an Elementary Art Teacher, the last ten of which were spent at the Singapore American School.  She founded and operated an After-School Art program in Singapore that serviced 400 children a week.  She served as a mentor to beginning art teachers for four years. She also participated in developing a new K-12 Art curriculum for the American School.  Stacie returned to the United States in 2006 and has been working as an art educator doing workshops, fieldtrips, festivals, culture camps and school residencies with ArtStart, East Side Arts Council, Friends School, St Paul Public Schools Community Education, and other arts organizations.  She has designed projects that link art with creative reuse of materials, including a series of art projects for elementary age children called, “The Great Masters.”  She has presented teacher in-service workshops for ArtStart, Arts for All, and Professional Learning Alternatives, Inc.  Stacie is currently teaching art residencies in the Groveland Park Elementary and Highland Park Elementary Schools in St. Paul and teaching an after-school arts program in four of St. Paul’s public schools.  In her own studio, Stacie is an active artist, designing handmade jewelry for 30 years.

 

Jeff Gutzmer has spent the past 20 years working for the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC).  His experience and education also includes 17 years as a certified Firefighter in St. Croix Falls, WI, where he is also a Captain, Inspector and Instructor; a Certified Hazmat Technician; an affiliate faculty MNSCU Instructor for CPR, AED, and First Aid; FEMA Certified National Incident Command System Instructor; Officer/Sergeant/Academy Instructor/Safety Administrator; OSHA Approved Instructor for Right-to-Know, Blood Borne Pathogens, Fire Extinguishers, Respiratory Testing, and Industrial Safety; and an AHA CPR and First Aid Instructor.  Jeff also holds an AA in Aviation from Inver Hills Community College and NR-EMT-I from Wisconsin Technical College.

Lori Hameister enjoys sharing her ideas and experiences with other providers in hopes that it will help them with their own child care business.  For the past 19 years, she has operated Little Bit of Country Daycare near Rochester.  She started her training business, Little Bit of Guidance, in 1998.  In 2009, she received her A.A.S. degree in Child Development from Rochester Community & Technical College (RCTC).  Married for 27 years, Lori and her husband have two college-age children.

Marian Hassan

 

Mary Johansen has a degree in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, and Special Education. With eleven years in the classroom and fourteen years as a center director, she brings a multitude of experiences into her seminars.  Mary has taught credit and non-credit classes through Dakota County Technical College, workshops at MnAEYC and other area conferences, and for area resource and referral agencies.  She is currently an educator with REACH Education Solutions.

 

Joe Kelly is the Fathering Educator at The Emily Program (which provides eating disorders treatment in the Twin Cities, Duluth, and Seattle).  Joe speaks throughout North America and is a frequent media source on fathering and families.  His eight books feature four on fathering (including the best-seller Dads & Daughters) and books on eating disorders, addiction, and prisoner reentry.  A former president of Minnesota Fathers & Families Network, he co-founded New Moon Girls magazine and the national nonprofit Dads & Daughters®.

 

Kathleen Klumb, EdS, CFLE, has been immersed in multi-cultural and literacy education for most of her career.  Having lived in Minnesota and Mexico, her extensive resume includes teaching young children and parents (centers, community projects) and pre-service educators (higher education), creating television programs, literacy kits for families, and curriculum, and presenting at local, national and international conferences.  Kathleen has been actively involved with various bi- and multi-lingual literacy initiatives throughout the country as creator, advisor, facilitator, coordinator, and leader.  She is currently a teacher at Clear Springs Elementary, a Spanish immersion school in Minnetonka.

 

Chandra Kreyer, has spent the last 10 years as a Child Passenger Safety advocate, Trained Technician, and National Instructor (4 years) for the National Safe Kids Child Passenger Safety Technician training in Minnesota.  She has been teaching the Child Care Transportation curriculum to child care and foster care providers since the new legislation was passed in 2005.  Chandra has a background in law enforcement/criminal justice with degrees in Law Enforcement (AS) and Criminal Justice (BA)and has focused her efforts throughout her career in the Prevention Field, with a special focus on preventing unintentional injuries to children. 

 

Dawn Lees, MS, is a licensed teacher in Minnesota.  She has worked with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and Kindergarten/School Age in child care centers.  As a curriculum director, Dawn integrated a faith base with High/Scope and later the Reggio-inspired approach.  She participated at the World Forum on the Care and Education of Young Children (2003) and the Working Forum on Outdoor Education (2006) and presented at the Children’s Museum as part of the One Hundred Languages collaboration with Reggio MN and Reggio Children, 2004.  Currently, she is a teacher at Mount Olivet Day Services in Minneapolis.

