Erica Kragerud-Smith
Tanya Havens
Hi my name is Tanya, the infant room teacher, here at Kidspark. What I love most about working at Kidspark is working with so many families and watching the children grow. It is very rewarding to provide the children with opportunities to build their skills.
I am from the great up north, which some would call the Iron Range. I was born and raised in Grand Rapids and have been working with families for over nine years. I moved to the Twin Cities in 2008 and started working in the teaching field as a lead teacher in an infant room. Through my life I have done many hours of volunteer work in different classrooms of all aged children.
I have an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Human Services. I received my Bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University in Human Services and Family Studies in 2010. I am certified in CPR and first aid, and have taken several other classes specific to infants. As a staff at Kidspark we have received training on the Reggio Emilia approach through coursework, reading and staff discussions.
I am thrilled to be part of the KidsPark team and look forward to working with you and your children.
Angela Maloney
I really enjoy the relationships I am able to create with the kids and their families at Kidspark. Kidspark families offer a sense of community that helps me feel supported and welcomed. I have been learning a lot about the Reggio Emilia style of teaching and believe it allows me to connect with the children as individuals and how they learn. I truly enjoy playing with the kids and watching them learn and grow in new ways every day.
My experiences working with children include working as a nanny and for Teaching Temps as a Teacher‘s assistant. I have over ten years experience working as a nursing assistant, seven of those years were at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul. I have an Associate’s Degree in child development with American Sign Language. I am also a mother of two daughters.
I enjoy spending time with my family. We spend weekends at our cabin in Barnum, MN in the summer. When I have a rare moment to myself, I enjoy reading and going to the gym.
Michelle Bricker West
Hi my name is Michelle
Michael Robinson
Hi my name is Michael
Jenn Radtke
Buen provecho! My name is Jenn and I started at KidsPark in January 2019, but my 2 children have been KidsPark members since 2014. I grew up in Colorado, lived in California, Costa Rica, and Washington for a few years before marrying a Minnesotan who whisked me back to the Midwest. We now live on Saint Paul’s West Side and love our community.
I have a degree in Environmental Science and a master’s in Environmental Education. While studying environmental science I focused on our relationship to food and how it connects us to our Earth. The way I approach our snack time is by always placing whatever grain and fruit or vegetable that is served on their plate even if they say they don’t like it. I always say that you don’t have to eat it, but it’s going to sit on your plate and I want you to smell it, feel it, maybe even lick it! I’m pleasantly surprised how often they end up eating despite their protests.
In between college semesters I spent my summers working at youth residential camps and Environmental Education camps, which is where I met my husband. When not at KidsPark I love to bake bread and go running, hiking, and camping.