MGNS Events

This year I will be teaching on MTW with Debbie. We teach a 3– 5 year class. I graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 1972 with a B.S. in Elementary Education. Even back then my favorite ages were 3-6. I was head teacher and director of the East YMCA Preschool for six years. When our first son was born in 1978, I decided to stay home. I ended up doing home childcare for 11 years. Now our sons are 33, 30 and 26. Tom and I had our 39th anniversary in June. Enjoy these years when your children are small because tomorrow they will be young adults. The time flies by!

I am so happy to be here at MGNS. After 3 years as a MGNS parent, I am thrilled to be a teacher in room 2 on Thursday and Friday with the fabulous Jodi. Before my two children were born, I taught for several years grades between kindergarten and fourth. Now with my youngest child (a MGNS alumnus) in seventh grade and my oldest in high school, I am an involved school volunteer, an office manager for our family business, and I am also honored to serve as the school director for MGNS. It is a busy and perfect combination—I am so pleased to be a part of this cooperative community.

Hi, I’m Linda Dykstra and this will be my tenth year teaching at MGNS, but my 18th year involved with this great school as all four of my husband Mike and my children had their great start in formal education at Monona Grove Nursery School! I have taught three to five year olds but this year I am excited to be working in the Toddler Time program where I will enjoy the company of our youngest members and their parents. I have a BS in Art from the University Of Wisconsin and my art teaching certification. Last year I returned to the University to obtain my MFA as a full time graduate student. I am a teaching assistant there so I get to teach young adults and preschoolers –both groups make teaching fun and some days are not so very different from each other.

I am so excited to be starting my 2nd year at MGNS. This year I will be teaching mornings with Diana in the 4K classroom. I am married with 2 active boys who are both MGNS alumni. I graduated from Drake University with a degree in Biology. In my free time I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family - camping, hiking, and playing pretty much any sport. I’m looking forward to a great year!

This year I am teaching MTW morning classes with Gail. I have been teaching at MGNS since the fall of 1986. UW- Whitewater is where I attended college for Elementary Education. I was a parent at MGNS during the 1984-85 school year. My husband Bob and I have two grown children, Sarah and Steven, and two grandchildren, Madelyn and Jackson ( both MGNS alumni). My favorite times are spent with family.

I am thrilled to be teaching my third year at MGNS. I teach with Sue Carr on Thursday and Friday mornings. I have 7 years of preschool teaching experience. I have an Elementary Education degree, from the University of Wisconsin- LaCrosse. Prior to working at MGNS, I taught 1st grade in Atlanta and Minneapolis. I am married, and have two wonderful kids, Sam (11) and Claire (9) who are MGNS alumni! I am looking forward to a wonderful, and exciting school year.

I am very excited to start my third year at Monona Grove Nursery School! I will be teaching Toddler Time on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. I have a degree in elementary education and also am a substitute teacher in the Madison School District. My three daughters, Marissa 16, Ashley 14, and Hannah 7, are past MGNS students. My husband, Dennis, and I really enjoyed the years our children attended MGNS because of the opportunity to be so involved in our children's school. I missed coming here after my girls had completed preschool. So, after 15 years of being a stay at home mom, I started working here. Now, I have the best job anyone could ask for! I love getting to know all the amazing toddlers and their wonderful family members and caregivers.

This is my 10th year at MGNS & I’ll be teaching 4K with Juli. I am a graduate from UW-Madison with a teaching degree in PreK-3rd grade. Before teaching at MGNS, I ran my own family day care for 7 years. My husband, Paul, and I have two children at Monona Grove High School. Tyler & Alyssa are both MGNS alums! When I’m not at work, I can often be found curled up with a good book or at an area pool watching my kids’ swim/race.

I am very happy to be joining the staff at MGNS as an afternoon 4K teacher with Stephanie Ehlers. I have many years experience teaching children of all ages from all over the world. My teaching certifications include: Early Childhood Education in English and Spanish, Elementary and Middle School Education in English and Spanish, and teaching English as a Second Language. Last year, I taught 4-year-olds at the Waisman Center, and before that I taught elementary students in MMSD. I live in Stoughton with my husband Dan. We have two grown children, Sarah and Tom.

I am excited to start my first year as a 4K teacher at MGNS! I have recently moved from La Crosse, where I taught 2-4 year olds in child care settings for the last year. Prior to moving to La Crosse I attended and graduated from Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota with a BS in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. Outside of the classroom you may find me selling jewelry at JCPenney or spending time with my dog, Snickers and boyfriend, Andrew. I really enjoy working with young children and look forward to beginning my journey at MGNS.