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 Audra Wilinski
Even though my name appears throughout this website, I feel as though I should properly introduce myself. My name is Audra Wilinski and I am the Executive Director of Lake Harriet Christian Child Care Center.
My hometown is Presho, South Dakota where I graduated from a class of 28 students in 1996. I then attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell (home of the world’s only Corn Palace) graduating in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree double majoring in Elementary and Special Education and minoring in Middle School Social Science.
I moved to Minneapolis in the summer of 2000 where I began substitute teaching in schools and child care centers until Lake Harriet offered me a full time infant teacher position in July of 2001. In November of that year I became Assistant Director and finally the Director in February of 2002. I also have the extreme honor of being a mom to a handsome 5 year old little boy.
I have had the honor of guiding an excellent group of educators at Lake Harriet over the last 5 years. We are extremely proud of our staff which contains very highly qualified women who have a great knowledge of child care and children. We celebrate each others diversity and draw on each others strengths to apply in the classrooms.
Our infant teachers work with the infants on all stages of their development in addition to teaching beginning sign language and independence to those children getting ready to transition to the toddler room. The teachers provide sensory stimulation through simple art projects, bright and colorful bulletin boards, snuggle time and one on one reading of stories to each child throughout the day.
The toddler room is a very active room. My teachers in there have designed a specially structured schedule that allows for group time, story time, small group play, art, large muscle and small muscle development. Sign language is continued in this room with Spanish vocabulary being introduced to all of the toddlers.
Our Preschool room is fortunate to have 2 licensed elementary teachers to prepare curriculum and lesson plans that challenge our children and allow them to achieve the necessary requirements needed for Kindergarten. We also have 2 additional teachers to support the carrying out of lessons. The Preschool room has a very structured schedule and separates the day into small learning groups, large group activities, open play areas including dramatic play, art, blocks, animals, computers, and music time (to name a few). By the time our students reach Kindergarten age, the sounds of the alphabet are mastered and other pre-reading and writing activities are fully underway.
Parent/teacher conferences are held twice a year at which time the children’s progress and development are discussed and new goals are created for each child. There is daily oral and written communication between staff and parents as well as ample opportunities for parents and staff to socialize during Family Night events and children’s programs.
We look forward to getting to know each child and family personally and invite you to become part of our family here at LHC4kids!
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