Irela Landa Mojica was born and raised in the city of Martinez de la Torre, Veracruz Mexico.  She studied at the University Pedagogica Nacional and graduated with a degree as a Licensed Basic Educator.  Irela worked for several years as a preschool and elementary school teacher in Mexico prior to moving to the United States to teach.  She currently works at Jardin Magico, a Spanish immersion preschool in Minneapolis.  Irela and her husband have two children.

Sandy Masterson is a Gold Star Mother.  Her son, Corporal Conor G. Masterson, was killed in action (KIA) in Afghanistan on April 8, 2007.  Sandy is a founding member of the Military Support Network at 3M, a founding member of the 5K Run/3K Walk for Tribute to the Troops and Scoops for Troops, and she served in the United States Army Reserves from 1982 – 1988.  Sandy has a BS in Management and currently works as an IT Manager at 3M in St. Paul.

Marla Mastin, PhD, a consultant and specialist in Mathematics Methodology at Minnesota State University, Mankato, has given numerous seminars on Stori-gami and educational research topics at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM), Wisconsin Council of Teachers of Mathematics (WCTM), Brandon Manitoba, Canada University, the University of Minnesota STEM Colloquium, North Dakota State Reading Association (NDRA), American Association of University Women (AAUW) Annual National Conference, and local schools and organizations in New York and Minnesota.  She currently gives presentations on using the early childhood and elementary grades instructional method she designed called Stori-gami, which promotes creative thinking, literacy, and learning.

 

Raelene Ostberg, MEd, is an energetic and interactive early childhood presenter and consultant in Minnesota.  She is currently a Parent Educator with PAIIR in Rochester.  Raelene also worked with the Rochester Area Foundation’s First Steps program coordinating trainings in the workplace and writing early childhood articles.  She obtained her BA in Theater and M.Ed. in Family Education from the University of Minnesota.  Raelene has been a presenter and educator for ten years and is the mother of two daughters.

 

Jesus Ramirez, or “Chuy” as his family and friends call him, was born in El Paso, Texas.  He graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Music Education degree.  He was a drum major, leading his high school marching band and also the choreographer for the band’s color guard, was the principal clarinetist for the University Symphony Orchestra, and a member of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra.  Chuy was also a private clarinet teacher, as well as a music educator for 16 years.  He is now the lead preschool teacher at Jardin Magico, a Spanish immersion preschool in Minneapolis, preparing four- and five-year olds for kindergarten and the world.  In high school, Chuy received the “John Phillips Sousa” award and was entered in the National Who’s Who for Music.  He is the seventh of eight children and enjoys the company of his five sisters and two brothers, and his partner Danny.

 

Hollee Saville has been a licensed family child care provider for more than six years and provides trainings and resources for early childhood professionals. As the oldest of six children, Hollee was raised with a love and passion for caring for kids. She has worked for more than 20 years with children of all ages as a teacher, teacher assistant, and director in myriad schools and programs in California and Minnesota.  She has completed course work for a Master of Arts Teacher Credential Program at California State University, San Marcos.  When she's not working on child care or child care association activities, she loves hanging out with her husband and two sons, playing games and cards, volunteering, and baking.

 

Bao M. Vang was born in Laos and came to the United States when she was five years old.  Bao is the Community Outreach Coordinator/CLASS Coach at Resources for Child Caring.  She graduated from Metropolitan State University with a BS in Human Services and a Minor in Family Studies and is currently a graduate student at Concordia University working toward a Master’s in Family Life Education.  Bao also has related experience in Early Childhood Education and Families.  She is married and has two boys and two girls.

Jan Welsh, the Coordinator of Project WILD, Minnesota, is an Education Specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR).  She has developed curricula for the Minnesota Project WILD Early Childhood Guide; Birds of Two Worlds; Minnesota Aquatic WILD Early Childhood Guide, provides workshops to over 500 teachers and youth leaders annually, and is an adjunct faculty at Hamline University in St. Paul.  Jan has taught in Great Britain and at the Minnesota Zoo, is an artist/illustrator, and a frequent contributor to the Minnesota Conservation Magazine.  She earned several awards for her writing and holds an ECSATA credential. 

 

Kim Woehl, has worked directly with children for 18 years and has been an instructor for 16 years.  Kim trains both on-site and online.  Kim holds a CBTA and an ECSATA credential, and is certified in a variety of state projects as well as Say Yes to No and Projects WET, WILD, and Learning Tree through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  She is active on the board of Child Care Providers Network of Chisago County (CCPNCC) and with Boy Scouting.  Kim continues to mentor through the Minnesota Licensed Family Child Care Association (MLFCCA) and is a consultant through (Center for Inclusive Child Care (CICC) and Fraser Center.  Kim is available to provide custom or tailored training for your professional development needs.