Our wonderful staff is welcoming, compassionate, and knowledgeable. You will find that they enjoy developing relationships with your child and your family.
Kyleigh completed her degree in Early Childhood Care and Education at RCTC in the Spring of 2022. She will be a lead teacher on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Room 6, and an assistant teacher on Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings in Room 6.
Teacher, Room 4
Emilie Dailey
Emilie returned to the Aldrich faculty in 2021, having previously taught here from 2013-2018. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and has worked in early childhood for 20 years.
Teacher, Room 7
Terri Farlow
Terri came in Aldrich in 2000 and has worked as a team and lead teacher. She has training in health and child development from Rochester Area Vocational-Technical Institute and Rochester Community and Technical College.
Teacher, Room 7
Jill Finnan
Jill earned a multidisciplinary degree in elementary education and psychology from Bethel College. She worked in several child care centers as an assistant and lead teacher before having children of her own. Since that time she has done volunteer work with children of all ages and homeschooled her daughters.
Teacher, Room 2
Nicole Forliti
Nicole has been with Aldrich School since 2011. She maintains a Minnesota Teaching license and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from the St. Cloud State University.
Teacher, Room 1
Cindy Gagnon
Director
Annie Getchell
Annie has a Bachelors Degree from the College of St. Benedict where she graduated in 2006. She joined the Aldrich faculty in 2018, and previously worked 4 years as a preschool teacher and 4 years as an Assistant Director of a preschool program. Annie was honored to serve on the Aldrich Board of Directors for 4 years, where she learned all about the Aldrich philosophy and fell in love with the Aldrich community.
Teacher, Room 6
Miriam Haacke
Miriam attended Aldrich as a child and began her teaching career at Aldrich as a Teacher’s Aide in 2015. She previously directed an after-school program for at-risk elementary schoolers. Miriam studied music at North Park University in Chicago, IL, and you can also find her playing original music around town under the name “Miriam Halleen.”
Teacher, Room 8
Stef Herbst
Stef joined the Aldrich staff in 2018. She is a Registered Nurse with a background in pediatric nursing.
Teacher, Room 5
Serena Hokanson
Serena has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education, and taught special ed for several years before deciding to stay home with her children. She is excited to get back into teaching now that her children are in school full time.
Teacher, Room 9
Susie Johnson
Susie joined Aldrich School in 2016 after teaching four year olds at another preschool in Rochester. Prior to that she taught kindergarten in Wisconsin for 21 years, twelve of those team teaching with a Special Education teacher. She received her BA degree in Elementary Education from Concordia College.
Teacher, Room 7
Ann Kahn
Ann joined the Aldrich staff in April 2018 with 16 years of experience at a local child care center. She has a preschool CDA.
Teacher, Room 2
Melissa LaForest
Melissa has a degree in Elementary Education, and ran an in-home daycare program for three years prior to coming to Aldrich. While her older child was attending Aldrich, she talked with the staff about her dream of working at Aldrich- and was so excited when a teaching position became available!
Teacher, Room 9
Jenny Landon
Jenny has taught in early childhood education for 24 years and is excited to join the Aldrich team!
Teacher, Room 3
Liz Luehrs
Liz earned a Bachelors of Sociology from Western Colorado University in 2009. Since then, she has worked with young children in a variety of settings.
Assistant Director
Carrie Manguson
Carrie joined the Aldrich office team in October 2014 and transitioned to the role of Assistant Director three years later. She was born and raised in Rochester and is happy to be raising her family here as well! She graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from University of Minnesota in Duluth. She previously worked at two local childcare centers as a Lead Teacher in the School Age program and later as the Assistant Director and Director of Education.
Teacher, Room 4
Jazmin Marquis
Jazmin holds a Computer Science degree from Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico, her home country. After working for six years at IBM in Mexico City, she moved to Rochester, and started a career in education. She worked for the Rochester Public Schools District with first and second graders for two years as a paraprofessional, while completing a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University, St. Paul. She joined Aldrich in 2019.
Teacher, Rooms 3 and 5
Lydia Merkel
Teacher, Rooms 6 and 8
Anna Mittelstadt
Anna has 25 years of experience working in the childcare field. She attended Mankato State University and studied child psychology and early education.
Teacher, Room 6
Caitlin Newberg
Caitlin joined the Aldrich teaching staff in 2022. She has experience in child care and early education with children who ranged in age from infancy through school-age. She loves watching the leaps in development that happen in these early years.
