staff

PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR

Email: nikkic@elutheran.church

Nikki has been the director of Emmanuel’s preschool program since 2015. She has a Master’s of Education from the University of Idaho. She previously taught kindergarten in the Moscow School District for 14 years. She takes the time to get to know each individual family. She loves working at the preschool because she finds working with children is so rewarding and constantly brings joy.

CUBS TEACHER

Email: Amber@elutheran.church

Amber has a bachelor’s degree in recreation management with a minor in recreation therapy. Amber has been working with ELP since 2022. She also has experience working as a childcare specialist and as a head soccer coach. She fantastically fosters each little child’s personality and is well loved by her students. She loves working at Emmanuel Lutheran Preschool because of the team of ladies she gets to be around. As she puts it, “they are an unstoppable force of good.”

BEARS TEACHER

Email: Sophie@elutheran.church

Sophie has been working with ELP since 2022. Sophie also has experience as a medical assistant, patient relations representative and stay at home mom. She knows how to give each kid the individual attention and care they need. She loves working at Emmanuel Lutheran Preschool because there is so much love and joy at the preschool. “You can feel it as soon as you walk into the building. Since my kids went to school here, it feels like coming home.”

PRESCHOOL ASSISTANT

Carolyn has a bachelor’s degree in special education and physical education and a master’s in curriculum and instruction. Carolyn has been with ELP since 2022. She has an extensive amount of experience in the education field including being a special education teacher for 34 years, a driver’s education teacher for 24 years, a tennis coach, JV volleyball coach and ski club advisor. She is incredibly patient and always comes to work with a smile. Her favorite part of working at Emmanuel Lutheran Preschool is that everyone is so positive, supportive and friendly; it is like a family!

PRESCHOOL ASSISTANT

Gretchen has experience as a paramedic for 14 years and also owns her own event planning business (Emergent Events). She is very easy going and easy to strike up a conversation with. She is a perfect fit for the Cubs classroom as she is good under pressure and a great multitasker . She is so happy to have joined our staffing team in 2023 and loves the environment at ELP.

PRESCHOOL ASSISTANT

Katy has a dental assisting certificate and has worked 10+ years in dental assisting or oral surgery. She has experience working in the preschool classroom as a room mom and an assistant since 2023. She is an incredibly positive presence that brings understanding, patience and love into the classroom.

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Jessie handles the majority of the posts you see on Facebook.

Jessie has a long history with Emmanuel Lutheran Preschool starting here as a student, working with us as a teaching aide for several years and has been a parent representative on the preschool board since 2017. She went to college for Elementary Education and has experience working as a preschool teaching assistant, preschool head teacher and as a receptionist. You might see her around taking pictures to put up on our social media page!

MUSIC

Cameron will be visiting our classrooms once a month to teach our students about beats, rhythms, singing and help develop a love of music. He has a graduate degree in music and experience teaching children.