Teacher, Room 1
Jolene Olson
Jolene started substituting at Aldrich in 2008 before transitioning to an aide and eventually lead teacher. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Wisconsin- La Crosse and has many hours of continuing education focused on play based learning and child development.
Office Coordinator
Cheryl Payne
Cheryl has been with Aldrich as Office Coordinator since April of 2015. She previously served on the Aldrich Board of Directors from 2009-2011. She has a BA in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Teacher, Room 8
Logan Petzold
Logan has been coaching swimming in Rochester for the last 12 years and is happy to embark on the journey of preschool teaching! She has a BA from Hamline University and a MS in school-aged counseling from UW River Falls.
Teacher, Room 2
Kate Rauch
Kate is started at Aldrich School in 2016. She has taken advantage of both paid and volunteer opportunities working with children over the last 20 years as well as the intense immersion program that is motherhood.
Teacher, Room 2
Marcia Riggs
Marcia has a music education degree from Wartburg College and a special education endorsement from Buena Vista University. She taught instrumental music at a public school in Iowa before moving to Minnesota and has taught private music lessons for 17 years.
Teacher, Room 5
Jamie Rocholl
Jamie earned an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and later earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from University of Wisconsin Whitewater. Her teaching experience includes doing in-home childcare, center based childcare, after school care, playgroups and teaching PreK.
Teacher, Rooms 5 and 6
McKenzie Shefelbine
McKenzie grew up in Caledonia, MN and moved to Rochester to begin her college education. She is currently working towards a degree in Early Childhood Education at Winona State University.
Teacher, Room 8
Bethany Smith
Bethany has been with Aldrich since 2022. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Washburn University (Kansas). She taught Special Education for 5 years in Kansas before moving to Rochester, MN. She has been working with young children in some manner for over 20 years.
Teacher, Rooms 1 and 3
Kendra Verhage
Kendra first came to Aldrich as a substitute teacher. This year she is assisting in Rooms 1 and 3. She holds a BFA in Theater from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Teacher, Room 1
Jenn Wesely
Teacher, Room 3
Jenn Wiens
Jenn is an Aldrich alumna and joined the teaching staff in 2022. She has a degree in Early Childhood Development and more than a decade of experience in early childhood education. Jenn is passionate about creating an inspired, exploratory, and safe environment for children to play, learn, and grow.
Substitute Teacher
Janie Allen
Substitute Teacher
Amanda Digmann
Amanda has an Associate’s degree in Graphic Design, creates deserts in her commercial bakery and has 10 years of early childhood experience.
Substitute Teacher
Mary Herges
Mary has been on the staff at Aldrich since 2007. Previously, she was a lead classroom teacher at another local nursery school for twelve years and has been in Early Childhood Education for almost 30 years. She received her BA from the University of Minnesota and also holds a current RN license from Rochester Community and Technical College.
Substitute Teacher
Erin Joppa
Erin in a full time RN. She has two sons who attended Aldrich.
Substitute Teacher
Jana Metzger
Jana has an undergraduate degree in Cardio Pulmonary Rehabilitation and a masters degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology. She has 3 kids who have all attended Aldrich, with one that will still be at Aldrich in the 3 year old classroom.
Substitute Teacher
Jinx Payne
Jinx is currently attending college at the University of Wisconsin in LaCrosse studying K-9 Education. Since she is away at school, she will most likely only be at Aldrich during her winter and summer breaks.
Substitute teacher
Nancy Plute
Nancy is thrilled to be back at Aldrich as a substitute teacher and classroom materials donation coordinator after 16 years of teaching at Aldrich! Her favorite pastime is consignment shopping, shopping at estate sales and heading to Savers on Tuesdays. She is looking forward to a great year at the #1 preschool in Rochester!
Substitute Teacher
Katie Sherrard
Substitute teacher
Rachel Skinner
Rachel graduated from Hope College of Holland, Michigan in 1994 with a Bachelors or Arts degree, double majoring in psychology and sociology. From 2002 to 2005, she worked at another local preschool as a lead teacher. Rachel came to Aldrich in 2005 and has served in the roles of lead, team, assistant, and aide teacher, working with all age ranges.
Substitute Teacher
Nicci Watson
Nicci has taught at Aldrich School since 2013. She has dual degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education from Xavier University. She taught special education in a small community just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, prior to moving to Rochester. She is a former Aldrich board member and served on the original Board of Directors for the Children’s Museum of Rochester, a group of parents and community leaders who worked together to bring the museum to Rochester.